Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 18 (2000) 739749

www.elsevier.nl/locate/jseaes

Cretaceous accretionarycollision complexes in central Indonesia

K. Wakita
Geological Survey of Japan, 1-1-3 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan
Received 26 April 1999; accepted 15 January 2000

Abstract
The geology of Cretaceous accretionarycollision complexes in central Indonesia is reviewed in this paper. The author and his
colleagues have investigated the Cretaceous accretionarycollision complexes by means of radiolarian biostratigraphy and meta-
morphic petrology, as well as by geological mapping. The results of their work has revealed aspects of the tectonic development
of the Sundaland margin in Cretaceous time. The Cretaceous accretionarycollision complexes are composed of various tectonic units
formed by accretionary or collision processes, forearc sedimentation, arc volcanism and back arc spreading. The tectonic units consist
of chert, limestone, basalt, siliceous shale, sandstone, shale, volcanic breccia, conglomerate, high P/T and ultra high P metamorphic
rocks and ultramafic rocks (dismembered ophiolite). All these components were accreted along the Cretaceous convergent margin of
the Sundaland Craton. In the Cretaceous, the southeastern margin of Sundaland was surrounded by a marginal sea. An immature
volcanic arc was developed peripherally to this marginal sea. An oceanic plate was being subducted beneath the volcanic arc from the
south. The oceanic plate carried microcontinents which were detached fragments of Gondwanaland. Oceanic plate subduction caused
arc volcanism and formed an accretionary wedge. The accretionary wedge included fragments of oceanic crust such as chert, siliceous
shale, limestone and pillow basalt. A Jurassic shallow marine allochthonous formation was emplaced by the collision of continental
blocks. This collision also exhumed very high and ultra-high pressure metamorphic rocks from the deeper part of the pre-existing
accretionary wedge. Cretaceous tectonic units were rearranged by thrusting and lateral faulting in the Cenozoic era when successive
collision of continental blocks and rotation of continental blocks occurred in the Indonesian region. 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.

1. Introduction 2. Outline of geology

The Indonesian region includes components which record
various tectonic scenarios, i.e. oceanic plate subduction,
sediment accretion, back arc rifting, forearc basin develop-
ment, continental accretion and collision, lateral fault
displacement, thrust movement and metamorphic rock
exhumation.
In this paper, the author will review the structure and
tectonic history of the Cretaceous accretionarycollision
complexes in Indonesia. He and his colleagues have
investigated the zone since 1992 under a cooperative
project between the Geological Survey of Japan, Univer-
sity of London, Research and Development Centre for
Geotechnology, and Geological Research and Develop-
ment Centre, Bandung. The author and his colleagues
published and reported their research results on the geology
and tectonics of each complex. Here the author will try to
subdivide the tectonic elements in the complex in order to
describe the characteristic elements, and will explain the
Cretaceous tectonics in the central Indonesian region as a
whole.
1367-9120/00/$ - see front matter 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: S1367-912 0(00)00020-1
The main lithotectonic components of the central Indo-
nesian region comprise pre-Tertiary accretionary
complexes, continental fragments, ophiolite massifs and
island arcs which are distributed between the western
margin of the Sundaland craton and the north and north-
eastern margins of the Australian craton (Fig. 1). They are
formed by subduction, accretion and collision processes
from the Cretaceous to present.
The Cretaceous accretionarycollisional complexes in
central Indonesia are assemblages of tectonically disrupted
rocks and formations generated by various processes. They
are distributed mainly in West and Central Java, South and
Central Sulawesi, and West and South Kalimantan (Asikin,
1974; Sukamto, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1986; Ketner et al., 1976;
Sikumbang, 1986; Suparka, 1988; Sikumbang and
Heryanto, 1994; Heryanto et al., 1994; Wakita et al.,
1994a,b, 1996, 1998; Miyazaki et al., 1996, 1998; Wakita,
1997; Parkinson et al., 1996, 1998). The major complexes
are the Luk Ulo Complex of Central Java (Asikin, 1974), the
Bantimala Complex of South Sulawesi (Sukamto, 1982) and
740 K. Wakita / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 18 (2000) 739749

Fig. 1. Distribution of Asian terranes and Cretaceous accretionarycollision complexes in central Indonesia. Cretaceous accretionarycollision complexes are
distributed along the eastern and southern margins of Sundaland, which is located at the southeastern margin of the amalgamated Asian continent. (Modified
from Metcalf, 1990.)

the Meratus Complex of South Kalimantan (Sikumbang,
1986) (Fig. 2). These complexes are composed of similar
lithological components, including radiolarian chert, pillow
basalt, clastic sedimentary rocks, low-grade schist and
pelite-matrix melange (Fig. 3).
The Luk Ulo Complex (Asikin, 1974; Ketner et al., 1976;
Suparka, 1988; Wakita et al., 1994a) is exposed in the
Karangsambung area of Central Java (Fig. 2). The complex
is an assemblage of EW trending tectonic blocks
composed of crystalline schist, phyllite, marble, rhyolite,
dacite, mafic and ultramafic rocks, limestone, chert, silic-
eous shale, shale, sandstone and conglomerate, occurring as
tectonic slices and fault-bounded blocks (Fig. 3). The
complex is unconformably overlain by the Eocene Karang-
sambung Formation.
The Bantimala Complex is located about 40 km NE of
Ujung Pandang in South Sulawesi (Fig. 2). The Bantimala
Complex (Sukamto, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1986; Wakita et al.,
1994b, 1996; Miyazaki et al., 1996; Parkinson et al., 1998)
is a tectonic assemblage of slabs and blocks consisting of
sandstone, shale, conglomerate, chert, siliceous shale,
basalt, ultramafic rocks, schist, schist breccia and felsic
intrusive rocks (Fig. 3). The tectonic slabs are oriented
NWSE and dip steeply to the east. Stratigraphic and struc-
tural relationships among the components are unclear,
except for that between schist and chert. The ages of the
components range from Jurassic to Late Cretaceous. The
oldest lithotectonic unit is a Jurassic shallow marine forma-
tion, the Paremba Sandstone. The complex is unconform-
ably overlain by Palaeocene volcanic rocks and younger
formations.
