Stratigraphy of the late Quaternary deposits of the northern Canterbury Plains, New Zealand

Stratigraphic correlations of late Quaternary subsurface deposits of the Canterbury Plains, New Zealand, are revised and defined using well logs, radiocarbon dates, and pollen analyses. Three new members—Bleak House, Riverview, and Courtenay—are proposed for the postglacial fluvial Springston Formation. Riccarton Gravel (last glaciation) and Bromley Formation (last interglaciation) are revised. Five new formations are defined for coastal subsurface deposits to depths of about 170 m. Heathcote and Shirley Formations are proposed for older possibly interglacial terrestrial and marine deposits. Interbedded subsurface gravel deposits representing deposition during predominantly glacial periods are assigned stratigraphic names—Linwood, Burwood and Wainoni Gravels, and tentatively correlated with outwash deposits of the inland Canterbury Plains.