Explain how the Australian territory developed during different geological eras.

The formation of the mainland Australia takes place about 160 million years ago as a result of the split of the “supercontinent” of Gondwana. The development of the continent in different geological eras was as follows.

Precambrian period: concentration of layers with iron, uranium, manganese, gold-bearing ores.

Paleozoic Era: Formation of the Flinders Ridge.

Permian period: concentration of coal seams in the Bowen and Sydney basins, ore deposits of gold, silver, tin, lead and copper in the eastern part of the mainland.

Mesozoic era: The mountains of Eastern Australia rose.

Jurassic: Creation of pools – Carpentaria, Great Artesian Basin, Murray and Gippsland.

Cretaceous period: flooding of lowlands and parts of the shield by sea basins.

Mesozoic era: formation of aquifers of the Great Artesian Basin.

Cenozoic time: the mainland acquires the main contours; basalts are poured out in Victoria and in the east of Queensland.

Quaternary: Formation of the Great Barrier Reef.

Tertiary: formation of seams of brown coal and bauxite in southeastern Victoria.