Register      Login
Australian Energy Producers Journal Australian Energy Producers Journal Society
Journal of Australian Energy Producers
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Non peer reviewed)

Cretaceous to present-day tectonic reconstructions of Zealandia

Hannu Seebeck A D , Dominic Strogen A , Peter King A , Andrew Nicol B , Ben Hines C and Grant O’Brien A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A GNS Science, PO Box 30-368, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand.

B Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.

C School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Cotton Building, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand.

D Corresponding author. Email: h.seebeck@gns.cri.nz

The APPEA Journal 58(2) 852-857 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ17117
Accepted: 9 March 2018   Published: 28 May 2018

Abstract

Reconstructions of the past relative positions of northern and southern Zealandia provide important constraints on the orientation and amount of strain accumulated between rigid plates within the Australia–Pacific plate tectonic circuit. This configuration of plates ultimately determines how, where and when sedimentary basins formed during and since continental breakup along the eastern margin of Gondwana.

Although the first-order geometry of Zealandia is well established, uncertainty remains regarding plate motions through the latest Cretaceous to Eocene. Recent reconstructions are, in some cases, inconsistent with geological observations at key time intervals, highlighting uncertainties inherent in plate reconstructions for the south-west Pacific.

Building on previous tectonic reconstructions and incorporating published seafloor magnetic interpretations, paleomagnetic observations and geological constraints (e.g. terrane geometry and distribution), we developed a tectonic framework to reconstruct Zealandia back through to the latest Cretaceous.

Using GPlates, we use a simple double-hinge slat concept to describe Neogene deformation within the New Zealand plate boundary zone, while the geometry of northern and southern Zealandia during the Eocene is modified from recently published models based on geologic considerations. This study ultimately highlights the need for integrated studies of the Zealandia plate circuit.

Keywords: New Zealand, paleomagnetic observations, plate boundary deformation, plate tectonic reconstructions.

Hannu Seebeck currently works as a structural geologist in GNS Science’s Department of Petroleum Geoscience, where his work focuses on New Zealand’s North-western Province incorporating Taranaki, Deep-water Taranaki, Northland and Reinga Basins. Previously, Hannu completed an MSc in the interplay between active tectonics and volcanism at Victoria University of Wellington and a PhD in various aspects of faults and fluid flow at the University of Canterbury. Hannu’s research interests cover a wide range of fields from fault permeability and fluid flow to subduction zone processes and plate reconstructions.

Dominic Strogen is a geologist at GNS Science with a PhD from the University of Reading, with expertise in the fields of sedimentology, basin analysis, petrography, petroleum geology, and the paleogeographic evolution of New Zealand’s sedimentary basins. Dominic presently leads the ‘ZMap (Tectonic reconstructions of Zealandia)’ project, as part of the Sedimentary Basins Research programme at GNS Science, which includes aspects of the structural, seal and reservoir geology of Taranaki and frontier basins of Zealandia.

Peter King was the leader of the GNS Science’s Petroleum Basin Research programme from 2000–2015. Peter is an applied sedimentary geologist, with expertise in the sub-disciplines of sedimentology and stratigraphy as well as developing tectonic reconstructions, paleogeographic and depositional environment models of Zealandia as well as being an honorary affiliate of a petroleum-industry funded research consortium (Stanford University Project on Deep-water Depositional Systems). Peter’s research outputs are applied primarily in petroleum exploration and subsurface reservoir characterisation.

Andrew Nicol is a structural geologist with a PhD from Canterbury University who was based at GNS Science for 20 years from 1995. Presently he has a position at Canterbury University and continues to work closely with members of the Petroleum Geoscience Department at GNS. In recent years his research has included work on faults and their impact on fluid migration and CO2 storage. Andrew has studied structures throughout New Zealand, with a current focus on the Taranaki Basin, and at many locations overseas. This work has led to numerous collaborations with international colleagues, including the Fault Analysis Group in Ireland.

Ben Hines has recently submitted a PhD to Victoria University of Wellington, researching the evolution of the East Coast Basin, New Zealand, focusing on the paleoenvironmental evolution of the basin through the integration of structural, stratigraphic, thermochronological, geochemical and paleontological datasets.

Grant O’Brien currently works as a geophysics technician across GNS Science’s Marine and Petroleum Geoscience Departments. His work includes undertaking marine, airborne and terrestrial geophysical surveys to further discover Zealandia and Antarctica, seismic data processing and 3D modelling. Previously Grant completed an MSc investigating earthquake-induced permeability changes and triggering.


References

Arnot, M. J., Bland, K. J., Boyes, A. F., Bull, S., Funnell, R. H., Griffin, A. G., Hill, M. G., Kroeger, K. F., Lukovic, B., Scadden, P. G., Seebeck, H. C., Strogen, D. P., Town, C. C., and Viskovic, G. P. D. (2016). Atlas of Petroleum Prospectivity, Northwest Province: ArcGIS geodatabase and technical report. GNS Science Data Series 23b. 34 p. + 1 ArcGIS geodatabase + 5 ArcGIS projects.

