Mesozoic-Cenozoic evolution of Australia's New Guinea margin in a west Pacific context

Abstract

The northern Australian margin includes the island of New Guinea, which records a complex structural and tectonic evolution, largely masked by Mlo-Pliocene orogenesis and the Pleistocene onset of tectonic collapse. In the Palaeozoic, New Guinea contained the boundary between a Late Palaeozoic active margin In the east and a region of extension associated with Gondwana breakup along the western margin of Australia. In the Permian and Early Triasslc, New Guinea was an active margin resulting in widespread Middle Triasslc granite Intrusions. The Mesozolc saw Triasslc and Jurassic rifting followed by Cretaceous passive margin subsidence and renewed rifting in the Late Cretaceous and Paleocene. S..