The Meratus Complex is distributed in the Meratus and
Bobaris Mountains of SE Kalimantan and in Pulau Laut
(Fig. 2). The complex is a tectonic assemblage of slabs
and blocks consisting of high-pressure metamorphic rocks,
ultramafic rocks and polymict melange comprising clasts of
chert, limestone and basalt within shale matrices (Sikum-
bang, 1986; Sikumbang and Heryanto, 1994; Heryanto et
 K. Wakita / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 18 (2000) 739749 741

Fig. 2. Major components of Cretaceous accretionarycollision complexes. Cretaceous accretionarycollision complexes are distributed between a continent
(Sundaland) and microcontinents (Paternoster, Buton etc.). Late Cretaceous accretionarycomplexes are distributed in the following areas, i.e.1. Ciletuh, 2.
Karangsambung, 3. Jiwo Hills, 4. Bantimala, 5. Barru, 6. Latimojong, 7. Pompangeo, 8. Meratus, 9. Pulau Laut. Abbreviation of ages are as follows. JK:
Jurassic to Cretaceous, K: Cretaceous, lK: Early Cretaceous, mK: middle Cretaceous, uK: Late Cretaceous, Tp: Paleogene, KT: Cretaceous to Tertiary.

al., 1994; Wakita et al., 1998). The ages of components of
the complex range from Jurassic to early Late Cretaceous
(Fig. 3). These rocks are unconformably overlain by Late
Cretaceous volcanic rocks and turbidite, such as the Pitap
(Alino) and Haruyan (Pudak) Formations. All these Meso-
zoic rocks are unconformably covered by Eocene and
younger formations.
Similar complexes crop out in the Latimojong, Barru and
Pompangeo areas, Sulawesi, and the Ciletuh and Jiwo Hills
areas in Java. In the Sintang area of West Kalimantan, the
Late Cretaceous Selangkai Group includes Cretaceous
radiolarian chert, schist and limestone as olistoliths within
turbidite-olistostrome sequences. These olistoliths are
remnants of a former accretionary wedge similar to that
which generated the Luk Ulo and Meratus Complexes.
The components of these complexes can be subdivided
into accretionary units, collisional units, volcanic arc units,
ophiolitic units, forearc basin units, intrusive and effusive
units and cover formations, which reflect differing origins
and tectonic histories.
3. Accretionary units
Accretionary complexes are characterized by the
presence of melange, stacked tectonic slices, radiolarian
chert underlain by pillow basalt, ophiolite, and recon-
structed oceanic plate stratigraphy. Among them, the
oceanic plate stratigraphy (OPS) is the most important
feature for the recognition of ancient accretionary
complexes.
3.1. Oceanic plate stratigraphy
The Luk Ulo Complex, Central Java and Meratus
Complex, South Kalimantan include pillow basalt, lime-
stone, chert, siliceous shale, sandstone and shale as tectonic
fragments. A succession, consisting in ascending order of
pillow basalt, interbedded limestone and chert, chert, silic-
eous shale and turbidite, is preserved in part of the
complexes. Similar successions have also been reconstructed
742 K. Wakita / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 18 (2000) 739749

Fig. 3. Stratigraphic column of major accretionarycomplexes in central Indonesia. Ages of major components of the Luk Ulo, Meratus, and Bantimala
Complexes are shown in the column. Oceanic plate stratigraphy consists of pillow lava, limestone and chert, chert, siliceous shale and turbidite in ascending
order. The ages of sandstone and/or melange indicate the time of accretion wedge formation.

using radiolarian biostratigraphy (Wakita et al., 1994a,
1998).
This type of succession is called Oceanic Plate Strati-
graphy (OPS) (Isozaki et al., 1990; Matsuda and Isozaki,
1991; Wakita, 1997). It is compiled by the following
sequence of processes: generation of oceanic plate at the
oceanic ridge; formation of volcanic islands near the
ridge, covered by calcareous reefs; sedimentation of calci-
lutite and radiolarian chert on the flank of the volcanic
island; deposition of radiolarian skeletons on the oceanic
plate in a pelagic setting; sedimentary mixing of radiolarian
remains and terrestrial grains to form siliceous shale in a
hemipelagic setting, and the sedimentation of coarse-
grained sandstone and shale at or near the trench of the
convergent margin.
Reconstructed OPS provides us with information on the age
range of oceanic subduction, and the age and width of the
subducted oceanic plate. The Luk Ulo oceanic plate was
generated before the earliest Cretaceous, and seamounts
covered by reef limestone appeared in the Early Cretaceous.
Radiolarian biostratigraphy of chert indicates that stable pela-
gic conditions continued from the Hauterivian to Campanian.
The overlying siliceous shale and shale indicate the duration of
subduction and sediment accretion at the trench.
3.2. Pillow basalt
Pillow basalt is recognized in tectonic blocks in the Luk
Ulo Complex, and as clasts within melanges in the Meratus
Complex. The pillow basalt is dark greenish gray in color
and aphyric; it includes small phenocrysts of augite and
sometimes pseudomorphs after olivine. It is conformably
overlain by early Cretaceous chert, interbedded with lime-
stone in the Luk Ulo Complex. The pillow basalt occupied
 K. Wakita / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 18 (2000) 739749
the lowest part of the OPS. It is considered to represent
fragmented upper sections of accreted seamounts.
3.3. Chert
Ribbon chert and associated siliceous shale are mostly
reddish brown in color, but some of them are gray and
green. The chert is made up mostly of radiolarian skeletons
and and their fragments, and thickness of beds ranges from 1
to 20 cm. The lower part of the chert sequence is sometimes
interbedded with light gray limestone. The chert and lime-
stone is underlain by pillow basalt. Chert grades into silic-
eous shale toward the stratigraphic top in some localities.
