New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics abstracts

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Age and provenance of Cretaceous marine reptiles from the South Island and Chatham Islands, New Zealand

Graeme J. Wilson¹
Poul Schiøler²
Norton Hiller³
Craig M. Jones¹

¹Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences
P.O. Box 30 368
Lower Hutt, New Zealand
graeme.wilson@gns.cri.nz

²Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland
Ø. Voldgade 10
DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark

³Canterbury Museum
Rolleston Avenue
Christchurch, New Zealand

and

Department of Geological Sciences
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract  Analyses of dinoflagellate cysts from marine reptile sites in Marlborough, North Canterbury, North Otago, and on Chatham Island, indicate that the localities range from Early to latest Haumurian (Middle Campanian to Upper Maastrichtian) in age, spanning a period of c. 15 m.y. Sites in the Waipara River area are principally Upper Haumurian and range from the Alterbidinium acutulum Zone to the Manumiella druggii Zone. Sites in the Haumuri Bluff-Ngaroma Station-Cheviot/Jed River area are Lower Haumurian to lower Upper Haumurian and range from the Satyrodinium haumuriense Zone to the Isabelidinium pellucidum Zone. The Shag Point locality is Upper Haumurian (Alterbidinium acutulum Zone), indicating a general correlation with the Waipara localities. The Chatham Island locality is Lower Haumurian (S. haumuriense Zone), indicating a similar age to the oldest Haumuri Bluff sites. Material from two unknown sites appears to be from the Waipara River area, based on the associated dinoflagellate assemblages. Two marine reptile faunas are indicated: a Mid-Campanian to Early Maastrichtian fauna that is replaced by a Late Maastrichtian fauna.

Keywords  dinoflagellates; marine reptiles; New Zealand; South Island; Marlborough; North Canterbury; northeast Otago; Chatham Islands; Upper Cretaceous; Maastrichtian Stage; Campanian Stage; Haumurian Stage

G04011; Received 8 March 2004; accepted 17 December 2004; Online publication date 3 June 2005
New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 2005, Vol. 48: 377–387
0028–8306/05/4802–0377© The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005

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