AN ALTONIAN, DEEP-WATER, FOSSIL FAUNA FROM THE EASTERN WAITAKERE RANGES, AUCKLAND. by Bruce W. Hayward SUMMARY

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TANE 25, 1979 AN ALTONIAN, DEEP-WATER, FOSSIL FAUNA FROM THE EASTERN WAITAKERE RANGES, AUCKLAND by Bruce W. Hayward New Zealand Geological Survey, P.O. Box 30-368, Lower Hull SUMMARY Fossil macro- and microfaunas from Shaw Rd and Carter Rd quarries in the eastern Waitakere Ranges, collected by the late Mr S.

1 TANE 25, 1979 AN ALTONIAN, DEEP-WATER, FOSSIL FAUNA FROM THE EASTERN WAITAKERE RANGES, AUCKLAND by Bruce W. Hayward New Zealand Geological Survey, P.O. Box , Lower Hull SUMMARY Fossil macro- and microfaunas from Shaw Rd and Carter Rd quarries in the eastern Waitakere Ranges, collected by the late Mr S. G. Hulme in 1961 and held in the New Zealand Geological Survey collections, are described. The macrofauna is the first record of a good dee-water assemblage found in the Waitakere Ranges away from the Muriwai area. The foraminiferal faunas give a mid Altonian age making these the youngest known marine sediments in the eastern Waitakeres and indicate that this area was still at mid bathyal deths ( m) at this time. INTRODUCTION History During construction of the south-east ortion of the Scenic Drive in the early 1930s, several quarries were oened u to suly coarse fill material. Two of these quarries were in Shaw Rd and Carter Rd (Fig. 1), on either side of a narrow ridge that runs north from the Scenic Drive. During blasting oerations, fossils were discovered in the Shaw Rd quarry (ers. comm. Mr W.E. Beveridge), but were unknown to geologists until they were rediscovered in 1961 by Mr J.C. Schofield and the late Mr S.G. Hulme (New Zealand Geological Survey) during routine maing and samling in the area. During their visit Mr S.G. Hulme collected a number of macrofossils from Shaw Rd quarry and several sediment samles from both Shaw Rd and Carter Rd quarries, which he later rocessed for their fossil foraminifera. Faunal notes and the ages were noted on the Fossil Record forms but since Mr Hulme's tragic death in 1962 this material has remained in the collections of the New Zealand Geological Survey, Lower Hutt, and has not been worked u any further until now. In January 1979 I revisited the two quarries, which are now very much overgrown. Desite several hours of searching I was unable to relocate the macrofossil horizon in the Shaw Rd quarry. This note is therefore based on the fauna collected by Mr S.G. Hulme. Previous Work General descritions of the fossil macrofaunas, olychaetes, corals and foraminifera from the Waitakere Ranges have been ublished recently 209

Fig. 1. Location and geological ma of the area around Carter Rd and Shaw Rd quarries, eastern Waitakere Ranges, Auckland, New Zealand. (Hayward 1976a, 1977a, b; Hayward and Buzas 1979).

2 Fig. 1. Location and geological ma of the area around Carter Rd and Shaw Rd quarries, eastern Waitakere Ranges, Auckland, New Zealand. (Hayward 1976a, 1977a, b; Hayward and Buzas 1979). To date all the macrofossil localities from the eastern Waitakeres occur in coarse sediments and have been interreted as shelf faunas that were dislaced downsloe into deeer water by submarine mass flows (Hayward 1976a). Foraminiferal faunas obtained from fine sandstones and siltstones in this area have been interreted as mid bathyal ( m) assemblages of Otaian (Po) or early Altonian (PI) age (Hayward and Buzas 1979). The youngest ages known from the whole Waitakere Ranges are mid Altonian from foraminiferal faunas at Muriwai and Waitakere Falls. Geology The geology and aleogeograhy of the Waitakere Ranges are resented in detail elsewhere (Hayward 1976b, 1979). Briefly, the rocks of the Waitakeres were formed during the early Miocene (Otaian-Altonian, 210