The ages of the chert components are well defined by radi-
olarian biostratigraphy (Okamoto et al., 1994; Wakita et al.,
1991, 1994a,b, 1997, 1998; Munasri, 1995; Wakita, 1997).
The chert of the Meratus Complex ranges in age from
early Middle Jurassic to late Early Cretaceous, while the
chert of the Luk Ulo Complex ranges from Early Cretac-
eous to latest Late Cretaceous (Fig. 3). The radiolarian
chert of the Luk Ulo and Meratus Complexes was originally
pelagic sediment deposited as radiolarian ooze on the ocean
floor.
3.4. Melange
The melange of the Luk Ulo Complex in the Karangsam-
bung area, central Java includes clasts of sandstone, shale,
siliceous shale, chert, limestone, basalt, rhyolite and schist
within a shale matrix, which is locally sheared. The clasts
range in size from 1 mm to several meters, and sometimes
include larger tectonic blocks. The dominant clast type is
sandstone, which contains angular to subrounded fragments
of quartz, feldspar and mica, as well as fragments of felsic to
basic volcanic rocks. Although the complex itself is inferred
to be a melange, the complex is just an assemblage of
various kinds of tectonic blocks. Melanges containing clasts
of various rock types, with highly sheared matrix are loca-
lized in some places. They are highly tectonized pebbly
mudstone which stratigraphically grades into a turbidite
formation. The shale matrices of the melange were sheared
but not pervasively sheared, and slaty cleavages are devel-
oped within the matrix only locally.
Polymict melange in the Bantimala Complex generally
occurs in narrow zones between the tectonic slices, and
includes clasts and blocks of chert, sandstone, and siliceous
shale with subordinate basalt, limestone and schist
embedded within a variably sheared shale matrix. Frag-
ments of metamorphic rocks are very rare. The clasts are
subrounded to subangular, and rhomboidal, spherical,
blocky or irregular in shape. Long axes of clasts range
from several millimeters to several hundred meters.
Melange of the Meratus Complex crops out on Pulau
Laut. The melange includes clasts and blocks of Jurassic
to Cretaceous chert, siliceous shale, basalt, limestone,
marl and manganese carbonate nodules embedded within
a sheared shale matrix. Sandstone or other coarse-grained
743
terrigenous sediments are lacking in the melange. Chert and
limestone are thinly bedded. Basalt is mainly lava, and
pillow structures are sometimes preserved. Limestone clasts
are locally dominant in the melange. Fragments of manga-
nese carbonate nodules are rare. The clasts are subrounded
to subangular, lenticular to blocky in shape. Clast size
ranges from several millimeters to several hundred meters
long. Chert sometimes includes well-preserved radiolarians,
ranging in age from Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous
(late Albian to early Cenomanian) age. Siliceous shale
clasts include radiolarians of Early Cretaceous age. The
age of melange formation is estimated as slightly younger
than the youngest age of the components of the melanges
(Fig. 3).
4. Collisional units
The Bantimala Complex is composed mainly of sand-
stone, conglomerate, shale, siliceous shale, chert, basalt,
ultramafic rocks, schist, schist breccia and felsic intrusive
rocks. Most of the components are similar to those of the
Luk Ulo and Meratus complexes. The Jurassic Paremba
sandstone and schist breccia is unique to the Bantimala
Complex. An unusual unconformity, with chert atop a
schistose basement (Haile et al., 1979), the Jurassic
Paremba Sandstone (Sukamto and Westermann, 1992),
and ultra-high pressure rocks (Parkinson et al., 1996,
1998) are the keys to understanding the tectonics of the
Bantimala Complex.
The chert of the Bantimala Complex was deposited in a
forearc setting, near the provenance of schist breccia and
coarse-grained sandstone, in a relatively short period from
the late Albian to early Cenomanian, and is contempora-
neous with the coarse-grained flysch sequence of the
Balangbaru Formation. These features suggest that the
chert of the Bantimala Complex was formed in a back-arc
or fore-arc setting.
4.1. Allochthon
The oldest lithotectonic unit of the Bantimala Complex is
a Jurassic shallow marine formation, the Paremba Sand-
stone (Fig. 3). The lower part of the Paremba Sandstone is
composed of thinly bedded sandstone and shale, intercalated
with thin limestone layers. Some shallow marine sedimen-
tary structures such as ripple and convolute laminations are
recognized. The upper part of the Paremba Sandstone
includes substantial conglomerate layers containing pebbles
of basalt and schist. Ammonites (Middle Liassic Fucini-
ceras), gastropods and brachiopods of Early and Middle
Jurassic occur in the Paremba Sandstone (Sukamto and
Westermann, 1992).
The Paremba Sandstone and other Jurassic continental
clastics in central and East Sulawesi were deposited as sedi-
mentary formations on an allochthonous continental frag-
ment detached from Gondwanaland. As the Paremba
744 K. Wakita / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 18 (2000) 739749
Sandstone is older than the high P/T metamorphic rocks, the
formation is older than the accretion and collision stage. The
sandstone is incorporated within the tectonic assemblage in
the Bantimala Complex as tectonic slices detached from a
colliding microcontinent in late Cretaceous time.
4.2. High and very high P/T metamorphic rocks
Metamorphic rocks in the Cretaceous suture zone are
phyllite, quartz-mica schist, greenschist, glaucophane
schist, and eclogite. They are mostly of high P/T type,
shown by high P/T mineral assemblages (Miyazaki et al.,
1998; Parkinson et al., 1998).
The major types of metamorphic rock in the Luk Ulo,
Bantimala, Meratus and Pompangeo complexes are
described as follows:
Lok Ulo:
Amphibolite-grade schist (predominantly garnet-mica-
quartz schist) is tectonically intercalated within larger
tectonic slices and blocks of sedimentary rocks. Small
amounts of glaucophane rock, garnet amphibolite, lawso-
nite eclogite and jadeite-quartz-glaucophane rock occur
as small tectonic blocks in sheared serpentinite along
fault zones (Miyazaki et al., 1998). The latter two types
were recrystallized at pressures 18 kbar.
