Analysis of palaeomagnetic data from the New Hebrides

Abstract

Palaeomagnetic samples have been collected on eight islands of the New Hebrides island arc. Data are presented for 31 stable sites out of 46 with ages ranging from Pleistocene to early Late Miocene. These data show 30° clockwise rotation of the arc commencing 6 m.y. BP. Synthetic polar wander paths corresponding to microplate rotation may be computed from known major plate polar wander paths. Thus a physiographically reasonable reconstruction of the New Hebrides plate is shown to have a polar wander path which compares well with the observed data. A reconstruction of a pre-Late Miocene double arc, consisting of the Solomons, New Hebrides-Vityaz, Fiji and Lau-Tonga island arcs, is possible which supports in terarc geological correlations and which suggests Plio?Pleistocene growth of the North Fiji Basin by r-r-r triple junction development concomitant with the development of the Lau Basin.