The pre-Carboniferous geology of Tasmania

Abstract

Tasmania evolved over 900 Myr as a small fragment on the margin of Gondwana. There are three episodes of passive margin sedimentation from the Mesoproterozoic to the Devonian. Tasmania rifted from the Antarctic margin as part of Rodinia breakup and was then involved in "West-Pacific-Style" tectonics along the eastern margin of Gondwana through the Paleozoic. Arccontinent collision led to ophiolite obduction in the Cambrian. Much of this geological history can be recognised from the excellent coastal exposures along the north coast of Tasmania.