Category: Halmahera

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Halmahera SZI Events

Halmahera (East Molucca) subduction zone initiation

Schematic tectonic reconstruction of the Halmahera SZI event (modified from Hall, 1996 and Hall and Smyth, 2008). Subduction of the Molucca Sea plate started close to a transform boundary, initiating the new Halmahera subduction zone. Shown are the new subduction zone (pink line), other active subduction zones (solid purple lines), and transform faults (red dashed lines).

The Halmahera subduction zone initiation (SZI) was previously dated at 17-15 Ma but is now suggested to be around 10-7 Ma based on recent evidence. This event is linked to the subduction of the Molucca Sea plate beneath the Philippine Sea plate. Geological findings indicate a complex history of volcanic activity related to both recent and older subduction processes.