3 Po-Pl). At this time a dee, marine basin (Waitemata Basin) covered the Auckland region and was flanked to the west, west of the resent Waitakeres, by an active volcano which built u a large submarine volcanic ile caed at times by an island or two. The rocks that form the eastern Waitakere Ranges accumulated as sediments on the sea floor along the west side of the Waitemata Basin on the lower sloes of the volcanic ile. These rocks are volcanic grits, sandstones and siltstones with occasional massive beds of breccia or conglomerate, or units containing huge blocks of slumed strata. Most of these massive or slumed beds are lensoidal and are interreted as having been transorted down submarine canyons and to have come to rest in distributary channels. Formally, the rocks belong to the Cornwallis and Nihotuu Formations (Fig. 1) of the Manukau Subgrou of the Waitakere Grou (Hayward 1976b). The two quarries are sited in fine volcanic breccia (Parekura Member, Nihotuu Formation) aarently as fill in the same ancient channel. Shaw Rd quarry cuts into massive beds of ebble breccia with a discontinuous layer (u to lm thick) of interbedded sandstone and siltstone resent 3m above the quarry floor. Both macro and microfaunas were collected from this fine-grained unit (N42/f590). Carter Rd quarry is about 30m stratigrahically above Shaw Rd quarry and 100m through the ridge to the west of it. It is also sited in massive ebble breccia and the microfauna (N42/f589) was collected from a discontinuous sandstone horizon within it. Fossil record numbers used (e.g. N42/f589, f590) are those of the New Zealand Fossil Record File. MACROFAUNA (N42/f590) The most common members of the macrofauna from Shaw Rd quarry are the bivalves Linucula, Parvamussium, Notogrammatodon, gastroods Austrosassia, Bathytoma, Tanea, scahood Dentalium and terood Clio. The remaining secies (Aendix 1) are all reresented by only one or two secimens. Of the thirteen biofacies reviously recognised from the Waitakere Ranges (Hayward 1976a), this fauna is most similar to biofacies 12 and 13, which occur in fine to medium sandstone south of Muriwai. These biofacies have been interreted as undislaced, mid-lower bathyal ( m) faunas. Many of the genera in the Shaw Rd quarry fauna are common members of resent-day bathyal assemblages and Parvamussium is restricted to bathyal deths, thus suorting an inferred bathyal environment. A few taxa, such as Notogrammatodon are generally found around the shelf edge (200m) and may have been dislaced downsloe. 211

4 MICROFAUNAS (N42/f589, f590) The fossil foraminiferal faunas obtained from fine sandstone from both quarries are basically similar. They each have lanktic forms comrising 90 7o of the total foraminiferal fauna, which in itself is suggestive of deewater (bathyal). Generically the benthic fauna is dominated by Bolivina (19-21%), Globocassidulina (7-11%), Cibicides (8-9%), Cassidulina, Sihouvigerina, Stilostomella, Sihonina and Melonis. The dominant secies in each samle are shown in Fig. 2 and Aendix 1. N42/f589 N42/f590 Bolivina reticulata Sihouvigerina roboscidea Globocassidulina subglobosa Cibicides vortex Bolivina licatella mera Gyroidina subzelandica Sihonina australis Stilostomella omuligera Bolivina ana Shaeroidina bulloides Tnfanna bradyi Melonis simlex Globocassidulina subglobosa Bolivina art a Cibicides vortex Sihouvigerina roboscidea Sihonina australis Cassidulina margareta Bolivina licatella mera Eistominella cassidulinoides Bolivina acerosa Cassidulina laevigata Stilostomella leidula 10 /0 Fig. 2. Histograms of common benthic foraminiferal secies (>3% of total benthic foraminiferal fauna) from Carter Rd quarry (N42/f58s>) and Shaw Rd quarry (N42/f590). Of the six foraminiferal thanatotoes reviously recognised from this area (Hayward and Buzas 1979), these faunas would be classified in thanatotoe D, which is dominated by Cassidulina, Bolivina, Cibicides and Globocassidulina. This thanatotoe has been interreted as consisting of undislaced mid bathyal ( m) faunas. Of imortance in this deth interretation is the resence of a combination of Osangularia cultur, Stilostomella s., Pleurostomella s., Oridorsalis umbonatus, globular Pullenias, small costate Buliminas, small Eonides and sinose faunas. Uv Age The resence of Bolivina unctatostriata (PI), Rectuvigerina rerensis (Lw-Pl), Globigerinoides trilobus (Pl-Wn), Globorotalia bella (Pl-Sl), G. raescitula (mid Pl-Sl) and G. zealandica (mid Pl-?Sc), and the absence of Globoquadrina dehiscens (absent in mid PI), Globorotalia miozea (u Pimid Sc) and Shaeroidinella disjuncta (u Pl-Sw) give a mid Altonian (mid PI) age. DISCUSSION The fossil faunas reorted here are the first from the eastern Waitakere 212

Fig. 3. Foraminifera from Shaw Rd (N42/fS90) and Carter Rd (N42/f589) quarries. a. Cassidulina laevigata (f590, FP2823), x 150; b. Bulimina striata (f590, FP2824), x 60; e.

5 Fig. 3. Foraminifera from Shaw Rd (N42/fS90) and Carter Rd (N42/f589) quarries. a. Cassidulina laevigata (f590, FP2823), x 150; b. Bulimina striata (f590, FP2824), x 60; e. Sihouvigerina roboscidea (f590, FP2825), x 130; d. Osangularia cultur (f590), FP2826), x 60; e. Stilostomella leidula (f590. FP2827), x 130; f. Globorotalia zealandica (f589, FP2828, x 100; g. Globigerinoides Trilobus (f590, FP2829), x 60; h. Globorotalia raescitula (f590, FP2830), x 130. FP numbers are New Zealand Geological Survey catalogue numbers. Ranges to contain well develoed Globorotalia raescitula and G. zealandica and therefore come from the youngest known marine sedimentary rocks (mid Altonian) in the area. The faunas also indicate that this area, as well as that to the north around Muriwai, was still in dee water as late as the mid Altonian. The macrofauna is significant in being the only good dee-water assemblage found in the Waitakere Ranges away from the south Muriwai coastal cliffs. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to Drs N.deB. Hornibrook and P.A. Maxwell (New Zealand Geological Survey, Lower Hutt) for reading the manuscrit and suggesting imrovements and also Dr Maxwell for his identification of Notogrammatodon. REFERENCES Hayward, B.W. 1976a: Macroaleontology and aleoecology of the Waitakere Grou, (lower Miocene), Waitakere Hills, Auckland. Tane 22:

6 Hayward, B.W. 1976b: Lower Miocene stratigrahy and structure of the Waitakere Ranges and the Waitakere Grou (new). New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geohysics 19(6): Hayward, B.W. 1977a: Lower Miocene olychaetes from the Waitakere Ranges, North Auckland, New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 7(1): Hayward, B.W. 1977b: Lower Miocene corals from the Waitakere Ranges, North Auckland, New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 7(2): Hayward, B.W. 1979: Erutive history of the early to mid Miocene Waitakere Volcanic Arc, and aleogeograhy of the Waitemata Basin, northern New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 9(3): Hayward, B.W. & Buzas, M.A. 1979: Taxonomy and aleoecology of early Miocene benthic foraminifera of northern New Zealand and the north Tasman Sea. Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology No. 36. APPENDI 1 Secies list of fossils from Carter Rd quarry (N42/f589) and Shaw Rd quarry (N42/590). Percentage comosition of each taxon is given for the benthic foraminifera based on icks of 300 individuals for each samle, x = less than 1 = no indication of abundance is given for other grous of fossils resent. = not resent. FORAMINIFERA (benthic) f589 f'590 Alabamina tenuimarginata (Chaman, Parr & Collins) 1 Allomorhina cubensis Palmer & Bermudez Allomorhina acifica Cushman & Todd Amhicoryna scalaris (Batsch) Anomalinoides alazanensis (Nuttal) x Anomalinoides aotea (Finlay) Anomalinoides macraglabra (Finlay) 1 Astacolus comressus (Stache) Astrononion fijiensis Cushman & Edwards Baggina brevior Finlay Bolivina acerosa Cushman \ 3 Bolivina arta Macfadyen 3 7 Bolivina barnwelli Finlay Bolivina finlayi Hornibrook Bolivina mitcheli Gibson Bolivina licatella mera Cushman & Ponton 6 5 Bolivina unctatostriata Kreuzberg 1 Bolivina reticulata Hantken 7 2 Bolivina silvestrina Cushman 1 Bolivina zedirecta Finlay 1 Bueningia creeki Finlay Bulimina uula Stache Bulimina striata d'orbigny Bulimina truncana Giimbel 1 Cancris aff. comressus Finlay Cassidulina laevigata d'orbigny 2 3 Cassidulina margareta Karrer 1 5 Chilostomella czizeki Reuss Chilostomelloides oviformis (Sherborn & Chaman) Cibicides brevoralis Carter Cibicides cf. karreriformis Hornibrook Cibicides cf. lobatulus (Walker & Jacob) Cibicides mediocris Finlay Cibicides novozelandica (Karrer)

