Neogene uplift and deformation in the northeastern Bird’s Head Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia: consequences of oblique plate convergence

Figures & data

Figure 1. Major structural elements of western New Guinea and distribution of shallow earthquakes (<30 km depth). Tectonic features are shown (after Atmawinata et al. 1989; Hartono et al. 1989; Ratman et al. 1989; Pieters et al. 1989; Tobing et al. 1990; Baldwin et al. 2012; Hall 2012; Webb et al. 2019, 2020a, 2020b). Earthquake catalogue from GCMT (www.globalcmt.org) from 25 June 1976 to 1 July 2019. Figure base from the Digital Elevation Model (http://tides.big.go.id/DEMNAS/) and bathymetry from GEBCO (www.gebco.net). Pacific-Australian plate motion vector from DeMets et al. (1994) and Stevens et al. (2002). Dotted line (R.F.W.O.C.F. = Ransiki Fault-Weyland Overthrust connecting fault) is an inferred fault in western Cendrawasih Bay similar to the former suture shown by Dow and Sukamto (1984) and Gold et al. (2017b, figure 1). Inset shows the main plates in the New Guinea eastern Indonesia region.

Figure 2. (a) Regional geological map of the Bird’s Head Peninsula simplified from Dow et al. (1986), Watkinson and Hall (2017), and Webb et al. (2019). Bathymetry from GEBCO (www.gebco.net). Onland background of hillshade derived from the Digital Elevation Model (http://tides.big.go.id/DEMNAS/). (b) Simplified geological map of northeastern Bird’s Head Peninsula, Western New Guinea. Reinterpreted and updated from the 1:250 000 scale geological maps of Atmawinata et al. (1989) and Ratman et al. (1989). Triassic ages of intrusions from Webb et al. (2019, 2020a, b). Location shown on (a).

Figure 2. (Continued)

Figure 3. Topography of the Kemum High, Digital Elevation Model and topographic cross-section. Figure base made with GeoMapApp (www.geomapapp.org), CC by (Ryan et al. 2009).

Figure 4. Geological map of the Manokwari area showing northwest-southeast trending folds, with a substantial homoclinal dip to the southwest, and prominent anticlines cored by the Maruni Limestone in the southwest. Background of hillshade derived from the Digital Elevation Model (http://tides.big.go.id/DEMNAS/). Location shown on Figure 2b Reinterpreted and updated from the map of Ratman et al. (1989) based on new mapping reported herein. Orientation data from the jungle-clad area west of the Nuni River (northwestern part of the area) is from Ratman et al. (1989).

Figure 5. (a)-(d) Excavation in a quarry, Anday area, locality 17SE–165 (0°56’28.73“S, 133°59’51.00“E). Polymictic conglomerate in the Befoor Formation with clasts of granite (gr), diorite (dr), and limestone (lst). Hardened clay clasts are also present. The grain size is dominantly very coarse to fine grain/pebble, but some of the clasts have a granule size. (e) An excavation showing the contact between the Befoor Formation and the overlying Manokwari Formation, locality 17SE–39 (0°54’59.90“S, 134°1’31.70“E). Photograph shows contact (red dashed line) of reef limestone (Manokwari Formation) unconformably overlying grey mudstone (Befoor Formation). Close-up photograph given in (f).

Figure 6. Lower hemisphere equal area stereonets for poles to bedding in the Befoor Formation and Maruni Limestone for the Manokwari area. (a) Domain 1 (north of the Anday syncline, cross-section CD). Fold axis (β) = 1°/120°. (b) Hingk area (southern part of the Kabori anticline) along road into limestone quarry. Fold axis (β) = 9°/326°. (c) All bedding in Domain 2 (Maruni area, cross-section AB). Fold axis (β) = 3°/317°. (d) Contoured plot of (c).

Figure 7. Cross-sections CD (a) and AB (b) of the Manokwari area. See Figure 4 for locations.

Figure 8. Road cutting in the Lembai Diorite; photographs taken looking to the west. (a) Shear zone (85°/065°) with left side (southwest) dropped relative to the northeastern side of the fault indicated by foliation curving into the fault plane, locality 18SE–167 (0°59’24.10“S, 133°53’4.80“E). (b) Calcite veins (dotted lines) in and adjacent to the shear zone. (c) Fault 75°/155° (in white square, see (d) for close-up photograph). (d) Slickenlines (fibrous calcite) in the fault in (c) with a pitch of 75° to the east. (e)-(f) Lower hemisphere equal-area stereonets of orientation data of structures measured in road cuttings in the Lembai Diorite (from north [0°59’19.6“S, 133°53’8.3“E] to south [0°59’39.6“S, 133°53’9.2“E]). (e) Poles to veins (126) contoured at 1, 2, 4, and 8% per 1% area. Average 79°/234°. (f) Faults and shear zones (9) plotted as great circles with slickenlines (7, black dots).

