| Abstract: | The geology of Cretaceous accretionary–collision complexes in central Indonesia is reviewed in this paper. The author and his colleagues have investigated the Cretaceous accretionary–collision complexes by means of radiolarian biostratigraphy and metamorphic petrology, as well as by geological mapping. The results of their work has revealed aspects of the tectonic development of the Sundaland margin in Cretaceous time. The Cretaceous accretionary–collision complexes are composed of various tectonic units formed by accretionary or collision processes, forearc sedimentation, arc volcanism and back arc spreading. The tectonic units consist of chert, limestone, basalt, siliceous shale, sandstone, shale, volcanic breccia, conglomerate, high P/T and ultra high P metamorphic rocks and ultramafic rocks (dismembered ophiolite). All these components were accreted along the Cretaceous convergent margin of the Sundaland Craton. In the Cretaceous, the southeastern margin of Sundaland was surrounded by a marginal sea. An immature volcanic arc was developed peripherally to this marginal sea. An oceanic plate was being subducted beneath the volcanic arc from the south. The oceanic plate carried microcontinents which were detached fragments of Gondwanaland. Oceanic plate subduction caused arc volcanism and formed an accretionary wedge. The accretionary wedge included fragments of oceanic crust such as chert, siliceous shale, limestone and pillow basalt. A Jurassic shallow marine allochthonous formation was emplaced by the collision of continental blocks. This collision also exhumed very high and ultra-high pressure metamorphic rocks from the deeper part of the pre-existing accretionary wedge. Cretaceous tectonic units were rearranged by thrusting and lateral faulting in the Cenozoic era when successive collision of continental blocks and rotation of continental blocks occurred in the Indonesian region. |
