Journal of Southeast Asian Earth Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 107-124, 1990 0743-9547/90 $3.00 + 0.

00
Printed in Great Britain Pergamon Press pie

Late Cenozoic sedimentary and tectonic history of south

Buton, Indonesia
A. R. FORTUIN,* M. E. M. DE SMET,* S. HADIWASASTRA,t L. J. VAN MARLE,*
S. R. TROELSTRA* and S. TJOKROSAPOETRO~

*Geomarine Centre, Amsterdam Institute of Earth Sciences, Free University, P.O. Box 7161, 1007 MC
Amsterdam, The Netherlands; tCentre for Geotechnical Research and Development, Jalan Cisitu 21/154D,
Bandung, Indonesia; :~Marine Geological Institute, P.O. Box 215, Bandung 40174, Indonesia

(Received 28 September 1988; accepted for publication 3 April 1989)

Abstract--A description and interpretation are given of the Upper Cenozoic sedimentary record of south Buton.
Various sections and outcrops were studied and sampled for their microfossil content, to provide age and
paleobathymetrical data. Together with information from the literature, these data form the base for a geohistory
analysis to evaluate the vertical motions.
Deposition started some 11 Ma ago, after the main deformation of the island, which was related to the collision
of a microplate carrying Buton, with the southeast arm of Sulawesi. Coarse and fine terrigenous debris
accumulated in a rapidly subsiding foreland basin; subsidence may have exceeded I00 cm/ka. When the rate of
subsidence decreased a late Miocene-early Pliocene period of quiet pelagic sedimentation followed.
From the late Pliocene onwards (around 3.5 Ma BP) an overall uplift took place, with rates between
30-120 cm/ka. This drastic change is explained by the collision of Buton with a submerged microcontinent that
presently forms the Tukang Besi platform, situated southeast of Buton, which interaction resulted in wrench type
tectonics and a clockwise rotation of over 60 ° for south Buton.

INTRODUCTION The study of the Neogene is hampered by lack of good

BUTON is an elongate, densely overgrown island of
about 150 km in length located in the western part of the
Banda Sea area (Fig. 1). Together with the neighbouring
island of Muna it forms the southeastward extension of
Sulawesi's east arm. Late Cenozoic sediments are exten-
sively developed in Buton, covering about three-quarters
of its surface. The purpose of this contribution is to
provide a synthesis of new and existing information
concerning the sedimentary geology and vertical move-
ments of these late Cenozoic sediments in southern
Buton.
Investigations of south Buton were carried out within
the frame of the joint Indonesian-Dutch Snellius-II
Expedition, Project I, "Geology and geophysics of the
Banda Arc and adjacent areas". During 1984-85 both
seagoing and onshore studies were carried out by various
teams, aiming to provide better constraints on the
overall evolution of the Banda Arc. Onshore studies
regarding the Upper Cenozoic have been carried out in
several islands of the Banda Arc, in order to provide
additional data concerning the timing, rate and magni-
tude of vertical movements (De Smet 1989a, b). Because
Buton is geologically more related to the islands forming
the Banda Arc, especially Buru and Seram, than to S.E.
Sulawesi (Katili 1978, Hartono and Tjokrosapoetro
1984) a field campaign to this island was also planned.
Fieldwork concentrated on the south of Buton (Fig. 2)
where the Neogene stratigraphic record is best docu-
mented because of the discovery of exploitable quantities
of asphalt during the earlier part of this century.
SEAES 4/2--B
outcrops, which results in poor stratigraphic control,
especially of the basal parts. The Snellius team visited
some major sections and various scattered localities
(Fig. 2). The results presented here are a combination of
the newly collected data, together with published results
relevant to the study of vertical movements. An idealized
stratigraphical column has been prepared as a base for
a geohistory diagram to portray the vertical movements
and sediment accumulation through time. Plate tectonic
aspects are discussed in a final section.
The first comprehensive study of Buton (Hetzel 1936)
still proved a valuable source of information. A more
recent study by Smith (1983) provided many details
concerning the basal Neogene, whereas the 1:250000
geological map (Sikumbang and Sanyoto 1981) served as
a working base.
Altogether 99 sediment samples were taken in the field
for micropaleontological purposes. They have all been
studied, both for paleobathymetric data (study of ben-
thic Foraminifera by LJVM; fauna list will be published
later by Van Marie and species names are kept to a
minimum here) and biostratigraphic purposes (study of
planktic Foraminifera by SRT; additional age data were
obtained from the study of the nannoflora of part of the
material by SH, whereas K. Perch-Nielsen was consulted
for the dating of a set of key samples). Paleobathymetric
inferences presented here also rely on comparison with
present-day depth distribution patterns of benthic
foraminiferal assemblages in east Indonesian waters
(Van Marie 1988). For general information concerning
the biozonal schemes applied we refer to Berggren et al.
107
108 A . R . FORTUIN e t a / .

Fig. 1. Map of the east Indonesian Banda Arc and adjacent areas givinglocation of Buton (box)and some principal tectonic
features. Interval of depth contour linesis 1000m. Toothed lines indicate front of subductioncomplex.Open arrow: motions
of the Australian and Pacific Plates with respect to Banda Sea Plate.

(1985), Bolli et al. (1985) and Martini and MiJller (1986);
the ages given follow the geochronological correlation
chart of the first mentioned authors.
Details concerning the field procedures and location of
the sampling points are given in the Progress Report of
the Snellius GF2 Campaign (Fortuin 1985).
S E T T I N G OF T H E P R E - N E O G E N E
Together with the island of Muna, Buton forms the
southernmost extension of the Upper Cenozoic orogenic
belt of southeast Sulawesi, which according to current
plate tectonic hypotheses is bordered on its eastern side
by the relics of a westward-dipping subduction zone
(Katili 1975, 1978, Hamilton 1979, Silver et al.,
1985a, b). Here, one or more continental fragments that
were formerly related to Irian Jaya are assumed to have
collided prior to the onset of Neogene sedimentation
discussed in the next section.
The pre-Neogene backbone of Buton is locally out-
cropping and is in south Buton mainly confined to three
S.W.-N.E. oriented structural highs (Fig. 3). Here
Paleozoic metamorphics, ophiolitic rocks and/or
Mesozoic-Eocene sediments crop out. The structure of
this backbone is hard to establish. According to Hetzel
(1936) it consists of a fold-thrustbelt with eastward-
dipping thrusts, but Smith (1983), in contrast, postulates
the presence of a westward-dipping imbricate structure,
which would fit better with the presumed direction of
subduction in the area. This is in agreement with Both~
(1927), who reported westward-dipping isoclinally
folded Mesozoic from north Buton outcrops.
From a paleogeographic point of view, the pre-
Neogene of Buton appears to be related to that of the
Banda Arc islands. The Paleozoic metamorphics are very
similar to the low grade metamorphic of the islands of
Buru and Scram in the northern Banda Arc (Hartono
and Tjokrosapoetro 1984). Both6 (1927) was struck by
the similarity between the Mesozoic strata in N. Buton
and those of Buru and Scram. The Mesozoic-Eocene of
these islands shows a development that is consistent with
deposition on a subsiding, passive continental margin
(Smith 1983, Pigram and Panggabean 1985). Various
other authors have highlighted aspects of the similarities
between Buton and Seram-Buru and an apparent
 Late Cenozoic history of south Buton, Indonesia 109

Gondwana drifted away from the Australian mainland

into southern Tethyan domains (Pigram and Pang-
gabean 1985). The Mesozoic-Eocene sediment column
reflects its post-breakup history, when it was a wandering
submerged microcontinent, until it collided with Su-
lawesi in the early-middle Miocene and deformed.

