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Gosses bluff — diapir, crypto‐volcanic

structure or astrobleme?
a b
K. A. W. Crook & P. J. Cook
a
Dept of Geology , Australian National University , Canberra, A.C.T.
b
Bureau of Mineral Resources , Geology & Geophysics , Canberra,
A.C.T.
Published online: 01 Aug 2007.

To cite this article: K. A. W. Crook & P. J. Cook (1966) Gosses bluff — diapir, crypto‐volcanic structure
or astrobleme? , Journal of the Geological Society of Australia: An International Geoscience Journal of
the Geological Society of Australia, 13:2, 495-516, DOI: 10.1080/00167616608728628

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00167616608728628

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 GOSSES BLUFF — DIAPIR, CRYPTO-VOLCANIC STRUCTURE
OR ASTROBLEME?*
By K. A. W. CROOK & P. J. COOK
(Wrra 4 PLATES, 2 TABLES AND 9 TEXT-FIGURES)
(Received 27 July 1966; read at Canberra, 6 September 1966)
Downloaded by [University of Connecticut] at 16:21 08 October 2014

ABSTRACT
Gosses Bluff, west of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, comprises a roughly
circular rim of steeply dipping sandstone, locally overturned with downward
facing folds, surrounding a topographically lower core of steeply dipping
faulted sandstone, shale, and limestone. Abundant shattercones occur both in
outcrop and to depths of 1,000 m. The structure lies on an' anticlinal trend-
Structural, gravity, seismic and drill hole data indicate that the structure con-
tinues to some depth. Shattercones also occur outside the rim of Gosses Bluff.
At a nearby prominence, Mt Pyroclast, they occur with peculiar breccias and
devitrified glassy rocks, some of which may be of volcanic or impact fusion
origin.
Gosses Bluff has previously been regarded as a diapir caused by salt
intrusion. The evidence now available suggests that it is a crypto-explosion
structure, resulting either from deep-seated explosive volcanic activity, or from
meteorite impact, probably at some time during the Mesozoic Era.

INTRODUCTION
Gosses Bluff, a circular elevated area rising from the Missionary Plain some
225 km. southwest of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, was discovered by
Edmund Gosse in 1873. Until the surrounding area was mapped by the Bureau
of Mineral Resources in 1956 the precise nature of this topographic feature
remained an enigma. Since 1956, however, the Bluff has generally been re-
garded as a diapir.
During a recent visit to the Bluff, the authors made certain observations that
suggest that the Bluff may be some type of crypto-explosion structure. Subse-
quent discussions with Dr R. O. Brunnschweiler, who had carried out detailed
geological mapping of the Bluff during 1959 (Brunnschweiler, 1959), provided
further evidence in support of this view. We have therefore brought together
in this paper all available data that bear on the origin of the Gosses Bluff struc-
ture. We wish to express our thanks to Conzinc Riotinto Pty Ltd, Frome-Broken
Hill Company Pty Ltd, Magellan Petroleum (N.T.) Pty Ltd, and the Director,
Bureau of Mineral Resources, for giving us access to unpublished reports, and
for permitting us to publish data contained in certain of them, as indicated below.
We are also indebted to Dr R. O. Brunnschweiler for his interest in our hypo-
theses and for very kindly permitting us to incorporate in this paper his
hitherto unpublished map, which we have modified slightly by the addition of
* Published with the permission of the Director, Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology
and Geophysics, Canberra, A.C.T.

J.geol.Soc.Aust., 1JK2): pp. 495-516, pis 11-14, 1966.

 496 K. A. W. CROOK AND P. J. COOK
faults in the rim of the Bluff, plotted from aerial photographs. Dr D. A.
McNaughton kindly provided specimens additional to those that we had col-
lected. Drafting was carried out by Miss J. Shepherd. Mr L. Seeuwen and Mr
C. Zawartko photographed the material figured. To each we are indebted.
REGIONAL GEOLOGY
Structure
Gosses Bluff is situated near the northern margin of the Amadeus Basin.
It lies in the middle of the Missionary Plains Synclinorium which has a west-
northwest-trending axis. To the north there is major recumbent folding (with
overfolding to the south), involving both Amadeus Basin sediments and
Archaean basement of the Arunta Complex (Forman, Milligan & McCarthy,
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LOCATION OF GOSSES BLUFF AND GENERALIZED REGIONAL GEOLOGY AND STRUCTURE

