Palynology, age and environmental significance of some peat beds in the upper Pleistocene Hinuera formation, South Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract

The first period of Hinuera Fonnation deposition (Hinuera-l) probably began before 40 000 yr BP, but after 65 ODD yr BP, and ceased by 20 000 yr BP. The

University of Waikato Radiocarbon Dates I

“…Somewhat earlier date of ca 15,000 BP (Wk-534) is interpreted as initial localized peat growth near Lake Maratoto that later spread outwards and contributed to development of main body of Rukuhia bog (Green & Lowe, 1985; see also McGlone, Nelson & Hume, 1978 (Lowe & Green, 1987).…”

“…The dates listed in Section 2 were obtained on carbonaceous matter associated with the Hinuera Formation, an extensive low-angle fan of volcanogenic alluvium that was deposited in several phases in the Waikato and Hauraki basins before and during the last stale (isotope stage 2) of the last glaciation (Fig 3; Schofield, 1965;Hume, Sherwood & Nelson, 1975;McGlone, Nelson & Hume, 1978;Guthbertson, ms;Selby, 1982;Green & Lowe, 1985). The aggradation of the Hinuera Formation resulted in the formation of most of the lakes noted above (McGraw, 1967;Lowe & Green, 1987).…”

Palynology of core 80/20 and its implications for understanding Holocene sea level changes in the Firth of Thames, New Zealand

“…This conclusion is based on lithostratigraphic superposition, palynology and the decontamination experiments of Goh et al, (1978). Greig (1982) originally suggested an Oturian age (120,000-80,000 years BP) for the Hauraki Gulf and Firth of Thames peats, since pollen analyses of peats (radiometrically dated at between 20,000 and 18,000 years BP) from beneath the Hauraki lowlands indicated a cool, possibly dry and/or drought prone climate (McGlone et al, 1978;Cuthbertson, 1981). These peats may therefore have accumulated during a late phase of the Otira Glaciation.…”

Late Quaternary tephras of Coromandel Peninsula, North Island, New Zealand: A mixed peralkaline and calcalkaline tephra sequence

“…CLIMAP Project Members (1976), Luz (1977), McGlone et al (1978), and Wilson (1978), have each suggested that, whereas temperatures in the southern half of the North Island and in the South Island dropped by about 6°C during glacial times*, the temperatures in the northern half of the North Island were depressed by no more than 4°C, with a steep latitudinal temperature gradient between 37° and 38°S. This region has been climatically sensitive in the past, with many forest species limited to the north of this latitudinal range.…”