Boyden, J. A., Müller, R. D., Gurnis, M., Torsvik, T. H., Clark, J. A., Turner, M., Ivey-Law, H., Watson, R. J., and Cannon, J. S. (2011). Next-generation plate-tectonic reconstructions using GPlates. In ‘Geoinformatics: Cyberinfrastructure for the Solid Earth Science.’ (Eds G. R. Keller and C. Baru.) pp. 95–114 (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.)

Burgreen‐Chan, B., Meisling, K. E., and Graham, S. (2016). Basin and petroleum system modelling of the East Coast basin, New Zealand: a test of overpressure scenarios in a convergent margin. Basin Research 28, 536–567.
Basin and petroleum system modelling of the East Coast basin, New Zealand: a test of overpressure scenarios in a convergent margin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cande, S. C., and Stock, J. M. (2004). Cenozoic reconstructions of the Australia‐New Zealand‐South Pacific sector of Antarctica. In ‘The Cenozoic Southern Ocean: Tectonics, Sedimentation, and Climate Change Between Australia and Antarctica’. (Eds N. F. Nixon, M. Malone and J. P. Kennett.) pp. 5–17. AGU Geophysical Monograph Series 151. (American Geophysical Union: Washington, DC.)

Croon, M. B., Cande, S. C., and Stock, J. M. (2008). Revised Pacific‐Antarctic plate motions and geophysics of the Menard Fracture Zone. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 9, Q07001.
Revised Pacific‐Antarctic plate motions and geophysics of the Menard Fracture Zone.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Field, B. D., and Uruski, C. I. (1997). Cretaceous-Cenozoic geology and petroleum systems of the East Coast region, New Zealand (Vol. 1). Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences. Monograph 19, 301 p.

Granot, R., Cande, S. C., Stock, J. M., and Damaske, D. (2013). Revised Eocene‐Oligocene kinematics for the West Antarctic rift system. Geophysical Research Letters 40, 279–284.
Revised Eocene‐Oligocene kinematics for the West Antarctic rift system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hines, B. (2018). Cretaceous to Paleogene palinspastic reconstruction of the East Coast Basin, New Zealand. Submitted PhD Thesis, Victoria University of Wellington.

Keller, W. R. (2004). Cenozoic plate tectonic reconstructions and plate boundary processes in the Southwest Pacific. PhD Thesis. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.

King, P. R. (2000). New Zealand’s changing configuration in the last 100 million years: plate tectonics, basin development, and depositional setting. In ‘2000 New Zealand Petroleum Conference Proceedings (Vol. 15)’. (Crown Minerals, Ministry of Commerce: Wellington, New Zealand.)

Larter, R. D., Cunningham, A. P., Barker, P. F., Gohl, K., and Nitsche, F. O. (2002). Tectonic evolution of the Pacific margin of Antarctica 1. Late Cretaceous tectonic reconstructions. Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth 107, 2345.
Tectonic evolution of the Pacific margin of Antarctica 1. Late Cretaceous tectonic reconstructions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Matthews, K. J., Williams, S. E., Whittaker, J. M., Müller, R. D., Seton, M., and Clarke, G. L. (2015). Geologic and kinematic constraints on Late Cretaceous to mid Eocene plate boundaries in the southwest Pacific. Earth-Science Reviews 140, 72–107.
Geologic and kinematic constraints on Late Cretaceous to mid Eocene plate boundaries in the southwest Pacific.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Matthews, K. J., Maloney, K. T., Zahirovic, S., Williams, S. E., Seton, M., and Mueller, R. D. (2016). Global plate boundary evolution and kinematics since the late Paleozoic. Global and Planetary Change 146, 226–250.
Global plate boundary evolution and kinematics since the late Paleozoic.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mortimer, N. (2014). The oroclinal bend in the South Island, New Zealand. Journal of Structural Geology 64, 32–38.
The oroclinal bend in the South Island, New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mortimer, N., Campbell, H. J., Tulloch, A. J., King, P. R., Stagpoole, V. M., Wood, R. A., Rattenbury, M. S., Sutherland, R., Adams, C. J., Collot, J., and Seton, M. (2017). Zealandia: Earth’s hidden continent. GSA Today 27, 27–35.
Zealandia: Earth’s hidden continent.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Reyners, M. (2013). The central role of the Hikurangi Plateau in the Cenozoic tectonics of New Zealand and the Southwest Pacific. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 361, 460–468.
The central role of the Hikurangi Plateau in the Cenozoic tectonics of New Zealand and the Southwest Pacific.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sahoo, T. S., Bland, K. J., Arnot, M. J., Boyes, A. F., Funnell, R. H., Griffin, A. G., Kroeger, K .F., Lawrence, M. J. F., O'Brien, G., Scadden, P. G., Strogen, D. P., Town, C. C., and Viskovic, G. P. D. (2017). Atlas of Petroleum Prospectivity, Southeast Province: ArcGIS geodatabase and technical report. GNS Science Data Series 23c. 50 p. + 1 ArcGIS geodatabase + 5 ArcGIS projects.

