Lithostratigraphy of the te kuiti group: A revision

Abstract

The Te Kuiti Group in the South Auckland area comprises nine formations of late Eocene to early Miocene age, and is dominated by calcareous sandstones, siltstones, and limestones. This paper revises the stratigraphy and nomenclature of the group. Te Akatea Siltstone and Whaingaroa Siltstone are renamed Te Akatea Formation and Whaingaroa Formation, respectively, and the base of Te Akatea Formation is redefined. Minor changes of nomenclature are proposed for members of Glen Massey and Mangakotuku Formations, to avoid duplication of the formation name. Four new members are proposed within Aotea Formation: Patikirau Siltstone and Mangiti Sandstone to the north of Mt Karioi, and Kihi Sandstone and Hauturu Sandstone to the south. Two new members are distinguished within Whaingaroa Formation: Orotangi Sandstone and Kotuku Siltstone. Existing type localities for Te Akatea and Aotea Formations are replaced by more representative and complete sections, and additional reference sections are proposed for Aotea and Whaingaroa Formations. The geographic distribution of formations and members highlights a significant facies change at the approximate latitude of Mt Karioi: siltstones predominate to the north and sandstones to the south. © The Royal Society of New Zealand 1993.