Gtolooiemt

1 — Anticline
I MIDOLE- UPPER PALAEOZOIC
J SyncHna
I (Pwtnjn formation and M m n S M U H )
^ — Fault

-* Wal-reoun*

" • ' ***** Road; Railway

AWLAIDEAN t JADEIA1DCAN J-.- Sub-«urf»e« Antkrbw
<hrtatttiHa. Anyonga M l Bittar Spring*
—'£—• Sub-suriac* SyncSn*

»«...... Sub-«uH»c« Fault

Fig. 1. Location of Gosses Bluff and generalized regional geologw and structure (after
mapping by Prichard, Quinlan, Wells, Forman, Ranford, Cook, Stewart and Milligan,
of the Bureau of Mineral Resources).
 ORIGIN OF GOSSES BLUFF, N.T. 497
1966). To the south lies the Gardiner Fault, a south-dipping, high-angle reverse
fault, having a vertical displacement of about 4,500 m.
Other structural features of note in the area include the Waterhouse Range
Anticline, a large closed structure situated about 110 km. eastsoutheast of
Gosses Bluff and the Goyder Pass diapir which is about 25 km. to the north-
northeast.
Two major orogenies affected the Amadeus Basin sediments. The first, the
Petermann Ranges Orogeny (Forman, 1966), occurred near the close of the
Proterozoic or in the Early Cambrian; it produced predominantly northwest-
trending folds, most strongly developed in the southern half of the basin but
probably with minor folding in the north. The second major orogeny, the Alice
Springs Orogeny (Forman et al., 1966), is of Late Devonian age. It affected
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most strongly the northern half of the basin and produced folding parallel or
sub-parallel to the trends of the earlier orogeny. The structural features visible
in Figure 1 were produced predominantly by the Alice Springs Orogeny.
Stratigraphic Sequence
Aeromagnetic work (Young & Shelley, 1966) and also the geology of areas
to the north (Macdonnell Ranges) and the south (Gardiner Range) (Ranford,
Cook & Wells, 1966) suggests that there are over 10,000 m. of sediments in the
Gosses Bluff area, made up as follows:
Age Formation Thickness
(m.)
Quaternary Conglomerates, sandstones* and siltstones 150
Tertiary
?Mesozoic
JCarboniferous—Devonian PERTNJARA FORMATION*—conglom-
erates, poorly sorted sandstones, some
siltstones 3,000-4,500
Devonian—Late Ordovician MEREENIE SANDSTONE*—clean, cross-
bedded sandstones at the top with some
red-brown sandstones at the base 300-600
Late Ordovician—Late LARAPINTA GROUP*—consists of (in
Cambrian descending order) — Stokes Formation,*
Stairway Sandstone,* Horn Valley Siltstone
and Pacoota Sandstone 1,500
Cambrian PERTAOORRTA GROUP — numerous
formations—mainly sandstones and silt-
stone with minor limestones and dolomites
and possibly thin salt interbeds near the base 1,500
PERTATATAKA FORMATION — silt-
stones with minor dolomites and limestones 600
AREYONGA FORMATION—tillitic sedi-
ments 300
Adelaidean BITTER SPRINGS FORMATION —
carbonates, siltstone and salt, some volcanics
in places 600 +
HEAVITREE QUARTZITE—sandstones
with minor siltstones 300
Archaean ARUNTA COMPLEX — Schist, gneiss,
granite, etc.
* Asterisk indicates that the formation is exposed at Gosses Bluff. All other formations are
probably present subsurface.
 498 K. A. W. CROOK AND P. J. COOK

REGIONAL DEPTH TO MAGNETIC BASEMENT

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REGIONAL BOUGUER ANOMALIES

( Manual - t,V» I M ( 1

V..