Seebeck, H., Nicol, A., Giba, M., Pettinga, J., and Walsh, J. (2014). Geometry of the subducting Pacific plate since 20 Ma, Hikurangi margin, New Zealand. Journal of the Geological Society 171, 131–143.
Geometry of the subducting Pacific plate since 20 Ma, Hikurangi margin, New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Seton, M., Müller, R. D., Zahirovic, S., Gaina, C., Torsvik, T., Shephard, G., Talsma, A., Gurnis, M., Turner, M., Maus, S., and Chandler, M. (2012). Global continental and ocean basin reconstructions since 200 Ma. Earth-Science Reviews 113, 212–270.
Global continental and ocean basin reconstructions since 200 Ma.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Seton, M., Whittaker, J. M., Wessel, P., Müller, R. D., DeMets, C., Merkouriev, S., Cande, S., Gaina, C., Eagles, G., Granot, R., Stock, J., Wright, N., and Williams, S. (2014). Community infrastructure and repository for marine magnetic identifications. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 15, 1629–1641.
Community infrastructure and repository for marine magnetic identifications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Stock, J., and Molnar, P. (1982). Uncertainties in the relative positions of the Australia, Antarctica, Lord Howe, and Pacific plates since the Late Cretaceous. Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth 87, 4697–4714.
Uncertainties in the relative positions of the Australia, Antarctica, Lord Howe, and Pacific plates since the Late Cretaceous.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sutherland, R. (1995). The Australia‐Pacific boundary and Cenozoic plate motions in the SW Pacific: Some constraints from Geosat data. Tectonics 14, 819–831.
The Australia‐Pacific boundary and Cenozoic plate motions in the SW Pacific: Some constraints from Geosat data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sutherland, R., Collot, J., Bache, F., Henrys, S., Barker, D., Browne, G. H., Lawerence, M. J. F., Morgans, H. E. G., Hollis, C. J., Clowes, C., and Mortimer, N. (2017). Widespread compression associated with Eocene Tonga-Kermadec subduction initiation. Geology 45, 355–358.
Widespread compression associated with Eocene Tonga-Kermadec subduction initiation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tikku, A. A., and Cande, S. C. (2000). On the fit of Broken Ridge and Kerguelen plateau. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 180, 117–132.
On the fit of Broken Ridge and Kerguelen plateau.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Torsvik, T. H., Van der Voo, R., Preeden, U., Mac Niocaill, C., Steinberger, B., Doubrovine, P. V., van Hinsbergen, D. J., Domeier, M., Gaina, C., Tohver, E., and Meert, J. G. (2012). Phanerozoic polar wander, palaeogeography and dynamics. Earth-Science Reviews 114, 325–368.
Phanerozoic polar wander, palaeogeography and dynamics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

van Hinsbergen, D. J., de Groot, L. V., van Schaik, S. J., Spakman, W., Bijl, P. K., Sluijs, A., Langereis, C. G., and Brinkhuis, H. (2015). A paleolatitude calculator for paleoclimate studies. PLoS One 10, e0126946.
A paleolatitude calculator for paleoclimate studies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

White, L. T., Gibson, G. M., and Lister, G. S. (2013). A reassessment of paleogeographic reconstructions of eastern Gondwana: Bringing geology back into the equation. Gondwana Research 24, 984–998.
A reassessment of paleogeographic reconstructions of eastern Gondwana: Bringing geology back into the equation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Whittaker, J. M., Müller, R. D., Leitchenkov, G., Stagg, H., Sdrolias, M., Gaina, C., and Goncharov, A. (2007). Major Australian-Antarctic plate reorganization at Hawaiian-Emperor bend time. Science 318, 83–86.
Major Australian-Antarctic plate reorganization at Hawaiian-Emperor bend time.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Whittaker, J. M., Williams, S. E., and Müller, R. D. (2013). Revised tectonic evolution of the Eastern Indian Ocean. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 14, 1891–1909.
Revised tectonic evolution of the Eastern Indian Ocean.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wood, R. A., and Stagpoole, V. M. (2007). Validation of tectonic reconstructions by crustal volume balance: New Zealand through the Cenozoic. Geological Society of America Bulletin 119, 933–943.
Validation of tectonic reconstructions by crustal volume balance: New Zealand through the Cenozoic.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |