Plutonic rocks of Western Fiordland, New Zealand: Field relations, geochemistry, correlation, and nomenclature

Abstract This paper provides a comprehensive description of the plutonic rocks of western Fiordland between Breaksea and Sutherland Sounds. The area is dominated by the Early Cretaceous Western Fiordland Orthogneiss (WFO), but also includes smaller bodies of Paleozoic and Cretaceous granitoid. Plutonic rocks of western Fiordland intrude metasediments of the Western Province, many of whose age and terrane affinities remain undefined. Paleozoic granitoids in western Fiordland include the Pandora Orthogneiss (c. 500 Ma) and widespread related sills within Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks; the All Round Pluton (c. 340 Ma); the Deas Cove Granite (c. 372 Ma); and possibly the Straight River Granite. The Pandora Orthogneiss is one of the oldest plutons yet found in the Median Batholith. Correlatives include the Jaquiery Granite Gneiss in central Fiordland and orthogneiss in Doubtful Sound. Plutonism of Ross/Delamarian age is therefore widespread in those parts of Fiordland where Cambrian or older Western Province...