Eocene arc-continent collision in New Caledonia and implications for regional southwest Pacific tectonic evolution

Research Article| February 01, 1995 Eocene arc-continent collision in New Caledonia and implications for regional southwest Pacific tectonic evolution J. C. Aitchison; J. C. Aitchison 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar G. L. Clarke; G. L. Clarke 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar S. Meffre; S. Meffre 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. Cluzel D. Cluzel 2Laboratoire de Géologie, Université Française du Pacifique, BP 4477, Noumea, Nouvelle Calédonie Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information J. C. Aitchison 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia G. L. Clarke 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia S. Meffre 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia D. Cluzel 2Laboratoire de Géologie, Université Française du Pacifique, BP 4477, Noumea, Nouvelle Calédonie Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1995) 23 (2): 161–164. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0161:EACCIN>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation J. C. Aitchison, G. L. Clarke, S. Meffre, D. Cluzel; Eocene arc-continent collision in New Caledonia and implications for regional southwest Pacific tectonic evolution. Geology 1995;; 23 (2): 161–164. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0161:EACCIN>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract New Caledonia preserves evidence that constrains models for the tectonic evolution of the southwest Pacific region. Onland geology reflects four main tectonic phases: (1) early Mesozoic development of subduction-related terranes and their accretion to the Gondwana margin; (2) Cretaceous passive margin development and sea-floor spreading during the Gondwana breakup; (3) foundering of an oceanic basin and the Eocene arrival of thinned Gondwana margin crust at a southwest-facing subduction zone, resulting in collisional orogenesis and obduction of an ophiolitic nappe from the northeast; and (4) detachment faulting during extensional collapse, resulting in unroofing of metamorphic core complexes. The last phase explains supposedly anomalous metamorphic gradients in the northeast of the island. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.