SETTING AND L I T H O L O G Y OF
THE NEOGENE

Three lithologically strongly contrasting units uncon-

formably overlie the thrusted pre-Neogene basement.
The oldest is the Tondo Formation (middle--late
Miocene), which consists mainly of coarse to fine grained
terrigenous clastics. It is overlain by the Sampolakosa
Formation (late Miocene-early Pliocene), which is essen-
tially made up of pelagic sediments. Both units may be
unconformably overlain by Quaternary reefs, named
Wapulaka Formation (Sikumbang and Sanyoto 1981).
The Tondo Formation is interpreted to have accumu-
lated in a foreland basin setting during the later stages
of the Miocene collision events mentioned before. It is
a heterogeneous clastic association of various types of
Fig. 2. Topographic overview of south Buton, showing location of conglomerates, sandstones and marls, deposited between
sections and outcrops discussed. The B numbers refer to the sample neritic and bathyal depths in a marine slope and fan
numbers taken in the various sites. Altitude in metres. environment. Facies aspects of these were studied by
Smith (1983). The relative proportions of the lithologies
discrepancy between Buton and S.E. Sulawesi (cf. Katili vary considerably throughout the sections and from one
1975, Wiryosujono and Hainim 1975). Current interpre- place to another. Because of the limited exposures and
tation is that Buton, like Buru and Seram, is a microcon- absence of marker beds thicknesses are uncertain and
tinental fragment, which during the break up of estimated to fluctuate all over Buton between several

Fig. 3. Sketch geologicalmap of south Buton, simplifiedafter Hetzel (1936) and the 1:250000 map of Sikumbangand
Sanyoto (1981).
110 A . R . FORTUIN et al.

hundred metres to possibly several kilometres (Smith Kabunka asphalt exploitation form a substantial part of
1983), or between 0 to 1300 m (Wiryosujono and Hainim the material collected.
1975). Smith (1983), however, could conclude that the
Tondo clastics formed a cover of laterally variable Tondo Formation
thickness around a central, faulted high, which roughly
corresponds with the location of the present pre- We estimate that the Wakoko section covers over
Neogene backbone of Buton. Most of the clastics of the 1200m of sediment, of which only 135 m are exposed
Tondo Formation would be derived from this central (Fig. 4). The thickness of the unexposed intervals has
high. been estimated according to dip and distance measure-
Towards the end of the Tondo depositional episode, ments in between the successive stream outcrops. The
when the rate of subsidence decreased (as discussed in possibility that faults disturb this restored succession
the section on geohistory analysis) reefs developed along cannot be excluded.
the central high. Laterally, and on top of these reefs, the Lithology. The succession consists of repetitions of
Sampolakosa Formation was deposited. This formation coarser and finer grained units, well displaying the
is poor in terrigenous debris and, apart from some immature character of the Tondo Formation (Fig. 5a).
volcanic tuff interbeds, it consists mainly of Dark silts and marly clays with brownish sandy in-
foraminiferal marly chalks; occasionally calcarenites are terbeds (turbidites) prevail in the basal and middle part.
intercalated. Maximum thickness is interpreted to be of
the order of 800m in south Buton (Hetzel 1936,
Wiryosujono and Hainim 1975). LEGEND SAMPLES
The transition between Tondo and Sampolakosa For- GF1-B
coarse elastics
mations appears to be diachronous going from one place
to another (Wiryosujono and Hainim 1975, Smith 1983). sandy strata 1200m ~.ab.%(.N
Both6 (1927) and Smith (1983) reported the existence of calcarenites
local angular unconformities, such as in river Magari, = B296
predominantly silts, 1100
S.W. Buton (Fig. 2). Nevertheless, most contacts be- clays (marly clays) B 294

tween the two formations are interpreted to be con-

formable (Hetzel 1936, Wiryosujono and Hainim, 1975). exposed interval 1000
-- B 292
In the late Neogene Buton deformed again and b o~o2o
partly exposed interval ,?e.~._~9_P
emerged, which gave the present island the character of s ~bbp;~ z
interval not exposed
a raised anticlinorium (Van Bemmelen 1949). Extensive 900
-- B290
reef growth occurred during emergence, which resulted
in the presence of elevated and locally slightly tilted reef
800
terraces along vast stretches of the coast of Buton. -:.-:-::-.-
--B 286

oo_t
•
.-:.. := =-.-:: :.
Southeastern Buton is almost entirely covered by (? late
~..TTT...~_..
Pliocene)-Quaternary reefs (Fig. 3), forming a hilly and •2=:=..= ". ".=- -.:

karstified district, elevated up to 703 m. Along the Bay

of Sampolawa we observed an angular uncoaformity B 284
600- B 282
between the Sampolakosa Formation and overlying reef
limestones.
500-
V.Oo~oc

SECTIONS STUDIED 400-

__B332 l
~-B330
O~

The most extensive section of the Tondo Formation is 300 -

-- B328
w
formed by the outcrops along river Wakoko, which "-- B 3 2 5 Z
0
flows into the Bay of Pasarwajo (Fig. 2). Just to the N
o
north an additional section along river Kabunka 200-

exposes coarse clastics belonging to the upper part of the "-~o%°d 09

formation. Z

~
100- Z
Along the western shore of Sampolawa Bay O0"o~oC
-- B322 Z
(S.W. Buton) the most substantial information for the ~--- B 3 2 0 r~J
Sampolakosa Formation was collected. Although of Om B319 0
r'n
limited thickness, the best section recorded there is an I

almost continuously exposed part of this otherwise
fragmentari,y exposed unit, approximately straddling
the Miocene--Pliocene boundary. For the Sampolakosa
Formation the many small sections and scattered out-
crops between Bau Bau-Pasarwajo and around the
Fig. 4. Interpretedlithological column of the Tondo Formation, as it
is partlyexposed along river Wakoko, north of Pasarwajo, S.E. Buton.
Biostratigraphic correlation indicated to the right of the column. The
lithology indicated for unexposed intervals is based on poor evidence
using relics of eroded bedrock and is only meant to give a general
impression of the overall Tondo lithology.
 Late Cenozoic history of south Buton, Indonesia 111

Fig. 5. Illustrations of the immature lithology of Tondo Formation. (a) Part of Wakoko river section, level of 610 m;
hammer for scale. Base of outcrop formed by sandy conglomerate, upwards passing in 1-15 cm thick sand shale couplets
and overlain by thick coarse sandstone-conglomerate beds. (b) Mass flow conglomerates in Kabunka river section, lower
part, showing irregular stratification with presence of imbricated cobbles and reverse grading in the lower bed. Hammer
and foot for scale.
112 A.R. FORTUIN et al.

