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Geology of the Northern Territory
Amadeus Basin
Amadeus Basin
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Lithology:
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Sedimentary: dolostone, limestone, shale, sandstone, siltstone, quartzite, evaporite, diamictite, conglomerate.
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Epoch Min:
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Carboniferous.
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Epoch Max:
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Neoproterozoic.
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Age Min:
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350 Ma.
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Age Max:
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850 Ma.
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Summary:
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A large intracratonic sedimentary basin that was initiated as part of the Central Australian Superbasin and was substantially affected by intraplate tectonics.
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Relationship:
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Overlies the Warumpi and Aileron provinces to the north and Musgrave Province to the south. Overlain by Eromanga and Pedirka Basins to the southeast.
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Thickness:
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Up to 14 km.
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Economic:
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Hosts Mereenie oil and gas field and Palm Valley gas field in Ordovician Larapinta Group rocks. The Cambrian/Neoproterozoic Dingo, Orange and Ooraminna gas fields, and the Ordovician West Walker discovery are potential gas producers. The basin also contains sandstone-type uranium deposits at Angela and Pamela, and gold at White Range in the Arltunga Nappe Complex. Minor base metal and small-scale mines are also present.
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Exploration:
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BHP, CRA, MIM and other organisations have explored the northwestern part of the basin for base metals. Extensive uranium exploration has been undertaken. Also explored for evaporites. More than thirty wells have been drilled to investigate petroleum in a 170 000km2 area.
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Metamorphism:
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Generally unmetamorphosed; minor highly deformed rocks interleaved with basement in the northeast and southwest are greenschist to amphibolite facies.
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Main Reference:
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Ambrose G and Marshall T, 2004. Northern Territory of Australia, Onshore hydrocarbon potential, 2004. Northern Territory Geological Survey, Record 2004-002. Gibson HJ, Ambrose G, Duddy IR, Tingate PR and Marshall T, 2004. Post-Early Carboniferous thermal history reconstruction from well data in the Amadeus Basin central Australia. The APPEA Journal 44, 357-384. Korsch RJ and Kennard JM, 1991. Geological and geophysical studies in the Amadeus Basin. Bureau of Mineral Resources, Bulletin 236. Marshall T, 2003. Petroleum systems and source rocks in the Amadeus Basin, Northern Territory. Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia, QLD Branch symposium, 37-43. Marshall T, 2004. A review of the source rocks in the Amadeus Basin. Northern Territory Geological Survey, Record 2004-008. Northern Territory Geological Survey, 1989. Petroleum Basin Study - Western Amadeus Basin. Prepared by G Weste. Northern Territory Government Printer. Northern Territory Geological Survey, 1989. Petroleum Basin Study - Eastern Amadeus Basin. Prepared by G Weste. Northern Territory Government Printer. Northern Territory Geological Survey, 1994. Petroleum Basin Study - Amadeus Basin Update. Prepared by G Weste. Northern Territory Government Printer. Ambrose GJ, 2006. Northern Territory of Australia, onshore hydrocarbon potential, 2006. Northern Territory Geological Survey, Record 2006-003. Munson TJ and Ambrose GJ (editors), 2007. 'Proceedings of the Central Australian Basins Symposium (CABS), Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 16-18 August, 2005.' Northern Territory Geological Survey, Special Publication 2 |
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