Regional exhumation history of brittle crust during subduction initiation, Fiordland, southwest New Zealand, and implications for thermochronologic sampling and analysis strategies

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dc.contributor.authorSutherland, Rupert
dc.contributor.authorGurnis, Michael
dc.contributor.authorKamp, Peter J.J.
dc.contributor.authorHouse, Martha A.
dc.date.accessioned2010-07-12T00:05:20Z
dc.date.available2010-07-12T00:05:20Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.description.abstractWe analyze spatial trends and statistical properties of 410 apatite and zircon fission track and (U-Th)/He ages, and implement a weighted least-squares regression scheme to obtain the regional rock uplift history associated with subduction initiation beneath Fiordland, New Zealand. We observe the onset of rapid exhumation at 25–15 Ma in southwest Fiordland, immediately following a time of significant change in regional plate motions. During the period 15–5 Ma, the locus of rapid exhumation broadened and migrated toward the northeast at ~30% of the plate motion rate, but exhumation remained localized along the northwest margin. Since 5 Ma, the zone of rapid exhumation has become broader, and the present high-amplitude gravity and topographic anomalies are spatially associated with the most tightly folded part of the subducted slab. We suggest that the pattern of exhumation tracks the along-strike and downdip development of the subducted slab, which requires tectonic erosion of mantle lithosphere of the overriding plate. Based upon local patterns of age variability, we hypothesize that brittle faults have displaced and rotated equal-cooling-age surfaces, and that there is short-wavelength (<10 km) spatial correlation between faults and topographic features. Our regression method allows us to simultaneously consider implications of all age data, evaluate “geological noise” introduced by brittle faults, and make cooling age predictions at any point in the region. The residuals from our regression indicate that, on average, mountain tops in Fiordland have undergone slightly greater rock uplift than adjacent valleys, even though our data are too sparse to identify specific faults. We suggest that sampling programs in active tectonic settings such as Fiordland must be sufficiently dense to determine both mean exhumation history and regional geological variability associated with faults.en_NZ
dc.identifier.citationSutherland, R., Gurnis, M., Kamp, P.J.J. & House, M.A. (2009). Regional exhumation history of brittle crust during subduction initiation, Fiordland, southwest New Zealand, and implications for thermochronologic sampling and analysis strategies. Geosphere, 5(5), 409-425.en_NZ
dc.identifier.doi10.1130/GES00225.1en_NZ
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10289/4130
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherGeological Society of Americaen_NZ
dc.relation.isPartOfGeosphereen_NZ
dc.subjecttransform plate boundaryen_NZ
dc.subjectalpine faulten_NZ
dc.subjectoblique subductionen_NZ
dc.subjectincipient subductionen_NZ
dc.subjectpuysegur marginen_NZ
dc.subjectheat-flowen_NZ
dc.subjectzoneen_NZ
dc.subjectevolutionen_NZ
dc.subjectpacificen_NZ
dc.subjectupliften_NZ
dc.titleRegional exhumation history of brittle crust during subduction initiation, Fiordland, southwest New Zealand, and implications for thermochronologic sampling and analysis strategiesen_NZ
dc.typeJournal Articleen_NZ
pubs.begin-page409en_NZ
pubs.elements-id34653
pubs.end-page425en_NZ
pubs.issue5en_NZ
pubs.volume5en_NZ
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