Fig. 7. Lithology of the Sampolakosa Formation, Sampolawa Bay section. (a) Lower part of cliff exposure, at interval of
B 259-260. Sandy marls dominate in the lower part, upward (above level of B 260) fewer and less well developed sandy
interbeds are intercalated, which results in less pronounced, more massive bedding. (b) Detail of thin sandy interbeds (coin
for scale), intercalated between burrowed, sandy marls, rich in sponge spicules and showing some grading within, with sand
size grain fraction. Photo taken at lower right corner of (a), perpendicular to cliff wall.
 Late Cenozoic history of south Buton, Indonesia 1 13

Fig. 8. 135 mm Telephoto of part of eastern margin of Sampolawa Bay, just north of Tanjung ( = cape) Wapulaka, showing
flight of 13-14 Quaternary reef terraces, elevated up to 350 mm.
 Late Cenozoic history of south Buton, Indonesia
The mudstones may be laminated or thinly bedded; they
are slightly micaceous and often have a mottled appear-
ance due to bioturbation. Their dark colour indicates a
relatively high proportion of organic debris. Some levels
indeed contain abundant plant fragments. Well pre-
served leaf remains and other carbonaceous material and
molluscs were observed at the level of 1100 m.
Pebbly sands and conglomerates tend to dominate
higher up in the section. Most coarse clastics are moder-
ately rounded and consist mainly of pre-Neogene lime-
stones. Their size varies between small cobbles and
boulders up to 50 cm in diameter. Sorting may be poor;
stratification is irregular due to channeling. In the lower
part of the section conglomerates may alternate with
brownish calcareous sandstones. The amount of bioclas-
tics seems to increase upwards.
Age. Our samples from the basal muds contain only
a poor association of epipelagic planktic organisms; we
therefore failed to detect zonal marker species. Cal-
careous nannofossils are not over-represented either, but
they are rather well preserved, enabling correlation with
nannozones NN 8 (probable in sample B320 because of
the presence of the zonal marker species Catinaster
coalitus and absence of C. calyculus, which is present
higher up in the section) for the lowermost part, and NN
9a for the rest of the section (characterized by the
presence of Discoaster hamatus in combination with C.
calyculus). The NN 8 age for the basal part is in
agreement with Smith (1983), who reports the presence
of planktic Foraminifera indicating a late Serravallian
age (Zone N 14). The planktic Foraminifera from the
younger part of the section cannot but prove an indeter-
minate position within N 15-17 (late Miocene). Coccol-
iths reworked from Cretaceous-Oligocene strata are
common in the samples studied.
Environment. The benthic foraminiferal assemblages
indicate upward deepening of the section. The basal
samples suggest upper shelf depths to maximally the
uppermost part of the basinal slope (0-500 m) and
include species like Heterolepa mediocris, Brizalina pat-
ula and Parrelloides bradyi. Reworked species of inner
neritic origin are very common; some, as found in
samples 322 and 323 indicate a reefal origin. Considering
the abundance of organic detritus, especially plant re-
mains and the mottled, laminated sediments, lacking
well developed turbidite interbeds, a low energy environ-
ment related to the deeper and poorly oxygenated parts
of a deltaic system is concluded for the muds. This
environment was closely interrelated to the submarine
fan clastics forming much of the Tondo Formation.
The samples taken from the younger intervals also
may include reworked shallow marine faunal elements,
but the benthic Foraminifera indicate that the deposi-
tional environment had become deeper. This deepening
is obvious from the level of sample B328. The estimated
depth range is between 500 and 1200 m. Ultimate depth
may have paralleled that of the Sampolakosa Formation
later.
Smith (1983) explains the upward increasing propor-
tion of pebbly sandstones and conglomerates by progra-
115
dation of coarse clastic, gravity flow dominated fans into
low energy slope and basinal environments. We there-
fore suggest the presence of a gradually emerging hinter-
land, supplying huge amounts of clastics, channeled into
moderately deep tectonic depressions and building up
debris cones on top and in front of slope muds. In our
opinion, the enormous amounts of coarse clastics indi-
cates a larger source area than formed by the present
pre-Neogene highs of central Buton alone, as suggested
by the latter author.
Along Kabunka stream (Fig. 2), flowing just north of
the asphalt exploitations at Kabunka, 150 m of gently
dipping conglomerates representing the upper part of the
Tondo Formation are exposed. Where this stream passes
through a narrow gorge, the actual transition into the
Sampolakosa Formation takes place, which contact we
failed to observe. Judging from data from prospection
drillings carried out just to the north of this river (given
in Hetzel 1936), a slight angular, or erosional unconfor-
mity is present above detrital limestones, forming the top
of the Tondo Formation in this area.
The conglomerates are crudely stratified into coarser
and finer intervals; the latter may pass into cal-
carenite-calcisiltite interbeds. Various intervals consist
of very poorly sorted and rounded components. In this
aspect and in lithological composition (more fragments
of ophiolites and dark cherts) these clastics differ from
those of the Wakoko section. Occasionally sedimentary
structures such as pebble imbrication associated with
reverse grading were observed (Fig. 5b), as can be
expected in mass-flow deposits. The pebble imbrications
observed roughly indicate E.-S.E. directed paleocur-
rents. Bioclastics, such as coral debris, molluscs and
larger Foraminifera (e.g. Lepidocyclina), are commonly
intercalated.
The relative importance of bioclastics in the top part
of the formation indicates that during deposition of this
younger part of the Tondo Formation, reefal, nearshore
environments existed, supplying increasing amounts of
debris to bypassing coarse grained gravity flows. These
shoals probably existed nearby considering the presence
of poorly rounded clastics and the fact that carbonate
build-ups within the upper part of the Tondo Formation
are reported to exist along the pre-Neogene high of
central Buton (Hetzel 1936).
Sampolakosa Formation
In the area around Sampolawa Bay two important
sections occur. The first is a traverse along Bonto river
(Fig. 2), studied by Smith (1983) and according to his
data exposing parts of the basal 400 m of the formation.
We report here a well exposed succession present along
the beach of Kampung Buku. According to strike and
dip data its base should be placed some 450 m above
the base of the formation. Approximately 100 m below
this section, but located 4 km to the south, a less well
exposed part provides additional information (Fig. 6).
Lithology. The poorly exposed basal section includes
two white tephra interbeds, mainly consisting of volcanic
116 A.R. FORTUINet al.

