The Proterozoic and Palaeozoic rocks of The Granites-Tanami region, Western Australia and Northern Territory, and interregional correlations

The Granites-Tanami region links the mainly Proterozoic areas of northwestern and central Australia. It is made up of two main tectonic units: The Granites-Tanami Block, which consists of metasediments and metavolcanics of the Lower Proterozoic Tanami Complex, younger Lower Proterozoic sedimentary and acid volcanic rocks, and 1820-1710 m.y. old granites; and the Birrindudu Basin, which contains the mainly clastic sedimentary rocks of the Carpentarian Birrindudu Group, dated at about 1560 m.y., and the Adelaidean Redcliff Pound Group, which was probably deposited less than 1000 m.y. ago, and their possible stratigraphic equivalents. The Proterozoic rocks are overlain by Early Cambrian Antrim Plateau Volcanics and younger Palaeozoic non-marine sediments. Five major phases of tectonic activity, ranging in age from Lower Proterozoic (1960 m.y.) to early Carboniferous (Alice Springs Orogeny), can be recognised. The Proterozoic and Palaeozoic rocks are correlated with similar rocks in the Kimberley region to the northwest, the Victoria River region to the north, the Arunta Block and Amadeus Basin to the south, the Tennant Creek region to the east, and the Canning Basin to the west. The best substantiated correlations are the Tanami Complex with the Halls Creek Group of the Kimberley region, and the Redcliff Pound Group with the Heavitree Quartzite and Bitter Springs Formation of the Amadeus Basin. The latter correlation indicates that when these units were deposited the Birrindudu and Amadeus Basins were interconnected.

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Published (Metadata Record) 03/03/2026
Last updated 03/03/2026
Organisation Australian Federal Government
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