Otematata Fault

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The Otematata Fault is an approximately 65 km long geological fault in the Otago region on the South Island of New Zealand .

geography

The Otematata Fault runs from near the Danseys Pass , around 20 km east-northeast of Naseby , in a north-westerly direction to the south-western edge of the Omarama Basin . The fault thus runs parallel to the more pronounced Middle Range Fault , which runs a few kilometers to the northeast.

The settlement of Otematata is only 8 km to the northwest and the Otematata River runs partly on the line of the fault in its southern part.

geology

The location of the fault is well reflected in the topography, as can be seen on Google Earth, as distinctly demarcated eruptions of semi-chistical rock can be found southwest of the fault. It appears that the Otematata Fault has shaped the north-western slopes of the St Cuthbert Range , but is characterized in many places by topographical characteristics of unclear origin. There is no definitive evidence of a breakline at the surface of the earth. Therefore, the fault is generally classified as “possible” and “not pronounced” to “moderately pronounced”.

Since there is also no evidence of surface shifts in the river plain of the Otamatapaio River , it is assumed that the last activity of the fault occurred more than 18,000 years ago.

See also

literature

  • DJA Barrell : General distribution and characteristics of active faults and folds in the Waimate District and Waitaki District, South Canterbury and North Otago . In: GNS Science (Ed.): GNS Science Consultancy Report . 2015/166 . Lower Hutt 2015 (English, online [PDF; 8.5 MB ; accessed on January 21, 2020] Also available under Environment Canterbury Report No. R15 / 135 , December 2016, ISBN 978-0-908316-51-9 ).

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c Barrell : General distribution and characteristics of active faults and folds in the Waimate District and Waitaki District, South Canterbury and North Otago . 2015, p.  56 f .
  2. ^ A b Barrell : General distribution and characteristics of active faults and folds in the Waimate District and Waitaki District, South Canterbury and North Otago . 2015, p.  113 .