sponge spicules) is evident in the lower hall which

SAMPLE8
GF1-B resulted in more conspicuous bedding (Figs 7a, b). Due
to strong bioturbation the sandy interbeds may be
Q') ~ a ~ 0 almost homogenized with the surrounding sediment
['~ volcanic ash giving it a mottled appearance. Some beds still retain a
30m
~-~ marl turbiditic aspect and may include organic debris of
['~.'.~ sandy marl shallow marine origin. The level of B263, a laminated
~sand "3 tephra, shows convolute bedding; the convolutions are
[ " ~ ' ~ marl fragments 1-~.._~ ~- - overfolded to the south.
~ H ' ~ calcarenite Moving upward in the section the amount of lithoclas-
--B276

._o tic grains and sponge spicules gradually disappears,

,~. spongespicules z ~-

~ --B274
which again results in a poorer definition of bedding,
.~ gradedbed 0 with the exception of a 30 cm thick sand turbidite at the
0 --
convolution level of B269.
or slumping' ~ --B272
A nearby isolated road outcrop is mentioned, because
t~ corals it includes a very thick (2.50m) amalgamated tephra
(~ molluscs
~ --B270
layer.
Age. Biostratigraphic data from river Bonto (Smith
~B268 1983) indicate that the transition between the Tondo and
Sampolakosa formations in this area takes place some-
--B266 where during the earlier part of plankton zone N 16/N
17 (Tortonian).
A. __
The planktic foraminiferal assemblages of the poorly
.~ ~B264
20- exposed basal section include forms like Globorotalia
[AAA^ASAAAA
A^A", altispira, G. plesio/merotumida and Sphaeroidinellopsis
.~ ~ ~ B 2 6 2
sp. and therefore can be assigned to zone N 17 (latest
Miocene). The level of B257-258 shows a change of
10-
sinistral to dextral coiling in the Neogloboquadrina
acostaensis group. This well documented event indicates
B258 that this part of the section can be correlated with the
0m- ~B257 late Messinian, lower part of polarity epoch 5 (Van
Gorsel and Troelstra 1981, Berggren et al. 1985). The
JBEACHOF KAMPUNGBUKUI z,+ i:+ latter authors indicate an age of 5.8 Ma for this event.
missing interval possibly 100 m.
about 25 m very Sample B266 records the first appearance of Globorotalia
o_~
i poorly exposed ! cibaoensis, which entry typifies the latest part of Zone N
, . . .... ! 17 in Indonesia (Van Gorsel and Troelstra 1981) and
i

'"-'" '""
.L
poorly exposed
%
~ ~B253
[4KM OF KAMPUNGBUKU]
Fig. 6. Schematic lithological column of the latest Miocene-early
Pliocene Sampolawa Bay outcrops, Sampolakosa Formation with
indication of biostratigraphic correlation by means of planktic
Foraminifera. Bed thickness not to scale. For results concerning the
determination of the coccolith flora, see Table 1.
glass (few biotRes). Here, most sediments are pure marly
chalks, in contrast to the sediments forming the main
section, where input of siliciclastics (sand, mud and
1
B272 is the last occurrence of this species. Because the
i Miocene-Pliocene boundary falls within the range of this
species and the appearance of E. Pliocene forms, such as
G. lenguaensis cf. G. margaritae, takes place in sample
B270, it is concluded that the Miocene-Pliocene
boundary is situated just below that level. The age given
by Berggren et al. (1985) for this boundary is 5.3 Ma.
The calcareous nannofossils indicate that reworking
from older Tertiary and Mesozoic sediments is negligi-
ble. Because of the unambiguous correlation results by
means of the planktic Foraminifera, it was considered an
interesting exercise to compare this with the calcareous
nannofossil zonation, since this particular interval is less
--B252
well constrained by means of coccoliths in the Indone-
sian area, their preservation and abundance being good.
All samples were studied (Table 1). According to these
results the whole section can be assigned to the late
Miocene Discoaster quinquerarnus zone (NN 11, see
Martini and Miiller 1986, which is CN 9 of Okada
and Bukry 1980) based on the overall occurrence of
D. quinquerarnus s.l. (including forms described as
D. berggrenii). It can be further subdivided into subzone
CN 9a (D. berggrenii subzone, samples 257-271) and CN
9b (Amaurolithus primus subzone, samples 272-281),
 Late Cenozoic history of south Buton, Indonesia 117

Table 1. Distribution chart (by S. Hadiwasastra) of coccolith species in the Kampung Buku section, Sampolawa Bay area,
Sampolakosa Formation and biostratigraphic correlation, discussed in the text.

KEY TO 8YMBOL8
v
: 3 i Few
= R are
Common
Abundant
Prel4~rvation:poor
Q = Presln-vation:medium
• = P~eservation:g~d
++ ° + : . , ,.+ o ., o ~.+ ; ~. . . i + + + X . , + :+:, + ~ - + + +
. +'+:;:.+
? = Questionably Present
= Not P ~ I s m n t

. =
++:++++;;+++ .
.= + + ,. i + :. + + : +. 3
+ ~ + ; + + . ~ ++o+
. + , , + + + + ';,
;: +++ ;~
+"++:+++';+°+°"
3+33 +

== ............................. IP;'::li"
=< ++P+++++I+++;++++~+++°+====~===+=~+=+

BIOZONE AGE

B 281 B 281,
B
B
280
279 f'! +II I
l I I " i " '
I I ;
i t
B
B
280
279

i
B 278 B 278
B 277 i'l "i" i t • I
I B 277 CN 9 b LATE
B 276
lie! i +i li'" I i'' B 276

i
B
B
275
274 i i,ll B
B
275
274
B
B
B
273
272
271
" I I II B
B
B
273
272
271 NNII
B
B
B
270
269
2a8 i i i
I el.l- I
I B
B
B
270
269
268
(S.L.)

i!
B 267 B 267

I i ilti
B 266 B 266
B 265 I I I B 2a5
B 264 B 264
B 263 Ig I B 263
CN 9a MIOCENE
Iii
'i
B 262 B 262
I

