ERTH3104 Virtual Field Trip to New England Orogen
Stop name: Peel Fault outcrop on the Nundle Road
Location: ~3.5 km south of the Chaffey Dam along the Nundle Road
Coordinates: 31°22'35.54"S, 151° 8'18.02"E
What to see: The Peel Fault (the Peel Manning Fault system) is an important terrane boundary structure mostly running ~N-S in eastern Australia. Much of the Peel-Manning Fault System is characterised by zones of serpentinite-matrix melange. This outcrop provides a good example of such melanges. This melange is dominated by blocks derived from dismemberment of the Weraerai terrane ophiolite and the matrix was most likely generated through serpentinisation of olivine-rich ultramafic mantle rocks of the ophiolite. Given the low density of the serpentinite and the likelihood that other terranes have been thrust over the Weraerai terrane it is a realistic hypothesis to interpret much of the serpentinitematrix melange as having risen along portions of the Peel~Manning Fault System that were in a transtensional setting.
(Above) Serpentinite matrix melange marks the location of the Peel Fault. (Photo by J. Aitchison) Click here to enter 360 view.
(Above) A close-up photo at the outcrop. Right side in this photo is serpentinite, characterized by scaly fabrics. (Photo by R. Zhou)
(Above) Outcrop of the serpentinite matrix melange. (Photo by R. Zhou)
Is the Peel Fault still (seismically) active?
This photo was taken facing the Peel Fault along the Cobbadah Road (B95) between Bingara and Upper Bingara. Triangular facets suggest possible Quaternary displacement along this fault. (Photo by R. Zhou)
“Anomalous” vegetation on serpentinite/ultramafic rocks
In eastern Australia, ‘grass trees or xanthorrhoea‘ (habitant of high Mg soils) are found on ultramafic or serpentinite landscape, providing a unique marker for such lithologies. (Photo by J. Aitchison)
(Above) A landscape covered with grass trees. (Photo by R. Zhou)