Marine and Petroleum Geology, Vol. 12, No. 3, pp.

241-262, 1995
Copyright 0 1995 Elsevier ScienceLtd
Printed in Great Britain. All rights reserved
026~8172/95 $10.00 + 0.00

Cenozoic evolution of the Savu Basin,

Indonesia: forearc basin response to
arc-continent collision

W. van der Werff*

Netherlands institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg, Texel,
The Netherlands

Received 26 August 1993; revised 2 7 April 1994; accepted 79 May 1994

A seismo-stratigraphic analysis of the Savu Basin relates the evolution of a complexly evolved
forearc basin to the late Miocene-Recent collision with Australia. Initial early Miocene
subsidence of the outer forearc basin and the subsequent development of a middle-late
Miocene volcanic ‘proto’ arc, located in the south of the basin, both resulted from the late
Oligocene-early Miocene eastward propagation of the Java/Timor Trench. Block-faulting of the
relatively thick continental forearc basement probably determined the rather irregular and
scattered pattern of middle-late Miocene volcanic centres. Just north of the accretionary prism,
the forearc basement is flexed down and reshaped into a trenchward dipping backstop that
facilitates backthrusting of the accretionary prism. The southern forearc basement probably
acted as a barrier against compression. The thickness of this continental basement is suggested
to be a critical factor in the response of the forearc to continent collision. Owing to its strength,
the Savu Basin did not react to collision by the development of northward verging ‘inter-arc’
thrusts. In contrast, it responded to the underthrusting of continental crust by reactivation of the
basement ridges. This resulted in the differentiation of the forearc basin into a presently extinct
and uplifted Miocene South Savu Basin and a Pliocene-Recent active North Savu Basin. The
simultaneous late Miocene-Recent uplift of large segments of the outer forearc and subsidence
of the North Savu Basin is interpreted to result from tectonic underplating of continental material
and uplift caused by the buoyancy of the subducted continental crust. The relatively recent
decoupling of this crust from the oceanic slab, and the subsequent isostatic rebound, may
superimpose the initial effects of post-collision extension on arc-continent collision.

Keywords: Savu Basin, Indonesia; forearc basin; arc-continent collision

Forearc basins respond in various ways to the process
of arc-continent collision. Some forearc basins are
overridden by the advancing outer arc high (erogenic
wedge) and develop into foreland basins as, for
example, in Taiwan (Suppe and Liou, 1979; Chi et af.,
1981; Covey, 1986). Alternatively, forearc basins may
be thrust on top of the subducted continental crust and
become incorporated within the developing erogenic
belt.
The Western Banda Arc has been modelled as a
westward younging collison zone, where successive
increments in distance towards the east reflect the
increasing effects of collision with Australia, which
began in the late Miocene (Johnston and Bowin, 1981;
Harris, 1991). Various workers have suggested that
north of Timor the forearc basin is overridden by the
erogenic wedge in a compressive tectonic setting, along
northward verging ‘inter-arc’ and backarc thrusts
(Audley-Charles, 1981; 1986; Audley-Charles and
Price, 1983; Harris, 1991). Sumba has similarly been
*Correspondence to Dr W. van der Werff
interpreted as a diapiric forearc nappe in the process of
formation (Audley-Charles, 1985).
The Savu Basin represents a complex forearc basin,
situated at the western margin of the Banda Arc, and is
affected by late Miocene and late Pliocene collisional
events (Hamilton, 1979; Reed, 1985; Karig et al., 1987;
van der Werff et al., 1994). Some studies indicate that
most of the deformation related to the collision occurs
in the Timor Trough by the subduction of continental
crust, resulting in internal deformation, underplating
and backthrusting of the accretionary wedge (Breen et
al., 1986; Reed et al., 1986; Karig et al., 1987; Masson
et af., 1991; Harris, 1991). In addition, a zone of
backarc thrusting is developed north of the volcanic arc
and may indicate the initiation of arc-polarity reversal
(Hamilton, 1979; Silver et al., 1983; 1986; Breen, 1987;
Hamilton, 1988). The Savu Basin occupies a relatively
little deformed province between these two tectonically
active regions. The character and distribution of the
depocentres in the Savu Basin record the evolution of
the basin and of vertical movements related to its
basement (Dickinson and Seely, 1979).

Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 3 247

 Cenozoic evolution of the Saw Basin: W. van der Weti

This paper relates the evolution of the Savu Basin
to the late Oligocene-early Miocene eastward
propagation of the Java/Timor Trench, and collision
processes affecting the arc-trench system.
Regional setting
The Savu Basin forms an almost enclosed triangular
basin, which is bounded in the west by Sumba and in
the south by the islands of Savu and Roti (Figure IA).
Towards the east, the basin is bordered by Timor,
which trends NE-SW and almost reaches the volcanic
island of Alor. It has a surficial extent of 52000 km2
and a maximum water depth of 3470 m, which exceeds
the depth of the Timor Trough (Kartaadputra et al.,
1982). -

.I I INDIANOCEAN

/‘XSUMBAWA >

11

____--@f=
.--
ARGO ABYSSAL PLAIN

B I17
124

Figure 1 (A) General physiographic setting of the Savu Basin; isobaths in metres. The broken line indicates the approximate position of
the Timor Trough. Inset shows location of the study area. (B) Morpho-tectonic map of basement structures superimposed on the
seismic lines used for the interpretation. 1 = Plio-Pleistocene reefs; 2 = Miocene shallow water carbonates; 3 = Miocene
volcaniclastic submarine fan deposits; 4 = Miocene volcanic breccia; 5 = Miocene volcanic extrusives; 6 = Palaeogene granodioritic
intrusives; 7 = Mesozoic rock outcrops; 8 = land; 9 = bathymetry; 10 = fault (triangle points towards uplifted block); 11 = strike-slip
fault; 12 = trench-slope break; 13 = deformation front; 14 = thrust front; 15 = postulated fault zones; 16 = direction of convergence;
17 = seismic profiles. Scale bar = 110 km

