Tongatapu Island

Wikidata ID: Q620452

Lithology and Age: Cenozoic sedimentary rocks ( Chorlton (2007) )       Macrostrat Geological Map Link

Geonames ID: 4032277       Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID: 1009489

Mindat Loc ID: 418885

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Many fabrics have a range of abundances. The range maximum (top) and minimum (bottom) are shown.

** Has full slide image available.

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
tpr207 ** 2 3 3 6 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer 0 1 1 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Tonga
tpr208 ** 0 4 4 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
Tonga unplacered 0 4 4 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Tonga
tpr209 ** 2 0 3 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 felsitic, vitric, microlitic
Tonga quartz-free placer 2 0 3 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 Tonga
tpr438 0 1 3 6 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 na
Tongatapu placer 0 0 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Tonga
tpr440 ** 0 1 3 5 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 na
Tongatapu partial placer 0 0 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Tonga
tpr371 ** 2 0 6 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 vitric, microlitic
Nayau-Lakeba feldspathic 0 0 4 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Fiji
tpr439 3 1 3 5 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 na
Tongatapu hybrid 3 0 2 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Tonga
tpr437 ** 0 3 6 4 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 microlitic, plutonite, vitric
Eua gabbroic 0 1 3 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 Tonga

Slides:

Slide Fabric Possible OriginWareCal. QuartzFeldspar Pyroxene Amphibole Opaques OlivineBiotite Muscovite Epidote Garnet/ Spinel Ig./Met. Rocks Sed. Rocks Grog Lithics
WD_89_8 tpr207 (Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer) unknown Lapita (3500 - 2300 BP) 0 2 2 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_12 tpr207 (Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer) unknown Lapita (3500 - 2300 BP) 0 1 1 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_16 tpr207 (Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer) unknown Lapita (3500 - 2300 BP) 0 3 2 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_15 tpr207 (Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer) unknown Lapita (3500 - 2300 BP) 2 1 1 6 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_1 tpr207 (Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer) unknown Lapita (3500 - 2300 BP) 0 2 1 5 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_14 tpr207 (Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer) unknown Lapita (3500 - 2300 BP) 0 2 2 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_21 tpr207 (Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer) unknown Lapita (3500 - 2300 BP) 0 2 2 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_18 tpr207 (Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer) unknown Lapita (3500 - 2300 BP) 0 1 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_19 tpr207 (Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer) unknown Lapita (3500 - 2300 BP) 0 1 3 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_27 tpr207 (Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer) unknown Lapita (3500 - 2300 BP) 0 1 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_22 tpr208 (Tonga unplacered) Tongatapu Tonga Early Eastern Lapita (2900 - 2800 BP) 0 4 4 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_89_5 tpr209 (Tonga quartz-free placer) Tongatapu Tonga Early Eastern Lapita (2900 - 2800 BP) 2 0 3 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 felsitic, vitric, microlitic
WD_71_5 tpr440 (Tongatapu partial placer) Tongatapu Tonga Early Eastern Lapita (2900 - 2800 BP) 0 1 2 5 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_71_6 tpr438 (Tongatapu placer) Tongatapu Tonga Early Eastern Lapita (2900 - 2800 BP) 0 1 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felstic, vitric
WD_71_9 tpr438 (Tongatapu placer) Tongatapu Tonga Early Eastern Lapita (2900 - 2800 BP) 0 1 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_72_1 tpr207 (Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer) ? Lapita (3500 - 2300 BP) 0 1 2 6 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_72_2 tpr207 (Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer) ? Lapita (3500 - 2300 BP) 0 1 3 6 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_72_5 tpr207 (Exotic Tonga pyroxenic placer) ? Lapita (3500 - 2300 BP) 0 1 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_71_1 tpr439 (Tongatapu hybrid) Tongatapu Tonga Eastern Lapita (2800 - 2600 BP) 3 1 2 5 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_71_2 tpr439 (Tongatapu hybrid) Tongatapu Tonga Eastern Lapita (2800 - 2600 BP) 3 0 4 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 microlitic, vitric, felsitic
WD_71_26 tpr440 (Tongatapu partial placer) Tongatapu Tonga Polynesian Plainware (2600 - 1700 BP) 0 1 4 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, vitric
WD_71_10 tpr371 (Nayau-Lakeba feldspathic) Lakeba 0 0 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 microlitic
WD_71_4 tpr440 (Tongatapu partial placer) Tongatapu Tonga Eastern Lapita (2800 - 2600 BP) 0 0 3 5 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_71_7 tpr438 (Tongatapu placer) Tongatapu Tonga Eastern Lapita (2800 - 2600 BP) 0 1 2 6 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric
WD_71_8 tpr438 (Tongatapu placer) Tongatapu Tonga Eastern Lapita (2800 - 2600 BP) 0 1 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 microlitic, felsitic, vitric

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 or full slide 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_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 or full slide in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). 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 (user: Guest pwd: Guest). 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_89_22

Nukuleka_7141 Nukuleka_7141
Sherd 7141 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_89_22 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image or full slide in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Unplacered sand temper possessing a 50-50 quartz to plagioclase ratio.


WD_89_5

Nukuleka_1595 Nukuleka_1595
Sherd 1595 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_89_5 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image or full slide in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Moderately placered sand temper containing almost no quartz.


WD_71_5

Tongatapu_TO_2_653 Tongatapu_TO_2_653
Sherd To2_653 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_71_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.

Partial placer.


WD_71_6

Tongatapu_1_2 Tongatapu_1_2
Sherd To2_1-2 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_71_6 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.

Placer. Pyx index 0.88.


WD_71_9

Tongatapu_TO_2_1615 Tongatapu_TO_2_1615
Sherd To2_1615 from Nukuleka (Tongatapu). Slide WD_71_9 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.

Placer. Py index 0.88


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.


WD_71_1

Tongatapu_2_2 Tongatapu_2_2
Sherd 2-2 from Lapaha (Tongatapu). Slide WD_71_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.

Hybrid partial placer.


WD_71_2

Tongatapu_3_1 Tongatapu_3_1
Sherd To8-3-1 from Lapaha (Tongatapu). Slide WD_71_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.

Hybrid placer.


WD_71_26

Tongatapu_2_1 Tongatapu_2_1
Sherd To7_2-1 from Lapaha (Tongatapu). Slide WD_71_26 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.

Partial placer.


WD_71_10

Tongatapu_TO_6_407 Tongatapu_TO_6_407
Sherd TO.6.407 from Pea (Tongatapu). Slide WD_71_10 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image or full slide in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Feldspathic. Imported.


WD_71_4

Tongatapu_TO_1_247 Tongatapu_TO_1_247
Sherd To1_247 from Pea (Tongatapu). Slide WD_71_4 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image or full slide in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Partial placer.


WD_71_7

Tongatapu_TO_6_1475 Tongatapu_TO_6_1475
Sherd To6_1475 from Pea (Tongatapu). Slide WD_71_7 from Dickinson Collection, Bishop Museum. x4 Magnification PPL (left) XPL (right). Scale bar: 0.5mm. High resolution image or full slide in VIMIPO (user: Guest pwd: Guest). Imaged by K. Hardy and M. Leclerc, ANU.

Placer, Py index 0.85.


WD_71_8

Tongatapu_TO_1_2017 Tongatapu_TO_1_2017
Sherd To1_2017 from Pea (Tongatapu). Slide WD_71_8 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.

Placer. Orthopyroxenes and clinopyroxene.


References:

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

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

183 Tongatapu, Tonga 1999 (Dickinson, W.)

194 Nukuleka, Tongatapu, 1999 (Dickinson, W.)