Bantimala:
Low grade greenschists and glaucophane-bearing schists
occur as imbricate slices in the Bantimala Complex. Peak
PT conditions have been estimated at around 350
450C and 58 kbar (Miyazaki et al., 1996; Parkinson
et al., 1998), and KAr ages are generally in the range
111114 Ma (Hamilton, 1979; Hasan, 1990; Wakita et
al., 1996; Parkinson et al., 1998). Very high pressure
metamorphic rocks also occur, but are much less abun-
dant. They occur as small tectonic blocks and slabs asso-
ciated with serpentinite and comprise eclogite and garnet-
glaucophane rock (P 1824 kbar, T 580620C),
coesite-bearing jadeite quarzites (P 27 kbar,
T 720760C and garnet amphibolite (Miyazaki et
al., 1996; Parkinson et al., 1998). KAr ages of phengite
for the VHP rocks are generally older than for the low-
grade schist country rocks: 132 ^ 7 Ma, 113 ^ 6 Ma and
124 ^ 6 Ma (garnet-glaucophane rock; Wakita et al.,
1996) and 137 ^ 3 Ma (eclogite; Parkinson et al., 1998).
Meratus:
The complex is a tectonic assemblage of slabs and blocks
consisting of high-pressure metamorphic rocks (Hauran
Schist and Pelaihari Phyllite) distributed in the SW part of
the Meratus Mountains. They occur as wedge-shaped
tectonic blocks in fault contact with ultramafic rocks
and Cretaceous formations. The metamorphic rocks are
divided into two types, low grade Pelaihari Phyllite,
and relatively higher grade Hauran Schist. The Hauran
Schist includes glaucophane schist, chloritoid-quartz
schist, kyanite-quartz-phengite-chloritoid schist, garnet
mica schist, quartz-mica schist, piemontite schist and
amphibolite. The protoliths of the Hauran Schist were
predominantly pelitic and basic rocks, although the chlor-
itoid and kyanite-bearing schists are probably derived
from bauxites and evaporites. KAr ages of micas
range from 110 to 180 Ma (Wakita et al., 1998).
Some of the metamorphic rocks from the Meratus
Complex of SE Kalimantan are clearly of continental
origin. Kyanite-quartz and chloritoid-quartz schists of
the complex are probably derived from continental sedi-
mentary cover rocks such as laterite. The same parentage
was proposed for similar metamorphic rocks of the
Pompangeo Complex in Central Sulawesi (Parkinson,
1991, 1996, 1998a,b).
4.3. Breccia-sandstone-chert sequence
Metamorphic rocks in the Bantimala area are unconform-
ably overlain by schist breccia, which grades into radiolar-
ian chert through sandstone interbedded with chert (Fig. 3;
Haile et al., 1979; Wakita et al., 1994b). The schist breccia
is mostly of sedimentary origin and contains angular frag-
ments of schists within a sandstone matrix. The size of
fragments ranges from several centimeters to several tens
of centimeters. The metamorphic grade of the schist frag-
ments is the same as that of the regional schists in the
Bantimala Complex. The overlying sandstone is rich in
mica and quartz fragments, and sometimes contains radi-
olarian remains.
Thin beds of radiolarian chert are intercalated within
coarse-gained sandstone. The number of chert beds increase
towards the top of the stratigraphic column. The chert layers
range from 1 to 20 cm thick and are interbedded with thinner
shale layers less than 1 cm thick. The chert is rather muddy
compared with cherts in other orogenic belts, and is
composed mainly of skeletons and fragments of radiolarians
with a small amount of shale. The chert sometimes includes
well-preserved radiolarians of middle Cretaceous (late
Albian to early Cenomanian) age, including Holocryptoca-
nium barbui, Thanarla conica, Archeodictypomitra vulgaris
and Phopalosyringium majuroensis.
4.4. Forearc basin unit
The Cretaceous forearc basin unit is developed over a wide
area, including South and West Kalimantan and South and
West Sulawesi (Figs. 2 and 3). The Balangbaru Formation of
South Sulawesi and the Pitap Formation of South Kalimantan
have been well investigated (Hasan, 1990, 1991; Sikumbang,
1986; Sikumbang and Heryanto, 1994).
Cretaceous flysch sequences of the Balangbaru Forma-
tion are widely distributed to the N, NE and SE of the
Bantimala area (Hasan, 1990, 1991). The formation is
composed of interbedded sandstone and shale, conglomer-
ate, and pebbly shale. The radiolarian assemblage, which
includes Rhopalosyringium majuroensis, Thanarla brouweri,
and Pseudodictyomitra sp., indicates that the Balangbaru
 K. Wakita / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 18 (2000) 739749
Formation is contemporaneous with the aforementioned
radiolarian chert in the Bantimala Complex (Wakita et al.,
1996), although Hasan (1990) reported Late Cretaceous
foraminifers from the formation. The equivalent of the
Balangbaru Formation is located in the Barru and Latimo-
jong areas of South Sulawesi.
The sandstone of the Balangbaru Formation is composed
of quartz, micas, plagioclase and rock fragments of meta-
morphic, shale, and chert. The main provenance for the
sandstones of the Balangbaru Formation was the meta-
morphic component of the Bantimala Complex.
The Pitap Formation consists mainly of flysch-type sedi-
mentary rocks such as sandstone, siltstone, conglomerate
and shale with subsidiary limestone layers and blocks
which contains the foraminifera Orbitolina cf. oculata of
AptianAlbian age (Sikumbang and Heryanto, 1994).
The Pitap Formation of the Meratus Complex and the
Barangbaru Formation of the Bantimala Complex were
deposited in a forearc basin. The Selangkai Group of West
Kalimantan is equivalent to the Pitap and Barangbaru
Formation. The forearc sedimentary units in West and
South Kalimantan and South Sulawesi were accumulated
contemporaneously as terrestrial deposits in the wide region
of the forearc basin (Fig. 3).
