Late Cenozoic evolution and earthquake potential of an active listric thrust complex above the Hikurangi subduction zone, New Zealand

Barnes, Philip M.; Nicol, Andrew; Harrison, Tony

doi:10.1130/0016-7606(2002)114<1379:lceaep>2.0.co;2

Cited by 148 publications

(213 citation statements)

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“…The listric normal faults of the gravitational collapse domain may sole-out into such a stratigraphically equivalent confined zone of near-horizontal smectitic clay. Barnes et al (2002) have described similar Miocene-age listric extensional faults which are well imaged in seismic reflection profiles offshore across the Lachlan Ridge and Lachlan Basin, along the east side of Hawke Bay, immediately north of the study in this paper. They noted that these extensional faults flatten into low-angle detachments within the same Cretaceous-Paleogene succession, and that the extensional faulting is also coeval with continued thrust faulting on nearby faults.…”

Section: Two Structural Domainsmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…The extensional deformation described in this paper has been ongoing for at least 1-2 m.y., and also co-exists with ongoing thrust faulting in adjacent regions (e.g., Pettinga 1980Pettinga , 1982Beanland et al 1998;Barnes et al 2002). It is entirely possible that the extensional deformation described in this paper represents the continuation of a prolonged episode of extension affecting the frontal wedge of the forearc region, and that the spatial loci of extension has progressively migrated westward across the wedge as the underplated material is progressively taken westward along the decollement interface of the subduction zone.…”

Section: Two Structural Domainsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…period (15-5 Ma) of mainly extensional faulting and associated subsidence, which they attributed to tectonic erosion of the overriding subduction forearc margin. Barnes et al (2002) noted that this may provide an explanation for the co-existence of localised regions of extension and contraction they observed, and that this in turn may reflect either a change in the mechanics of the subduction zone, or some spatial variations in the crustal structure of the subducted plate. Clearly, a major episode of tectonic erosion will be accompanied by significant quantities of trench-fill sediment, and possibly slices of the leading edge of the overriding frontal wedge being underplated, which in turn may lead to a period of tectonic extension within the upper plate frontal wedge (cf.…”

Section: Two Structural Domainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1) (Walcott 1978a(Walcott , 1984Spörli 1980;Lewis et al 1998;Barnes et al 2002). The structurally highest sector of this frontal wedge, the highest imbricated thrust ridge and forearc basin, is emergent and exposed onland from Hawke Bay south for 270 km (Fig.…”

Section: Regional Geologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Three‐stage massive gravitational collapse of the emergent imbricate frontal wedge, Hikurangi Subduction Zone, New Zealand

Pettinga¹

2004

New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics

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A large-scale east-facing Quaternary gravitational collapse is affecting the otherwise thrust-faulted terrain of coastal southern Hawke's Bay on the east coast of North Island of New Zealand, involving an area >30 km long and up to 6 km inland from the coast, but also extending offshore. The western limit of the collapse structure onshore is represented by a footwall escarpment forming the eastern margin of the Maraetotara Plateau (av. elevation 500 m a.s.l.). To the east of this escarpment, the disposition of the Pliocene Te Aute Limestone within a complex extensional zone reflects numerous northeast-southwest-trending normal faults (some Holocene active) with the development of horst and graben, fault-angle depressions, synclinal folds, fissured zones, and large parasitic landslides. Listric normal faulting is reflected by the back-tilting of large blocks up to several kilometres in length, near the centre of the gravitational collapse. Horizontal extension across the gravitational collapse domain is calculated at between 15 and 20%. West of the footwall escarpment, the Maraetotara Plateau defines a separate structural domain with horizontal extension of between 2 and 5%, inferred to be related to bending moment faults driven by regional arching accompanying uplift. A fundamental contrast exists between active extensional structures onshore and the mainly contractional structures (asymmetrical anticlines, reverse and thrust faults) offshore. A tectonically driven model involving underplating of trench fill best explains the large-scale gravitational collapse of this part of the emergent imbricate frontal wedge of the Hikurangi Subduction Zone margin.

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Section: Two Structural Domainsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Two Structural Domainsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Two Structural Domainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Regional Geologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Three‐stage massive gravitational collapse of the emergent imbricate frontal wedge, Hikurangi Subduction Zone, New Zealand

Pettinga¹

2004

New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics

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“…The clinoform sequences are fine grained at the surface (Alexander et al, 2010) but are likely to contain a significant sand fraction at depth, as found for similar sequences in the vicinity (Barnes et al, 1991). Miocene and older rocks have been documented beneath the Quaternary sections; these sequences have been exposed at places following erosion and/or tectonic uplift (Barnes et al, 2002;Field et al, 1997;Mountjoy and Barnes, 2011). Dissociation of gas hydrates has long been suspected to be involved in seafloor failure, mainly because of (1) "melting" of a potentially frame-supporting or cementing solid to water and (2) netvolume expansion leading to elevated pore pressure due to the generation of free gas (Kvenvolden, 1993;Mienert et al, 1998).…”

