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In search of Gondwana heritage in the Outer Melanesian Arc: no pre-upper Eocene detrital zircons in Viti Levu river sands (Fiji Islands)

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 23:34 authored by Cluzel, D, Sebastien MeffreSebastien Meffre
Volcanic arcs of the Southwest Pacific, collectively referred to as the Outer Melanesian Arc, are generally thought to result from subduction of the Pacific Plate since the Late Cretaceous. Meanwhile, it is largely accepted that eastward roll-back of the old and dense oceanic plate allowed opening of marginal basins, which isolated large blocks of the former Gondwana margin. Incidentally, some ‘intra-oceanic’ volcanic arcs may have been nucleated on small continental fragments. Detrital zircons collected from sand banks in the mid-reaches of rivers from Viti Levu Island have been analysed for U–Pb geochronology and geochemistry, in order to search for a possible ancient continental arc basement, remnants of a Late Cretaceous arc, and determine the timing and evolution of Fiji arc magmatism. In contrast with some other places of the Outer Melanesian Arc (Solomon, Vanuatu), no pre-upper Eocene zircons have been found. Thus, Gondwana-derived fragments or Late Cretaceous–Paleocene arc remnants are unlikely to form the basement of Viti Levu. Zircon geochemistry confirms the purely intra-oceanic character of volcanic-arc magmatism as well. Variations in some trace-element ratios closely reflect the evolution of Viti Levu Arc from upper Eocene inception to upper Miocene climax and finally Pliocene intra-arc rifting and abandonment.

History

Publication title

Australian Journal of Earth Sciences

Volume

66

Pagination

265-277

ISSN

0812-0099

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing Asia

Place of publication

54 University St, P O Box 378, Carlton, Australia, Victoria, 3053

Rights statement

Copyright 2018 Geological Society of Australia

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences

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