'i i i I i
B 261 B 261

I,!
B 260 B 260
B 259 B 259
B 258 B 258
B 257 B 257

based on the first occurrence of A. prtmus in sample 272. (500-1200m). Similar depths were concluded for the
Unfortunately these results are not compatible with the sediments exposed along river Bonto (Smith 1983).
planktic foraminiferal zonation. For the first appearance Additional smaller sections. Because of the lack of
datum of the latter species an age of 6.5 Ma is given and continuous sections to illustrate the vertical stratigraphic
because its entry is slightly above the probable position development, various smaller sections were studied to
of the Miocene-Pliocene boundary, a misfit of over 1 Ma check the upward age range of the Sampolakosa Forma-
is evident, assuming the Berggren et al. (1985) ages are tion and its relation to overlying and underlying reefal
correct. This result is explained by the fact that absence deposits closer to the central high (Fig. 2). These are: (1)
of any coccolith marker species to indicate the beginning outcrops along the road Bau Bau-Pasarwajo, proximity
of the early Pliocene in this part of the tropical region of river Sampolawa valley, and (2) outcrops in the
prevents a clear correlation of the two zonations. Ac- Kabunka area, such as the partly asphaltic foraminiferal
cording to K. Perch-Nielsen, A. J. T. Romein and S. R. grainstones, which are quarried there•
Troelstra (personal communication) this misfit between Observations in (1) suggest interfingering of reefal
the two plankton zonations is not uncommon in Indone- debris with the Sampolakosa Formation both at the base
sian material of this age. and the top. Chalky marls interbedded with bioclastic
Environment• The Sampolawa Bay section reflects limestones, rich in reef debris and shallow water
fully pelagic conditions with increasing and decreasing Foraminifera such as Lepidocyclinids, are interpreted to
siliciclastic influxes of shallow marine origin in the lower represent the eldest strata (late Miocene). Paleodepth
part. The timing of this influx correlates strikingly well then was less than during the latest Miocene, when the
with late Messinian times, a period of increased climatic benthic foraminiferal associations reflect bathyal depths,
contrasts and increased Antarctic glaciation (see e.g. as at Sampolawa Bay. The greyish marls observed here
discussion by McKenzie and Oberh~insli 1985), hence of that age, however, point to existing lateral facies
with lowered sea level. We therefore conclude that this differences. The youngest foraminiferal limestones ob-
part of the stratigraphic record of Buton is overprinted served are associated with calcareous marls including
by glacioeustatic events, which caused erosion of the an early Pliocene fauna, as, for example, demonstrated
shelf areas, thus forming a lowstand sequence (see Haq by the occurrence of well developed Globorotalia tumida/
et al. 1987)• tumida flexuosa and sinistrally coiled Pullenia primalis,
These pelagic deposits include benthic foraminiferal and were again deposited in shallower environments.
assemblages with a high faunal diversity and a composi- All samples taken in the second area can be assigned
tion indicating middle (-lower) bathyal environments to the latest Miocene, upper part of zone N 17. They
118 A.R. FORTUINet al.
show the entry of Globorotalia cibaoensis, following
a planktic foraminiferal association with taxa such as
G. plesiotumida /merotumida and Globoquadrina altispira
and thus also overlap at least part of the Sampolawa
Bay section. The benthic foraminiferal assemblages
also strongly resemble those of the Sampolawa Bay
area, indicating deposition in fairly deep water
(500--1200 m). Already earlier investigators (Beets 1953,
Keyzer 1953, Reinhold 1953, who studied the gas-
tropods, Foraminifera and diatoms, respectively, of the
quarried deposits) pointed to the cool water characteris-
tics of the fauna, which conforms to the inferred bathyal
environment. Keyzer (1953) described a new genus of
benthic foraminifera from these sediments (Bueningia
butonensis), which was also encountered in our material.
Wapulaka Formation
An angular unconformity between the Sampolakosa
Formation and overlying Quaternary reef sediment is
exposed along the coastal road in the southwest corner
of Sampolawa Bay. It indicates a moderate tilting and
uplift of the Neogene succession prior to reef growth.
The presence of a basal interval, consisting of lumps of
reworked Sampolakosa sediment and lithoclasts below
the reelal limestones illustrates that vigorous erosion of
the Sampolakosa Formation may have taken place.
From this locality a spectacular flight of 13-14 ter-
races (Fig. 8) is visible in the peninsula forming the
eastern side of Sampolawa Bay (the cape is named
Tanjung Wapulaka, i.e. this cliff forms the type locality
of this unit). These terraces were mentioned by Verbeek
(1908) and rise up to 350m and more. They are sepa-
rated by a fault from the less elevated reefs of S.W.
Buton (usually under 150 m), where, however, a similar
number of terraces may locally be preserved, such as in
the vicinity of Bau Bau, Tanjung Lombe (Fig. 2). From
that locality, a 23°Th/234 U dating (at-spectrometry carried
out by Dr A. Van der Wijk, Isotope Physics Laboratory,
Groningen) was made of a coral sample from terrace
no. 9, which is elevated 92 m above mean sea level. The
resulting age of 182 +__27 ka suggests that this terrace can
be correlated with terrace VIIIa of Huon Peninsula,
Irian. The latter reef area serves as a reference for the
detailed study of global Quaternary sea level fluctuations
and for terrace VIIIa a sea level position of about 50 m
below the present mean sea level is concluded (Chappell
and Shackleton 1986).
GEOHISTORY ANALYSIS
Because continuous sections are lacking and evidence
has been found for lateral changes in thickness and
facies, only an average, hypothetical section can be
composed as a base to portray the vertical movements
of S. Buton in a geohistory diagram. This hybrid section
is indicated in the geohistory diagram (Fig. 9), made
following the methods of Van Hinte (1978) and Harden-
bol et al. (1981). No corrections are made for com-
paction, i.e. the estimated thicknesses of the formations
are used. Eustatic sea level changes are not incorporated
in the diagram because their amplitude is an order of
magnitude smaller than the vertical tectonic movements
in this tectonically active area (De Smet et al. 1989b).
Because of its hybrid character, the geohistory diagram
should only be considered as an illustration of main
tectonic and stratigraphic trends in the area.
The Wakoko section probably covers a major part of
the depositional episode of the Tondo Formation, but
the actual stratigraphic distance of the section to the
base and top of the formation is not known. The section
starts in nannofossil Zone N N 8. Since no older age
assignments for the formation are mentioned in the litera-
ture, we interpret that Tondo sedimentation started not
much before N N 8, i.e. some 11 Ma ago. Because of the
scanty age~lepth data, depth is plotted in the geohistory
diagram (Fig. 9) by connecting the mid points of the
interpreted bathymetric ranges, respectively placed at the
beginning and end of zones NN 8 and NN 9, to cover
the maximum age range.
Youngest age for the top of the Tondo Formation in
S. Buton is given by Smith (1983) for the Magari fiver
section, where Tondo sedimentation continued into the
younger part of foraminiferal zone N 16. A similar age
is given for the oldest Sampolakosa deposits (fiver
Bonto).Therefore, the Tondo-Sampolakosa boundary is
arbitrarily placed at 7.5 Ma in our diagram (Fig. 9).
In order to portray the total thickness of the Tondo
Formation, data from the Wakoko section are used. The
total stratigraphic distance between the dated samples is
somewhat more than 1000m, which was deposited
within the combined NN 8-9 nannofossil zones. With a
maximum duration of 1.8 Ma for these combined zonal
ranges this results in a minimum rate of sedimentation
of 55 cm/ka. By extrapolation of this minimum rate for
the total depositional period concerned, a minimum
of about 1800 m can be estimated for the total thickness
of accumulated Tondo sediments in the Wakoko area at
7.5 Ma.
During the first, main period of Tondo deposition, the
sedimentary environment deepened, as appears from the
benthic foraminiferal content in the Wakoko section.
The overall depth increase, combined with the sedimen-
tation rate, indicates that the basement below the Tondo
Formation subsided at a minimum rate of 100cm/ka
(Fig. 9).
Towards the end of the Tondo depositional episode,
limited shallowing may have taken place, especially near
the present pre-Neogene highs. Here, rejuvenation of
relief is suggested by the appearance of relatively poorly
rounded coarse clastics towards the top of the Tondo
Formation, Kabunka area. Shallowing possibly resulted
from a decrease in subsidence rate of the formation,
while sedimentation rate remained constant. Some shal-
lowing of the environment was concluded by Smith
(1983), based on faunal observations in river Magari
(top of Tondo Formation) and river Bonto (base of
Sampolakosa Formation). The environments, however,
would have retained their bathyal character. Because
 Late Cenozoic history of south Buton, Indonesia 119