248 Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 3


To the north, the basin is bounded by a volcanic arc
that reflects an easterly younging trend from early
Miocene on west Flores to late Pliocene on Alor
(Abbot and Chamalaun, 1981). The width and volume
of the arc decrease eastward and correspond to a
decreasing age of inception of magmatism (Hamilton,
1988). The volcanic rocks that crop out mostly consist
of primitive basalts, typical of a volcanic arc that is built
on oceanic lithosphere (Hamilton, 1988).
The Savu Basin is underlain by a series of east-west
trending basement ridges, of which the most northerly
divides the Savu Basin into a southern (South Savu
Basin) and a northern (North Savu Basin) structural
basin (Figure IB) (Karig et al., 1987; van der Werff et
al., 1994). The basement of the North Savu Basin has a
thickness of 12-14 km, which suggests an oceanic crust
(Beiersdorf and Hinz, 1980; Kartaadiputra et al., 1982).
The basement ridges that underlie the South Savu
Basin have a high density and may in part be related to
an early-middle Miocene volcanic arc (McBride and
Karig, 1987: Karig et al., 1987; van der Werff et al..
1994).
The South Savu Basin has been uplifted and tilted
along the Sumba Ridge (Reed et al., 1986; van Weering
et al., 1989a). The island of Sumba forms the emerged
part of this ridge and has been uplifted with an average
rate of 0.5 cm/a since the late Miocene (Fortuin et al.,
1991; Pirazolli et al., 1991; Fortuin et al., 1994). It
consists of pre-Tertiary fault blocks composed of late
Cretaceous mudstones and tuffaceous sandstones
intruded by small plutons and dykes of Palaeocene age
(Figure 2) (van Bemmelen, 1949; Meisner and Pfeiffer,
1968; von der Borch et al., 1983). These blocks are
unconformably overlain by an early Palaeocene to late
Eocene (Oligocene to early Miocene on west Sumba),
discontinuous sequence of undeformed volcanic
agglomerates and elastic sediments (Effendi and
Apandi, 1981; Burollet and Salle, 1982). Early
Miocene platform (reefal) carbonates on west Sumba,
and mid to late Miocene volcaniclastic turbidites and
5600
V.E. 2.3
Figure 2 Proposed correlation between the late Cenozoic stratigraphy of East Sumba (left-hand panel) and the seismo-stratigraphy
the South Savu Basin (profile Pat 109). The stratigraphic column is adapted from Fortuin et a/. (1991; 1994). For location of seismic
section, see Figures 3 and 5b. Note high amplitude reflectors cut by the basal unconformity
Marine
Cenozoic evolution of the Saw Basin: W. van der Werff
pelagic chalks on east Sumba, unconformably cover
this non-marine sequence (Burollet and Salle, 1982;
von der Borch et al., 1983). Quaternary reefs overlie
the Miocene deep water sequence (Effendi and
Apandi, 1981; Pirazolli et al., 1991).
Seismic profiles across the Sumba Ridge and the
Savu Basin show that before the uplift of the ridge, the
region formed one large forearc basin (van Weering et
al., 1989b). The forearc basin has been overthrust by
the accretionary wedge, south of the Sumba Basin
(Reed et al., 1986). Convergence along the Savu Thrust
resulted in a northward verging fold and thrust belt of
forearc basin strata accreted to the arcward margin of
the accretionary wedge (Reed, 1985).
South of Sumba, the Scott Plateau forms the western
boundary of the arc-continent collision zone (Figure
IB) (Breen et al., 1986). Thick continental crust is
present beneath the Australian Shelf and Timor
Trough (Bowin et al., 1980; Johnston and Bowin, 1981)
and probably underlies Timor (Chamalaun et al., 1976;
Kaye, 1990). High ratios of strontium and lead isotopes
in the late Cenozoic and recent lavas of the volcanic
arc suggest contamination by continentally derived
sediments (Whitford et al., 1977; Whitford and Jezek,
1979; Varekamp et ul., 198Y) or continental crust
(Morris. 1984). The subducted lithosphere is presently
being detached from the Australian continental crust at
50- 100 km depth beneath the eastern Savu Sea (Osada
and Abe, 1981; McCaffrey et al., 1985).
The Australian plate converges in a NNE-ward
direction (N20-3OE), slightly oblique to the Banda
Arc, with an estimated rate of 7-8 cm/a (Minster and
Jordan, 1978: De Mets et al.. 1990; Smith et ul., 1990).
Methods
The data set used for this study (Figure 3) consists of
single channel seismic profiles collected during the
Indonesian/Dutch Snellius-II Expedition (1984- 1985)
and the Rama 12 Expedition (1982, supplied by Scripps
StX‘
6200 6900
0 5 KM
of
and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 3 249
Cenozoic evolution of the Saw Basin: W. van der Wet-H

