Fabric Code: tpr207

Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer

Pyroxenic placer sands, moderately to well sorted aggregates of dominantly subangular to partly subrounded grains, and are inferred to be beach placers (calcareous). Clinopyroxene, plagioclase, and quartz mineral (pyroxene dacite) and exclusively volcanic rock fragments. Some sherds have hornblende.

Fabric Class:

Pyroxenic: Dominated by pyroxenic inclusions.

Andesitic Arc Quartzose Variant: Dominated by andesite and basalt lithic fragments, with microlitic, felsitic and vitric textures, and the andesite minerals (plagioclase, clinopyroxene and sometimes hornblende). With quartz.

Sites:

Mineral and Rock Abundances

None (0) Minor (1) Few (2) Common (3) Frequent (4) Major (5) Very Dominant (6)
0% 0-5% 5-15% 15-30 % 30-50% 50-70% 70-100%

Name Cal. QuartzFeldspar Pyroxene Amphibole Opaques OlivineBiotite Muscovite Epidote Garnet/ SpinelIg./Met. Rocks Sed. Rocks Grog Lithics/ Region
Max 2 3 3 6 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
Min 0 1 1 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Tonga

Representative slides:

Slide Site Possible OriginCal. QuartzFeldspar Pyroxene Amphibole Opaques OlivineBiotite Muscovite Epidote Garnet/ Spinel Ig./Met. Rocks Sed. Rocks Grog Lithics
WD_91_16 Nanggu (Nendö) exotic 0 3 3 4 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic
WD_89_8 Nukuleka (Tongatapu) 0 2 2 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_12 Nukuleka (Tongatapu) 0 1 1 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_16 Nukuleka (Tongatapu) 0 3 2 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_15 Nukuleka (Tongatapu) 2 1 1 6 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_1 Nukuleka (Tongatapu) 0 2 1 5 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_14 Nukuleka (Tongatapu) 0 2 2 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_21 Nukuleka (Tongatapu) 0 2 2 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_18 Nukuleka (Tongatapu) 0 1 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_19 Nukuleka (Tongatapu) 0 1 3 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_27 Nukuleka (Tongatapu) 0 1 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_94_16 Vorovoro (Vorovoro) exotic 0 3 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, lathwork
WD_72_1 Nukuleka (Tongatapu) ? 0 1 2 6 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_72_2 Nukuleka (Tongatapu) ? 0 1 3 6 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_72_5 Nukuleka (Tongatapu) ? 0 1 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric

WD_91_16

nendoSZ8_68_12 nendoSZ8_68_12
Sherd SZ8-68-12 from Nanggu (Nendö). Slide WD_91_16 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image (user: Guest pwd: Guest) or full slide in VIMIPO. Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Placer quartose pyroxenic with opaque iron oxides.


WD_89_8

Nukuleka_2630 Nukuleka_2630
Sherd 2630 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_89_8 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image (user: Guest pwd: Guest) or full slide in VIMIPO. Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Pyroxenic placer sand temper interpreted as exotic to Nukuleka.


WD_89_12

Nukuleka_4503 Nukuleka_4503
Sherd 4503 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_89_12 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image (user: Guest pwd: Guest) or full slide in VIMIPO. Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Pyroxenic placer sands. Moderately to well sorted aggregates of dominantly subangular to partly subrounded grains, and are inferred to be beach placers (calcareous) clinopyroxene, plagioclase, and quartz.mineral (pyroxene dacite) and exclusively volcanic rock fragments. some sherds have hornblende


WD_89_16

6893 has a full slide scan available. Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Pyroxenic placer sand temper interpreted as exotic to Nukuleka.


WD_89_15

Nukuleka_6600 Nukuleka_6600
Sherd 6600 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_89_15 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Pyroxenic placer sand temper interpreted as exotic to Nukuleka.


WD_89_1

Nukuleka_880 Nukuleka_880
Sherd 880 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_89_1 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Pyroxenic placer sand temper interpreted as exotic to Nukuleka.


WD_89_14

Nukuleka_6551 Nukuleka_6551
Sherd 6551 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_89_14 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Pyroxenic placer sand temper interpreted as exotic to Nukuleka.


WD_89_21

Nukuleka_7279 Nukuleka_7279
Sherd 7279 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_89_21 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Pyroxenic placer sand temper interpreted as exotic to Nukuleka.


WD_89_18

Nukuleka_7081 Nukuleka_7081
Sherd 7081 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_89_18 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Pyroxenic placer sand temper interpreted as exotic to Nukuleka.


WD_89_19

Nukuleka_7272 Nukuleka_7272
Sherd 7272 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_89_19 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Pyroxenic placer sand temper interpreted as exotic to Nukuleka.


WD_89_27

Nukuleka_4894 Nukuleka_4894
Sherd 4894 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_89_27 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Pyroxenic placer sand temper interpreted as exotic to Nukuleka.


WD_94_16

Vorovoro_VV610 Vorovoro_VV610
Sherd VO610 from Vorovoro (Vorovoro). Slide WD_94_16 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Exotic pyroxenic temper.


WD_72_1

Tongatapu_TO_2_2537 Tongatapu_TO_2_2537
Sherd To2_2537 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_72_1 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Exotic placer. No orthopyroxene.


WD_72_2

Tongatapu_TO_2_3750 Tongatapu_TO_2_3750
Sherd To2-3750 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_72_2 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Western Lapita style sherd. No orthopyroxene in the temper.


WD_72_5

Tongatapu_T99_10 Tongatapu_T99_10
Sherd T99-10 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_72_5 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Exotic sherd. No orthopyroxene.


References:

068 SE Solomon 1977 (Dickinson, W.)

272 Nukuleka, Tongatapu, Tonga, 2008 (Dickinson, W.)

275 Nukuleka, Tongatapu, Tonga, 2009 (Dickinson, W.)