Ōnawe Peninsula, Banks Peninsula, Christchurch City, Canterbury Region, New Zealandi

Regional Level Types
Ōnawe Peninsula	Peninsula
Banks Peninsula	Peninsula
Christchurch City	City
Canterbury Region	Region
New Zealand	Country

While not particularly a specimen location, (Dorsey, 1988) notes secondary drusy quartz (often amethyst) infilling irregular shaped cavities on the peninsula.

The site is important otherwise, as the inferred eruptive vent for the Akaroa Volcano, one of two volcanoes which formed the Banks Peninsula/Lyttelton areas.

(Speight, 1907) states: 'The Onawe Peninsula probably marks the centre of the Akaroa Volcano, as the extremity of the peninsula is composed of syenite, and this is the only plutonic rock in the locality (Banks Peninsula). The remaining part of this small peninsula near the narrow isthmus is principally formed by intercrossing dykes, it thus shows the structure which characterises the neighbourhood of the pipe of an old volcano.'

(Dorsey, 1988) states the locality shows the oldest basalt flows on the Banks Peninsula. The southern end of the peninsula consists of syenite, comprising orthoclase feldspar, with minor clinopyroxene, red-brown amphibole, and magnetite. The rest of the peninsula consists of gabbro, comprising plagioclase feldspar, biotite, amphibole, magnetite, and minor pyroxene and olivine. Both rock units are intruded by trachyte dykes.

The peninsula can be seen as a spectacular view driving into Akaroa. The site can be accessed by a walk trail. A Maori fish trap can be seen along the western foreshore.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References