The rise of Atauro Island, Banda Arc, East Timor

Abstract

Cessation of magmatism in the Banda Arc north of Timor about 3 million years ago has been followed by a period rapid continuing uplift, most dramatically evidenced by the presence of Quaternary coral at ~700 m above sea level on the island of Atauro. In order to understand how these processes constrain slab dynamics during the early stage of continental?arc collision (Timor ? Banda Arc) we have mapped the island of Atauro in detail. The basic features of Atauro geology are described, and it is demonstrated how they may relate to slab processes deep beneath.