Fig. 2. Region maps of depth to magnetic basement and Bouguer anomalies (from Young
& Shelley, 1966, and Lonsdale & Flavelle, 1963).
 ORIGIN OF GOSSES BLUFF, N.T. 499
REGIONAL GEOPHYSICS
Seismic: A recent seismic survey carried out in the Gosses Bluff area (Geo-
physical Associates, 1965) has revealed a fairly complicated subsurface fold
pattern. In particular, it has shown that Gosses Bluff lies on the axis of an
approximately northeast-trending anticline that extends from the Gardiner
Range to the Macdonnell Ranges almost at right angles to other structural
trends.
Gravity: Gosses Bluff is situated within the basinal feature known as the
Amadeus Gravity Depression (Lonsdale & Flavelle, 1963), which has a fairly
gentle southern gradient but a steep northern gradient. It is also positioned in
an embayment of a negative Bouguer anomaly (see Fig. 2) superimposed on
the main gravity depression.
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Aeromagnetic: Young & Shelley (1966) have shown from aeromagnetic

studies (Fig. 2) that Gosses Bluff is situated a little to the south of the axis
of the Missionary Plains Synclinorium in an area where the total stratigraphic
thickness is about 10,000 m. There is no aeromagnetic anomaly associated with
Gosses Bluff itself.
Radiometric: A regional radiometric survey by Young & Shelley (1966)
suggests that there is no radiometric anomaly associated with Gosses Bluff.

PHYSIOGRAPHY AND AGE

Gosses Bluff forms a prominent physiographic feature (Plate 11, Fig. 1). It
comprises a rim of steeply dipping sandstone rising to about 180 m. above the
surface of the plain, bounded both inside and outside by steep cliffs (Fig. 3).
The centre of the Bluff is only slightly above the level of the surrounding Mis-
sionary Plain and is of low relief. It is drained by a stream which has breached
the rim of the Bluff on its northeastern side. The small streams that dissect the
rim of the Bluff are mature in their headwaters and deeply incised down-
stream. This feature reflects the preservation of an ancient erosion surface on
the crest of the Bluff's rim. This surface is planate in character, and is at an
elevation of about 900 m. (2,950 ft) a.s.l. on the eastern and northern parts
of the rim, and 870 m. (2,850 ft) a.s.l. on the western part of the rim (Plate 11,
Fig. 2).
According to J. A. Mabbutt (pers. comm.) this erosion surface is part of a
widespread landsurface that is well represented in the western Macdonnell
Range as a summit surface. Valleys cut into this landsurface about 50 km. south
of Gosses Bluff contain alluvial and colluvial deposits that have been lateritized.
The age of the surface is thus no later than early Tertiary, and it may well be
Mesozoic (Mabbutt, 1965). Since the landsurface planes off the strata forming
the rim of the Bluff, the Gosses Bluff structure must be significantly older than
the landsurface, and is probably of Mesozoic age.

DETAILED STRUCTURE OF GOSSES BLUFF

As might be expected from the physiography of Gosses Bluff, the core of
the structure consists, in general, of steeply dipping and highly faulted shale,
 500 K. A. W. CROOK AND P. J. COOK
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Contour interval 100 f#»t (e«. 30 5m*tr«*)

For reduction to maan Ma level aH contour*
Scale in Miles arc wbiect to a correction of • 202Gteet /\(*Um>

Fig. 3. Elevation contour map of Gosses Bluff (from Richards, 1958).

sandstone and limestone (Stokes Formation and Stairway Sandstone—Fig. 4).

The upstanding rim of the Bluff comprises sandstones of the Mereenie and
Pertnjara Formations, which are also steeply dipping. Except on the southern
 ORIGIN OF GOSSES BLUFF, N.T. 501

c^
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LEGEND

FauH»
Ou»twniry j | ALLUVIUM

— Formation

Formation
boundary

boundary
accurate

approximate DMonuw-TCarbonilMiM |:-"' j PERTNJARA FORMATION

Antidin*
? SHurUn - Dnonian \fi~.A MEREENIE SANDSTONE
Synclln*

4 GOSMS Bluff Not Wen

STOKES FORMATION
Strik* with dip >70* Onknrician j

"to Strika with dip < 70* STAIRWAY SANDSTONE

SCALE

3 0 K)O0 JOOO 3000 4000

feet
1000 V WOO

Fig. 4. Geological map of Gosses Bluff (from Brunnschweiler, 1959, slightly modified).
 502 K. A. W. CROOK AND P. J. COOK
part of the rim, the strike of the sandstones forming the rim swings continually
as the rim is traversed. It is this strike swing that produces the characteristic
"ring-structure" effect visible on aerial photographs (Plate 11, Fig. 1). In the
southern part of the rim the strike is locally at right angles to the topographic
trends, and there is considerable structural complexity. Brunnschweiler (1959)
provides cross-sections showing that the rim between about ESE and SW of the
centre is complicated by the presence of a major recumbent fold, having an
axial plane everywhere inclined towards the centre of the ring structure. Second
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NW 5E

