Comparison of 87Sr/86Sr isotope and biostratigraphic ages of uplifted fossil reefs in the Indo-Pacific: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji

Abstract

The lithology of limestone from seven Neogene sites from the Indo-Pacific region, from the Salayar Limestone in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, the Yalam Limestone in East New Britain, Papua New Guinea (P.N.G.) and the Daliconi and Futuna Limestone members of the Tokelau Limestone Group on Vanua Balevu in the Lau Group, Fiji, is described. The ages of foraminiferal assemblages collected at all sites are compared with Sr/Sr isotope ages of samples from the same locations. Combined geochemical and biostratigraphic dating indicates a late Miocene to Pliocene/Pleistocene age for sections in Indonesia, a middle Miocene age for sections in P.N.G., and middle to late Miocene ages for sections in Fiji