Southern Basins Research Initiative
Introduction
The Department of Geology at the University of Otago has an inherent research initiative focussed on the Cretaceous-Cenozoic sedimentary basins of Southern New Zealand (Canterbury Basin, Great South Basin, Te Anau and Waiau Basins, Solander Basin, Puysegur Basin, Fiordland Basin, etc.) Besides holding the promise of significant oil and gas resources, the basins serve as tectono-stratigraphic 'memory banks'. The structural and sedimentological evolution of these basins reflects the tectonic history of the area following Late Cretaceous rifting of the New Zealand landmass from Gondwana (Antarctica and Australia) and the subsequent development of the current Pacific-Australia plate boundary from c. 45 Ma leading to the evolution of the Alpine Fault system from c. 25 Ma.
Areas of research expertise
With progressive acquisition of new subsurface data both onshore and offshore, existing expertise within the Department of Geology will be brought to bear on:
- Structural architecture of the basins and their tectonic evolution (Richard Norris, Virginia Toy)
- Biostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy of the basins (Ewan Fordyce, Daphne Lee, Gary Wilson)`
- Seismic processing and analysis (Andrew Gorman)
- Seismic stratigraphy (Andrew Gorman)
- Sedimentology and paleoenvironments (James White, Gary Wilson)
- Geochemical characterisation of potential source rocks (Dave Craw, Candace Martin)
- Basement petrography and geochemistry (Alan Cooper, Michael Palin)
- Thermal modelling of basin evolution (Andrew Gorman)
- Hydrology and environmental geochemistry (Dave Craw, Candace Martin)
- Structural permeability (faults, fractures, folds) affecting fluid migration (Richard Sibson, Virginia Toy)
- Fluid redistribution accompanying compressional inversion (Richard Sibson)
- Distribution and evolution of gas hydrate systems (Andrew Gorman)
- Volcanology and volcaniclastic sediments (James White)
Staff: Alan Cooper, Dave Craw, Ewan Fordyce, Andrew Gorman, Daphne Lee, Candace Martin, Richard Norris, Mike Palin, Richard Sibson, Virginia Toy, James White, Gary Wilson.
Research Facilities
Some of the specific research facilities available within the Department of Geology that could be applied to research in the Southern Basins include:
- R/V Polaris II -
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a 21 m vessel equipped with state-of-the-art navigation and growing capabilities in marine geology and geophysics including facilities for dredging and shallow coring, a Teledyn-Benthos seismic towfish consisting of bathymetric sidescan (C3D) and a CHIRP sub bottom profiler, and a Ferranti 5210A high-resolution sub-bottom profiler with Boomer source.
- extensive seismic analysis capabilities including GLOBE Claritas seismic processing software, Kingdom Suite seismic interpretation software, Schlumberger GeoFrame interpretation software
- palaeomagnetic facilities centred around a long-core cryogenic magnetometer
- a structural geology laboratory incorporating analogue sandbox modelling and specialised software (ArcGIS, FLAC v 3.4, FLAC-3D v2.0 & 2.1, 2D-Move)
- extensive geochemical / mineralogical facilities including a Philips PW2400 X-ray Flourencence spectrometer (XRF), an X'Pert PRO X-Ray Diffractometer system, and a JEOL JXA-8600 electron microprobe.
A more complete listing of the department's research facilities is located here.
Current Research
Andrew Gorman – Investigations of the structure, stratigraphy and sub-seafloor fluid flux of the Otago / Southland continental shelf using high resolution sub-bottom imaging techniques. A collaborative paper is currently nearing completion, which will summarise the efforts of a series of MSc students over the last 20 years.
Tim Lennon (MSc with Andrew Gorman) Geophysical exploration offshore Stewart Island. Project funded by a TEC Enterprise Scholarship sponsored by GeoSphere, Lower Hutt.
Pont Lurcock (PhD with Gary Wilson) Paleomagnetic evidence for ice in the greenhouse.
Paul Viskovic (MSc with Andrew Gorman) Fluid flux through the sea-floor of the Great South Basin. Projected funded by a TEC Enterprise Scholarship sponsored by OMV New Zealand, Wellington.
Research Topics
Possibilities include:
- structural framework of the Great South Basin from marine seismic reflection data (Andrew Gorman)
- stratigraphic evolution of the Great South Basin from marine seismic reflection and well data (Andrew Gorman)
- authigenic cementation minerals in Taratu Formation acquifers (DC)
- stratigraphic controls on authigenic pyrite formation (DC)
- structural permeability analysis of normal and thrust fault systems in the Taratu Formation (Richard Sibson)
- fluid redistribution around compressional inversion structures (Richard Sibson)
- environmental controls on Cenozoic stratal accumulations (GSW)
- paleomagnetic chronology and correlation of Cenozoic stratigraphic successions (GSW)
- foraminiferal biostratigraphy of onshore vs. offshore (from well data) Cretaceous - Cenozoic strata (REF)
- foraminiferal (and other fossil) geochemical / quantitative proxies for changing paleoenvironments, onshore and offshore (from well data) Cretaceous - Cenozoic strata (REF)
- structural development and fault/fold kinematics in the Western Southland basins (RJN/ vt)
- sandstone dykes and fluid flow related to deformation in the Blackmount and McIvor formations, Western Southland (RJN)
- provenance and diagenesis of clastic sediments in the Great South Basin (JMP / Candace Martin)
- petrology and terrane affiliation of economic basement to the Great South Basin (JMP)
- Cenozoic volcanism of the South Island and offshore (James White / AFC)
More information
If you would like more information about our research please contact the staff member or student who is involved in your area of interest. A list of our publications is available. If you are thinking of coming to study here please start at the information for prospective students part of our website and also be sure to check for any funding opportunities that may be available. Our contact details are given on a separate page, please feel free to contact us for further information.
Photo Credits: (randomly presented above) | Cookson submarine volcanics, Onshore Canterbury Basin James White | Frankfurt Seamount on Chatham Rise Hoernel et al. (Zealandia Project - Sonne Cruise 168 unpublished data) | Caversham Fm exposed in cliffs south of Dunedin Andrew Gorman | RV Polaris II at dock in Port Chalmers Andrew Gorman | Grab sampling in Foveaux Strait Andrew Gorman | Sunrise over the Southern Ocean from RV Tangaroa Andrew Gorman | Deep-water dredging operation aboard RV Tangaroa Andrew Gorman | Howells Point - SE to Bluff Mike Palin | Ruahine - S to Stewart Island Mike Palin | Tautuku Beach, The Catlins Mike Palin
