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Details for article 2 of 9 found articles
| Title: |
Lithospheric flexure in southeast Fiji consistent with the tectonic history of islands in the Yasayasa Moala |
| Author: |
Nunn, P. D. |
| Appeared in: |
Australian journal of earth sciences |
| Paging: | Volume 42 (1995) nr. 4 pages 377-389 |
| Year: |
1995-08 |
| Contents: |
The islands of the Yasayasa Moala (Moala, Totoya and Matuku) in southeast Fiji (southwest Pacific) are all oceanic central volcanoes active 8.4-3.5 Ma with contrasting post-volcanic histories. Moala exhibits a series of three contrasting fault systems; the two earliest (Pliocene?) are associated with cross-island rifts, the youngest (Pleistocene?) is strike-slip. One low-level emerged shoreline (averaging 1.2 m above mean sea level) is visible on Moala; traces of higher ones occur. Totoya has a well-developed low-level shoreline that emerges a similar amount. While Moala and Totoya are comprised solely of subaerial volcanics, Matuku has pillow lavas which indicate about 120 m of emergence relative to Moala and Totoya. The Yasayasa Moala borders a prominent ocean trench, believed to have been a plate boundary which actively accommodated convergence of the Indo-Australian and Fiji (?) plates during most of the Late Cenozoic. The diverse tectonic history of the associated islands may be associated with lithospheric flexure. Moala, the closest island to the trench, is believed to have ascended and descended the flexure already; its fault systems developed as the result of associated extension and compression. Matuku, the next closest, is believed to be at the crest of the flexure. Totoya has yet to ascend the flexure. This study emphasizes the point that studies of oceanic island tectonics can aid the understanding of the geotectonic history of poorly known regions such as the southwest Pacific. |
| Publisher: |
Taylor & Francis |
| Source file: |
Elektronische Wetenschappelijke Tijdschriften |
Details for article 2 of 9 found articles
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