Pilbara Craton | |
---|---|
Stratigraphic range: | |
![]() Satellite view in 2013 of Pilbara Craton | |
Type | Geological formation |
Area | Estimated 250,000 km2 (97,000 sq mi),[1] Pilbara IRBA v7 region 178,231.26 km2 (68,815.47 sq mi)[2] |
Thickness | up to 20 km (12 mi) |
Lithology | |
Primary | Granite |
Other | Greenstone |
Location | |
Region | Western Australia |
Country | Australia |
Type section | |
Named for | Pilbara |
Named by | See Pilbara#Etymology |
![]() Map of Australia with the Pilbara region highlighted in red. |
The Pilbara Craton is an old and stable part of the continental lithosphere located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The Pilbara Craton is one of only two pristine Archaean 3.8–2.7 Ga (billion years ago) crusts identified on the Earth, along with the Kaapvaal Craton in South Africa. The youngest rocks are 1.7 Ga old in the historic area assigned to the Craton.[1] Both locations may have once been part of the Vaalbara supercontinent or the continent of Ur.
There are two subregional geographical classification regimes used, being:
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search