120 122 124

Figure 3 Track chart of the seismic profiles used for this study. The figure numbers 4-9 indicate the location of profiles reproduced in
the text. G6-E and G6-F indicate the location of the profiles recorded during the Snellius-II expedition; RAMA 80,81,82,83,87 and 88
indicate the location of the profiles provided by the Scripps Institute of Oceanography; and N 521, N 522 and N 523 and Pat 109 and 110
indicate the location of profiles provided by Shell and MGI. Numbers along the transects indicate shotpoint locations or shiptime
during data acquisition. Thin lines indicate free air gravity field (in mgal) after Watts et al. (1978)

Institute of Oceanography). Multichannel profiles were
made available by Shell International Petroleum
Maatschappij (The Hague) and the Bundesanstalt fur
Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (Hanover). Well
data in the forearc region are not available to us. For a
lithostratigraphic and time-stratigraphic correlation
(Figure 2), published data on the geology of Sumba
were used (Effendi and Apandi, 1981; von der Borch et
al., 1983; Reed, 1985; Fortuin et al., 1994).
The seismic stratigraphy has been defined on the
basis of reflection units, of which the reflection patterns
and depositional environments have been interpreted
by seismic facies analysis as outlined by Vail et al.
(1977). The criteria used to characterize the units are
summarized in Table I. Each unit is assigned a number
for ease of discussion. The wide spacing and variable
quality of the seismic profiles limits the discussion to
major units which are at the scale of (but not
necessarily correlatable with) second-order cycles of
standard sequence stratigraphies (Haq et al., 1987).
Seismic stratigraphy
The forearc basement is covered by aproximately 0.95 s
two-way travel time (TWT) of sediments in the Sumba
Basin (Figure 4). The South and North Savu Basins
have sediment accumulations of, respectively, 1.6-2.6
and 2.4-3.6 s TWT (Figures 5-8). Four major seismic
units have been discriminated, the seismic facies
characteristics of which are summarized in Table 1.
Basement
The character and geometry of the basement
underlying the Savu Basin largely controls its
morpho-tectonic setting and has been described by van
der Werff et al. (1994) (Figure IB).
Just east of Sumba, the basement ridges underlying
the South Sava Basin are composed of fault blocks
downfaulted both towards the north and south, along
steep-dipping normal faults (Figures 4A and 5A). The
ridges are characterized by a highly reflective, chaotic
seismic facies (Figures 4B and 5B). The basal
unconformity truncates rare high amplitude reflectors
(Figure 2). North of the island of Savu, the basement
ridges narrow and represent an ‘arched’ northward
tilted structure (Figures IB and 4A). Along the
southern side of the Sumba Basin the basement has
been thrust along steep south dipping reversed faults
and is incorporated at the base of the Savu Thrust belt
(Figure 4A). Onshore Sumba, the basement correlates
with the Lasipu Formation (Effendi and Apandi, 1981),
which is composed of fault blocks of late Cretaceous
mudstones and tuffaceous sandstones, intruded by
small Palaeogene plutons and dykes (Figure 2).
In the North Savu Basin the basement is below the
depth of penetration on most of the seismic profiles. An
irregular basement morphology is observed about
35 km to the south-east of Flores (Figure 9). The lower
part of the upper acoustically layered sediment unit
onlaps two basement ridges and suggests that these
highs are pre-existing features. However, the top of the
basement ridge located at shiptime 15.30 shows a
diapiric structure that appears to intrude the overlying
sediments. The discontinuous marked high amplitude
character of the reflectors on the east side above the
basement may be caused by small sills that intrude
along the strata1 bedding, causing locally increased
impedance contrasts.

250 Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 3

 Table 1 Forearc basin stratigraphy: description of seismo-stratigraphic units l-4

Seismic Depositional External Reflection geometry Reflection Reflection inferred Seismic Seismic Geological
reflection unit setting form at boundaries configuration character age facies facies interpretation

4 Basin floor Wedge Onlap at base Parallel High amplitude/ Late Pliocene- Slope front Alternation of pelitic
moderate reflector Pleistocene fill clays with volcaniclastic
turbidites and reworked
sediments

3 Basin floor Wedge Onlap/truncation at top Parallel Transparent/ Early-Late Alternation of pelitic
Concave/onlap at base Chaotic high amplitude Pliocene clays with volcaniclastic
turbidites

2 Basin slope Bank Concavelonlap at top Parallel High amplitude/ Mid-Late Progradational Alternation of pelitic
Onlap/downlap at base Divergent high continuity Miocene clays with volcaniclastic
turbidites

Basin floor Mounded Concave at top Parallel Transparent/ Eo-Oligocene _. .;,‘,:‘.“.‘: Trough-fill Pelagic clays, turbidites
.. .‘-: *‘*:..
Basin margin Wedge Onlap at base Chaotic high amplitude Early Miocene .‘,‘,‘. :,: :‘a_ and reefal
.,,. :: limestones
: .’

G Basement Basin floor Fault blocks Truncation at top Chaotic High amplitude Mesozoic- Fault blocks composed
z Palaeogene of submarine fan
intruded by plutons
o<
c

E3
Z

5
g
7
w
Cenozoic evolution of the Saw Basin: W. van der Wet%!