Figure 9. Plumose structure showing hackle fringe and propagation direction along a northeast-trending vertical joint in the Befoor Formation near Manokwari, locality 17SE–01 (0°52’30.08“S, 134° 2’49.16“E).

Figure 10. Lower hemisphere equal-area stereonets (number of poles to planes given at lower right for each stereonet) and photographs of joints in the Befoor Formation. (a) All joints/veins in the Manokwari area. (b) Contoured plot of (a) at 1, 2, 4 and 8% per 1% area. (c) Poles to joints (S₀ 25°/160°) at locality 18SE–60 with dominant east-southeast set of joints (0°46’4.21‘S, 133°58’37.50“E). Average orientation of the east-southeast joint set is 90°/206°. (d) Outcrop in the Pami River, same location as (c). (e) Outcrop in the Nuni River (locality 18SE–62, 0°46’12.8”S, 133°58’56.5’E). Average 76°/290°. (f) Road cutting in Befoor Formation showing 2 sets of joints/veins at locality 18SE–82 (0°55’36.968“S, 133°57’16.75“E). (g) Lower hemisphere equal-area stereonets of poles to veins from locality 18SE–82 (S₀ not determined) with 2 average orientations (53°/301°, 61°/135°). (h) Locality 17SE–153/AS-149 (0°52’39.175“S, 134°2’45.688“E, S₀ 10°/220°) with several orientations of joints. (i) Poles to two joint sets at locality 17SE–202 (0°52’52.006“S, 134°2’41.992“E, S₀ flat-lying), left average 77°/136°, right average 55°/226°.

Figure 11. Lower hemisphere equal-area stereonets of structures in the Manokwari Formation. (a) Total poles to joints. (b) Total poles to joints contoured at 2, 4, and 6% per 1% area. (c) Poles of all joints measured at the three localities on Mansinam Island. (d) Outcrop of reef limestone of the Manokwari Formation at locality 17SE-09A (0°55’26.963“S, 134°2’39.792“E) showing joints and a fault plane. (e) Close-up photograph of the fault plane in (d) and showing down-dip slickenlines. (f) 19 poles to joints at locality 17SE-09A, with an average of 77°/005° for 12 joints. (g) Fault with slickenlines and principal stress directions. (h) Stylolitic joint on the western side of Mansinam Island (0°54’7.349“S, 134°5’44.443“E).

Figure 12. (A) Excavation in Befoor Formation that shows bedding (S₀ 20°/305°), small faults, and joints, locality 17SE–142 (0°52’39.751“S, 134°5’21.352“E). (b) Close-up of small fault showing gently plunging slickenlines. (c) Lower hemisphere equal-area stereonets; left, 3 great circles to faults, middle, 8 poles to joints, and right, principal stresses related to small sinistral strike-slip fault with slickenlines in (b). (d) Outcrop of fault scarp in the Befoor Formation overlain by Manokwari Formation at locality 17SE–40 (0°54’50.259“S, 134°1’30.528“E). (e) Steeply pitching slickenlines (dotted white line) along the fault surface (as shown in box in (d)). (f) Lower hemisphere equal-area stereonet showing normal fault (great circle), slickenlines (cross, sl) and principal stress orientations.

Figure 13. Detrital zircon ages from the Befoor Formation. (a-b) ²³⁸U/²⁰⁶Pb–²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb concordia diagrams (errors given at the 2σ level). (c-d) U–Pb age histogram and cumulative frequency plots.

