Reinterpretation of palaeomagnetic results from the Bird's Head, Irian Jaya: new constraints on the drift history of the Kemum Terrane

Abstract

Palaeomagnetism has a useful role to play in constraining models of the drift history of terranes along Australia's active northern margin, in the collision zone between the Australian plate, and the Pacific and Southeast Asian plates. This is demonstrated in a study of the Kemurn Terrane of the Bird's Head, lrian Jaya. The results demonstrate that large-scale clockwise rotation in the Neogene and fixed position models can be ruled out, and support derivation of the Kemum Terrane from the northeastern margin of the Australian craton. The study also highlights that palaeomagnetic input is a two-way process: a well-defined reference Apparent Polar Wander Path (APWP) is as equally important as well-determined results.