Authors / CoAuthors
Tyler, I.M. | Pirajno, F. | Bagas, L. | Myers, J.S. | Preston, W.A.
Abstract
The evolution of the geology and mineral deposits of the Proterozoic in Western Australia can be described in terms of episodes of continental breakup, terrane accretion and plate aggregation. The Hamersley Basin represents breakup of an Archaean continent in the late Archaean to earliest Palaeoproterozoic (2800-2300 Ma). A period of plate aggregation occurred in the Palaeoproterozoic between 1900 and 1750 Ma with the formation of the North, South, and West Australian Cratons, probably as parts of larger continents. A period of intracratonic basin formation followed in the earliest Mesoproterozoic, around 1600 Ma. A second period of terrane accretion and plate aggregation took place in the late Mesoproterozoic between 1300 and 1000 Ma, during which the main crustal components of Proterozoic Australia were assembled as part of the Rodinian supercontinent. Proterozoic Australia remained essentially intact during Neoproterozoic continental breakup at ~750 Ma. Old Palaeoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic sutures were reactivated as intracratonic orogenic belts between 560 and 540 Ma, during the late Neoproterozoic assembly of a new supercontinent. Two broad groups of mineral deposits, related to different tectonic regimes, can be recognised: volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits, stratiform sediment-hosted deposits, and hydrothermal vein systems related to rifting and basin formation; and mesothermal lode mineralisation, formed from magmatic, deformational, and metamorphic events linked to compressional tectonics. Although there are similarities, the geological evolution and mineralisation of individual orogenic belts and basins do not conform simply to models developed in the Proterozoic of northern and northeastern Australia. Given the low level of exploration activity and poor exposure in many areas, and recognising that mineralisation related to large-scale hydrothermal systems has occurred at various times throughout the Proterozoic, the potential exists for the further discovery of large-scale mineralisation.
Product Type
document
eCat Id
81517
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Keywords
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- GA PublicationJournal
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- WA
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Earth Sciences
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- Published_External
Publication Date
1998-01-01T00:00:00
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geoscientificInformation
Series Information
AGSO Journal of Australian Geology and Geophysics 17:3:223-244
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Unknown
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Extents
[-36.0, -12.0, 110.0, 130.0]
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