Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources
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Minerals and Energy - Northern Territory Geological Survey
News and Features
Geology of the Northern Territory
Bonaparte Basin
Bonaparte Basin
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Lithology:
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Sedimentary: limestone, sandstone, siltstone, basalt, coal, glacial coarse clastic sediments.
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Epoch Min:
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Cenozoic.
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Epoch Max:
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Cambrian.
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Age Min:
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65 Ma.
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Age Max:
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500 Ma.
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Summary:
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A composite basin that outcrops near the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf and extends offshore, where it underlies the waters of the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf and Timor Sea. Includes the Late Devonian Petrel Sub-Basin and Vulcan Sub-Basin.
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Relationship:
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Overlies Palaeoproterozoic metasedimentary and igneous rocks of the Pine Creek Orogen and Proterozoic sediments of the Fitzmaurice Basin.
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Thickness:
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At least 5 km on shore deepening to 17 km off shore.
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Economic:
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Seven petroleum wells have been drilled within the basin. Contains small gas and oil accumulations. MVT style Pb-Zn-Ag occurrences are known on shore and there are minor coal interbeds.
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Exploration:
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Onshore exploration for MVT-style base metals and hydrothermal hematite iron ore. Significant offshore exploration for oil and gas.
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Metamorphism:
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Unmetamorphosed.
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Main Reference:
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Dunster JN, Beier PR, Burgess JM and Cutovinos A, 2000. Auvergne, Northern Territory (Second Edition). 1:250 000 geological map series explanatory notes, SD 52-15. Northern Territory Geological Survey, Darwin. Ellis GK, Baillie PW and Munson TJ (Editors), 2004. 'Timor Sea Petroleum Geoscience. Proceedings of the Timor Sea Symposium, Darwin, Northern Territory, 19-20 June, 2003'. Northern Territory Geological Survey, Special Publication 1 (CD-ROM). Northern Territory Geological Survey 1990. Petroleum Basin Study - Bonaparte Basin. Prepared by the Petroconsultants Australasia Pty Ltd. Northern Territory Government Printer. |
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