• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2014

The Bobonaro m$\acute{e}$lange is one of the youngest syn-collisional m$\acute{e}$langes, located between the Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates. The m$\acute{e}$lange has formed in association with a collision between the Australian continental margin and the Banda arc initiated in Neogene. The Suai area at the southern part of Timor is a good place to examine the genetic relationship between the m$\acute{e}$lange and other rock sequences because various tectonostratigraphic units coexist in the area. In this study, we present the structural characteristics and spatial distribution of the Bobonaro m$\acute{e}$lange investigated as a part of 1:25K scale geologic mapping in the area, and discuss on the origin of the m$\acute{e}$lange. The Bobonaro m$\acute{e}$lange in the Suai area is composed of unmetamorphosed clay matrix and blocks of various lithologies. The clay matrix mainly is reddish brown or greenish gray in colour, and has scaly texture. Most blocks are allochthonous, but mostly derived from nearby formations. Based on the internal structure and relationship with surrounding rocks, the Bobonaro m$\acute{e}$lange is genetically classified into 1) diapiric m$\acute{e}$lange; 2) tectonic m$\acute{e}$lange; and 3) broken formation. The spatial distribution of the Bobonaro m$\acute{e}$lange indicates that it intruded all pre-collisional units including the lower Australian continental margin unit(Gondwana megasequence) and the Banda arc unit. Taking the field evidences and previous genetic models into consideration, the Bobonaro m$\acute{e}$lange is interpreted to be mainly formed as a diapiric m$\acute{e}$lange originated from Gondwana megasequence, consistently effected by faulting events. This study reflects that diapiric m$\acute{e}$lange is a significant component in recent accretionay-collision belts. It suggests that diapiric process should be considered as a main genetic factor even in ancient m$\acute{e}$lange.