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Kōrero: Sea floor geology

New Zealand’s marine sediment

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New Zealand’s marine sediment

This map illustrates the distribution of the main types of marine sediment found on the ocean floor around New Zealand. Close to shore, land-derived muds, sands and gravels are dominant. Further from shore, organic sediments formed from the shells of tiny sea creatures become more common. In the very deep ocean basins, clays are present.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: NIWA – National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Keith Lewis, Scott D. Nodder rāua ko Lionel Carter, Sea floor geology – How sediment forms, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/map/5615/new-zealands-marine-sediment (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Keith Lewis, Scott D. Nodder rāua ko Lionel Carter, i tāngia i te 2 March 2009.