Latest Cretaceous and Paleocene biostratigraphy and paleogeography of northern Zealandia, IODP Site U1509, New Caledonia Trough, southwest Pacific

IODP Site U1509 (Expedition 371), New Caledonia Trough, provides a rare latest Cretaceous-Paleocene record from offshore northern Zealandia. We present new palynomorph and benthic foraminiferal assemblage data that show a transition from a latest Cretaceous vegetated sediment source region to a fully oceanic environment in the Paleocene. Latest Cretaceous (c. 68-66 Ma) non-calcareous claystone was deposited in upper bathyal paleodepths, with abundant plant microfossils that were likely transported in a northwest direction through the Aotea Basin region. A 2-3 Myr unconformity is identified at the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary. Middle early-late Paleocene (c. 63.5-56 Ma) calcareous claystone shows evidence of deepening, deposited in middle bathyal or deeper paleodepths, and terrestrial input is minor. This latest Cretaceous to Paleocene deepening trend is consistent with inferred evolution of the Aotea and Northland basins further to the east, and other sparse northern Zealandia records, which show a common pattern of post-rift transgression consistent with long-term subsidence. Site U1509 allows for biogeographic extension and modification of the New Zealand Paleocene dinoflagellate zonation, description of a new dinoflagellate and pollen species, better inference of regional paleogeography, and may provide insights into the onset of western Pacific subduction initiation.