Timing the breakup of a Proterozoic supercontinent: Evidence from Australian intracratonic basins

Research Article| November 01, 1987 Timing the breakup of a Proterozoic supercontinent: Evidence from Australian intracratonic basins John F. Lindsay; John F. Lindsay 1Division of Continental Geology, Bureau of Mineral Resources, P.O. Box 378, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. J. Korsch; R. J. Korsch 1Division of Continental Geology, Bureau of Mineral Resources, P.O. Box 378, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John R. Wilford John R. Wilford 1Division of Continental Geology, Bureau of Mineral Resources, P.O. Box 378, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1987) 15 (11): 1061–1064. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1987)15<1061:TTBOAP>2.0.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation John F. Lindsay, R. J. Korsch, John R. Wilford; Timing the breakup of a Proterozoic supercontinent: Evidence from Australian intracratonic basins. Geology 1987;; 15 (11): 1061–1064. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1987)15<1061:TTBOAP>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract In the Late Proterozoic, several broad, shallow, intracratonic depressions appeared across a vast area of central Australia. The basins, which all contain shallow marine to fluvial successions, appear to have been tenuously interconnected through much of their history. Analysis of their fill by means of tectonic-subsidence curves suggests that they are the product of two separate and distinct periods of crustal extension, one at about 900 Ma and a second at about 600 Ma. These extensional episodes were probably the result of failed rifting events that almost fragmented the Australian continent during the Late Proterozoic. The second period of extension almost certainly relates to the breakup of a Proterozoic supercontinent. The results suggest that sediments preserved in the relatively protected environment of interior basins may provide a more subtle record of major tectonic events than continental margin sequences that were exposed to major continental interactions. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.