Raine, J.I.; Schioler, P. 2012 Upper Cretaceous biostratigraphy of Maui-4 and Tane-1 wells, Taranaki Basin. Lower Hutt, N.Z.: GNS Science. GNS Science report 2012/28 61 p.
Abstract: Palynological study of new and existing material from the Upper Cretaceous intervals of Maui-4 and Tane-1 has investigated paleoenvironments of deposition, and inter-well correlation and geological age of the strata. The following succession has been established: an older, Lower Haumurian (miospore PM1b Zone; Lower to Middle Campanian) interval of coal-bearing nonmarine strata (lower Rakopi Formation) in Tane-1; disconformably overlying this interval in Tane-1, and overlying basement in Maui-4, marine-influenced coal-bearing strata were deposited in Late Haumurian time (miospore PM2 Zone); the upper part of this unit is of mid-Late Haumurian age (top of dinoflagellate Cerodinium diebelii Subzone/miospore mid-PM2 Zone; Lower to lower Upper Maastrichtian); succeeding strata in both wells are shallow marine sandstones and siltstones with relatively low-amplitude electric-log signature, deposited during the dinoflagellate Palaeocystodinium granulatum Subzone (Upper Maastrichtian); a brief regression, with coal measure deposition is observed in both wells within the upper P. granulatum Subzone; following the regression, transgressive shallow marine sands are succeeded by more offshore, finer-grained sediments in the uppermost Haumurian (dinoflagellate Manumiella druggii Zone/miospore uppermost PM2 Zone; Upper Maastrichtian); the Haumurian/Teurian boundary (Maastrichtian/Paleocene, ''K/T'' boundary) is located within an interval of shallowing bio- and lithofacies in Maui-4, but in Tane-1 this regressive trend has not been observed. The results indicate correlation of the Wainui Member of Tane-1 with the upper part of the Rakopi Formation of Maui-4, but revision of Upper Cretaceous lithostratigraphic nomenclature has not been attempted pending study of further wells and outcrop sections. (auth)
