The Hidden Grand Canyon Beneath Perth

Hidden beneath the waters off Western Australia lies the Perth Canyon — a colossal underwater gorge often called Perth’s Grand Canyon. This blog dives deep into the canyon’s stratigraphy, revealing how ancient rivers, tectonic rifting, and submarine landslides carved one of the largest submarine canyons in the Southern Hemisphere. From the Late Cretaceous formation of the Vlaming Sub-basin to the discovery of fossil coral reefs in its depths, the Perth Canyon tells a 70-million-year story written in stone. Explore how sea level changes, continental drift, and powerful submarine currents shaped this underwater landscape into a geological masterpiece — a time capsule of Australia’s dynamic Earth history.

The Geological Mystery of Australia’s Forgotten Volcanoes

Ninety million years ago, Victoria, Australia erupted after more than 200 million years of silence. This blog dives into the story behind the mysterious Older Volcanics Province — the ancient eruptions that transformed southeastern Australia and marked the breakup of Gondwana. Discover how the opening of the Tasman Sea, continental rifting, and decompression melting deep in the Earth’s mantle triggered Victoria’s fiery awakening, and why this long-extinct volcanic province still matters to Australian geology today.

Australia’s Forgotten Monolith: Chambers Pillar

Rising 50 metres from the desert plains of Central Australia, Chambers Pillar is one of the Northern Territory’s most fascinating geological landmarks. This ancient sandstone monolith has survived over 350 million years of erosion, standing as a testament to the power of time and the natural forces that shaped Australia’s red heart. Discover the story behind its formation, its cultural significance to the Arrernte people, and why it remains one of the most extraordinary natural wonders in the Australian outback.

Platinum Nuggets in Australia: Fifield

Hidden in the plains of New South Wales lies one of Australia’s rarest geological treasures — the Fifield platinum field. Over a century ago, prospectors uncovered something almost impossible: real platinum nuggets, heavier than gold, gleaming in ancient riverbeds. This forgotten discovery reveals a story that stretches back 440 million years, from the birth of platinum deep in magma to its journey through erosion, weathering, and rediscovery in the Australian outback.

The Volcanic Eruption That Covered One Third of Australia

Over half a billion years ago, northern and western Australia were engulfed by a cataclysmic volcanic event that reshaped the continent and may have driven one of the first great extinction events in Earth’s history. Known as the Kalkarindji Large Igneous Province, this ancient eruption flooded more than two million square kilometres of land with molten basalt, releasing vast amounts of volcanic gases into the atmosphere. In this article, we explore how the Kalkarindji eruption began, how it spread across Gondwana, and how it changed the planet’s climate and life forever.

Australia's Ancient Himalayan Size Mountain Range: The Petermann Ranges

Hidden deep in Australia’s Red Centre, the Petermann Ranges are among the oldest mountain chains on Earth. Formed over 550 million years ago during the Petermann Orogeny, these rugged ranges tell the story of massive geological forces that once rivaled the Himalayas.

Unlike more familiar mountain belts, the Petermann Ranges are remnants of an intra-continental collision—where central Australia buckled under pressure from opposing landmasses. Today, these low-slung yet striking ranges offer a rare glimpse into Proterozoic tectonics, metamorphic belts, and some of the oldest exposed rocks on the continent.

Geology enthusiasts visiting this region will find ancient gneisses, granulites, and evidence of intense crustal uplift, all surrounded by sweeping desert landscapes.

Cape Hauy: A Geological Wonder in Tasmania

Jutting out into the Tasman Sea like the jagged spine of a prehistoric creature, Cape Hauy (pronounced hoy) is a geological marvel on the Tasman Peninsula. The cape’s signature vertical dolerite columns rise abruptly from the ocean, forming some of the tallest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere. These striking formations are remnants of Jurassic-aged dolerite intrusions that cooled slowly beneath the Earth’s surface and were later exposed by relentless coastal erosion.

Cape Hauy is part of the larger Tasman National Park, which also includes the famed Three Capes Track—a multi-day hike that offers panoramic views of sea stacks like the Candlestick and Totem Pole, two iconic dolerite pillars prized by climbers. This coastline isn’t just visually breathtaking—it also tells a dramatic story of Australia's deep-time volcanic activity and the slow sculpting power of the Southern Ocean.