A discontinuous Late Cenozoic vegetation record from a maar crater in Auckland, New Zealand

摘要

Presented here are results of analyses of sediments from a maar crater at Matukutureia, south Auckland. The record is discontinuous, reflecting formation of peat on the tuff surface after the eruption. The tuff section of the profile (3–7 million years old) has pollen of numerous extinct taxa and suggests broad-leaf beech (Brassospora) forest with Casuarina and Agathis, and warm temperate conditions. A date of 15 051 ± 80 14C yr BP from the base of the overlying peat provides a minimum date for the eruption of McLauchlins Hill volcano. We cannot determine the timing of early Polynesian activities.