2 New Massive Volcanoes Just Discovered in Australia

In a stunning geological discovery, two ancient calderas have been identified in the Bara Range of central New South Wales, rewriting the volcanic history of eastern Australia. These volcanic craters—formed by cataclysmic eruptions over 300 million years ago—are among the oldest preserved calderas on the continent.

Previously thought to be a region of modest tectonic activity, the Bara Range now reveals a far more explosive past. The new findings suggest a late Paleozoic volcanic arc, with pyroclastic flows, rhyolitic domes, and collapse structures hidden beneath weathered sandstone plateaus and vegetation.

These calderas not only provide a window into ancient continental volcanism, but may also hold clues to hidden mineral systems, including potential epithermal gold and rare earth element deposits. A game-changer for Australian geological mapping.