Skip to main content

The Australian Craton

  • Chapter
Introduction to Geology

Abstract

The continental mass of Australia (Fig. 8.1) is made up of four great structural units, to which we may add a fifth represented in the fringing island arcs to the north and east. The oldest and most extensive unit is the Precambrian craton which comprises most of the central and western parts of the continent where Precambrian rocks are exposed beneath an intermittent Phanerozoic cover.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Bibliography

  • Arriens, P. A. (1971). The Archaean geochronology of Australia, Spec. Pap. geol. Soc. Aust, 3, 11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binns, R. A. (1964). Zones of progressive regional metamorphism in the Willyama complex, etc. J. geol. Soc. Aust., 11, 283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carter, E. K., J. H. Brooks and K. R. Walker (1961). The Precambrian mineral belt of north-western Queensland. Bull. Bur. Min. Res., 51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gellatly, D. C., G. M. Derrick and K. A. Plumb (1970). Proterozoic palaeo- current directions in the Kimberley region, north-west Australia. Geol Mag., 108, 249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glover, J. E. (ed.) (1971). Symposium on Archaean rocks held at Perth. Spec. Pap. geol Soc. Aust., 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, I. B. and K. S. Heier (1968). Geochemical investigations of deep-seated rocks in the Australian shield. Lithos, 1, 30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDougall, I., P. R. Dunn, W. Compston, A. W. Webb, J. R. Richards and V. M. Bofinger (1965). Isotopic age determinations in Precambrian rocks of the Carpentaria region, Northern Territory, Australia. J. geol. Soc. Aust., 12, 67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLeod, W. N. (1966). The geology and iron deposits of the Hamersley Range area, Western Australia. Bull, geol Surv. W. Aust., 117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trendall, A. F. and J. G. Blockley (1970). The iron formations of the Precambrian Hamersley Group Western Australia. Bull. geol. Surv. W. Aust., 119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, I. R. (1970). Explanatory notes on the 1:150 000 Kurnalpi Geological Map Sheet, Geol Surv., Western Australia Record, 1970/71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, A. F. (1969). Granulite terrains and their tectonic setting and relationship to associated metamorphic rocks in Australia. Spec. Pap. geol Soc Aust., 2, 243.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, A. F., W. Compston, P. M. Jeffery and G. H. Riley (1960). Radioactive ages from the Precambrian rocks in Australia. J. geol Soc. Aust., 6, 179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Copyright information

© 1975 The Estate of the late H. H. Read and Janet Watson

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Read, H.H., Watson, J. (1975). The Australian Craton. In: Introduction to Geology. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-15609-2_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics