UC Spark

Dr Kari Bassett

Geological Sciences

Fields of Research

  • active tectonics of New Zealand and associated basins
  • Basin analysis
  • Basins of New Zealand, Antarctica and British Colombia
  • Provenance analysis using petrographic, SEM, isotopic and geochemical techniques
  • Sedimentary geology and interaction of volcanic and sedimentary processes

Researcher Summary

Research interests are focussed around basin analysis of arc-related basins and reconstruction of paleogeography and tectonic setting.  Research techniques include petrographic and geochemical techniques for provenance analysis, the interaction of volcanic and sedimentary processes, structural control on basin geometry and facies distributions, and basin response to oblique plate convergence. Geoarcheology is a new interest and we have recently developed a new programme in that area. Current areas of research include: quartz provenance analysis using cathodoluminescence, terrane accretion and provenance analysis in Antarctica, volcanic sedimentation and basin analysis along the modern plate boundary in New Zealand.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Research Groups

Future Research

  • Unconformities in the Oligocene – tectonic or climatic in origin?
  • Tectonic setting of the Beacon Group, Antarctica
  • SEM cathodoluminescence – further development of its use in provenance analysis
  • Uplift of the Transantarctic Mtns. Antarctica – evidence from Ross Sea sediments
  • Inception of the modern NZ plate boundary – evidence from transitional basins

Key Methodologies

  • Cathodoluminescence on a scanning electron microscope
  • Field description and measurement of sedimentary / volcanic sections
  • Field mapping
  • Microscopy on sedimentary and volcanic rocks
  • Trace element geochemistry of clasts and mudstones
  • U/pb geochronology on zircons

Affiliations

Research Service

  • purchased new mini-CL system for SEM (2009)
  • research collaborations with NIWA (2009-present)
  • co-developed research programme in Oligocene Basin Analysis and Paleogeography (2008-present)
  • ANDRILL - SMS core - active researcher/member in the Antarctic Drilling Programme (2007-present)
  • collaborations with coal industry (2006-present)
  • co-developed research group on Basin Analysis in Antarctica (2004-present)
  • developed new provenance analysis technique using SEM-CL (2001-present)

Publications

(Selected outputs for last six years)

  • Savage, Jeni E., Margaret A. Bradshaw. and Kari N. Bassett. (2013) Marginal marine depositional setting and correlation of the Devonian Sperm Bluff Formation (Taylor Group), southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Antarctic Science (in press) (Journal Article)
  • Thompson, N., Reid, C. and Bassett, K. (2012) Alternating authigenic and carbonate factory production within a cool-water carbonate sequence stratigraphic framework. San Francisco, CA, USA: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (AGU), 3-7 Dec 2012. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Thompson, N.K., Reid, C.M., Bassett, K.N. and Pufahl, P.K. (2012) Authigenic mineral production in an oligocene cool-water carbonate Sequence stratigraphic framework, Waitaki Basin, New Zealand. Hamilton, New Zealand: New Zealand GeoSciences Annual Conference (GSNZ), 25-28 Nov 2012. In Geoscience Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication 134A 87-88. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Bastin, S., Quigley, M. and Bassett, K. (2012) Characterisation of modern and paleo-liquefaction features in Christchurch following the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence. San Francisco, CA, USA: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (AGU), 3-7 Dec 2012. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Bastin, S., Bassett, K., Quigley, M. and Wilson, T.M. (2012) Liquefaction in Christchurch during the 2010-2011 Canterbury earthquake sequence and evidence for paleo-liquefaction. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: 6th Australasian Natural Hazards Management Conference, 21-22 Aug 2012. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Browne, G.H., Field, B.D., Barrell, D.J.A., Jongens, R., Bassett, K.N. and Wood, R.A. (2012) The geological setting of the Darfield and Christchurch earthquakes. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 55(3): 193-197. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00288306.2012.682654. (Journal Article)
  • Thompson, N., K. Bassett. and C. Reid. (2011) Sequence Stratigraphic Model of a Mid-Tertiary Cool-water Carbonate System using Palaeo-depth Indicators: An Example from the Waitaki Region, New Zealand. San Francisco, CA, USA: American Geophysiccal Union annual conference, 5-8 Dec 2011. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Williams, Tessa. and Kari Bassett, Bryan Storey. (2011) The Secret Life of Quartz; SEM-Cathodoluminescence on quartz from Andrill SMS core indicates recycling of grains. Minneapolis, MN, USA: Geological Society of America, 10-13 Oct 2011. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Bassett, Kari. and Scott Barnard. (2010) Provenance analysis of the SMS ANDRILL core: Trends in sandstone composition. San Francisco, CA, USA: American Geophysical Union annual conference, 13-17 Dec 2010. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Bradshaw, J.D., Gutjahr, M., Weaver, S.D. and Bassett, K.N. (2009) Cambrian intra-oceanic arc accretion to the austral Gondwana margin: constraints on the location of proto-New Zealand. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 56(4): 587-594. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08120090902806339. (Journal Article)
  • Panter, K.S., Talarico, F., Bassett, K., Del Carlo, P., Field, B., Frank, T., Hoffmann, S., Kuhn, G., Reichelt, L., Sandroni, S., Taviani, M., Bracciali, L., Cornamusini, G., von Eynatten, H., Rocchi, S. and ANDRILL-SMS Science Team. (2009) Petrologic and Geochemical Composition of the AND-2A Core, ANDRILL Southern McMurdo Sound Project, Antarctica. Terra Antartica 15: 147-192. (Journal Article)
  • Fielding, C.R., Atkins, C.B., Bassett, K.N., Browne, G.H., Dunbar, G.B., Field, B.D., Frank, T.D., Krissek, L.A., Panter, K.S., Passchier, S., Pekar, S.F., Sandroni, S., Talarico, F. and The ANDRILL-SMS Science Team. (2009) Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of the AND-2A core, ANDRILL Southern McMurdo Sound Project Antarctica. Terra Antartica 15(1): 77-112. (Journal Article)
  • Del Carlo, P., Panter, K.S., Bassett, K., Bracciali, L., Di Vincenzo, G. and Rocchi, S. (2009) The upper lithostratigraphic unit of ANDRILL AND-2A core (Southern McMurdo Sound, Antarctica): Local Pleistocene volcanic sources, paleoenvironmental implications and subsidence in the southern Victoria Land Basin. Global and Planetary Change 69(3): 142-161. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2009.09.002. (Journal Article)
  • Del Carlo, P. K.S. Panter., K. Bassett, L. Bracciali. and G. Di Vincenzo, S. Rocchi. (2009) The upper lithostratigraphic unit of ANDRILL AND-2A core (Southern McMurdo Sound, Antarctica): local Pleistocene volcanic sources, paleoenvironmental implications and subsidence in the southern Victoria Land Basin. San Francisco, CA, USA: American Geophysical Union annual conference, 14-18 Dec. 2009. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Del Carlo, P., Panter, K.S., Rocchi, S., Bracciali, L., Field, B.D., Bassett, K. and the SMS ANDRILL Science Team. (2008) Petrology, Geochemistry and Origins of Volcanic Clasts and Tephra from the AND-2A core, ANDRILL Southern McMurdo Sound Project, Antarctica. San Francisco, CA, USA: American Geophysical Union annual conference, 15-19 Dec 2008. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Bernet, M., Kapoutsos, D. and Bassett, K. (2007) Diagenesis and provenance of Silurian quartz arenites in south-eastern New York State. Sedimentary Geology 201(1-2): 43-55. (Journal Article)
  • McConnico, T.S. and Kari N. Bassett. (2007) Gravelly Gilbert-style fan delta: depositional processes and preserved bedforms on the Conway Coast, New Zealand. Sedimentary Geology 198: 147-166. (Journal Article)
  • Busby, C.J. and Bassett, K.N. (2007) Volcanic facies architecture of an intra-arc strike-slip basin, Santa Rita Mountains, Southern Arizona. Bulletin of Volcanology 70(1): 85-103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00445-007-0122-9. (Journal Article)