Geophysics and tentative late cenozoic seismic stratigraphy of the Banda Arc-Australian continent collision zone along three transects

• Published in: Netherlands journal of sea research 1989-11, Vol.24 (2-3), p.205-229
• Main Authors: Jongsma, D., Woodside, J.M., Huson, W., Suparka, S., Kadarisman, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied geophysics; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Internal geophysics
• ISSN: 0077-7579
• DOI: 10.1016/0077-7579(89)90150-6

Three marine geophysical transects across the Banda Arc-Australian continent collision zone, east of Timor, north of Tanimbar and southeast of Seram show a variety of deformation patterns produced by the convergence. Seismic sequences observed in troughs and basins along these transects are tentatively correlated with the latest Cenozoic cycle chart. The sequences tentatively constrain the ages of the basins from Pliocene to Recent. In the troughs near the deformation front, Pliocene (5.5 Ma) to Recent undisturbed sediments are being accreted along the Timor and the Seram Transect. The forearc of both these transects shows deformed sediments. The Tanimbar Transect shows six basins on the Tanimbar structural high and deformation associated with strike slip and diapirism is observed. The deformation front on this transect consists of very closely spaced faults. The Weber Deep formed just prior to 5.5 Ma based on the tentative seismic sequence stratigraphy. A structural break in all 3 transects at a distance of about 45 km from the deformation front is postulated to relate to overriding of the base of the Australian continental slope.