A shallow-dipping ductile mylonitic shear zone and concordant brittle detachment fault (Mai'iu fault) together make up the dominant geological structure that controls the orientation of dip slopes on the flanks of Mount Dayman, eastern Papuan Peninsula, Papua New Guinea. The dip slopes dip in all directions from the peak of Mount Dayman and form a domed landform that is much less dissected by streams compared to the adjacent Mount Suckling domed landform. The orientation of megacorrugations on the domed surface of Mount Dayman (footwall) is consistent with NNE-directed transport of the hanging-wall block, which is composed of low-grade undifferentiated volcanic and sedimentary rocks and minor ultramafic rocks. Though previously documented as a thrust surface, the geometry and style of structures and map relations presented in this study indicate an extensional origin for the domed mylonitic foliation (S1) and mineral elongation lineation (L1). The field relationships are consistent with the domed landform comprising the core of a metamorphic core complex. Observations of dominantly NNE-trending regional lineaments in aerial photography and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data correlate with detailed field analysis of mineral elongation lineations (L1) in the main metamorphic core complex–bounding shear zone. Field relationships show a crosscutting sequence of structures that includes: (1) ductile S2 folia with ESE-plunging blue sodic-calcic amphibole mineral elongation lineations; (2) narrow, steeply dipping ductile D2 shear zones; and (3) semibrittle to brittle fault zones. S-C′ fabrics, asymmetric strain shadows around porphyroclasts, and fault drag indicate a top-down-to-the-NNE sense of shear for most structures. Kinematic vorticity analysis of the highest-grade ductile deformation indicates a kinematic vorticity number (Wk) between 0.34 and 0.56, suggesting general shear for the early stage of deformation (D1). The NNE-directed lineaments and L1 mineral elongation lineations are consistent with the Australia-Woodlark Eulerian pole for periods between the early Pliocene (3.6 Ma) and Pleistocene (0.52 Ma). This observation is consistent with ca. 3.3 Ma granite and monzonite intrusions that cut the mylonitic fabrics and limit the age of the mylonitic fabrics to older than 3.3 Ma on Mount Suckling. A SE-dipping sedimentary sequence (Gwoira Conglomerate) characterizes part of the hanging wall of the metamorphic core complex. Petrography of the clasts within the sedimentary rocks indicates that metabasite rocks were the dominant source. The unit is in fault contact with the metabasite footwall across prehnite-bearing D3 brittle fault zones.

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