Figure 14. Time-space plot for the past 25 Ma showing comparisons of main stratigraphic units, main tectonic events and radiometric ages for the Manokwari area (Robinson and Ratman 1977; Gold et al. 2014, 2017a, 2017b; this work), the Tamrau and Tosem blocks (Pieters et al. 1989; Webb et al. 2019, 2020a, 2020b), the Central Bird’s Head Monocline (Pieters et al. 1985; Thery et al. 1999), Lengguru Fold Belt (Dow and Sukamto 1984; Bailly et al. 2009; White et al. 2019), Cendrawasih Bay (Babault et al. 2018), and the Central Ranges of western New Guinea (Cloos et al. 2005; Quarles van Otford and Cloos 2005). The 20 m thick drowning succession overlying the Maruni Limestone is described as an equivalent of the Segau Formation by Gold et al. (2017b) from a locality 18 km south-southwest of Manokwari (see text). Radiometric ages for the Manokwari area from Pieters et al. (1985, K-Ar age from the Lembai Diorite) and Webb et al. (2020a, U-Pb zircon age from a diorite intrusion into the Arfak Volcanics, AVI). Radiometric ages for Tamrau Block from Webb et al. (2020a, U-Pb zircon ages, Moon Volcanics). The Cendrawasih Bay column is based on seismic data and modelling after Babault et al. (2018). Abbreviations: dzs, detrital zircon samples at approximate stratigraphic level in the Befoor Formation (this work, see text); SSS, sinistral strike-slip faulting in the Central Range.

Figure 15. (a) Block diagram illustrating kinematic partitioning of oblique convergence (without scale) in northwestern New Guinea. GPS vector (black arrow) based on DeMets et al. (1994), Bock et al. (2003) and Puntodewo et al. (1994). The diagram shows partitioning as is occurring in the last 4 Ma and also notes the timing of major shortening events in the region (Cloos et al. 2005; White et al. 2019; this paper). Note that shortening in the Lengguru Fold Belt region (including the adjacent Wandamen Peninsula) was replaced by extension post 3 Ma. (b) Block diagram showing oblique convergence (adapted from McCaffrey 2009).

Figure 16. Tectonic evolution of the Bird’s Head Peninsula in the last 25 Ma influenced by oblique convergence of the Australian, Philippine Sea and Pacific-Caroline plates (see text). Oblique plate convergence is resolved into north-northeast shortening and sinistral east-west strike-slip faulting. (a) Docking of an island arc terrane of unknown extent at ~ 25 Ma accompanied by development of the Sorong Fault. (b) At ~ 14 Ma strike-slip movement has ceased along the Sorong Fault after offset of the Tamrau Block (Webb et al. 2019, 2020a) and followed by oblique subduction (trench not shown) to form the Maramuni igneous rocks. This preceded dextral movement along the Ransiki Fault that offset the Arfak Block (AB) southwards. Location of the Maramuni igneous rocks in the Weyland Overthrust is uncertain but must have lain north of their present location. (c) At ~ 8 Ma major orogeny was active in the Central Range (Sapiie and Cloos 2004; Cloos et al. 2005). It is uncertain when subduction was initiated along the New Guinea Trench. No major strike-slip movement occurred since 12 Ma along the Sorong Fault as shown by the tie point indicated by uplift of the northeastern Kemum Block and adjacent Arfak Block (AB) that provided a source of detritus to the Befoor Formation. Strike-slip movements may have been more substantial along faults (not shown) in the island arc terrane north of New Guinea. Basement to Cendrawasih Bay was transported from the northeast during the interval 8–6 Ma to its approximate present location (Francois et al. 2016; Babault et al. 2018). Shortening in the Central Range accompanied by southward emplacement of the Central Range ultramafic belt initiated at 12 Ma (Cloos et al. 2005). The Tosem Block was being emplaced southwards onto the northern part of the Bird’s Head Peninsula (Webb et al. 2020a). (d) At ~ 2 Ma shortening had been completed in the Lengguru Fold Belt and Wandamen Peninsula (5–3 Ma, White et al. 2019). North-northeast convergence is accommodated by subduction along the New Guinea Trench and the Manokwari Trough (past ~ 2–1 Ma only). Limited sinistral strike-slip faulting along the Yapen Fault and in the Central Range (at 4–2 Ma, Sapiie and Cloos 2004; Sapiie 2016). North-northeast shortening caused folding in the Manokwari area, shortening, and resulting uplift of the Kemum High (also accommodates limited strike-slip movement along the Sorong Fault). Extension occurred from <3 Ma in the Wandamen Peninsula (White et al. 2019).

Atmawinata, S., Hakim, A.S., and Pieters, P.E.,1989, Geological map of the Ransiki Sheet, 1:250 000, Irian Jaya: Geological Survey of Indonesia. www.geologi.esdm.go.id/geomap

 Google Scholar

Hartono, U., Amri, C.H., and Pieters, P.E., 1989, Geological map of the Maar sheet, Irian Jaya: Geological Survey of Indonesia.

 Google Scholar

Ratman, N., Robinson, G.P., and Pieters, P.E., 1989, Geological map of the Manokwari sheet, 1:250 000, Irian Jaya: Geological Survey of Indonesia: Geological Research and Development Centre, v. 1.