SOUTH BUTON

NN NN
.
NNINN 1 ? , INN[
0 ,,
NN I "N ~
,= 3111 16
I
..10
~1

lr l, ll ,. I,"7 I1"19/20 I 21 "

22

12 11 10 0 8 7 61 5 4 3 2 I 0
I I I I I | I I I I I Aoe in M|

+ 100o

/ REEF
i: NN 18
REEF :.y
ACCUMULATION
NN 11
~S:
.y../,,~_j LEVEL S
SEA

EROSION . . Late N 16 (Smith, '83)

/"/ / T
i..... I" .: . o
r---]
i I
,: -Iooo o top? NN 9
~_ _J /: o

>.~i!
O

..¢,'
.- 2000 base? NN 8
/
/
i
/i'..,,..
i

/ -3O0O
L
/
/

- 3600
/
\:

Fig. 9. Geohistory diagram for the late Cenozoic deposits of S. Buton, based on a compiled and idealised vertical succession.
Sea level is considered as if constant. The horizontal axis gives age in Ma and the age ranges of the biozones of planktic
Foraminifera (N zones) and of calcareous nannofossils (NN zones), after Berggren et al. (1985). Boxes indicate possible
age depth ranges of specified horizon.

substantial information to indicate significant bathymet- depths between 700 and 1200 m and therefore a constant
ric and/or tectonic changes around the Tondo- bathyal depth of 950 m is indicated in the geohistory
Sampolakosa transition is lacking, we prefer to indicate diagram (Fig. 9). By consequence, the estimated rate of
in Fig. 9 limited overall changes at the end of Tondo basement subsidence during Sampolakosa sedimenta-
deposition, marking the transition to lower subsidence tion equals the sedimentation rate.
rates during the time of Sampolakosa sedimentation. We Because our data do not allow for an estimate of the
realise, however, that locally vertical motions may have total formation thickness, we follow the estimate of
played a more important part. 800m (Hetzel 1936, Wiryosujono and Hainim 1975).
The Sampolakosa depositional episode is estimated to This implies an average rate of sedimentation of
have lasted for about 4 Ma, which is until the early-late 20 cm/ka. At least for the latest Miocene, a lower rate of
Pliocene boundary. This because the youngest bathyal sedimentation is suggested. Using the ages obtained
Sampolakosa deposits observed are of early Pliocene from the Sampolawa Bay section, i.e. the age of the
age, while no late Pliocene Sampolakosa sediments are change in coiling direction within the Neogloboquadrina
known from S. Buton. The paleobathymetric signal acostaensis group (5.8Ma) and the age of the
obtained from most samples is uniform, indicating Miocene-Pliocene boundary (5.3 Ma) about 40 m higher
SEAES4/2~"
120 A.R. FORTUINet al.
up in the section a rate of 8 cm/ka follows. Whatever the
reason for this discrepancy, it is clear that the available
data are too limited for further discussion concerning
this matter.
After the early Pliocene, the Tondo and Sampolakosa
Formations were deformed and uplifted. While the
island emerged, erosion occurred and reefs developed
unconformably on top of the Neogene. The erosion
as well as the age of the reef growth is only sketchily
indicated. The height-age relation of the reef accumula-
tion (Fig. 9), however, follows the average rate of uplift
calculated (next paragraph) for a Quaternary reef ter-
race. In fact, there is a great lateral variation in the
amount of erosion and the commencement of reef
growth in S. Buton. Folding and tilting of strata resulted
in variable elevations of Tondo and Sampolakosa sedi-
ments, between 0 and 750 m in S. Buton. Uplift rates
therefore varied laterally between 30 and 120 cm/ka.
The radiometric age of about 180 ka, obtained from
a terrace at 92 m in S.W. Buton, formed when sea level
was around 50 m below the present level, indicates an
average uplift of some 80 cm/ka. This figure falls well
within the uplift rates calculated for the Neogene forma-
tions. In S.E. Buton where similar numbers of elevated
terraces have been observed as in S.W. Buton, but with
much higher elevation (such as at the type section of the
Wapulaka Formation) Quaternary uplift probably pro-
ceeded faster.
ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY
Although the geohistory diagram (Fig. 9) is partly
hypothetical, the main trends outlined in it will be valid
for most of Buton: from the middle Miocene onwards
the geohistory of the island is first dominated by overall
subsidence and subsequently by a process of uplift,
which was associated with deformation and erosion. The
depositional history also shows two major changes. The
first is a rather sudden, drastic decrease of clastic
influxes, marking the boundary between the Tondo and
Sampolakosa Formations. The second is the start of
extensive reef growth while the island was emerging.
Within the frame of these regional trends, however, there
has been a great variation in local developments, for
instance due to the existence of a paleorelief. Presence of
a buried topography below the Neogene follows from
the fact that the Tondo as well as the Sampolakosa
Formations are onlapping on the deformed basement.
The time of first deposition on the basement will there-
fore vary from place to place, higher parts of the relief
being submerged later. As the Wakoko section contains
the oldest deposits observed in S. Buton it is highly likely
that these sediments were deposited in the lower parts of
the paleorelief, which became the deeper part of the
basin.
Not only did the existence of a paleorelief during the
late Miocene-early Pliocene period of subsidence have
great consequences for the present geological picture of
Buton, but also when the area finally emerged again,
after the late Pliocene (and possibly longer) period of
uplift and deformation, the existing relief must have
resulted in variable ages for the beginning of reef growth.
The sedimentological characteristics of the Tondo
Formation are in agreement with the calculated average
sedimentation rate of 55 cm/ka. The rate exceeds the
40 cm/ka limit necessary to generate submarine fan-like
bodies (De Vries Klein 1985) and falls well within the
range given for clastic slope sedimentation (Sadler 1981).
The presence of reef limestones and reef debris in the
basal part of the Tondo Formation is reported by Hetzel
