Tectonic history of the South-West Pacific region ...

This study attempts to deduce the Phanerozoic tectonic relation-ships of Australia, Antarctica and New Zealand, and then to discuss in greater detail the evolution of New Zealand and of the continental margin of south-cast Australia. Plate tectonics provides a broad conceptual framework for the synt...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Griffiths, JR
Format: Thesis
Language:unknown
Published: University Of Tasmania 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://dx.doi.org/10.25959/23232533
https://figshare.utas.edu.au/articles/thesis/Tectonic_history_of_the_South-West_Pacific_region/23232533
Description
Summary:This study attempts to deduce the Phanerozoic tectonic relation-ships of Australia, Antarctica and New Zealand, and then to discuss in greater detail the evolution of New Zealand and of the continental margin of south-cast Australia. Plate tectonics provides a broad conceptual framework for the syntheses proposed, but the emphasis throughout is based on objective analysis of the data available. Flow-charts and time-space plots are developed as aids in construction and evaluation of the tectonic syntheses. Various criteria are used to define and reassemble Australia, Antarctica, New Zealand and surrounding areas of continental crust as parts of the former Gondwanaland in the Mesozoic. A brief review of the Paleozoic (exposed mainly in eastern Australia), outlines the pro-gressive development and cratonisation of a very complex orogenic belt bordering the Pacific Ocean. During the Mesozoic an \Atlantic-type\" continental margin was established east of this belt and is now best exposed in New Zealand. ...