ecu
7
s** «oi
«P

- — '

vtnrtcai ANO VKW2ONTAL

SCALE
b

PALAEOZOIC

PiP Pertnjara Formation AKLAIDEAN

Pirn Mer«eni« Sandston* Cp Periatataka Formation

COI Larapinta Croup S . Areyonga Formation

\ ''•'•! Stokes Formation Bitter Springs Formation

MM Stairway Sandstont — Seismic reflectors

•Cp Pertaoorrta Group

Fig. 5. NW-SE cross section through Gosses Bluff (no vertical exaggeration). Based on
superficial section from Brunnschweiler (1959), extended to depth using data from
Moss (1964) and Geophysical Associates (1965).

order folds develop at several points on its lower limb. These second order
folds (Fig. 5), by virtue of their position, form downward-facing antiformal
and synformai structures.
Steeply dipping strata are not confined to the core and rim of the Bluff.
The aerial photographs indicate that strata for about three kilometres north of
the Bluff dip steeply and strike roughly parallel to the northernmost strata in
 ORIGIN OF GOSSES BLUFF, N.T. 503
the Bluff itself, that is, approximately east-west. About 2-5 km. south of the
Bluff, at Mt Pyroclast (see Fig. 1), outcrops of the Pertnjara Formation have
been observed by the authors to dip sub-vertically and strike approximately
northwards, directly towards the Bluff. The existence in this area of a radial
pattern, rather than the tangential pattern seen to the north of the Bluff, may
be related to the presence of anomalous and similarly oriented strike directions
in the southern part of the Bluff.
Some idea of the subsurface structure of Gosses Bluff can be obtained by
integrating surface data (Brunnschweiler, 1959), seismic information obtained
by the Bureau of Mineral Resources (Moss, 1964) and Magellan Petroleum
(Geophysical Associates, 1965), and the data obtained from Gosses Bluff No. 1
Well (Pemberton & Planalp, 1965). Figure 5 is an interpretation based on these
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sources.
Data from the cores taken from Gosses Bluff No. 1 Well indicate that most
dips lie within the range 60°-90°. Only one value (45° at a depth of 356 m.)
was outside this range. The hole shows considerable deviation from vertical
(>7*4°). Pemberton & Planalp (1965) suggest that some of the strata may be
overturned. The Stokes Formation was drilled to a depth of 316 m., and 1,068
m. of Stairway Sandstone were penetrated to the base of the hole. In Figure 5
the attitude of strata near the surface has been derived largely from outcrop
information, and has been extended to depth only where information is available
from cores. The stratigraphy of the near-surface area beneath the centre of the
Bluff is similarly derived. The extension of faults to depth is diagrammatic. The
stratigraphic sequence outside the rim of the Bluff is reconstructed using seismic
reflections of the top of the Bitter Springs Limestone as the datum, with the
thickness of units being those quoted in the section 'Regional Geology' above.

DETAILED GEOPHYSICAL DATA

Apart from the information it provides about the subsurface structure within
Gosses Bluff, the seismic traverse across the Bluff (Fig. 6) provides some evi-
dence for the existence of a rim syncline, particularly on the south side of the Bluff
in the vicinity of Station 44. There is a marked discontinuity in the reflections

rf A.S-I. DATUM 4 s
>

* Ktttr Spring* Fin.

ft* mt Bitfw Spring! Fin.

Seal* in Kilom.tr..
2 0 4 GENERALIZED SEISMIC CROSS - SECTION ACROSS
MISSIONARY PLAIN THROUGH GOSSES BLUFF
Seal* in Mil«

Fig. 6. Seismic cross-section through Gosses Bluff (from Moss, 1964).

 en
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>
>; -10-
3
O
o

o
Scalt in Kilometre*
o
Scale In Mi 1M
8
Fig. 7. W-E magnetic profile across Gosses Bluff (from Richards, 1958).
 .23*45' 132 IS'
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Bouguer Anomaly Contours

based on information from
Cons. Zinc Pty. Gravity
Survey, 1958. (values in rH
milligals)
Geographical boundaries of O
Gosses Bluff
z
Tectonic structure
by Gravity Low.
as indicated
- 9
o
**d
O
O
t/3
M

s
23*50'-
-23*50'