TWT SW SNELLIUS G6-E NE

SEC.
I 1 SAW THRUST BELT SUMBA BASIN SUMBA RIDGE SOUTH

FIGURE 4B

4 ltl KM
1

TWT SW SNELLIUS G6-E

SEC. , I
SUMBA BASIN

0 10 KM

Figure 4 (A) Line drawing and interpretation of section of single channel seismic profile G6-E. The location of the profile is shown in
Figure 3. Inset shows section of seismic profile reproduced in Figure 4B. Arrows along the fault planes indicate the direction of relative
basement movement. Numbers 1, 2,3 and 4 indicate seismo-stratigraphic units described in the text. The profile shows the outline of
characteristic structural units such as the Savu Thrust Belt, Sumba Basin, Sumba Ridge and South Savu Basin. Note the arched
structure of the Sumba Ridge and the steep reversed faults that cut and reshape the basement underlying the Sumba Basin. (B) Section
of single channel seismic profile G6-E. For location, see Figure 3. The section shows characteristic seismic units and facies of the
Sumba Basin. Note the effects of differential movements along the basement on the distribution and seismic character of the four
major units. The channel-fill facies north of the Savu Thrust is indicated by high amplitude reflectors. Two boundary channels are
located north of the Savu Thrust and south of Sumba Ridge

South of Pantar, the basement crops out at the sea
bed and represents the southern part of the volcanic
arc. Therefore, it may be suggested that some igneous
activity related to the present volcanic arc occurred
along fault zones at the sides of the basement ridges in
the North Savu Basin.
Sumba Basin
In the Sumba Basin, unit 1 is composed of a seismically
transparent basin-fill unit with a maximum thickness of
0.25 s TWT (Figure 4). Unit 1 onlaps the basement
surface. The upper unit boundary is paraconformable
and is covered by the amplitude reflectors of unit 2. The
unit has been highly tectonized, uplifted and tilted
towards the north by the reactivation of the underlying
basement (Figure 4A). On the basis of its depositional
setting, reflection configuration (Table I) and proposed
correlation with the onshore stratigraphy, the
lithofacies is interpreted to consist of pelagic sediments.
Unit 1 may correlate with late Burdigalian (early
Miocene) marls and clays on East Sumba occurring at
the base of the Kananggar Formation (Fortuin et al.,
1994; Figure 2). Alternatively, it is possible that this
unit has a Palaeogene age and was deposited during
and shortly after rifting of the Sumba basement (van

252 Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 3

 Cenozoic evolution of the Saw Basin: W. van der Wetff

PAC 109

SOUTH SAVU BASIN

s PAC 109 N TWT

SEC

NORTH SAVU BASIN

BASE OF SLOPE MOUNDS

CHANNELS

C 10 KM
0
~- i
Figure 5 (A) Line drawing and intepretation after multichannel seismic profile Pat 109. For legend, see Figure 4A. Arrows in
sedimentary sequences indicate cycle terminations (Vail eta/., 1977). For location, see Figure 3. Insets show section of seismic profiles
reproduced in Figure 5B and 5C. The profile shows the regional geometry and distribution of the seismic units discriminated. Unit 1
only is present on the northern basement block. Unit 2 represents a bank-shaped sequence of NNE-prograding slope front deposits
covered by the slightly onlapping basin-fill sequence of unit 3. In the south, unit 2 has been eroded by a channel complex. In the centre
of Sumba Ridge units 2 and 3 have both been eroded by bottom currents. In the North Savu Basin, unit 4 represents base of slope
mound deposits which incise the underlying unit 3. (B) Section of multichannel seismic profile Pat 109. For location, see Figure 54.
Inset shows section of seismic profile reproduced in Figure 2. The section shows characteristic seismic units and facies of the South
Savu Basin. Note the presence of an early carbonate platform characterized by reefal mounds (la) that fringe the basement high, a
transparent unit (1 b) representing sediments deposited in a more restricted environment and slope front deposits (Ic) that lap on to the
basement, north of a presently still-active fault scarp (F). (C) Section of multichannel seismic profile Pat 109. For location, see Figure
5A. The section shows typical seismic units and facies of the North Savu Basin. Note the characteristic base of slope mound deposits
and channels that constitute unit 4

Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 3 253

Cenozoic evolution of the Saw Basin: W. van der Werff
RAMA
TWT
SEC 24 h
0
J ,
10 KM
1 V.E.7
Figure 6 Line drawing and interpretation after single channel seismic profile Rama 81. For location, see Figure 3; for legend, see
Figures &I and 54. Note the submarine canyons which cut deeply into seismic unit 4 and even erode unit 3, as observed from the
angular unconformity between units 3 and 4. Uplift along Sumba Ridge resulted in a pronounced northward tilt of unit 2
Weering et al., 1989b; van der Werff et al., 1994).
Unit 2 represents a highly tectonized sequence with a
maximum thickness of 0.30 s TWT (Figure 4B).
Towards the south, the unit thins to 0.10 s TWT and is
uplifted and cut by the Savu Thrust Belt. Towards the
north, it laps on to and covers the Sumba Ridge.
The seismic facies is characterized by well bedded
high amplitude/low frequency reflectors. The dis-
continuous character of the reflectors and the divergent
reflection pattern are caused by the uplift of the Sumba
Ridge and Savu Thrust during and after deposition of
the unit. Both the upper and lower unit boundaries
appear paraconformable. The lower boundary shows a
transition from low to high amplitude reflectors
whereas the upper boundary marks a transition from
high to low amplitude reflectors. The internal reflection
configuration indicates sediments of variable density,
possibly representing an alternation of turbidites with
pelagic sediments (Table I).
Unit 3 is sheet-draped and consists of a transparent
seismic facies with a thickness of about 0.10 s TWT
(Figure 4). The unit has been affected by differential
movements related to uplift along the southern and
northern part of the basin and covers the Sumba Ridge.
North of the Savu Thrust the seismic facies change to a
well bedded channel-fill facies, which may indicate the
activity of strong bottom currents along the front of the
thrust zone (Figure 4B). The lower unit boundary is
paraconformable with the underlying unit. The upper
unit boundary is marked by the onlapping, moderately
to highly reflective beds of unit 4. Based on its
depositional setting and reflection configuration (Table
I) the lithofacies is interpreted to consist of pelagic
sediments of uniform lithological character. The high
amplitude channel facies in front of the Savu Thrust,
however, may consist of coarser reworked ‘lag
deposits’.
Unit 4 can be divided into two seismic facies subunits,
of which the lower, a, forms a basin-fill and the upper,
b, represents a mounded facies (Figure 4). Subunit a is
composed of moderately reflective beds which lap on to
and fill the depressions above the tectonized unit 3 and
has a maximum thickness of 0.15 s TWT. Subunit b
represents a contourite body of high amplitude/low
254 Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume
81
NE
22 h 20 h
6
frequency reflectors which lap on to subunit a. Unit b is
bound by two channels along both the south flank of
the Sumba Ridge and the north flank of the Savu
Thrust. The subunit has a maximum thickness of 0.15 s
TWT (Figure 4B).
South Savu Basin
Underneath the South Savu Basin, unit 1 is only locally
present on top of the northern basement blocks where
it reaches a thickness of 0.6 s TWT and consists of three
seismic subunits la, lb and lc (Figure 5A and 5B).
Subunit la has a mounded shape and is characterized
by chaotic, discontinuous high amplitude reflectors,
whereas subunit lb is composed of transparent to
weakly reflective beds. Both the mounded external
form and reflection pattern of subunit la suggest the
presence of reefal mounds that formed at the edge of
the basement blocks. The transparent subunit lb may
be representative of marls that were deposited in a
more restricted environment. The mounds correlate
with the Eocene-early Miocene carbonate platforms
found on Sumba (Figure 2) (Effendi and Apandi,
1981). Steep slope front deposits (subunit lc)
composed of continuous high amplitude reflectors lap
on to the basement north of a presently still-active fault
scarp and smooth the tectonically induced topography
(Figure 5B). These deposits may represent carbonate
debris that accumulated in front of the platform. North
of West Timor, unit 1 is characterized by basin deposits
that fill local depressions between the basement ridges
(Figure 8A).
Unit 2 consists of a bank-shaped sequence of NNE
prograding slope front deposits with a maximum
thickness of 2.2 s TWT (Figures 5A, 6 and 7A). The
seismic facies is characterized by even-bedded
continuous high amplitude/low frequency reflectors
which downlap the basement towards the north, and
extend into the North Savu Basin (Figures 5B, SC, 7B
and 8A). In the south, the foresets are locally truncated
by a channel complex that appears to be related to the
uplift of Sumba, and partly by bottom currents that
erode the sea bottom between Sumba and Savu
(Figure 5A) (Reed et al., 1987). A possible on-
shore middle-late Miocene equivalent of this channel
12 Number 3
 Cenozoic evolution of the Saw Basin: W. van der Wet?7

complex is described on East Sumba near the village of Sumba, forming part of the upper Kananggar
Kananggar by Fortuin et al. (1994). The lower unit Formation (Effendi and Apandi, 1981; Fortuin et al.,
boundary is formed by an angular unconformity 1994; Figure 2).
between unit 2 and the basement, or unit 1 (Figure 5A). Unit 4 has locally been eroded by bottom currents
The upper unit boundary is characterized by the (Figure 5A). It represents a basin-fill unit that laps on
paraconformable to slightly onlapping low amplitude to unit 3 and is composed of continuous high
reflectors of unit 3 (Figure 5B). The unit can be amplitude/low frequency reflectors. It reaches a
correlated with the middle-late Miocene NNE maximum thickness of 0.5 s TWT (Figures 4A and 7A).
prograding volcaniclastic submarine fan deposits of the North of West Timor, unit 4 constitutes well bedded
Kananggar Formation (Effendi and Apandi, 1981), discontinuous high amplitude/low frequency slope
which extensively crop out on east Sumba (Figure 2). deposits that remain trapped on the southern slope of
Unit 3 has a maximum thickness of 0.30 s TWT the South Savu Basin (Figure 8A).
(Figures 5A, 5B, 8A and SB). Locally, the unit has been
eroded by strong bottom currents, scouring Sumba
Ridge west of Savu Island (Figure 5A) (Reed, 1987). North Saw Basin
The lower unit boundary is formed by low In the North Savu Basin, unit 1 is composed of basin-fill
amplitude/high frequency reflection terminations that deposits characterized by a seismic facies of
are paraconformable to slightly onlapping unit 2 even-bedded continuous high amplitude/low frequency
(Figure 5B). Piston core data collected on the south reflectors that lap on to the basement (Figures 5A, 5C
slope of the Sumba Ridge indicate that the transparent and 7A). The unit, which has a maximum thickness of
facies consists of early Pliocene marls (Reed, 1985). 0.4 s TWT, thins towards the south and pinches out
This facies probably correlates with early Pliocene against the basement blocks. The upper unit boundary
foraminiferal pelagic chalks that crop out on east is formed by the paraconformable to slightly onlapping

