LATE PALEOZOIC ARC FLANK AND FORE-ARC BASIN SEQUENCE OF THE NEW-ENGLAND FOLD BELT IN THE STANAGE BAY-REGION, CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

Devonian and Carboniferous (Yarrol terrane) rocks, Early Permian strat a, and Permian-(?)Triassic plutons outcrop in the Stanage Bay region o f the northern New England Fold Belt. The Early-(?)Middle Devonian Mt Holly Formation consists mainly of coarse volcaniclastic rocks of inte rmediate-silicic provenance, and mafic, intermediate and silicic volca nics. Limestone is abundant in the Duke Island, along with a significa nt component of quartz sandstone on Hunter Island. Most Carboniferous rocks can be placed in two units, the late Tournaisian-Namurian Campwy n Volcanics, composed of coarse volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks, sili cic ash flow tuff and widespread oolitic limestone, and the conformabl y overlying Neerkol Formation dominated by volcaniclastic sandstone an d siltstone with uncommon pebble conglomerate and scattered silicic as h fall tuff. Strata of uncertain stratigraphic affinity are mapped as 'undifferentiated Carboniferous'. The Early Permian Youlambie Conglome rate unconformably overlies Carboniferous rocks. It consists of mudsto ne, sandstone and conglomerate, the last containing clasts of Carbonif erous sedimentary rocks, diverse volcanics and rare granitic rocks. In trusive bodies include the altered and variably strained Tynemouth Dio rite of possible Devonian age, and a quartz monzonite mass of likely L ate Permian or Triassic age. The rocks of the Yarrol terrane accumulat ed in shallow (Mt Holly, Campwyn) and deeper (Neerkol) marine conditio ns proximal to an active magmatic arc which was probably of continenta l margin type. The Youlambie Conglomerate was deposited unconformably above the Yarrol terrane in a rift basin. Late Permian regional. defor mation, which involved east-west horizontal shortening achieved by fol ding, cleavage formation and east-over-west thrusting, increases in in tensity towards the east.