0 1 2
SCALE IN KILOMETRES

0 I
8
•I. *
SCALE IN MILES
132 15'
132*50'
Fig. 8. Bouguer anomaly contours in the vicinity of Gosses Bluff (from G. Neumann, pers.
comm., based on data in Richards (1958)), no terrain correction applied.
 506 K. A. W. CROOK AND P. J. COOK
in the vicinity of Mt Pyroclast, together with some suggestion of the presence
there of an anticlinal feature.
The limited magnetic data available (Fig. 7) show a small positive anomaly
located on the eastern side of the Bluff, superimposed on a strong negative
anomaly, of uncertain origin.
The Bouguer anomaly map prepared by Dr G. Neumann (pers. comm.)
(Fig. 8) strikingly reflects the structure of the Bluff. The core of the Bluff is
marked by a positive anomaly and the rim by a slightly northward-offset annular
negative anomaly. A further positive anomaly forms an arcuate trend from
northeast to west around the outside of the Bluff rim. All these anomalies are
superimposed on a general negative gradient from southeast to northwest.
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MESOSCOPIC STRUCTURES AND PETROLOGY

Gosses Bluff:
The strata exposed in the core of the Bluff carry abundant shatter-cones
(Plate 12), both entire cones and half cones (Bucher, 1963) being present.
Shatter-cones also occur in cores from Gosses Bluff No. 1 Well (Plate 13, Fig. 1)
at several levels down to at least 952 m. (3,124 ft) below the surface datum.
The strata in this well down to the total depth of 1,380 m. (4,520 ft) have been
affected by shearing. Shatter-cones also occur in the strata forming the rim of
the Bluff, and are found at several points outside the rim, as for example at Mt
Pyroclast (Plate 13, Fig. 2). Apparently the limits of the Gosses Bluff disturb-
ance are rather larger than the topographic expression of the structure would
indicate.
The orientation of the shatter-cones both within the Bluff and at Mt Pyro-
clast has not been determined, but our impression is that a variety of attitudes
are present.

16 grains
95 planar features

10' 2Cf 30- 4Cf 50" 60' 70" stf

z - axis , X planar features

Fig. 9. Orientation of planar features in quartz grains in a sandstone from the centre of
Gosses Bluff. The angle plotted is that between the z crystallographic axis and
rt>« nole to each planar feature.
 ORIGIN OF GOSSES BLUFF, N.T. 507
Petrographic investigation of specimens from within Gosses Bluff and from
Mt Pyroclast has yielded interesting data. A quartz sandstone from within the
Bluff was found to be extensively deformed, although without obliteration of
the original sedimentary fabric. The quartz grains exhibit prominent planar
internal features, some of which are cleavages, whereas others appear to be
deformation lamellae (Plate 14, Fig. 1). The orientation of 95 such features,
from 16 grains, is plotted with respect to the z crystallographic axes on Figure 9.
Probable deformation lamellae parallel to {0001} are present in all grains, and
have been observed in several other grains which have not been measured. In
two measured grains, {0001} cleavage was also present. There is also some
suggestion that planar features parallel to w (zAla> = 22°56'56") are present.
The major peak in the vicinity of 40° on Figure 9 does not appear to be related
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to any direction recorded for cleavage or deformation lamellae in quartz.

A search for coesite in this rock, using the method of Chao, Fahey & Little
(1961), was unsuccessful.
Richards (1958) commented on the difference in density between rocks
from within the rim of Gosses Bluff and those collected 27 km. away at Arumbera
Creek (Table I). The difference was sufficient to warrant calculation of a
different elevation correction factor for application to that part of the gravity
survey carried out within the Bluff.
The noticeably high density of the sedimentary rocks forming the core of
Gosses Bluff is supported by determinations on subsurface material from the
Gosses Bluff well (Table II). Their average density is 2-53 compared with
2-39 for the material from Arumbera Creek.
TABLE I.
Density of Amadeus Basin Sediments.
(From Richards, 1958) . ,. •
(Determinations by Bureau of Mineral Resources)