5. Volcanic arc unit
5.1. Late Cretaceous volcanic suite
An andesitic to basic volcanic unit is present in South
Kalimantan (Figs. 2 and 3), and similar rocks are inferred
as a provenance of the sandstones of the Luk Ulo Complex.
The Haruyan Formation in the Meratus area, South Kali-
mantan is a product of Late Cretaceous volcanic activity
(Heryanto and Sanyoto, 1994; Heryanto et al., 1994). The
Haruyan Formation consists mainly of basic to andesitic
volcanic rocks, such as lava, tuff and tuff breccia. The lavas
sometimes show pillow structures indicating submarine
volcanism (Wakita et al., 1998). Tuff breccia consists of feld-
spar phenocrysts, pumice, lava fragments and irregular-
shaped fragments of pale-colored chert within a light purple
colored tuff matrix. One of the chert samples has yielded
Cenomanian radiolarians. The Haruyan Formation is interfin-
gered with the Pitap Formation which was deposited in a fore-
arc basin (Haryanto and Sanyoto, 1994; Heryanto et al., 1994).
Andesitic volcanic activity, represented by the Haruyan
Formation of the Meratus Complex may be partly contem-
poraneous with the felsic volcanic activity recorded by the
rhyolite within the chert beds of the Bantimala Complex.
The andesitic volcanic rocks of the Haruyan Formation are a
possible provenance of andesitic volcanic fragments in the
sandstone of the Luk Ulo Complex.
Petrography of sandstones in the Luk Ulo Complex
suggest that the provenance was an immature volcanic arc
(Wakita et al., 1998). The sandstone is lithic wacke
745
composed mainly of angular to subrounded fragments of
feldspars and rock fragments of intermediate to basic volca-
nic rocks. This suggests that the most important provenance
of the sandstone was a volcanic terrain of intermediate to
basic composition.
5.2. Cretaceous intrusive rocks
Leucocratic rocks, classified as plagiogranite, occur in
the Meratus Complex closely associated with ultramafic
rocks (Sikumbang, 1986). Granite and granodiorite have
also been recorded from a few localities in the Meratus
Mountains (Sikumbang and Heryanto, 1994). Granodiorite
is intruded into the Pitap Formation. KAr dating of the
granite yields an age of 115 Ma (Heryanto et al., 1994).
The granitic rocks are possibly products of Late Cretaceous
volcanic activity in an immature volcanic arc located in the
Meratus area.
5.3. Ophiolitic unit
Ophiolite units are recognized in the Luk Ulo, Bantimala,
Meratus, Ciletuh, Jiwo, Barru, Latimojong and Sangkuriang
areas (Figs. 2 and 3). They represent obducted oceanic plate
and are dismembered by tectonic disruption. They occur as
tectonic blocks, consisting mainly of altered ultramafic
rocks, associated with pillow lava and chert.
Dismembered ophiolite crops out in the Karangsambung
area of Central Java. It occurs as a tectonic block which is
elongated more than 10 km in an EW direction with 2 km
thickness in NS direction. It is separated from melange and
schists by faults. The ophiolite consists of pillow basalt,
dolerite, gabbro, serpentinized peridotite and lherzolite;
these rocks have suffered zeolite to greenschist facies meta-
morphism (Suparka, 1988).
Ultramafic rocks of the Bantimala Complex, South Sula-
wesi are dark green in color, and mostly serpentinized peri-
dotite, with local chromite lenses. The age of the ultramafic
rocks is unknown. Two massifs of sheared, faulted and
variably serpentinized ultramafic rocks crop out extensively
in the Meratus Complex, South Kalimantan. They are called
the Meratus and Bobaris ophiolites. They comprise serpen-
tinized peridotite, harzburgite and dunite with minor pyrox-
enite, and are intimately associated with gabbro and
amphibolite. The ultramafic rocks are variably affected by
low-grade metamorphism. Chromite is sometimes present
but is a minor constituent.
No age data is available for the ultramafic rocks and
pillow basalt in the three complexes. If the rocks originated
from the oceanic plate or seamounts born near ridges, their
ages would be older than the age of the radiolarian chert
(Fig. 3).
6. Overlap assemblage
Paleogene intermediate effusive rocks and a Cenozoic
746 K. Wakita / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 18 (2000) 739749
sedimentary rocks cover both the Cretaceous suture zone
and its neighbouring continental margins (Fig. 2).
6.1. Paleogene effusive rocks
Tectonically brecciated rhyolitic lava, with K-feldspar
phenocrysts, and rhyolitic tuff, containing pumice are tecto-
nically intercalated with sedimentary rocks of the Luk Ulo
Complex, although exact relationships are unclear. The age
of the rhyolite (which was formerly reported as quartz
porphyry) has been reported to be 65 Ma by the fission
track method (Ketner et al., 1976). The Bantimala Complex
is unconformably overlain by Palaeocene propylitized
volcanic rocks (Sukamto, 1986; Wakita et al., 1994,
1996). Paleocene to Eocene volcanic activity can be traced
from South Sulawesi to the southwestern coast of Sumatra
via Java island (Soeria-Atmadja et al., 1998). Calc-alkali
volcanic rocks are scattered throughout South Sulawesi
(Yuwono et al., 1988), South Kalimantan (Soeria-Atmadja
et al., 1998) and Central Java (Suparka and Soeria-Atmadja,
1991). These data suggest that subduction-related magma-
tism occurred all along the southeastern margin of Sunda-
land at this time (Soeria-Atmadja et al., 1998).
6.2. Cenozoic cover sequence
Cenozoic sediments cover all the accretionarycollision
complexes of the Cretaceous suture zone (Fig. 3). Quatern-
ary formations unconformably cover all of the older units.
The Luk Ulo Complex of the Karangsambung area is uncon-
formably overlain by the Eocene Karangsambung Forma-
tion and the Miocene Waturanda, Penosogan and Halang
Formations. The Meratus Complex is unconformably
covered by the Eocene Tanjun Formation, the Oligocene-
Early Miocene Berai Formation, the Middle to Late
Miocene Warukin Formation, the Pliocene to Early Pleisto-
cene Dahor Formation and Quaternary sedimentary cover.
