THE LAKE FROME EMBAYMENT AREA

Abstract

The Lake Frome Embayment Area occupies a position in the southernmost extension of the Great Artesian Basin. It is bounded on the west by the North Flinders limb of the Adelaide Geosyncline and on the east by the Tibooburra Block. It is limited on the south by the Olary Region and the arbitrary northern limits are taken at the south-eastern extension of the Muloorina Gravity Swell.

The structural configuration of the area is fault controlled, and is believed to be related to block movements in the basement. A complex of evolved troughs is present. Two major troughs are especially evident, the Bancannia Trough in the east and the Lake Frome Gravity Depression in the west.

Remnants of Cambro-Ordovician sediments are preserved on both sides of the Embayment, although outcrop is dominated by rocks of Proterozoic and older age. Devonian sediments are present in the eastern part of the area. Jurassic-Cretaceous sediments related to the Great Artesian Basin sequence are present.