Rock Type Formation Locality Dry Bulk

Limestone Stokes Fm. Gosses Bluff 2-70
Red porous sandstone Stokes Fm. Gosses Bluff 2-45
White porous sandstone Stokes Fm. Gosses Bluff 2-45
Quartzite Heavitree Quartzite Arumbera Ck 2-61
Sandstone Arumbera Sst. Arumbera Ck 2-38 .
Sandstone Pertaoorta Group Arumbera Ck 2-31
Sandstone Pacoota Sst. Arumbera Ck 2-45
Sandstone Horn Valley Siltst. Arumbera Ck 2-52
Sandstone Mereenie Sst. Arumbera Ck 2-18
Sandstone Pertnjara Fm. Arumbera Ck ,2-30

Mount Pyroclast:
This group of small hills about 2-5 km. south of Gosses Bluff is the site of
an unusual suite of rocks. In addition to a few specimens collected by the
authors, we have examined slides of specimens collected by Dr D. A. McNaugh-
ton, and descriptions by Both and Fander (in Brunnschweiler, 1959).
In addition to normal sedimentary rocks — principally quartz sandstone and
arkoses — three abnormal types of rock occur at Mt Pyroclast. The field rela-
tionships of these three types and their relationships to the sediments remain to
 508 K. A. W. CROOK AND P. J. COOK
TABLE II.
Density of Sediments from Gosses Bluff No. 1 Well.
(Data supplied by P. Duff, pers. comm.)

Depth Virgin bulk density

Dry bulk assuming pore space
Lithology density filled with brine of
ft m. 1-01 S.G.
Shale 616 188 2-56 2-70
Sandstone and Siltstone 1019 311 2-65 2-72
Sandstone 1224 373 2-47 2-55
Sandstone 2068 630 2-46 2-55
Shale and Sandstone 2537 773 2-50 2-62
Sandstone 3128 953 2-47 2-55
Shale 4520 1377 2-60 2-69
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be determined, except that the breccia has been observed to occur as bodies
cutting across the strike of the sandstones in a manner that suggests the possi-
bility that the breccia was intruded. There is need for a definitive survey and
collection of samples from Mt Pyroclast. The three abnormal rock types in
question are interpreted as (A) breccia with a sedimentary matrix; (B) breccia
with a devitrified matrix; and (C) devitrified glass.
Breccia (A) is pink with a variety of lithologies occurring as phenoclasts
up to 30 mm. in diameter. The phenoclasts consist predominantly of pink-and-
white-speckled sandstone, some of which is laminated and some massive, con-
taining red siltstone clasts 5 mm. in diameter. Most of the other phenoclasts
consist of sandstone and are variously coloured — pale pink, pink and pale
green, white and pale grey. Phenoclasts of the pale grey sandstone occur as
irregular schlieren rather than as discreet angular fragments. All of the sand-
stones are either quartzose sandstone or arkose. Rarely the quartz sand grains
within the sandstone phenoclasts show marginal brecciation (Plate 14, Fig. 2).
The remainder of the phenoclasts are red siltstone identical with that occurring
as clasts within the pink sandstone; and poorly defined clasts that are seen in
thin section to comprise a vesicular network of felted phyllosilicate (Plate 14,
Fig. 3), some with a quartz mosaic infilling. Where visible, the outlines of these
fragments are highly angular and show no sign of abrasion (Plate 14, Fig. 4).
They are interpreted as devitrified vesicular glass fragments. The matrix of the
breccia comprises poorly sorted, sandy, coarse silt rich in quartz, which shows
variable roundness. Appreciable fine-grained, red iron oxide is disseminated
through the matrix and occurs as coatings to many grains. In addition to quartz,
the sand fraction comprises fragments of arkose and quartz sandstone, argillite,
chert and muscovite.
Breccia (B) comprises sub-rounded phenoclasts up to 30 mm. in diameter,
some of which are arcuate in cross-section, set in a matrix that exhibits a definite
lamination on a freshly cut face in hand specimen (Plate 14, Fig. 5). The
lamination is irregular and contorted, tending to be tangential to the apices of
the larger phenoclasts. It has the appearance of a fluidal fabric. The pheno-
clasts consist principally of white, fine-grained, slightly vesicular material which
in thin-section is composed principally of a mosaic of quartz, consisting largely
 ORIGIN OF GOSSES BLUFF, N.T. 509
of sub-equant grains approximately 0-1 mm. in diameter. Some of the quartz
grains, however, are acicular. Black reflecting opaque minerals and yellow-green
phyllosilicates are sparsely disseminated throughout the phenoclasts. A few of
the phenoclasts consist largely of a brown phyllosilicate matrix with abundant
disseminated opaque euhedra 10-15 n in diameter. Scattered throughout this
matrix are irregular patches of bright green phyllosilicate, quartz and albite.
These patches have the appearance of irregular cavity fillings, rather than prim-
ary crystal euhedra.
In thin-section the matrix of the breccia is seen to consist largely of a
mosaic of 10 /x quartz with minor phyllosilicate, but locally contains rounded
quartz grains up to 0-2 mm. in diameter with vaguely defined edges. Locally
these larger quartz grains occur in diffusely bounded patches consisting of
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needles of green phyllosilicate forming a matrix to disseminated opaque euhedra

