10.6084/m9.figshare.3454250.v1
Scott A. Whattam
Scott
A. Whattam
John Malpas
John
Malpas
Jason R. Ali
Jason
R. Ali
Ching-Hua Lo
Ching-Hua
Lo
Ian E. M. Smith
Ian E. M.
Smith
Formation and emplacement of the Northland ophiolite, northern New Zealand: SW Pacific tectonic implications
Geological Society of London
2016
Vening Meinesz Fracture Zone
East Cape Allochthon
New Zealand
SW Pacific tectonic implications Petrological
Northland ophiolite terrane
section
emplacement
Oligocene obduction site
emplaced
fault
NW
South Fiji Basin
Geology
2016-06-21 11:59:57
Dataset
https://geolsoc.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Formation_and_emplacement_of_the_Northland_ophiolite_northern_New_Zealand_SW_Pacific_tectonic_implications/3454250
<p>Petrological, geochemical, geochronological and palaeomagnetic data for rocks of the Northland ophiolite terrane of northern
New Zealand suggest that it formed in a suprasubduction-zone setting between <em>c</em>. 29 and 26 Ma, at <em>c</em>. 35°S, close to its Late Oligocene obduction site. Cretaceous igneous rocks formerly considered to be part of the ophiolite
probably represent the basement upon which the ophiolite was emplaced, and are probably part of the Mount Camel arc-related
terrane. The ophiolite is believed to have been generated in the southeastern South Fiji Basin, close to a NW–SE-oriented
transform fault located to the SW of the Vening Meinesz Fracture Zone, and was probably emplaced in response to the collision
of the Hikurangi Plateau with eastern New Zealand at the end of the Oligocene. This collision would have involved a major
adjustment on the transform fault, thereby allowing a portion of the upper-crustal section of the southern South Fiji Basin
to be emplaced southwestward onto northern New Zealand as well as the coeval emplacement of the East Cape Allochthon to the
south. Concomitant subduction of the lower crust–mantle section led to the initiation of arc volcanism that resulted in the
Northland Lower Miocene volcanic–plutonic suite.
</p>