Rapid Uplift, yet Slow Denudation of the Suckling‐Dayman Metamorphic Core Complex in Tropical Papua New Guinea

Abstract A linear relationship between rates of physical erosion and chemical weathering is apparent in slowly eroding landscapes. Whether the relationship remains linear in rapidly eroding landscapes is less clear. Field‐based research into this relationship between erosion and weathering rates has...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: J. E. Österle, K. P. Norton, C. E. Lukens, T. A. Little, M. Mizera, S. M. Webber, K. Wilcken
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-10-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL106487
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849716839281590272
author J. E. Österle
K. P. Norton
C. E. Lukens
T. A. Little
M. Mizera
S. M. Webber
K. Wilcken
author_facet J. E. Österle
K. P. Norton
C. E. Lukens
T. A. Little
M. Mizera
S. M. Webber
K. Wilcken
author_sort J. E. Österle
collection DOAJ
description Abstract A linear relationship between rates of physical erosion and chemical weathering is apparent in slowly eroding landscapes. Whether the relationship remains linear in rapidly eroding landscapes is less clear. Field‐based research into this relationship between erosion and weathering rates has largely been conducted in temperate climates with granitic bedrock. In tropical settings, the contribution of chemical mass loss to total denudation may approach, or even exceed, that of erosion. We report 10Be‐in‐quartz cosmogenic radionuclide and soil chemistry data from the Suckling‐Dayman Metamorphic Core Complex (SDMCC) in Papua New Guinea. Despite being exhumed at cm‐per‐year rates, its lower‐plate domed and striated morphology suggests minimal denudation, which is confirmed by our 10Be‐in‐quartz data (0.02–0.18 mm/yr). We suggest that rolling hinge‐style back‐rotation of the SDMCC's lower plate and the combination of a tropical climate and highly weatherable metabasalt bedrock have played a fundamental role in preserving the tectonic topography of this remarkable metamorphic core complex.
format Article
id doaj-art-9bf7dc7e47d74b829353be3a705ff7e3
institution DOAJ
issn 0094-8276
1944-8007
language English
publishDate 2024-10-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-9bf7dc7e47d74b829353be3a705ff7e32025-08-20T03:12:52ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072024-10-015119n/an/a10.1029/2023GL106487Rapid Uplift, yet Slow Denudation of the Suckling‐Dayman Metamorphic Core Complex in Tropical Papua New GuineaJ. E. Österle0K. P. Norton1C. E. Lukens2T. A. Little3M. Mizera4S. M. Webber5K. Wilcken6Victoria University of Wellington School of Geography Environment and Earth Sciences Wellington New ZealandVictoria University of Wellington School of Geography Environment and Earth Sciences Wellington New ZealandVictoria University of Wellington School of Geography Environment and Earth Sciences Wellington New ZealandVictoria University of Wellington School of Geography Environment and Earth Sciences Wellington New ZealandVictoria University of Wellington School of Geography Environment and Earth Sciences Wellington New ZealandVictoria University of Wellington School of Geography Environment and Earth Sciences Wellington New ZealandCentre for Accelerator Science Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Lucas Heights NSW AustraliaAbstract A linear relationship between rates of physical erosion and chemical weathering is apparent in slowly eroding landscapes. Whether the relationship remains linear in rapidly eroding landscapes is less clear. Field‐based research into this relationship between erosion and weathering rates has largely been conducted in temperate climates with granitic bedrock. In tropical settings, the contribution of chemical mass loss to total denudation may approach, or even exceed, that of erosion. We report 10Be‐in‐quartz cosmogenic radionuclide and soil chemistry data from the Suckling‐Dayman Metamorphic Core Complex (SDMCC) in Papua New Guinea. Despite being exhumed at cm‐per‐year rates, its lower‐plate domed and striated morphology suggests minimal denudation, which is confirmed by our 10Be‐in‐quartz data (0.02–0.18 mm/yr). We suggest that rolling hinge‐style back‐rotation of the SDMCC's lower plate and the combination of a tropical climate and highly weatherable metabasalt bedrock have played a fundamental role in preserving the tectonic topography of this remarkable metamorphic core complex.https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL106487landscape evolutionerosionweatheringcosmogenic nuclidessoil productionmetabasalt
spellingShingle J. E. Österle
K. P. Norton
C. E. Lukens
T. A. Little
M. Mizera
S. M. Webber
K. Wilcken
Rapid Uplift, yet Slow Denudation of the Suckling‐Dayman Metamorphic Core Complex in Tropical Papua New Guinea
Geophysical Research Letters
landscape evolution
erosion
weathering
cosmogenic nuclides
soil production
metabasalt
title Rapid Uplift, yet Slow Denudation of the Suckling‐Dayman Metamorphic Core Complex in Tropical Papua New Guinea
title_full Rapid Uplift, yet Slow Denudation of the Suckling‐Dayman Metamorphic Core Complex in Tropical Papua New Guinea
title_fullStr Rapid Uplift, yet Slow Denudation of the Suckling‐Dayman Metamorphic Core Complex in Tropical Papua New Guinea
title_full_unstemmed Rapid Uplift, yet Slow Denudation of the Suckling‐Dayman Metamorphic Core Complex in Tropical Papua New Guinea
title_short Rapid Uplift, yet Slow Denudation of the Suckling‐Dayman Metamorphic Core Complex in Tropical Papua New Guinea
title_sort rapid uplift yet slow denudation of the suckling dayman metamorphic core complex in tropical papua new guinea
topic landscape evolution
erosion
weathering
cosmogenic nuclides
soil production
metabasalt
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GL106487
work_keys_str_mv AT jeosterle rapidupliftyetslowdenudationofthesucklingdaymanmetamorphiccorecomplexintropicalpapuanewguinea
AT kpnorton rapidupliftyetslowdenudationofthesucklingdaymanmetamorphiccorecomplexintropicalpapuanewguinea
AT celukens rapidupliftyetslowdenudationofthesucklingdaymanmetamorphiccorecomplexintropicalpapuanewguinea
AT talittle rapidupliftyetslowdenudationofthesucklingdaymanmetamorphiccorecomplexintropicalpapuanewguinea
AT mmizera rapidupliftyetslowdenudationofthesucklingdaymanmetamorphiccorecomplexintropicalpapuanewguinea
AT smwebber rapidupliftyetslowdenudationofthesucklingdaymanmetamorphiccorecomplexintropicalpapuanewguinea
AT kwilcken rapidupliftyetslowdenudationofthesucklingdaymanmetamorphiccorecomplexintropicalpapuanewguinea