- Title Earth from Space: Flinders Ranges, South Australia
- Released: 31/07/2020
- Copyright ESA – European Space Agency
- DescriptionThis edition of the Earth from Space program features a false-colour image captured by Copernicus Sentinel-2 over the many colourful curves and folds of the Flinders Ranges – the largest mountain range in South Australia. See also Flinders Ranges, South Australia to download the image.
Merinjina Tillite: Stubbs Waterhole
The Merinjina Tillite was formed by glacier transportation of silts, sands, rocks and boulders which came to settle on the sea floor as the glacier melted, 643 -750 million years ago.
Wooltana Volcanics: Arkaroola
Volcanics are not a common sight in the Flinders Ranges but an example of Wooltana Volcanics is visible on the Paralana Hot Springs Road at Arkaroola. The role of volcanic activity in the formation of the Flinders Ranges is outlined in the essay Legacy of Time by the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia.
Brecciated Balcanoona Formation: Arkaroola
Limestones and Dolomites of the Balcanoona formation were fractured by fault activity and infilled with silica rich waters, cementing into this silicified breccia on the Paralana Hot Springs road.
Ochre Wall: Arkaroola
The stunning Ochre Wall on the road to Paralana Hot Springs is the comprised of weathered laminated silts and shales of the Angepena Formation.
Ripple rocks: Arkaroola
Ripple rocks seen throughout the Flinders Ranges are likely to have been formed in sandy shallow waters, rapidly covered in kilometres of sediments which resulted in rock formation through processes of heat and pressure. This example is part of the Blue Mine Conglomerate Formation, around 800 million years old.
Blue Mine Conglomerate Formation: Arkaroola
An outcrop of Blue Mine Conglomerate Formation can be seen at Kingsmill Creek near the Arkaroola Homestead. This conglomerate was formed around 800 million years ago and contains fragments of blue quartz from the 1.59 billion year old Mount Neil Granite Formation seen closer to Paralana Hot Springs. The Blue Mine Conglomerate was likely formed from shoreline or fluvial deposition and is seen at this site as a weathered pavement surrounding a waterhole.
Opaminda Formation: Arkaroola
This Opaminda Formation near the Arkaroola Village was deposited in shallow waters around 800 million years ago. This lightly metamorphosed outcrop exposes ripple marked sandstone, laminated and a green talcose siltstone (pictured).
Xanthorrhoea on top of the Pinnacles
Xanthorrhoea covering the top of one of the striking Pinnacle outcrops of Arkaroola’s Mawson Valley.
Tillite: Illawortina Creek
Dark glacial tillite formation in Illawortina Creek along the Four Mile Track between Idninha and Arkaroola. The glacial geology of this area is outlined in The Legacy of Time: The Formation of the Flinders Ranges.