7 Cibicides seudoungerianus (Cushman) 2 Cibicides vortex Dorreen 6 6 Dentalina albatrossi (Cushman) Dentalina obliquecostata (Siache) x Discorbinella bertheloti (d'orbigny) Discorbinella turgida (Finlay) Discorbis semioercularis Hornibrook Discorotalia aranea Hornibrook Dorothia s. Ehrenbergina marwicki Finlay 1 Elhidium hornibrooki Srinivasan x 2 Elhidium nigarense Cushman Eoeonidella scotti Hayward 1 Eistominella cassidulinoides Hornibrook 2 3 Eonides broeckhianus (Karrer) Fissurina lagenoides (Williamson) Fissurinamarginata (Walker & Boys) 2 Fissurina s. Gaudryina quadrazea Hornibrook Globobulimina acifica Cushman Globocassidulina cuneata (Finlay) Globocassidulina subglobosa (Brady) 6 11 Globulina gibba d'orbigny Gyroidina subzelandica (Hornibrook) 5 Gyroidina zelandica Finlay 2 Hoeglundina elegans (d'orbigny) 1 Karreria maoria (Finlay) Karreriella alticamera Cushman & Stainforth Karreriella cushmani Finlay Lagena hisidula Cushman Lagena striata (d'orbigny) Lagena substriata Williamson Lagenoglandulina annulata (Stache) Laticarinina altocamerata (Heron-Allen & Earland) Lenticulina dorothiae (Finlay) Lenticulina echinata (d'orbigny) Lenticulina foliata (Stache) Lenticulina gibba (d'orbigny) Lenticulina gyroscalra (Stache) Lenticulina mamilligera (Karrer) Lenticulina cf. nitida (Reuss) 1 Lingulina bartrumi (Chaman) Loxostomum s. Marginulina subbullata Hantken Marginulinosis s. Melonis cassidulinoides (Hornibrook) Melonis dorreeni (Hornibrook) Melonis cf. mexicanum Cole Melonis simlex (Karrer) 3 : Nodosaria calomorha Reuss Nodosaria longiscata d'orbigny 2 2 Oolina felsinea (Fornasini) Oolina globosa (Montagu) 1 Oolina hexagona (Williamson) 2 Oolina unctulata (Sidebottom)

8 Oridorsalis umbonatus (Reuss) 1 x Orthomorhina challengeriana (Thalmann) x Osangularia culler (Parker & Jones) 1 x Plectofrondicularia arri Finlay x Plectofrondicularia turgida Hornibrook x Pleurostomella bierigi Palmer & Bermude? x x Pleurostomella brevis Schwager x Pleurostomella tenuis Hantken x x Pseudonodosaria symmetrica (Siache) x x Pullenia bulloides (d'orbigny) x 2 Pullenia quinqueloba (Reuss) x Pyrgo deressa (d'orbigny) x Pyrulina fusiformis (Roemer) x Rectobolivina maoriella (Finlay) 2 1 Rectuvigerina ongleyi (Finlay) x Rectuvigerina rerensis (Finlay) x x Saracenaria arcuatula (Stache) x Sigmoidina acifica Cushman & Ozawa x Sihonina australis Cushman 4 5 Sihotextularia awamoana Finlay x Sihouvigerina roboscidea Schwager) 7 5 Shaeroidina bulloides d'orbigny 3 2 Siroloculina novo-zealandica Cushman & Todd x Stilostomella leidula (Schwager) 1 3 Stilostomellaomuligera (Stache) 4 2 Stilostomella verneuilii (d'orbigny) 1 2 Trifarina bradyi Cushman 3 2 Trifarina tortuosa (Hornibrook) x Tritaxia instar Finlay x Uvigerina miozea Finlay x Vaginulina awamoana Hornibrook x Vaginulina neglecta (Karrer) x Vaginulina vagina (Stache) 1 1 Total benthic secies FORAMINIFERA (lanktic) Cassigerinella chiolensis Cushman & Ponton Globigerina bulloides d'orbigny Globigerina woodi Jenkins GlobigerinoidesTrilobus (Reuss) Globorotalia bella Jenkins Globorotalia minutissima Bolli Globorotalia raescitula Blow Globorotalia seudocontinuosa Jenkins Globorotalia zealandica Hornibrook MOLLUSCS Linucula waiaoa (Marwick) Saccella motutaraensis (Powell) Notogrammatodon s. Parvamussium zitteli (Hutton) DentaliummantelliZittel Cadulus delicatulus Suter Tanea socia (Finlay) Taniella motutaraensis (Powell) Austrosassia maoria (Finlay) Monilea s. 216

9 Gemmula kaiaraensis (Marshall) Bathytoma mitchelsoni Powell Ringicula zecorulenta Laws Vaginella s. Clio s. CORALS Notocyathus (Paradeltocyathus) orientalis (Duncan) ECHINODERMS echinoid indet. 217

Sample localities are plotted in Figure 2 and microfossil species that we recorded

1 2 3 Data Repository item 2012128 Micropaleontologic Data Encinas et al. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Sample localities are plotted in Figure 2 and microfossil species that we recorded