The Bantimala Complex is overlain by the Eocene Malawa
Formation, the Eocene to Middle Miocene Tonasa Forma-
tion, the Middle to Late Miocene Camba Formation, and
Quaternary sedimentary cover.
7. Discussion
Cretaceous accretionarycollision complexes in central
Indonesia were the products of the interaction of a continent
and an ocean. What kind of ocean is represented in the
Cretaceous accretionarycollisional complexes in central
Indonesia? How old was the ocean? What is the relationship
between the ocean and the continents? Was it an active
margin? Which mechanism was dominant in the margin:
tectonic erosion or sediment accretion? What kinds of
accretionary wedge developed? Was there a marginal sea
between the arc trench system and the continent? What kind
of volcanic activity occurred along the convergent margin?
Were there special tectonic events, such as continental colli-
sion or hot spot volcanic eruption, during the final stage of
formation of the accretionarycollision complexes? When
and how were the complexes deformed? What is the
evidence for the continental collision? All these questions
will be discussed in the following section.
Although ophiolite is one possible remnant of an ancient
oceanic plate, it is difficult to discern the age of an oceanic
plate directly from ultramafic rocks and basalts. Chert, the
upper part of an ophiolite suite is the most useful tool to
understand the age of the paleo-ocean, because chert often
includes radiolarians and other marine microfossils. The
chert occurs mainly as fragments in melanges or as tectonic
blocks in ancient accretionary wedges rather than as the
sedimentary cover of the ophiolite suite. The age of the
chert records the period of time between the birth of the
oceanic floor to the time when they were overlain by detrital
sediments derived from the continents. Cherts of the Indo-
nesian accretionarycollision complexes range in age from
late Early Jurassic to latest Cretaceous (Wakita et al., 1994,
1998). The age indicates that the oceanic plate was gener-
ated prior to the late Early Jurassic.
Accretionary wedges were developed along the Sunda-
land margin in the Cretaceous. The main part of the Luk Ulo
Complex is a typical accretionary wedge formed by oceanic
plate accretion in the Cretaceous. Evidence for the paleo-
accretionary wedge is the presence of Oceanic Plate Strati-
graphy (OPS) (Isozaki et al., 1990; Matsuda and Isozaki,
1991; Wakita, 1997) consisting of pillow lava, limestone
and chert alternation, chert, siliceous shale and sandstone
and shale alternation in ascending order. As mentioned
above, the oldest age of the chert indicates the age of forma-
tion of the oceanic plate, while the age of siliceous shale and
sandstone/shale alternation indicates the time of arrival of
the oceanic plate at the trench. The age of siliceous shale
and sandstone/shale alternation ranges from Early Cretac-
eous to latest Cretaceous in the Luk Ulo and Meratus
Complexes. The data suggest that the sediment accretion
continued from the Early Cretaceous to latest Cretaceous
in central Indonesia.
The petrology of sedimentary rocks in the Luk Ulo
Complex provides information of the provenance of the
trench sediments to form the ancient accretionary wedge.
Sandstone contains angular to subrounded fragments mainly
of plagioclase and rock fragments of intermediate to basic
volcanic rocks. These components suggest that the most
important provenance of the sandstone was a volcanic
terrain of intermediate to basic composition. Granitic and
metamorphic terrains were far from the trench. Since the
melange of the Meratus Complex does not include coarse-
grained detrital sediments, some parts of the trench were not
filled with sediments. These lines of evidence suggest that
the immature volcanic arc was formed parallel to the trench,
and the presence of a marginal sea is expected between the
trench-arc system and the Southeast Borneo terrane (Fig. 4),
which was rotated counterclockwise by about 45 in the
EoceneOligocene (Hall, 1996). The obducted and
 K. Wakita / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 18 (2000) 739749 747

Fig. 4. Two models for Cretaceous paleogeography and tectonics in central Indonesia. (1) microcontinent collision, (2) Sundaland collision, (1) oceanic plate
migrated northward, and subducted under the island arc behind which a marginal sea was situated. (2) Oceanic plate moved southward and subducted under
the volcanic arc which was situated along the margin of oceanic crust to the south.

dismembered ophiolites of the Meratus and Luk Ulo
Complexes are possible remnants of the basement of the
back arc basin (Fig. 4).
The collision of a continental block is the most important
tectonic event recorded in the Cretaceous accretionary
collision complexes (Fig. 4). Evidence of the collision is
preserved in the Bantimala Complex. Although subduction
of an oceanic plate can cause high P/T metamorphic rocks in
the convergent margin, the collision of a continental block
played an important role in the exhumation of high P/T,
especially very high to ultra-high pressure, metamorphic
rocks.
The scenario of the collision of a continental block is
supported by the following evidence. The presence of
very high and ultra-high pressure metamorphic rocks, high
aluminous protolith of the metamorphic rocks, an allochtho-
nous Jurassic formation which is older than the age of
subduction, and chert unconformably overlying the high
P/T schist. These rocks are components of the collisional
unit in the Cretaceous accretionarycollision complexes in
central Indonesia. The timing of the collision is middle
Cretaceous because the KAr age data from micas of high
P/T metamorphic rocks are concentrated between 110 and
115 Ma. The metamorphic rocks were pushed upward by the
buoyant continental block, and were exhumed to shallower
levels where the temperature was cooler than the closure
temperature of muscovite which is used to determine their
age by the KAr method.
A microcontinent detached from Gondwanaland is one
possibility for the origin of the continental block which
collided with the Cretaceous volcanic arc and accretionary
wedges. Sundaland is another possible source for the conti-
nental block which amalgamated with these Cretaceous
complexes. In the former case, the oceanic plate would
have subducted under the volcanic arc behind which
marginal ocean was situated (Fig. 4). In the latter case,
748 K. Wakita / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 18 (2000) 739749
oceanic plate would have moved southward and subducted
under the volcanic arc on the oceanic plate (Fig. 4).