(1936). Higher in the formation the amount of bioclas-
tics strongly diminishes, and increases again near the top
of the formation. We suggest that the initial reduction of
reef growth resulted from the high rate of subsidence
calculated for the area. According to Schlager (1981)
subsidence exceeding 1000 Bubnoff units (= 100 cm/ka)
prevents the development of reefs. A slowdown of
subsidence rate near the end of Tondo deposition, as
suggested in the geohistory diagram (Fig. 9), would be
in agreement with a renewed development of reefs in the
hinterland and a renewed supply of reefal debris into the
depositional basin.
Several reasons may have led to the radical change of
supply of clastics at the boundary between the Tondo
and Sampolakosa Formations. Recurrence of reef
growth may cause entrapment of terrigenous debris, as
pointed out by Menard (1983). Another possibility, if
not in combination with the previous one, is that
continued subsidence of the area may have resulted in
submergence of nearby sediment sources. Influence of
locally existing shoals upon the supply of coarse clastics
towards the end of the Tondo depositional episode has
already been discussed and this may have come to an
end. Depending on local factors, the change from clastic
into pelagic sedimentation occurred earlier in one place
than in another.
The calculated overall rate of sedimentation of
20 cm/ka for the Sampolakosa Formation is fairly high
for pelagic sediments, but not exceptional. The rate of
sedimentation of roughly coeval pelagic sediments stud-
ied by the Snellius team in Timor and deposited in a
comparable environment, was found to be in between
10-15 cm/ka (De Smet et al., submitted).
DEFORMATIONAL HISTORY
The unconformable position of the Neogene on top of
a strongly deformed pre-Neogene basement, while inter-
nal unconformities within the the Neogene are not
obviously present, indicates that the main deformation
of Buton had ceased before deposition of the Tondo
Formation started. The lithology of that formation,
however, shows that the relief of the hinterland supply-
ing the Tondo clastics remained unstable for quite some
time.
The renewed deformation of the study area in the late
Pliocene-Pleistocene, which was associated with the
overall uplift of Buton, resulted in faulting and gentle
 Late Cenozoic history of south Buton, Indonesia
Fig. 10. Schematictectonicinterpretationof Buton and adjacentareas. Right lateral slip and rotation of Buton followed
after collisionwith the Tukang Besi segmentin the Pliocene,as portrayedin Fig. 11.
folding of strata. The Neogene formations still form an
almost continuous, although broken, cover over the
island (excluding the pre-Neogene backbone) and are
moderately dipping in most places. Important thrusting
in these sediments has not been observed.
An indication that differential vertical tectonic move-
ments between the present pre-Neogene backbone and
nearby exposed Sampolakosa sediments took place prior
to this young overall uplift of Buton, is the presence of
Quaternary reefs on top of both these units. During
deposition of the pelagic Sampolakosa Formation, the
outcropping basement must have been at a distance, so
that this situation probably is a younger feature.
The main axial trend of structures in south Buton is
S.W.-N.E. Towards the north of the island these direc-
tions change to S.S.E.-N.N.W., thus showing an arcuate
fold belt concave to the west. Several features suggest to
us that the deformation was due to wrenching processes
in the initial stage rather than pure convergence (Fig.
10). Hetzel (1936) already noted a remarkable combina-
tion of compressional and extensional features in the
Neogene of Buton, but had no explanations for it. All
over S. Buton, from Sampolawa Bay in the southwest,
to Lawele Bay 75 km to the northeast, a very prominent,
somewhat sigmoidal, 2-7 km wide fault bounded depres-
sion occurs (Fig. 3). The asphalt occurrences of S. Buton
are concentrated on the eastern margin of this structure.
The main faults along it are curved and tectonic blocks
of several kilometres in diameter show various directions
of tilting. We interpret this structure as the result of right
lateral wrenching, with Lawele and Sampolawa Bays as
subsiding parts and variously uplifted elements in be-
tween. Smith (1983) identified an important left lateral
strike-slip fault in northern Buton. The two systems
121
together suggest that the bay separating northeast and
southeast Buton might be a north-south extensional
phenomenon.
The present configuration of reef terraces in S. Buton
shows that regional deformation and differential uplift
processes are still continuing. On a regional scale, the
reefs east of Sampolawa Bay are uplifted higher and are
morphologically more clearly expressed than in S.W.
Buton, where erosion has obliterated part of the stair-
case morphology. In some places the angle of tilt may
gradually increase from the lower to the higher terraces.
Differentially tilted terraces were noted by Both6 (1927)
and the author interpreted this as proof for very young
folding in the area. Whatever the causes, the configur-
ation of the elevated south Buton reefs illustrates a
complex interaction of Quaternary sea level fluctuations
and tectonics, worth future investigation.
PLATE TECTONIC ASPECTS
One of the aims of the present study is to put
constraints on the interpretation of the plate tectonic
history of the Buton area. Geohistory analysis shows
that the island subsided considerably during the late
Miocene-early Pliocene. This period of subsidence oc-
curred after the main deformation of the pre-Neogene
basement and therefore must be considered as an episode
following the collision of the Buton microcontinent and
Sulawesi. The reason for post-collisional subsidence is
not fully clear to us and is beyond the scope of this
paper, but Snellius-II investigations in the Neogene of
other non-volcanic islands of the Banda Arc show that
periods of deformation and uplift of the islands are
122 A.R. FORTUINet al.

