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Geologic map of the Paeroa Fault block and surrounding area, Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand

March 18, 2020

The Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ), New Zealand, is the most productive area of explosive silicic volcanism in the world. Faulted early and middle Pleistocene volcanic products are generally concealed beneath voluminous, generally unfaulted, younger volcanic products. An exception is the southeast margin of the TVZ where the two parallel, northeast-trending Paeroa and Te Weta Fault blocks expose Quaternary volcanic products consisting predominantly of caldera-related, rhyolitic ignimbrites and lacustrine sediments. The Taupo-Reporoa Basin is situated along the eastern part of the map area, and its northernmost part underwent collapse to form Reporoa Caldera.

The Paeroa Fault block is the largest exposed fault block within the TVZ, and it encompasses early and middle Pleistocene ignimbrites and sedimentary deposits that are buried throughout the Taupo-Reporoa Basin to the east. This map displays the volcanic and sedimentary geology of ~430 km2 of the Paeroa Fault block and the adjacent Te Weta Fault block at a scale of 1:50,000. Volcanic and sedimentary rocks are divided into the Reporoa Group, Whakamaru Group, and Huka Group (from oldest to youngest), which are overlain by relatively unfaulted late Pleistocene and Holocene surficial volcanic and sedimentary deposits.

Publication Year 2020
Title Geologic map of the Paeroa Fault block and surrounding area, Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand
DOI 10.3133/ofr20201021
Authors Drew T. Downs, Graham S. Leonard, Colin J. N. Wilson, Julie V Rowland
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Open-File Report
Series Number 2020-1021
Index ID ofr20201021
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Volcano Science Center