Oscar Range
The Devonian Reefs of the Oscar Range surround the range's quartzite core.
Highest point
Peakunnamed
Elevation325 m (1,066 ft)
Naming
Native nameMowambini
Geography
Oscar Range is located in Western Australia
Oscar Range
CountryAustralia
StateWestern Australia
RegionCanning Basin
Range coordinates17°49′S 125°9′E / 17.817°S 125.150°E / -17.817; 125.150
Geology
Age of rockProterozoic core / Devonian hills

The Oscar Range is a small, low mountain range in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.[1] It is approximately 40 km long and 6–8 km wide. The range sits on the edge of the Lennard Shelf.

It consists of precambrian metamorphic quartzites and shales folded to produce a trellis type drainage system. Lower hills surrounding the range are made up of carbonates.[2]

The range is known for the fossil reefs that surround its peaks. These Devonian reefs are exceptionally well preserved.[3][4]

In Devonian times, the peaks of the Oscar Range were emergent as islands.[2] The grouping of islands has been referred to as the Mowambini Archipelago, based on the Aboriginal name for the Oscar Range. The islands were surrounded by stromatoporoid reefs, which have now been exposed by erosion.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Map of Oscar Range in Western Australia". bonzle.com. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 Johnson, Markes E.; Webb, Gregory E. (2007). "Outer Rocky Shores of the Mowanbini Archipelago, Devonian Reef Complex, Canning Basin, Western Australia". The Journal of Geology. Williams College. 115 (5): 583–600. Bibcode:2007JG....115..583J. doi:10.1086/519779. S2CID 129190899. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Hurley, Neil Francis; University of Western Australia. Dept. of Geology. Thesis (1986), Geology of the Oscar Range Devonian Reef complex, Canning Basin, Western Australia, retrieved 7 May 2017
  4. ↑ Smith, D. N; Playford, Phillip E. (Phillip Elliott); Williams, F. B; West Australian Petroleum Pty. Ltd (1957), The Oscar Range reef complex, Fitzroy basin, Western Australia, Western Australian Petroleum Pty Ltd, retrieved 7 May 2017
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