Be: Bands Sea Plate (reference)

Au: Australian Plate Su: Sula Plate
Ir: Irlan Jaya Plate Bu: Buru Plate
Pc: western Pacific plates
SFZ: $orong Fault Zone
TAF: T a r e r a - AIduna Fault Zone
n: Buton e: Tukeng Beei Islands b: Buru
s: Scram k: Kel Islands y: Tanimber Islands
t: Tlmor

plate motions relative to Benda

Sea Plate
- relative motion at plate boundary
continental crust of Australia, Irien
Jaya and Sulaweai

Okm 500km lOOOkm

Fig. 11. A geological interpretation of the plate tectonic evolution of eastern Indonesia during the past 10 Ma, using the
model of De Smet (1989a). Aspects of the evolution concerning Buton are discussed in the text. For general discussion
the reader is referred to the paper of De Smet (1989a). The model is based upon motion of six rigid plates, moving around
non-stationary Euler poles under mechanically-geometrically controlled circumstances.

usually followed by periods of subsidence in a rather
spasmodic way (De Smet et al., 1989b). This is inter-
preted as being caused by continuously shifting deforma-
tion fronts and shifting axes of main uplift in the
subduction complex, while isostatic adjustments result-
ing in subsidence occur on a regional scale. At the local
site, however, the resulting picture is one of subsidence
alternating with periods of uplift. In the Buton area, a
shift of the deformation front after the collision of Buton
with Sulawesi is indicated by the cessation of deforma-
tion in the pre-Neogene basement of the island. We
suggest that the front shifted eastwards to a position
in between Buton and the Tukang Besi Archipelago
(Fig. 10).
Situated southeast of Buton, the Tukang Besi
Archipelago caps a submarine ridge complex which
Hamilton (1979) suggests represents a submerged conti-
nental fragment. This situation resembles that of the
pre-Neogene of Buton, prior to its accretion to Sulawesi.
Trends in the orientation of main structures of Buton
and the Tukang Besi Archipelago have an anomalous
relation (Fig. 10). In Buton they are roughly oriented
north-south (with a tendency to N.E.-S.W. directions in
S. Buton) and in Tukang Besi about N.W.-S.E. The
latter direction in fact follows the trend existing in S.E.
Sulawesi, which feature makes the structures of Buton
an anomalous phenomenon in the regional tectonic
framework. In our opinion, the regional picture is
indicative of a N.E.-S.W. direction of plate convergence
for the eastern Sulawesi subduction zone, and therefore
the present trend of structures on Buton, and notably
South Buton, seems oblique at an angle of about 60 ° to
the direction of convergence of regional plate motions.
We are of the opinion that these anomalous structural
relations of Buton can be directly related to the interpre-
tation of the uplift history of the island in the late
Pliocene and Pleistocene. We suggest that Buton and the
Tukang Besi Archipelago represent different continental
fragments, which were formerly separated from each
other by oceanic crust. In the Neogene history of
southeastern Sulawesi they entered one after the other
into the subduction complex and collided (Fig. 11). The
Buton fragment collided with Sulawesi in the early
Miocene and deformed.
In the late Miocene, the axis of subduction had shifted
eastwards where oceanic crust started to be subducted
and Buton subsided as a consequence of regional iso-
static adjustments (Fig. 1la). Tephra beds intercalated in
the late Miocene deposits indicate volcanic activity in the
region and therefore might be related to this subduction.
In the Pliocene, the Tukang Besi continental fragment
arrived at the subduction zone (Fig. 1lb). This second
collision resulted in renewed uplift and emergence of
Buton. The centre of collision of the Tukang Besi
 Late Cenozoic history of south Buton, Indonesia
fragment with Buton was, however, situated at the
southeastern end of the S.E. Sulawesi-Buton thrustbelt,
which caused rupture, wrenching and rotation of the
tectonic elements in this part of the belt of up to 60 ° in
the Piio-Pleistocene (Fig. 1lc). Evidence for right lateral
wrenching as the youngest type of deformation in south-
ern Buton fits into this interpretation (e.g. compare with
model on block rotation by Nur and Ron 1987).
CONCLUSIONS
The late Cenozoic sediments of S. Buton were de-
posited after the main deformation of the pre-Neogene
basement, due to collision of a continental fragment,
carrying Buton, with the S.E. Sulawesi subduction zone.
From the late Serravallian onwards a rapidly subsiding
foreland basin extended over S. Buton, in which vast
amounts of coarse and fine terrigenous clastics were
laid down in increasingly deep environments (Tondo
Formation). The pre-Neogene basement subsided at a
minimum rate of 100 cm/ka. A complex basin geometry,
and therefore the possibility of sub-basins, cannot be
excluded.
In the course of the Tortonian, stabilization took
place, which was associated with local uplift. This de-
crease of overall subsidence was coupled with the reap-
pearance of reefal debris in the clastics, which suggests
that reef growth was minimal during the period of fast
subsidence.
A 4 Ma period of mainly pelagic sedimentation fol-
lowed in dominantly bathyal environments (Sam-
polakosa Formation), during which sedimentation and
basin subsidence were more or less equilibrated.
The late Messinian sediments exposed in the Sam-
polawa Bay area give evidence of influence by
glacioeustatic sea level changes. Calcareous nannofossils
of the area studied indicate that the position of the
Miocene-Pliocene boundary cannot readily be indicated
by this group of microfossils. This aspect merits future
attention.
Sedimentation ceased towards the end of the early
Pliocene as a result of overall uplift and erosion of the
Buton segment. Folding and tilting processes caused
differential elevation of the Neogene; rate of overall
uplift of the Neogene varied between 30 and 120 cm/ka,
higher rates being possible. A rate of 80cm/ka was
calculated for an uplifted Pleistocene reef terrace dated
about 180 ka.
The present orientation of structures on Buton is
anomalous with regard to the regional picture. We
interpret this development to be directly related to the
uplift history: Buton and the nearby Tukang Besi
Archipelago represent different continental fragments.
They entered one after the other in the S.E. Sulawesi
subduction complex. Buton collided with Sulawesi in the
early Miocene and was deformed. In the late Miocene,
the axis of subduction had shifted eastwards. Oceanic
crust started to be subducted between Buton and
Tukang Besi, and Buton subsided. When the Tukang
123
Besi continental fragment arrived at the subduction
zone, uplift and emergence of Buton followed. As a
consequence of its peripheral position in the S.E. Su-
lawesi-Buton thrustbelt, continuing motion of Tukang
Besi caused rupture and right lateral wrenching between
the various tectonic elements, causing rotation of S.
Buton of up to 60°.
Acknowledgements--This research was carried out as a part of the
Snellius-II Expedition, organized by The Netherlands Council of
Oceanic Research (NRZ) and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
(LIPI). Research was supported by the Dutch Organisation for Pure
Scientific Research (ZWO Project Nos 76-85 and 76-83). Dedy
Barmawidjaja, G.M. Hermansyah, Kumala Hardjawidjaksana and
Yudi Darlan (MGI, Bandung) are acknowledged for guidance in the
field and providing a reef sample for radiometric age dating. Dating
was carried out by Dr A. van der Wijk at the Isotope Physics
Laboratory of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
We wish to express our gratitude to Dr K. Perch-Nielsen (London)
who carefully investigated the coccolith flora of various samples.
Consulting her was made possible by NRZ. Dr A. J. T. Romein
(Jakarta) gave S.H. valuable advice concerning the study of nannofos-
sils from the Sampolawa Bay section. Drs H. M. S. Hartono
(Bandung) and Prof. J. E. Van Hinte (Amsterdam) need to be
acknowledged for their support of this project. Discussion with Dr N.
Sikumbang (Bandung) was highly appreciated.
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