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Gawler Craton

The Gawler Craton is an extensive region of Archaean to Mesoproterozoic crystalline basement underlying approximately 440 000km2 of central South Australia.

Age

  • Sedimentation - late Archaean to early Mesoproterozoic
  • Felsic and mafic volcanism - late Archaean to early Mesoproterozoic
  • Felsic and mafic intrusions - late Archaean to early Mesoproterozoic
  • Sleafordian Orogeny - late Archaean
  • Miltalie Event - Palaeoproterozoic
  • Neill Event - Palaeoproterozoic
  • Kimban Orogeny - Palaeoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic
  • Kararan Orogeny - Palaeoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic

Prospective commodities

Copper (Cu), Gold (Au), Nickel (Ni), Silver (Ag), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Uranium (U), Platinum (Pt), Palladium (Pd), Rare Earth Elements (REE), Tin (Sn), Chromium (Cr), iron ore (Fe).

Major exploration models

The following exploration models have the potential to be applied to exploration in the Gawler Craton:

  • Archaean gold
  • Archaean greenstone (Ni–Au)
  • Archaean VHMS (Zn–Cu–Au)
  • Proterozoic intrusive hosted Ni–Cr–PGEs
  • Broken Hill (Pb–Zn–Ag–Au)
  • Mount Isa (Pb–Zn), FeO–Cu–Au (Olympic Dam)
  • Hiltaba Suite-associated Au–Ag–Cu– Pb–Zn–As

Summary Geology

The boundaries of the craton are defined to the northeast, northwest and west by faulted margins and thick Neoproterozoic and Phanerozoic sedimentary basins.

To the east and southeast the Torrens Hinge Zone defines the margin, adjacent to the western limit of the Adelaide Fold Belt. The southern boundary is coincident with the edge of the continental shelf.

Much of the area is covered by thin platformal sediments and regoliths of Neoproterozoic to Cainozoic age.

Three major crust forming and tectonothermal events affected the formation of the Gawler Craton:

  • late Archaean to earliest Proterozoic (Sleafordian Orogeny, 2440 Ma)
  • Paleoproterozoic (Kimban Orogeny, 1850-1700 Ma)
  • Mesoproterozoic (Kararan Orogeny 1670-1540 Ma)

More information on the Geology of the Gawler Craton

New Information

Newly released information and data for the Gawler Craton is available here.

ARC Linkage Grant

An ARC Linkage grant has been awarded for the development of a tectonic framework for the Gawler Craton. Funding commenced in 2004 and is due to conclude in 2008.

More information on the Gawler Craton ARC Linkage Grant

Gawler Craton State of Play Conferences

Two State of Play Conferences have been held (in 2002 and 2004) to increase understanding of the geology of the Craton through seminars, workshops and data releases. Selected presentations are available from each conference.

References

The Gawler Craton Reference List lists some published articles of interest.