Late Cretaceous forearc sediments were widely deposited
on the Cretaceous accretionary wedges. The Balangbaru
Formation of the Bantimala Complex, the Pitap Formation
of the Meratus Complex, and the Selankai Formation of
West Kalimantan were deposited in a forearc setting in
the Late Cretaceous. These formations cover unconform-
ably the accretionarycollision complexes in the Kaliman-
tan and Sulawesi regions. Sandstones of the formations are
composed of quartz, micas, plagioclase and rock fragments
of metamorphic, shale, and chert, as well as fragments from
a granitic terrane. These are provided from the accretionary
and collision unit of the Cretaceous accretionarycollision
complexes and partly from the Southwest Borneo terrane.
After the collision of the continental block, part of the accre-
tionary wedge was uplifted, and the detrital sediments were
eroded from the Sundaland continent and transported into
the forearc basin on the wedge. The sandstone petrography
data suggests a change of tectonic setting in Late Cretaceous
time, after the collision of a continental block. Not all areas
changed their tectonic setting, however, as the oceanic plate
stratigraphy indicates continuous subduction throughout the
Cretaceous in the Luk Ulo Complex. All the accretionary
collision complexes, as well as the Cretaceous forearc
basin formations, are unconformably overlain by Eocene
formations.
All the Cretaceous accretionarycollision complexes in
Indonesia were tectonically overprinted by Cenozoic
tectonics. The Banggai-Sula and Tukang Besi detached
microcontinental blocks collided in the Miocene and some
metamorphic rocks were exhumed, and the East Sulawesi
ophiolite was obducted (Simandjuntak, 1990; Parkinson,
1991; Simandjuntak and Barber, 1996).
The tectonic events recorded in the Cretaceous accretion-
arycollision complexes in central Indonesia are subduc-
tion, accretion of fragments of an oceanic plate and
microcontinents, sediment accretion and melange forma-
tion, collision of continental blocks, exhumation of high
P/T metamorphic rocks, obduction of oceanic plate (ophio-
lite) and rearrangement of the components by later faulting.
Acknowledgements
I wish to thank to Dr. Ir. S. Suparka, vice president of
LIPI (formerly director of RDCG) and Dr. Jan Sopaheluwa-
kan , director of RDCG for their help and support during my
field research. I also express thanks to Dr. I. Metcalfe of
New England University for kindly offering the opportunity
of submitting paper in this volume. I am grateful to Dr. A.J.
Barber of Royal Holloway, University of London for his
effective suggestions and discussion of the geology of this
area. I would like to thank Dr. Chris Parkinson, Tokyo
Institute of Techonoloy for his detailed review of my
manuscripts.
References
Asikin, S. 1974. The geological evolution of central Java and vicinity in the
light of the new global tectonics. PhD Thesis, Bandung Institute of
Technology (in Indonesian with English abstract).
Haile, N.S., Barber, A.J., Carter, D.J., 1979. Mesozoic cherts on crystalline
schist in Sulawesi and Timor. Journal of Geological Society of London
136, 6570.
Hall, R., 1996. Reconstructing Cenozoic SE Asia. In: Hall, R., Blundell, D.
(Eds.). Tectonic evolution of Southeast Asia. Special Publication
106Geological Society of London, London, pp. 153184.
Hamilton, W. 1979. Tectonics of the Indonesian Region, United States
Geological Survey Professional Paper 1078.
Hasan, K. 1990. The Upper Cretaceous Flysch Succession of the Balang-
baru Formation, Southwest Sulawesi, Indonesia. PhD thesis, RHBNC,
University of London.
Hasan, K., 1991. The Upper Cretaceous Flysch succession of the Balang-
baru Formation, Southwest-Sulawesi. Proceedings Indonesian Petro-
leum Association. , pp. 183208.
Heryanto, R., Sanyoto, P. 1994. Geological Map of the Amuntai Quadran-
gle, Kalimantan, 1:250,000, Geological Research and Development
Centre, Bandung.
Heryanto, R., Supriatna, S., Rustandi, E., Baharuddin, 1994. Geological
Map of the Sampanahan Quadrangle, Kalimantan, 1:250,000, Geologi-
cal Research and Development Centre, Bandung.
Isozaki, Y., Maruyama, S., Furuoka, F., 1990. Accreted oceanic materials in
Japan. Tectonophysics 181, 179205.
Ketner, K.B., Kastowo, S., Modjo, C.W., Naeser, H.D., Obradovich, K.,
Robinson, T., Suptandar, Wikarno, 1976. Pre-Eocene rocks of Java, Indo-
nesia. Journal of Research, United States Geological Survey 4, 605614.
Matsuda, T., Isozaki, Y., 1991. Well-documented travel history of Meso-
zoic Pelagic chert in Japan: from remote ocean to subduction zone.
Tectonics 10, 475499.
Metcalf, I., 1990. Allochthonous terrane processes in Southeast Asia. Philo-
sophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, A931, pp. 625
640.
Miyazaki, K., Zulkarnain, I., Sopaheluwakan, J., Wakita, K., 1996. Pres-
sure-temperature conditions and retrograde paths of eclogites, garnet-
glaucophane rocks and schists from South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Journal
of Metamorphic Geology 14, 594663.
Miyazaki, K., Sopaheluwakan, J., Zulkarnain, I., Wakita, K., 1998. Jadeite-
quartz-glaucophane rock from Karangsambung, Central Java, Indonesia
and its tectonic implications. The Island Arc 7, 223230.
Munasri, 1995. Cretaceous radiolarian biostratigraphy in the Bantimala and
Barru areas, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, Masters Thesis (MS) of the
University of Tsukuba.
Okamoto, S., Kojima, S., Suparka, S., Spriyanto, J., 1994. Campanian
(upper Cretaceous) radiolarians from a shale clast in the Paleogene of
central Java, Indonesia. Journal of Southeast Asian Earth Sciences 9,
4550.
Parkinson, C.D. 1991. The Petrology, Structure and Geologic History of the
Metamorphic Rocks of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. PhD Thesis,
Geological Research In Southeast Asia, University of London, p. 337.
