The general area has previously been explored for oil and has a fairly thick stack of sedimentary rocks to the north, with the pile up to 6km thick. However, in the area of the Connolly feature some igneous and metamorphic rocks are at depths of only 500 to 1000 meters, presumably due to the central uplift associated with these structures. The sediments that rest on the Archaean basement here include carbonates and salt diapirs but the structure has not been drilled, so although highly prospective the Connolly structure remains untested.
The area is generally covered by Tertiary laterite but the structure itself is evident as a subdued outer topographic rim confining a central playa that rises 25-40 metres above the surrounding lateritic plains. The oldest exposed rocks occur within the central playa as a 1 km wide zone of chaotically uplifted Permian sandstone blocks and fragments. Detailed field mapping of the central uplift indicates a system of imbricated faults. |