 Google Scholar

Pieters, P.E., Hartono, U., and Amri, C., 1989, Geologi Lembar Mar, Irian Jaya (Geology of the Mar Sheet area, Irian Jaya): Bandung, Geological Research and Development Centre, Geological Survey of Indonesia, p. 241.

 Google Scholar

Tobing, S.L., Robinson, G.P., and Ryuburn, R.J., 1990, Geological map of the Kaimana Sheet, Irian Jaya: Geological Survey of Indonesia.

 Google Scholar

Baldwin, S.L., Fitzgerald, P.G., and Webb, L.E., 2012, Tectonics of the New Guinea region: Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, v. 40, p. 495–520. 10.1146/annurev-earth-040809-152540

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Hall, R., 2012, Late Jurassic–Cenozoic reconstructions of the Indonesian region and the Indian Ocean: Tectonophysics, v. 570–571, p. 1–41. 10.1016/j.tecto.2012.04.021

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Webb, M., White, L.T., Jost, B.M., and Tiranda, H., 2019, The Tamrau block of NW New Guinea records late Miocene–Pliocene collision at the northern tip of the Australian Plate: Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, v. 179, p. 238–260. 10.1016/j.jseaes.2019.04.020

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Webb, M., White, L.T., Jost, B.M., Tiranda, H., and BouDagher-Fadel, M., 2020a, The history of Cenozoic magmatism and collision in NW New Guinea–New insights into the tectonic evolution of the northernmost margin of the Australian Plate: Gondwana Research, v. 82, p. 12–38. 10.1016/j.gr.2019.12.010

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Webb, M., White, L.T., Manning, C.J., Jost, B.M., and Tiranda, H., 2020b, Isotopic mapping reveals the location of crustal fragments along a long-lived convergent plate boundary: Lithos, v. 372, no. 373, 105687. 10.1016/j.lithos.2020.105687

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

DeMets, C., Gordon, R.G., Argus, D.F., and Stein, S., 1994, Effects of recent revisions to the geomagnetic reversal time scale on estimates of current plate motions: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 21, p. 2191–2194. 10.1029/94GL02118

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Stevens, C.W., McCaffrey, R., Bock, Y., Genrich, J.F., Pubellier, M., and Subarya, C., 2002, Evidence for block rotations and basal shear in the world’s fastest slipping continental shear zone in NW New Guinea, in Stein, S., and Freymueller, J.T. eds., Plate boundary zones, American Geophysical Union, Geodynamic Serie: Vol. 30 pp. 87–99. 10.1029/GD030p0087

 Google Scholar

Dow, D., and Sukamto, R., 1984, Western Irian Jaya: The end-product of oblique plate convergence in the late Tertiary: Tectonophysics, v. 106, no. 1–2, p. 109–139. 10.1016/0040-1951(84)90224-5

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Gold, D.P., Burgess, P.M., and BouDagher-Fadel, M.K., 2017b, Carbonate drowning successions of the bird’s head, Indonesia: Facies, v. 63, no. 4, p. 1–22. 10.1007/s10347-017-0506-z

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Dow, D.B., Robinson, G.P., Hartono, U., and Ratman, N., 1986, Geological map of Irian Jaya, Indonesia, scale: Geological Research Development Centre, Vol. 1, no. 1. 000 000, 2 sheets

 Google Scholar

Watkinson, I.M., and Hall, R., 2017, Fault systems of the eastern Indonesian triple junction: Evaluation of Quaternary activity and implications for seismic hazards, in Cummins, P.R., and Meilano, I. eds., Geohazards in Indonesia: earth science for disaster risk reduction: Geological society of London, special publication, Vol. 441, pp. 71–120. 10.1144/SP441.8

 Google Scholar

Ryan, W.B.F., Carbotte, S.M., Coplan, J., O’hara, S., Melkonian, A., Arko, R., Weissel, R.A., Ferrini, V., Goodwillie, A., Nitsche, F., Bonczkowski, J., and Zemsky, R., 2009, Global Multi-Resolution Topography (GMRT) synthesis data set: Geochemistry: Geophysics, Geosystems, v. 10, no. 3, p. Q03014. 10.1029/2008GC002332

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Robinson, G.P., and Ratman, N., 1977, Explanatory Notes of the Manokwari 1:250,000 Geological sheet, Irian Jaya: Canberra, Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology & Geophysics, Department of National Resources, p. 25.

