Timing of magmatism in the Netoni Intrusive Complex: implications for Crustal Growth in the Bird’s Head.

Max Webb, Lloyd White & Robert Hall

Aims

The aim of this study is to understand the petrogenesis, age and deformation history of the Netoni Intrusive Complex located in the northern Bird’s Head. This will be achieved by mapping and collecting samples of the Netoni granitoids on the northern and southern side of the large Sorong Fault Zone (SFZ). Samples from either side of the fault zone will be characterized on the basis of petrological, geochemical and geochronological data.

Background

The Netoni Intrusive Complex represents a suite of granitoids (quartz monzonite, granite, quartz diorite and diorite). These are reported to have been emplaced during the Triassic to Cretaceous (240-78 Ma) on the basis of hornblende and biotite K-Ar dates from float material. Early maps indicate that the southern margin of the plutonic complex is cut by the Sorong Fault Zone (SFZ), a major east-west trending, strike-slip fault system several hundred kilometres long. However, reconnaissance mapping by David Gold (SEARG) indicated that granitic material is also prominent on the southern side of the Sorong Fault Zone.

Recent Papers –

Max Webb et al., 2020. Isotopic mapping reveals the location of crustal fragments along a long-lived convergent plate boundary. Lithos.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2020.105687

Max Webb et al., 2020. The history of Cenozoic magmatism and collision in NW New Guinea – New insights into the tectonic evolution of the northernmost margin of the Australian Plate. Gondwana Research.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2019.12.010

Amy Gough et al., 2020. Mid-Cenozoic fluvio-deltaic to marine environments of the Salin Sub-basin, Central Myanmar. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2019.104143

Recent News –

Amy Gough and Max Webb attended the Restech 2.0 Virtual Reservoir Conference. Amy Gough presented new SEARG research on the pitfalls of light mineral studies for sedimentary provenance in tropical climates.

Amy Gough was awarded an honorary research fellowship of the British Geological Survey and continues to foster collaborative relationships between SEARG and the BGS.