Section: Geologic Setting Of Tuaheni Landslide Complexmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Barnes¹,

Pecher²,

LeVay³

2017

International Ocean Discovery Program Scientific Prospectus

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International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 372 combines two research topics, slow slip events (SSEs) on subduction faults and actively deforming gas hydrate-bearing landslides (Proposal 841-APL). Our study area on the Hikurangi margin east of New Zealand provides unique locations for addressing both research topics.Gas hydrates have long been suspected of being involved in seafloor failure; not much evidence, however, has been found to date for gas hydrate-related submarine landslides. Solid, icelike gas hydrate in sediment pores is generally thought to increase seafloor strength, as confirmed by a number of laboratory measurements. Dissociation of gas hydrate to water and overpressured gas, on the other hand, may destabilize the seafloor, potentially causing submarine landslides.The Tuaheni Landslide Complex on the Hikurangi margin shows evidence for active, creeping deformation. Intriguingly, the landward edge of creeping coincides with the pinchout of the base of gas hydrate stability (BGHS) on the seafloor. We therefore hypothesize that gas hydrate may be linked to creeping by (1) repeated small-scale sliding at the BGHS, in a variation of the conventional model linking gas hydrates and seafloor failure; (2) overpressure at the BGHS due to a permeability reduction linked to gas hydrates, which may lead to hydrofracturing, weakening the seafloor and allowing transmission of pressure into the gas hydrate stability zone; or (3) icelike viscous deformation of gas hydrates in sediment pores, similar to onshore rock glaciers. The latter two processes imply that gas hydrate itself is involved in creeping, constituting a paradigm shift in relating gas hydrates to submarine slope failure. Alternatively, creeping may not be related to gas hydrates but instead be caused by repeated pressure pulses or linked to earthquake-related liquefaction. We have devised a coring and logging program to test our hypotheses.SSEs at subduction zones are an enigmatic form of creeping fault behavior. At the northern Hikurangi subduction margin (HSM), they are among the best-documented and shallowest on Earth. They recur about every 2 y and may extend close to the trench, where clastic and pelagic sediments about 1.0-1.5 km thick overlie the subducting, seamount-studded Hikurangi Plateau. The northern HSM thus provides an excellent setting to use IODP capabilities to discern the mechanisms behind slow slip fault behavior, as proposed in IODP Proposal 781A-Full.The objectives of Proposal 781A-Full will be implemented across two related IODP expeditions, 372 and 375. Expedition 372 will undertake logging while drilling (LWD) at three sites targeting the upper plate (midslope basin, proposed Site HSM-01A), the frontal thrust (proposed Site HSM-18A), and the subducting section in the trench (proposed Site HSM-05A). Expedition 375 will undertake coring at the same sites, as well as an additional seamount site on the subducting plate, and implement the borehole observatory objectives. The data from each expedition will be...

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Submarine gas seepage in a mixed contractional and shear deformation regime: Cases from the Hikurangi oblique‐subduction margin

Plaza‐Faverola

Pecher

Crutchley

et al. 2014

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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[1] Gas seepage from marine sediments has implications for understanding feedbacks between the global carbon reservoir, seabed ecology, and climate change. Although the relationship between hydrates, gas chimneys, and seafloor seepage is well established, the nature of fluid sources and plumbing mechanisms controlling fluid escape into the hydrate zone and up to the seafloor remain one of the least understood components of fluid migration systems. In this study, we present the analysis of new three-dimensional high-resolution seismic data acquired to investigate fluid migration systems sustaining active seafloor seepage at Omakere Ridge, on the Hikurangi subduction margin, New Zealand. The analysis reveals at high resolution, complex overprinting fault structures (i.e., protothrusts, normal faults from flexural extension, and shallow (<1 km) arrays of oblique shear structures) implicated in fluid migration within the gas hydrate stability zone in an area of 2 3 7 km. In addition to fluid migration systems sustaining seafloor seepage on both sides of a central thrust fault, the data show seismic evidence for subseafloor gas-rich fluid accumulation associated with proto-thrusts and extensional faults. In these latter systems fluid pressure dissipation through time has been favored, hindering the development of gas chimneys. We discuss the elements of the distinct fluid migration systems and the influence that a complex partitioning of stress may have on the evolution of fluid flow systems in active subduction margins.

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Late Cenozoic evolution and earthquake potential of an active listric thrust complex above the Hikurangi subduction zone, New Zealand

Cited by 148 publications

References 51 publications

Three‐stage massive gravitational collapse of the emergent imbricate frontal wedge, Hikurangi Subduction Zone, New Zealand

Three‐stage massive gravitational collapse of the emergent imbricate frontal wedge, Hikurangi Subduction Zone, New Zealand

Untitled

Submarine gas seepage in a mixed contractional and shear deformation regime: Cases from the Hikurangi oblique‐subduction margin

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