about 10 fi in diameter (Plate 14, Fig. 6). The general appearance of the
matrix, particularly of the areas containing rounded quartz grains, is suggestive
of a devitrified glass containing scattered quartz xenoclasts of sedimentary origin.
Opaque euhedra separated from a 'total-rock' crush give an ilmenite pattern
on an X-ray diffractometer. The crush was examined for coesite, using the
method of Chao et al. (1961), but none was found. Likewise the phenoclasts
may also represent devitrified glassy rocks.
The devitrified glassy rock (C) is remarkably undistinguished in hand
specimen; it is white, fine-grained, and slightly porous, resembling some of the
phenoclasts in Breccia (B). Thin-sections reveal a mosaic of fine-grained quartz
which on closer inspection resolves into an aggregate of closely packed ovate
bodies generally 0-05-0-15 mm. in diameter, with some up to 0-25 mm. in
diameter. These bodies tend to be concentrated into bands. In the finer-grained
bands finely aggregated polarizing material is abundant interstitial to the ovate
bodies. The predominant mineral of this rock type is quartz, but some fine,
nearly colourless phyllosilicate is disseminated throughout the rock particularly
on the margins or in the cores of some of the ovate bodies. Locally, this
phyllosilicate produces a network effect in thin-section. Locally, too, the rims
of the ovate bodies are traced out by a thin development of another mineral
which from its refractive index and other optical properties is probably K-
feldspar. Some specimens of this rock type contain calcite which forms scattered
patches up to 1 mm. in diameter consisting of contiguous equant sparry anhedra.
The present mineralogy and fabric of this rock type give little indication as to
its original nature, but are suggestive of an originally glassy rock which has
been devitrified and altered.
There are several difficulties attendant on the interpretation of these unusual
rock types. The Mt Pyroclast area has been affected by lateritic deep weather-
ing during the Tertiary and by a possibly later period of silcrete formation. The
effect that these processes may have had on the rock types has not been
assessed. It does seem, however, that certain phenoclasts in Breccia (A) and
the original constituent materials of the other two rock types may have cooled
rapidly from a molten state. The rocks may therefore represent devitrified
volcanics, but it should be noted that they lack many of the distinctive features
of volcanic rocks. Notably, phenocrysts or microphenocrysts are very rare,
 510 K. A. W. CROOK AND P. J. COOK
unless the rounded quartz grains in the matrix of Breccia (B) (Plate 14, Fig. 6)
have this character. It is equally possible that the rocks represent devitrified
impact glass (impactite).
THE ORIGIN OF GOSSES BLUFF
THE SALT DOME HYPOTHESIS
In the past, the view has been widely held that Gosses Bluff is a salt diapir.
Criteria such as the circular form, the association with a gravity minimum (the
superimposed maximum being regarded as due to high density caprocks) and
the presence of proven salt diapirs in other parts of the Amadeus Basin have
been accepted as proof of diapirism. In fact, none of these features prove
diapirism and many can equally well be interpreted as evidence in favour of
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other modes of origin. In addition, the authors know of no proven salt diapir
that has shatter-cones or any of the other unusual petrographic features described
earlier, associated with it. The salt dome hypothesis was tested when Gosses
Bluff was drilled to a depth of over 1,300 m. The complete absence of salt to
this depth is strong evidence against diapirism.

