Tectonic History of the Fiji Plateau

Abstract

Research Article| November 01, 1971 Tectonic History of the Fiji Plateau CLEMENT G CHASE CLEMENT G CHASE Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037 AUTHOR'S PRESENT ADDRESS: DEPARTMENT OF GEODESY AND GEOPHYSICS, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information CLEMENT G CHASE AUTHOR'S PRESENT ADDRESS: DEPARTMENT OF GEODESY AND GEOPHYSICS, UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037 Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 16 Sep 1970 Revision Received: 30 Mar 1971 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1971, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1971) 82 (11): 3087–3110. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[3087:THOTFP]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 16 Sep 1970 Revision Received: 30 Mar 1971 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation CLEMENT G CHASE; Tectonic History of the Fiji Plateau. GSA Bulletin 1971;; 82 (11): 3087–3110. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[3087:THOTFP]2.0.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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The Fiji Plateau is a high, hot area of young oceanic crust. It is bounded on the north by a Cretaceous Pacific archipelago, and to the east and west by the Tonga and New Hebrides island arcs which go back to the Eocene. The Fiji Islands are an Eocene and younger continental mass formed within the ocean basin. Plate tectonics provides the key for understanding the area. Marine geological and geophysical data from Scripps Institution of Oceanography expeditions, especially Nova, and published seismic, gravity, and island geologic information provide the basis for the interpretation.Fiji is now flanked by three active sea-floor spreading centers which are part of a very complicated transform linking the Tonga and New Hebrides crustal consumption zones. Extension in the Lau Basin is also taking place. Magnetic anomalies and seismicity permit six small blocks and the large Pacific and Australian plates to be distinguished, and some idea of their relative motions to be gained.From published magnetic anomaly and fracture zone data, a detailed history of the Tertiary motions of the Pacific and Australian plates with respect to Antarctica has been deduced. By a suitable choice of plate boundaries, horizontal movements of the larger tectonic units of the Fiji Plateau region can be worked out for the entire Tertiary. This reconstruction successfully accounts for many hitherto unexplained bathymetric and geologic features of the area. The history proposed for the Fiji area is probably unique among the world's oceans. 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.