Timeframe: ~2,800–1,800 Ma, Neoarchean to Palaeoproterozoic
Geological story
Oxygen accumulates in the atmosphere and oceans due to action of bacteria, oceans rust, banded iron formations deposited, stromatolite “reefs”. Cratons start to assemble in supercontinent of Nuna. 1st widespread glaciations (Huronina) recognised.
Rocks to show: how life re-made the earth – examples of Banded Iron Formations, stromatolitic rocks, glacial rocks.
Events
- 2,720 Ma Tumbiana Formation – stromatolite block
- 2,700 Ma Golden Mile dolerite Kalgoorlie
- 2,690 Ma Kambalda Nickel
- 2,610 Ma Greenbushes Lithium
- 2,500 2,400 Ma major phase of banded iron deposition in Pilbara
- 2,400–2,050 Ma Great Oxygenation Event
- 2,290–2,250 Huronian glaciation – Meteorite Bore Mb., Turee Creek Group – diamictites
- 2,000 Ma Assembly of West Australian Craton (Johnson, 2013)
Rocks included in this theme
- Tumbiana Formation stromatolites, WA
- Brockman BIF (block 2), WA
- Boogardie orbicular granite, Yilgarn, WA
- Namban Granite, Yilgarn, WA
- Greenbushes Pegmatite, Yilgarn, WA
- Kalgoorlie Au ore, Yligarn, WA
- Kambalda Komatiite Ni ore, Yilgarn, WA
- Kukalak Gneiss, North Australia Craton, 2,510–2,527 Ma
