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Photogeological study of cenozoic landform evolution in the Cooktown area, North Queensland, Australia

1992; Wiley; Volume: 17; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1002/esp.3290170409

1096-9837

C. R. Nash,

Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping

Abstract The Great Escarpment of the eastern Cape York Peninsula of far northeast Australia consists of two parallel, offset segments. In the hinterland of Cooktown, these segments are separated by the Mesozoic Laura Basin. To the west of the Basin, the Great Escarpment appears to have evolved on a tiltblock associated with Cenozoic normal faulting along the Palmerville Structure, a major north‐south tectonic feature forming the western margin of the Basin. To the east of the Basin, the Great Escarpment appears to have developed along a north‐northwest axis of upwarping. The existence of this axis is supported by evidence of drainage capture, by the association between the axis and Quaternary volcanism and by fracture patterns in the Mesozoic sandstones along the line of the axis. The eastern segment of the Escarpment appears to be younger than the western. This model supports an earlier hypothesis of escarpment formation in the region as a result of en echelon double lines of uplift.