Wiso Basin

Lithology:

Sedimentary: dolostone, limestone, shale, sandstone, siltstone.

Epoch Min:

Devonian.

Epoch Max:

Cambrian.

Age Min:

360 Ma.

Age Max:

540 Ma.

Summary:

An intracratonic basin initiated as part of the Centralian Superbasin. The basin deepens toward the south (Lander Trough) along the margin with the Aileron Province.

Relationship:

Faulted against Palaeo-Neoproterozoic metamorphic rocks of the Aileron Province to the south. Unconformably overlies Palaeoproterozoic rocks of the Tanami Region to the west, Tennant Region to the east, and the Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic Birrindudu Basin to the northwest. Cretaceous rocks of the Carpentaria Basin cover its northern margin.

Thickness:

Up to 3 km in the Lander Trough, generally less than 300m elsewhere.

Economic:

Rare oil shows in stratigraphic holes.  Gas shows in waterbores.

Metamorphism:

Unmetamorphosed.

Main Reference:

Kruse PD and Munson TJ, 2013. Chapter 32: Wiso Basin: in Ahmad M and Munson TJ (compilers) ‘Geology and Mineral Resources of the Northern Territory’. Northern Territory Geological Survey, Special Publication 5