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The course is built around the geological development of New Zealand and Antarctica and will focus on the evolution of the Pacific sector of the Gondwana margin and its break-up to form the Southern Ocean and the austral continents. The connecting theme will be regional tectonics and an integration of data from magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary basin histories into a consistent tectonic story. The validity of a range of tectonic and terrane models will be assessed.
The first half of the course will focus on the Palaeozoic evolution of the Pacific margin of Gondwana particularly on how the oldest rocks of New Zealand relate to those of Antarctica and Australia (Block 1). The second half of the course will focus on the Mesozoic evolution and ultimate break-up of Gondwana to form our southern continents (Block 2).Course PlanTerm 3 Block 1 Palaeozoic Orogens BradshawWeek 1 Ross-Delamerian Orogen Week 2 Lachlan Fold BeltWeek 3 Tasmania Week 4 Seminar Student presentation Week 5 Seminar Student presentation Week 6 Synthesis and tectonic models End of term Submit abstracts Term 4 Block 2 Mesozoic Margins StoreyWeek 1 The origin of the Gondwana continent Week 2 Break up magmatism and processes Week 3 Magmatic arcs and accretionary complexes Week 4 New Zealand-Antarctic rifting Week 5 Post-subduction magmatism Week 6 Essay review End of term Submit essays
Subject to approval of the Head of Department.
Bryan Storey
John Bradshaw
Oral presentation and abstract topics:One of the following topics will be allocated at the start of term 3 to each student (come prepared with your preferred choice but bear in mind that you may not get your first choice). The allocated topic will form the basis of both your group oral presentation and individual written abstract assignment. It would be an advantage to discuss your particular topic with others to get a feeling for the similarities and differences. 1. Compare and contrast the Grampian Group os western Victoria and the Camp Ridge Quartzite of northern Victoria land in terms of age, sedimentation, structure and regional setting. What is their geotectonic significance?2. Compare and contrast the Ordovician to Devonian rocks of Tasmania and Takaka Terrane of New Zealand in terms of Sedimentary character, succession and basin development. What do your results indicate?3. Review the Devonian magmatic rocks of South East Australia, Tasmania and Antarctica, focusing on age, style and depth of intrusion and broad geotechnical type (not detailed geochemistry). What is their regional tectonic significance?4. Compare the relationship between the Stawell, Bendigo and Melbourne zones of Victoria to that if the Buller terrane and the Takaka terrane of New Zealand in terms of stratigraphical and structural development and their tectonic significance.Essay topics:Yet to be decided
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Students should revise their knowledge of plate tectonics, igneous petrology and New Zealand geology. Essay topics to be decided.
Domestic fee $840.00
International Postgraduate fees
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Geological Sciences .