Australia through time: a summary of its tectonic and metallogenic evolution  

Authors / CoAuthors

Huston, D.L. | Blewett, R.S. | Champion, D.C.

Abstract

The geological evolution of Australia is closely linked to supercontinent cycles that have characterised the tectonic evolution of Earth, with most geological and metallogenic events relating to the assembly and breakup of Vaalbara, Kenorland, Nuna, Rodinia and Pangea-Gondwana. Australia largely grew from west to east, with two major Archean cratons, the Yilgarn and Pilbara Cratons, forming the oldest part of the continent in the West Australian Element. The centre consists mostly of the largely Paleo-to Mesoproterozoic North and South Australian Elements, whereas the east is dominated by the Phanerozoic-Mesozoic Tasman Element. The West, North and South Australian Elements initially assembled during the Paleoproterozoic amalgamation of Nuna, and the Tasman Element formed as a Paleozoic accretionary margin during the assembly of Gondwana-Pangea. Australia's present position as a relatively stable continent resulted from the break-up of Gondwana. Australia is moving northward toward southeast Asia, probably during the earliest stages of the assembly of the next supercontinent, Amasia. Australia's resources, both mineral and energy, are linked to its tectonic evolution and the supercontinent cycle. Clusters of resources, both in space and time, are associated with Australia's tectonic history and the Earth's supercontinent cycles. Australia's most important gold province is the product of the assembly of Kenorland, whereas its major zinc-lead-silver deposits and iron-oxide-copper-gold deposits formed as Nuna broke up. The diverse metallogeny of the Tasman Element is a product of Pangea-Gondwana assembly and most of Australia's hydrocarbon resources are a consequence of the break-up of this supercontinent.

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nonGeographicDataset

eCat Id

72740

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Keywords

• External PublicationScientific Journal Paper

( Theme )

• economic geology

( Theme )

• geochemistry

( Theme )

• geodynamics

( Theme )

• geohazards

( Theme )

• architecture

( Theme )

• climate

( Theme )

• commodities

( Theme )

• dating

( Theme )

• geology

( Theme )

• metallogenesis

( Theme )

• mineral deposits

( Theme )

• palaeogeography

( Theme )

• petroleum geology

( Theme )

• plate tectonics

( Theme )

• regolith

( Theme )

• sedimentary basins

( Theme )

• tectonic history

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

• Earth Sciences

• Published_Internal

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2012-01-01T00:00:00

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