S RAMA 80 N TWT
SEC

SOUTH SAVU BASIN NORTH SAVU BASIN

0 10 KM

Figure 7 (A) Line drawing and interpretation after single channel seismic profile Rama 80. For location, see Figure 3; for legend, see
Figures 4A and 5A. Inset shows section of seismic profile reproduced in Figure 78. The profile shows the characteristic geometry and
distribution of seismic units across the centre of the North and South Savu Basins. (B) Section of single channel seismic profile Rama
80. For location, see Figure 7A. The seismic section shows the character and facies of the seismic units in the central Savu Basin

Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 3 255

Cenozoic evolution of the Saw Basin: W. van der Wetff

N
1
SNELLlUSG6-F

SOUTH SAVU BASIN NORTH SAVU BASIN

FIGURE 8B

0 10 KM

S SNELLIUS G6-F
N TWT
SEC

SOUTH SAVU BASIN NORTH SAVU BASIN

B 0 10 KM
l----3

Figure 8 (A) Line drawing and interpretation of section of single channel seismic profile G6-F. For location, see Figore3; for legend, see
Figures 44 and 5A. Inset shows section of seismic profile reproduced in Figure 8B. The section shows uplift of the South Savu Basin
after deposition of unit 3, resulting in the formation of the extinct South Savu Basin and the presently active North Savu Basin. Note
that unit 1 is characterized by basin deposits that fill local depressions between the basement ridges. (B) Section of single channel
seismic profile G6-F. For location, see Figure 8A. The section shows characteristic seismic units and facies of the East Savu Basin.

256 Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 3


RAMA 88
W
11.00
Figure 9 Section of single channel seismic profile Rama 88. For legend, see Figures 4A and 5A. For location, see Figure 3. The top of the
basement ridge located at shiptime 15.30 shows a diapiric structure that appears to intrude the overlying sediments. The discontinuous
hiah amoiitude character of the reflectors on the east side above the ridge may indicate small sills that intrude along strata1 bedding
causing locally increased impedance contrasts
low amplitude reflectors of unit 2. The reflection
character of unit 1 suggests sediments of variable
density, possibly representing an alternation of
volcaniclastic turbidites with pelagic sediments.
Unit 2 is formed by a wedge of basin-fill deposits
composed of fairly continuous low to medium
amplitude/low frequency reflectors which lap on to unit
1 and interfinger with the slope front deposits of the
South Savu Basin (Figures SA, 6, 7A and 8A). The unit
has a maximum thickness of 2.0 s TWT in the south of
the basin and thins towards the north. The upper unit
boundary is characterized by the onlapping reflectors of
unit 3 (Figure 7).
Unit 3 reaches a maximum thickness of 1.2 s TWT in
the centre of the basin and pinches out towards the
south (Figures 6 and 7). It is composed of continuous
even bedded high to moderate amplitude reflectors
(Figure SC). The upper unit boundary is formed by a
major truncational unconformity caused by the incision
of large submarine canyons which deeply cut and
eroded the underlying unit (Figures 5C and 6). The
reflection character of unit 3 suggests sediments of
variable density, possibly representing an alternation
of volcaniclastic turbidites with pelagic sediments
(Table 1).
Unit 4 is characterized by a seismic facies composed
of high amplitude/low frequency reflectors which
alternate with a seismically transparent facies (Figure
5C). The unit has a maximum thickness of 1.0 s TWT in
the centre of the basin (Figure 7A) and thins to less
than 0.5 s TWT to the east of the basin (Figure SB).
The lower unit boundary represents a truncational
unconformity in the west (Figures 5C and 6) and is
paraconformable to onlapping in the east (Figure 8A).
In the west of the basin the sediments have a mounded
Marine
Cenozoic evolution of the Saw Basin: W. van der Werff
15.00 16.00
0
LX
10 IQM
c \
facies (Figure 5A) indicative of turbidite fan lobes
representing sediments that have been transported
through a system of ESE-WNW trending submarine
canyons (Figure 6) north of Sumba.
Based on its depositional setting and reflection
configuration, the seismic facies of unit 4 is interpreted
to consist of sediments with a variable density,
probably an alternation of pelagic sediments with
turbidites composed of volcaniclastic sediments and
reworked debris derived from Sumba and the emerged
volcanic arc (Table I).
Cenozoic evolution of the Savu Basin
A model illustrating the evolution of the Savu Basin is
presented in Figure 10.
Stratigraphic relationships on both Sumba and in the
Savu Basin (Chamalaun et al., 1982; van Weering et al.,
1989b; Figures 4A, 5A, 7A and 8A), and recent
palaeomagnetic results (Wensink. 1994) indicate that
Sumba was trapped in the present forearc basin setting
before the evolution of the arc-trench system in the
late Oligocene-early Miocene (Figure ZOA). The Savu
Basin, which is underlain in the north by crust of
oceanic thickness (Beiersdorf and Hinz, 1980) and in
the south by continental crust (Chamalaun et al., 1982)
may represent an old thinned passive margin related to
the rifting of Sumba.
Until the late Burdigalian (early Miocene), the
Sumba Ridge formed a structural high within the
southern part of the forearc basin, as indicated by
biostratigraphic data (Fortuin ef al., 1994) and the
shallow platform carbonate facies recognized both on
and offshore Sumba (Effendi and Apandi, 1981;
Chamalaun et al., 1982; von der Borch et al., 1983;
and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 3 257
 Cenozoic evolution of the Saw Basin: W. van der Werff

