Geology of Australia and New Zealand, HWS/UC

2007

8. Great moments in Australian

Geology including formation of ore

deposits

Some important dates…

• 4.4 Ga Oldest mineral grain, zircon from sandstones in SW Australia• 3.8-4.0 Ga, Oldest rocks, Acosta Fm, NW Canada• 3.5-3.8 Ga, Oldest biomarkers (organic compounds with enriched

light isotopes of C), Isua, Greenland• 3.4 Ga, Oldest claimed fossils, Warrawoona Group, W. Australia• 2.7 Ga, Oldest accepted fossils, South Africa• 2.7 Ga, Methylhopanes, metabolic products of cyanobacteria,

Pilbara, W. Australia• 640 Ma, Earliest multicellular fossils, Ediacaran Hills, South

Australia• 580 Ma, Complex animal fossils, Burgess Shale, Canadian Rockies• after ca. 550Ma, Abundant fossils (hard skeletons), widespread• ca. 350Ma, Development of land plants, followed by massive coal

deposition, ca. 320-250 Ma

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