Parkinson, C.D., 1996. The origin and significance of metamorphosed
tectonic blocks in melanges: evidence from Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Terra Nova 8, 312323.
Parkinson, C.D., 1998a. Emplacement of the East Sulawesi Ophiolite:
Evidence from subophiolite metamorphic Rocks. Journal of Southeast
Asian Earth Sciences 16, 1328.
Parkinson, C.D., 1998b. An outline of the petrology, structure, and age of
the Pompangeo Schist Complex of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Island
Arc 7, 231245.
Parkinson, C.D., Miyazaki, K., Wakita, K., Barber, A.J. 1996. Petrology
and geodynamic implications of very high and (probable) ultrahigh-
pressure eclogites from Java and Sulawesi, Indonesia. EOS, Transac-
tions of the American Geophysical Union, Annual Meeting Abstract.
 K. Wakita / Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 18 (2000) 739749
Parkinson, C.D., Miyazaki, K., Wakita, K., Barber, A.J., Carswell, D.A.,
1998. An Overview and tectonic synthesis of the very high pressure and
associated rocks of Sulawesi, Java and Kalimantan, Indonesia. Island
Arc 7, 184200.
Sikumbang, N. 1986. Geology and Tectonics of Pre-Tertiary rocks in the
Meratus Mountains South-East Kalimantan, Indonesia, PhD Thesis,
University of London.
Sikumbang, N., Heryanto, R. 1994. Geologic Map of the Banjarmasin
Quadrangle, Kalimantan, scale 1:250,000, Geological Research and
Development Centre, Bandung.
Simandjuntak, T.O., 1990. Sedimentology and tectonics of the Collision
Complex in the East Arm of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Geologi Indonesia 13,
135.
Simandjuntak, T.O., Barber, A.J., 1996. Constrasting tectonic styles in the
Neogene orogenic belts of Indonesia. In: Hall, R., Blundell, D. (Eds.).
Tectonic Evolution of Southeast Asia. Special Publication 106. Geolo-
gical Society of London, London, pp. 185201.
Soeria-Atmadja, R., Suparka, S., Abdullah, C., Noeradi, D., Sutanto, 1998.
Magmatism in western Indonesia, the trapping of the Sumba Block and
the gateways to the east of Sundaland. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences
16, 112.
Sukamto, R. 1975. Geologic Map of Indonesia, Ujung Pandang Sheet,
scale: 1:1,000,000, Geological Survey of Indonesia. Geological
Research and Development Centre, Bandung.
Sukamto, R., 1978. The structure of Sulawesi in the light of plate tectonics.
Proceedings of Regional Conference on Geology and Mineral
Resources of SE Asia. , pp. 121141.
Sukamto, R. 1982. The geology of the Pangkajene and Western part of
Watampone, South Sulawesi, scale 1:250,000. Geological Research
and Development Centre, Bandung.
Sukamto, R. 1986. Tectonik Sulawesi Selatan dengan acuan khusus ciri-ciri
himpunan batuan daerah Bantimala. Dissertation, ITB, Bandung.
Sukamto, R., Westermann, G.E.G., 1992. Indonesia and Papua New
Guinea. In: Westermann, G.E.G. (Ed.). The Jurassic of the Circum-
Pacific. Cambridge University Press, pp. 181193.
Suparka, M.E. 1988. Study on petrology and geochemistry of North
Karangsambung Ophiolite, Luh Ulo, Central Java, PhD thesis, Institute
of Technology in Bandung (In Indonesia with English abstract).
749
Suparka, M.E., Soeria-Atmadja, R., 1991. Major element chemistry and
REE patterns of the Luk Ulo ophiolites, Central Java. Proceedings of
the Silver Jubilee Symposium, Dynamics of Subduction and its
Products, LIPI, Yogyakara. , pp. 98121.
Wakita, K., 1997. Oceanic plate stratigraphy and tectonics in East and
Southeast Asia. Proceedings of the International Conference on Strati-
graphy and Tectonic Evolution of Southeast Asia and the South Pacific,
Bangkok Thailand. .
Wakita, K., Murasri, Bambang, W., 1991. Nature and age of sedimentary
rocks of the Luk-Ulo Melange Complex in the Karangsambung area,
centaral Java, Indonesia. Proceedings of the Silver Jubilee Symposium,
Dynamics of Subduction and its Products, LIPI, Yogyakara. , pp. 64
79.
Wakita, K., Munasri, Bambang, W., 1994a. Cretaceous radiolarians from
the Luk-Ulo Melange Complex in the Karangsambung area, Central
Java, Indonesia. Journal of Southeast Asian Earth Sciences 9 (1/2),
2943.
Wakita, K., Munasri, Sopaheluwakan, J., Zulkarnain, I., Miyazaki, K.,
1994b. Early Cretaceous tectonic events implied in the time-lag
between the age of radiolarian chert and its metamorphic basement in
Bantimala area, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Island Arc 3, 90102.
Wakita, K., Sopaheluwakan, J., Zulkarnain, I., Miyazaki, K., Munasri,
1996. Tectonic Evolution of the Bantimala Complex, South Sulawesi,
Indonesia. In: Hall, R., Blundell, D. (Eds.). Tectonic evolution of South-
east Asia. Special Publication 106Geological Society of London,
London, pp. 353364.
Wakita, K., Miyazaki, K., Sopaheluwakan, J., Zulkarnain, I., Parkinson, C.,
Munasri, 1997. Cretaceous subduction complexes along the southeast-
ern margin of Sundaland. Memoirs of the Geological Society of Japan
48, 152162.
Wakita, K., Miyazaki, K., Zulkarnain, I., Sopaheluwakan, J., Sanyoto, P.,
1998. Tectonic implication of new age data for the Meratus Complex of
South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Island Arc 7, 202222.
Yuwono, Y.S., Maury, R.C., Soeria-Atmadja, R., Bellon, H., 1988. Tertiary
and Quaternary geodynamic evolution of south Sulawesi: constraints
from the study of volcanic units. Geologi Indonesia 13, 3248.