A new Curtin University study investigating the complex evolution of two iconic Western Australian landmarks, has traced their transformation over thousands of years and offers a glimpse into their future.
A new Curtin University study investigating the complex evolution of two iconic Western Australian landmarks, has traced their transformation over thousands of years and offers a glimpse into their future.
Researchers from the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences collected sedimentary samples from multiple locations along Perth’s coastline, waterways and even the sea floor to track changes which occurred as the ocean levels rose dozens of metres over thousands of years.
Study lead Dr Andreas Zametzer said the study’s dive teams found particular types of mineral grains offshore, which confirmed the complex geological histories of Rottnest Island (Wadjemup in the Noongar language) and the Swan River (Derbarl Yerrigan).
The distinct group of ancient grains off Rottnest Island was dated as up to 3.6 billion years old.
Read more at Curtin University
Photo Credit: JanLeMann via Pixabay
