Zealandia

Abstract

Zealandia is a mainly submerged continental block, one third the size of Australia. Before 85-55 Ma Tasman Sea spreading, orogenic trends in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania continued along what is now the Lord Howe Rise towards their counterparts in New Zealand. Geologically credible comparisons between selected trans-Tasman and SW Pacific geological provinces and units, especially those that contain significant mineralisation in Australia, can help provide a useful exploration framework for New Zealand. Additional geological events that have affected Zealandia?s regional mineral prospectivity include more widespread 125-85 Ma magmatism and extensional exhumation, superposition of Neogene volcanic arcs in the North Island, and localised Neogene exhumation in the South Island.