Petrology and mineral chemistry of sedimentary rocks from the Western Solomon Sea

Abstract

Sedimentary rocks from the northern margin of the Trobriand Platform, the north wall of the New Britain Trench, and the floor of the Solomon Sea Basin are volcaniclastics, mudrocks, and neritic and bathyal limestones. Arc-volcanic debris from calc-alkaline or high-K magmatic sources is present at each locality. A minor metamorphic component occurs at one site on the Trobriand Platform which yielded Early Eocene to Middle Miocene material, and at the New Britain Trench site, which yielded Miocene or older and post-Miocene samples. Solomon Sea Basin samples are mudrocks which are apparently no older than Late Pliocene.