Description
Book SynopsisUntil about 100 million years ago, New Zealand lay on the Pacific-facing edge of the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana; the formation of our sedimentary rocks provides a fascinating view of the tectonic activity and changes since that time. This volume is the culmination of a comprehensive survey of New Zealand’s Cretaceous–Cenozoic strata, begun in 1978, and presents an up-to-date synthesis and interpretation of regional sedimentary information from a variety of sources; the study has been expanded to include large areas of the continental shelf and beyond. Extensive references and indexing complete this essential work, a key resource for students, professional geologists and enthusiastic amateurs. Topics covered include: • sedimentary basins during the Cretaceous continental margin break-up; • the active tectonics of a ‘passive margin’; • Late Cenozoic sedimentary basins in a new, evolving plate boundary; • eustatic sea-level change in an active tectonic setting; • basin scale and facies change on the new and thin continent Zealandia.
Table of ContentsForeword by Peter Barrett Introduction 1 Overview and Synthesis of Basin Evolution 3 Overview of the Stratigraphy and Tectonics of the Mid-Cretaceous to Recent Succession 4 Assemblage 1 – The Early Extension Phase: The Mid- and Early Late Cretaceous Succession 5 Late Cretaceous and Paleogene Tectonic Setting: Changing Extensional Regimes 6 Passive Margin Phase: The Latest Cretaceous and Paleogene Succession 7 Mid- to Late Cenozoic Tectonism: The Kaikoura Orogeny 8 The Final Convergent Margin Phase: The Neogene Assemblage 9 Event Stratigraphy Concluding Remarks References Location Index General Index
