Relationships between the Brook Street Terrane and Median Tectonic Zone (Median Batholith): evidence from Jurassic conglomerates

Citation
Aj. Tulloch et al., Relationships between the Brook Street Terrane and Median Tectonic Zone (Median Batholith): evidence from Jurassic conglomerates, NZ J GEOL, 42(2), 1999, pp. 279-293
Citations number
54
Categorie Soggetti
Earth Sciences
Journal title
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS
ISSN journal
00288306 → ACNP
Volume
42
Issue
2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
279 - 293
Database
ISI
SICI code
0028-8306(199906)42:2<279:RBTBST>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
U-Pb zircon ages of 237-180 Ma and c. 280 Ma of seven granitoid clasts from the Rainy River Conglomerate which lies within the eastern Median Tectonic Zone (Median Batholith) in Nelson, and the Barretts Formation of the Brook Street Terrane in Southland, constrain the depositional ages of both units to be no older than c. 180-200 Ma (Early Jurassic). The minimum age of the Rainy River Conglomerate is constrained by the 147 +2 -1 Ma (latest Jurass ic) emplacement age of the One Mile Gabbronorite (new name: previously west ern Buller Diorite). The ages and chemistry of five of the granitoid clasts are broadly compatible with derivation from rocks that are now represented by Triassic plutons of the Median Tectonic Zone (Median Batholith), althou gh ages as young as 180 Ma are slightly outside the range of the latter as currently exposed in New Zealand. The age (273-290 Ma, 237 +/- 3 Ma) and ch emistry of the other two clasts tone each from Rainy River Conglomerate and Barretts Formation) suggest derivation from the Brook Street Terrane. Simi larity in stratigraphic age, depositional characteristics, granitoid clast ages and composition between Rainy River Conglomerate and Barretts Formatio n suggests that they are broadly correlative and collectively overlapped a combined Brook Street Terrane - Median Batholith (MTZ) before the Late Jura ssic (147 +2 -1 Ma). Sedimentary overlap may also have continued across to Middle Jurassic conglomeratic strata in the Murihiku Terrane to the east of the Brook Street Terrace. A U-Pb zircon age of 261 +/- 2 Ma is reported fo r Pourakino Trondhjemite of the Brook Street Terrane.