Amadeus Basin

Lithology:

Sedimentary: dolostone, limestone, shale, sandstone, siltstone, quartzite, evaporite, diamictite, conglomerate.

Epoch Min:

Carboniferous.

Epoch Max:

Neoproterozoic.

Age Min:

350 Ma.

Age Max:

850 Ma.

Summary:

A large intracratonic sedimentary basin that was initiated as part of the Centralian Superbasin and was substantially affected by intraplate tectonics.

Relationship:

Overlies Palaeoproterozoic Warumpi and Palaeo-Neoproterozoic Aileron provinces to the north and Mesoproterozoic Musgrave Province to the south. Overlain by Mesozoic Eromanga and Phanerozoic Pedirka basins to the southeast.

Thickness:

Up to 14 km.

Economic:

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 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 prospects are also present.

Metamorphism:

Generally unmetamorphosed; minor highly deformed rocks interleaved with basement in the northeast, greenschist to amphibolite facies rocks in the southwest

Main Reference:

Edgoose CJ, 2013. Chapter 23: Amadeus Basin: in Ahmad M and Munson TJ (compilers) ‘Geology and Mineral Resources of the Northern Territory’. Northern Territory Geological Survey, Special Publication 5