9406652 Coe Papua New Guinea is one of the few places where an arc- continent collision is actively producing a mountain belt, and as such serves as a type area for present day continental accretion. However, several competing models of the neotectonics of the region points out the need for more robust data. Paleomagnetism offers such a tool, that in conjunction with basic geologic information, can demonstrate the amount, rate and scale of rotations of blocks during deformation. This work will take advantage of the young sediments and the on-going deformation to define block size and to demonstrate whether or not sequential rotations of blocks occurs as each arrives and collides. Results will help understand behavior and also will be invaluable in parallel studies of the Finisterre range and studies of the rate and morphology of sea level terrace uplift along the Papua New Guinea coast.