Figure .5A and 5B).
An early Miocene volcanic arc developed on
Sumbawa and Western Flores (Hamilton, 1979;
Barberi et al., 1987) and shed its detritus into the
northern Savu Basin, resulting in the deposition of unit
1. These sediments could not reach the trench, which
was blocked by the shallow position of the Sumba
Ridge, and contemporaneous sediments that accu-
mulated in the Sumba Basin consist of pelagic
sediments.
Both the rapid increase in the pelagic to benthic ratio
of these sediments at higher stratigraphic levels and the
increased dissolution of planktonic foraminifera noted
in onshore stratigraphic sections on East Sumba
indicate a rapid subsidence of the forearc basement to
depths well below the carbonate compensation depth
(CCD) at least until 4000 m (Fortuin et al., 1994)
(Figure IOB).
An early subsidence pattern of forearc basement
(Oyashio land mass) in the Japan arc-trench system
after trench initiation has been observed by von Huene
et al. (1982). In analogy with these observations, Reed
(1985) suggested that a similar tectonic mechanism
could have operated in the Eastern Sunda Arc. In
agreement with this hypothesis it is suggested that
subsidence of the Sumba Ridge is probably a
consequence of the late Oligocene-early Miocene
eastward propagation of the arc-trench system,

N NORTH SAVU BASIN SOUTH SAW YE&I& SUMBA BASIN S

A
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
6- ++?+~+~?++~+~?+?i++++++++
.,

n- i?DcENE

N NORTH SAVU BASIN SOUTH SAW BASIN SUMBA BASIN S

-4
3 ONSET SUBDUCTION
I

EARLYMKMXNE

N NORTH SAW BASIN SOUTH SAW BASlN SUMBA BASIN S

z-
I 4..
6.

N NORTH SAVU BASIN SOUTH SAVU BASIN SUMBA BASIN

S

MARGINAL PLATEAU

LATE MIOCENE-'EARLYPLIOCENE

S
NORTH SAVU BASIN SOUTH SAVU BASIN SUMBA BASIN BACKTHRUST
”
0

1 4 E
6

(I
LATE PLIOCENE - PLEISTOCENE

0 10 KM
t----~

Figure 10 Model of the Tertiary evolution of the Saw forearc basin

258 Marine and Petroleum Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 3

 Cenozoic
block-faulting being related to stresses associated with
trench formation.
The sediments of unit 2, which represent NNE
prograding slope front deposits on top of the Sumba
Ridge, show a middle-late Miocene shift in elastic
sedimentation towards the outer forearc region (Figure
IOC). Although unit 2 has been tilted slightly to the
north, the basal downlap of the reflectors on top of the
less inclined Sumba basement is an original feature
(Figure 5B). The volcaniclastic character of the
sediments, so clearly exposed on East Sumba, and the
NNE-ward transport directions led the onshore
investigators to assume that Sumba was originally in a
backarc position relative to the volcanic eruption
centres (Fortuin et al., 1991; 1994). Based on the
offshore extent of unit 2 and the NNE-directed
transport directions between Sumba and Roti, van der
Werff et al. (1994) interpreted a proto-arc located to
the south of Sumba (Figure l(X).
The development of a middle-late Miocene arc
south of Sumba may have added to the process of
block-faulting of forearc basement by magmatic
intrusives (Ingersoll, 1988). It could explain the local
character of the subsidence observed on East Sumba as
opposed to West Sumba, where middle Miocene
volcanic outcrops (Gunung Jawila) may represent
another fragment of this proto-arc (Effendi and
Apandi, 1981; Chamalaun et ul., 1982).
From a plate tectonic point of view it is difficult to
envisage the evolution of volcanic centres situated close
to an evolving trench (Dickinson and Seely, 1979). The
presence of a trench next to a volcanic arc is commonly
associated with an arc/polarity reversal after which
volcanic activity ceases (Silver et al., 1983; Breen, 1987;
Hamilton, 1988). It is possible that the irregular
distribution of Miocene volcanic centres on east
Sumbawa, west Flores, west Sumba and south-east of
Sumba, developed in response to block-faulting of the
‘continental’ forearc basement during and after trench
initiation.
The thickness distribution of unit 3 indicates a shift in
depocentre towards the centre of the North Savu Basin
during the early Pliocene (Figure ZOO). This shift
coincides with a change in volcanic activity from the
‘proto’ arc to the present arc and the uplift of the South
Savu Basin (Hamilton, 1979; Barberi et al., 1987). This
change in volcanism has also been noted on Sumbawa
by Barberi et al. (1987), who concluded that during the
mid-Miocene, volcanic activity was widespread from
Sumatra to western Flores. On Sumbawa, however, it
ceased during the late Miocene but resumed in the
early Pliocene.
A shift in volcanism from the middle-late Miocene
proto-arc to the Pliocene to Recent arc may relate to a
change in plate dynamics caused by the initial late
Miocene collision of a marginal plateau located in front
of the Australian continent (Cross et al., 1982).
Alternatively, it may simply represent a northward
trend in the evolution of the volcanic arc, which is
regarded as a common aspect in the development of
arc-trench systems (Dickinson and Seely, 1979).
Consequently, the plate tectonic configuration of the
Savu Basin changed during the late Miocene from a
backarc to a forearc basin setting.
That uplift of the South Savu Basin started at the end
Marine and Petroleum
evolution of the Saw Basin: W. van der Werff
of the late Miocene is indicated on Sumba by the
reappearance of foraminiferal assemblages that were
not affected by dissolution phenomena related to
deposition beyond the CCD (Fortuin et al., 1994) and
block-faulting and tilting of unit 2 along the Sumba
Ridge (Figures 4A, .5A, 6, 7A and 8A).
Uplift of the South Savu Basin may be related to the
collision and subduction of the marginal plateau and
subsequent inferred increased tectonic underplating
(Reed, 1985; Harris, 1991). The collision resulted in
the rapid growth of a large accretionary wedge (van der
Werff, unpublished data) and the evolution of the Savu
Thrust (Reed, 1985). The locally increased northward
tilt of the Sumba Ridge and the associated presence of
several slides and slumps at the southern edge of the
North Savu Basin (Fortuin et al., 1992; their Figure 9)
appear to be directly related to the thrusting of the
Savu Thrust up the Sumba Ridge.
The by now eroded middle-late Miocene ‘proto’-arc
may have started to subside by thermal subsidence and
downflexing of the crust in front of the evolving thrust
belt. Finally, it must have disappeared beneath the
Savu Thrust.
Reflection unit 4 marks a shift in depocentre towards
the western part of the North Savu Basin since the late
Pliocene (Figure IOE). This sequence reflects increased
sedimentatioin rates caused by the late Pliocene-
Recent uplift, which elevated Sumba and the volcanic
arc to subaerial levels. Uplift of Sumba may be related
to the late Pliocene collision of the Australian margin
and slope with the arc-trench system, and the
subsequently inferred decoupling of the oceanic slab
from the subducting continental crust.
Forearc response to arc-continent collision
The Savu Basin is characterized by a complex tectonic
history dominated by differential vertical movements.
These movements are related to the late
Cretaceous-Palaeogene rifting of Sumba (Wensink,
1991; 1994; van der Werff et al., 1994), the late
Oligocene-early Miocene eastward propagation of the
Java/Timor Trench, the evolution of a middle-late
Miocene ‘proto’-arc and the late Miocene-Recent
collisional events with Australia (Reed, 1985; Harris,
1991).
The behaviour of the Savu Basin in response to the
arc-continent collision is to a large extent determined
by the older structures of the forearc basement.
Tectonic activity occurred mainly by the reactivation of
already existing basement faults (Figures _5A, 5B and
8A). No thrusting of Sumba-related basement is
observed in the forearc basin, as suggested by Audley-
Charles (1985).
The initial late Miocene collision and subduction of a
marginal plateau resulted in the rapid growth of an
accretionary prism (van der Werff et al., unpublished
data). Increased shear stresses at the base of the
accretionary prism subsequently resulted in the
formation of the Savu Thrust (Reed, 1985; Harris,
1991; van der Werff et aE., unpublished data).
Our data indicate that compressional tectonics
remained limited to the area south of Sumba Ridge,
where the accretionary prism has been thrust to the
north along the Savu Thrust (Figure 4A). Compression
Geology 1995 Volume 12 Number 3 259
Cenozoic evolution of the Saw Basin: W. van der WeM

