Marine seismic measurements in the new zealand region

Abstract

Seismic profiler data recorded by USNS Eltanin in the vicinity of New Zealand are used to delineate the major features of the sediment distribution in the region, particularly on the marginal plateaus. Sonobuoy data have given basement depths in some areas where the sediment cover is too thick to be profiled and also information on sediment velocities, enabling estimates to be made of sediment thicknesses. A strong reflector, probably Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary in age, occurs over a large portion of the survey area. Flat-lying sediments of Tertiary age, thicker than 2 km, occur in the morphological depressions of New Caledonia Basin, southern Hikurangi Trench, and Solander Trough. Bounty Trough however has a relatively thin sediment cover. Deep sedimentary troughs, also containing at least 2 km of sediments, exist at the south-west of Campbell Plateau, along the southern margin of Pukaki Rise, and along the eastern margin of South Island from south of Banks Peninsula to Snares Depression. © 1977 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.