 Google Scholar

Gold, D., Hall, R., Burgess, P., and BouDagher-Fadel, M., 2014, The Biak Basin and its Setting in the Bird’s Head Region of West Papua, in Proceedings, Indonesian Petroleum Association. 38th Annual Convention and Exhibition: Jakarta, Indonesia.

 Google Scholar

Gold, D.P., White, L.T., Gunawan, I., and BouDagher-Fadel, M.D., 2017a, Relative sea-level change in western New Guinea recorded by regional biostratigraphic data: Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 86, p. 1133–1158. 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2017.07.016

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Pieters, P.E., Hakim, A.S., and Atmawinata, S., 1985, Geological data record Ransiki, Irian Jaya (2914-3014) scale 1:250 000: Bandung, Geological Survey of Indonesia and BMR Australia, p. 347.

 Google Scholar

Thery, J.-M., Pubellier, M., Thery, B., Butterlin, J., Blondeau, A., and Adams, C., 1999, Importance of active tectonics during karst formation. A middle Eocene to Pleistocene example of the Lina Moutains (Irian Jaya, Indonesia): Geodinamica Acta, v. 12, no. 3–4, p. 213–221. 10.1080/09853111.1999.11105344

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Bailly, V., Pubellier, M., Ringenbach, J.-C., De Sigoyer, J., and Sapin, F., 2009, Deformation zone ‘jumps’ in a young convergent setting; the Lengguru fold-and-thrust belt, New Guinea Island: Lithos, v. 113, no. 1, p. 306–317. 10.1016/j.lithos.2009.08.013

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

White, L.T., Hall, R., Gunawan, I., and Kohn, B., 2019, Tectonic mode switches recorded at the northern edge of the Australian Plate during the Pliocene and Pleistocene: Tectonics,v. 38, no. 1, p. 281–306. 10.1029/2018TC005177

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Babault, J., Viaplana-Muzas, M., Legrand, X., Van Den Driessche, J., González-Quijano, M., and Mudd, S.M., 2018, Source-to-sink constraints on tectonic and sedimentary evolution of the western Central Range and Cenderawasih Bay (Indonesia): Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, v. 156, p. 265–287. 10.1016/j.jseaes.2018.02.004

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Cloos, M., Sapiie, B., van Ufford, A.Q., Weiland, R.J., Warren, P.Q., and McMahon, T.P., 2005, Collisional delamination in New Guinea: The geotectonics of subducting slab breakoff: Geological Society of America Special Paper, v. 400, p. 51. 10.1130/2005.2400

 Google Scholar

Quarles van Otford, A., and Cloos, M., 2005, Cenozoic tectonics of New Guinea: AAPG Bulletin, v. 89, p. 119–140. 10.1306/08300403073

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Bock, Y., Prawirodirdjo, L., Genrich, J.F., Stevens, C.W., McCaffrey, R., Subarya, C., Puntodewo, S.S.O., and Calais, E., 2003, Crustal motion in Indonesia from global positioning system measurements: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, v. 108, no. B8. 10.1029/2001JB000324

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Puntodewo, S.S.O., McCaffrey, R., Calais, E., Bock, Y., Rais, J., Subarya, C., Poewariardi, R., Stevens, C., Genrich, J., and Fauzi, Z. P., and Wdowinski, S., 1994, GPS measurements of crustal deformation within the Pacific-Australia plate boundary zone in Irian Jaya: Indonesia: Tectonophysics, v. 237, no. 3, p. 141–153. 10.1016/0040-1951(94)90251-8

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

McCaffrey, R., 2009, The tectonic framework of the Sumatran subduction zone: Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, v. 37, p. 345–366. 10.1146/annurev.earth.031208.100212

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Sapiie, B., and Cloos, M., 2004, Strike-slip faulting in the core of the central range of west New Guinea: Ertsberg Mining District, Indonesia: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 116, no. 3–4, p. 277–293. 10.1130/B25319.1

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Francois, C., De Sigoyer, J., Pubellier, M., Bailly, V., Cocherie, A., and Ringenbach, J.‐., 2016, Short‐lived subduction and exhumation in Western Papua (Wandamen peninsula): Co‐existence of HP and HT metamorphic rocks in a young geodynamic setting: Lithos, v. 266‐267, p. 44–63. 10.1016/j.lithos.2016.09.030

 Web of Science ®Google Scholar

Sapiie, B., 2016, Kinematic analysis of fault-slip data in the central range of Papua, Indonesia: Indonesian Journal on Geoscience, v. 3, p. 1–16. 10.17014/ijog.3.1.1-16

 Google Scholar

Data availability statement

The supplemental data that support the findings of this study are openly available in Figshare at http://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.21514389.