along the base of the Savu Thrust started to reshape the downflexing and reshaping of forearc basement into a
forearc basement into a trenchward dipping backstop trenchward dipping backstop.
that facilitates northward thrusting (Figure 4B). The estimated subduction of 350 km of continental
Stratigraphic relations suggest that the thrust was active crust lead to progressively increased basal shear stress
from the middle Miocene to the late Pliocene (Figure between the forearc and the subducted continental
4B), after which compression shifted towards younger crust, and ultimate detachment of the oceanic slab,
thrust elements that developed south of the Savu resulting in restoration of the isotherms and isostatic
Thrust (van der Werff et al., 1994). Sumba Ridge, with uplift of continental crust.
its near-continental thickness (Chamalaun et al., 1982), This is suggested by the increased late
probably acts as a rigid barrier resisting compression Pliocene-Recent uplift of large segments of the outer
and transferring stresses to the weaker regions in the forearc region and simultaneous subsidence of the
backarc area as proposed by Silver et al. (1983). North Savu Basin, superimposing the initial effects of
It may be suggested that the late Miocene subsidence post-collision extension on the arc-continent collision.
of the Sumba Basin, as opposed to the uplift of the
Sumba Ridge underlying the South Savu Basin,
occurred in response to the Savu Thrust load and
Acknowledgements
represents the development of a foreland basin and I thank T. C. E. van Weering (NIOZ), J. E. van Hinte,
associated flexural bulge (Allen et al., 1986; Tankard, J. Woodside and A. R. Fortuin (Free University of
1986). The uplift of large segments of the outer forearc Amsterdam) for their critical review of the manuscript,
basin between 117” 30’ and 123” E, as opposed to the providing suggestions for improvement. The paper also
relatively limited region of backthrusting to the east of benefited from the comments of A. J. Barber and an
Sumba (Figure IB), suggests, however, that more anonymous reviewer. Special thanks are due to Bert
significant factors contribute to the regional uplift. Aggenbach (NIOZ) for invaluable photographic
The late Miocene-Recent uplift of the South Savu assistance. Shell International Petroleum Corporation,
Basin and Sumba and contemporaneous subsidence of Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Dr K. Hinz
the North Savu Basin may be explained by progressive of the Bundesanstalt fur Geowissenschaften und
subduction and underplating of continental crust since Rohstoffe (Hanover) are acknowledged for providing
the late Miocene. If underthrusting of continental crust seismic data. This study was supported by the
occurred since the last 5 Ma at an average rate of Netherlands Marine Science Foundation (SOZ) in The
7 cm/a, then 350 km of continental crust may underlie Hague.
the Savu Basin. Owing to its buoyancy, the crust will
increasingly resist subduction and rebound towards the
surface, resulting in uplift of the South Savu Basin and References
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