North Australian Craton

The Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic rocks of Queensland are considered to be part of the North Australian Craton. Together, the North Australian Craton, West Australian Craton and South Australian Craton underlie the western two-thirds of the Australian continent and are sutured by orogenic belts of largely Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic age (Paterson, Musgrave and Albany-Fraser orogens). They are bounded on the east by the Phanerozoic Tasmanides, which form the other third of the continent. The cratons have Archean and/or early Paleoproterozoic cores on which are superimposed later Paleoproterozoic orogenic belts and basins; these, along with younger Proterozoic and Phanerozoic successions, conceal relationships between the older blocks.