THE CRYPTO-EXPLOSION HYPOTHESIS

Branco & Fraas (1905) first proposed the term cryptovolcanic structure
for the Steinheim Basin of Germany, believing it to be formed by deep-seated
explosive volcanic activity. Bucher (1936) later applied the term to similar
geological features in North America.
The Steinheim Basin, and many similar features, have been ascribed by
other workers (Shoemaker & Chao, 1961; Dietz, 1963) to impact of extra-
terrestrial objects, and have been called impact structures or astroblemes, the
latter term of Dietz (1961) meaning "star-wound".
Dietz (1959) proposed the term cryptoexplosion structure for use in de-
scribing circular or nearly circular features having the appearance of craters,
filled craters, and circular structures apparently formed by localized but strong
vertical uplift. The nature of the explosion by which such features were formed
is not specified in Dietz's term; it may have been due to intra- or extra-terrestrial
forces.
The term "crypto-explosion structure" is therefore a useful one for Gosses
Bluff. The relative merits of intra- and extra-terrestrial hypotheses are discussed
below, with each of the authors being responsible for the discussion of the
mechanism that he tends to regard as more likely in the light of present in-
formation.
(A) THE CRYPTO-VOLCANIC HYPOTHESIS (P.J.C.)
(i) Regional structural trends:
In an excellent review of the origin of crypto-explosion structures, Bucher
(1963) attributes such structures, and associated features such as shatter-cones,
coesite and stishovite, to an intra-terrestrial, crypto-volcanic origin. He points
out that crypto-explosion structures invariably lie on regional geological features.
This is true of Gosses Bluff. Not only is the structure situated in the middle
of the east-west trending Missionary Plains Synclinorium, but also it lies on
 ORIGIN OF GOSSES. BLUFF, N.T. 511
the axis of a northeast-trending anticline which extends for about 50 km.
obliquely to the main trend of the Missionary Plains Synclinorium (Fig. 1). In
addition, Gosses Bluff also lies within a major fracture zone which Cook (1966)
has shown to have a lateral extent of at least 1,600 km., on which at least one
other structure (Blinman Dome, South Australia) contains shatter-cones (R.
Dalgarno, pers. comm.). The chance of a random event such as a meteoritic
impact occurring precisely on pre-existing regional structural trends is extremely
remote.
(ii) Shatter-cones:
Shatter-cones such as occur in Gosses Bluff are frequently cited as evidence
of meteoritic impact (Dietz, 1959), but there is in fact no case of a definite
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shatter-cone occurring in an undoubted meteorite crater. All known shatter-

cones come from crypto-explosion structures, except for those made experi-
mentally by the hypervelocity impact of steel in Coconino Sandstone (Shoemaker
et al., 1963) and one found in coal (Bucher, 1963). The presence of shatter-
cones down to depths of 1,000 m. might be construed as evidence that the
event causing the Gosses Bluff structure came from below rather than from
above; it is, however, conceivable that a sufficiently large meteorite could in
fact produce shatter-cones at this depth. The shatter-cones at Gosses Bluff are
definitely not cone-in-cone structures or slickensides and it is reasonable to
assume that they are the product of intense shock (which clearly excludes
normal salt diapirism as the cause of the Gosses Bluff structure). However, it
seems an unreasonable assumption at this stage that such intense shock can
only be produced by impact. A gaseous explosion could surely also be suffi-
ciently violent to form shatter-cones. The gaseous explosion may have been
of volcanic gas but with no associated lava flow. Alternatively the gas may not
have had a volcanic origin — it may have been in the form of carbon dioxide or
water vapour which existed as a large pocket of gas and which, on being
affected by some orogenic or epeirogenic major movement, forced its way
through the overlying rocks with explosive violence and so formed the Gosses
Bluff crypto-explosion structure.
(iii) The form of Gosses Bluff:
Amstutz (1964) has discussed the shape of crypto-explosion structures. He
has pointed out the polygonal outline of many of them and has strongly
advocated an intra-terrestrial origin. As shown in Plate 11, Figure 1, Gosses
Bluff is distinctly polygonal (actually pentagonal) in outline. It is unlikely that
meteoritic impact would produce such a well developed polygonal form, even if
Gosses Bluff constituted the root of the crater rather than the actual crater.
Equally relevant is the central uplifted dome which is shown by the topo-
graphic contour map (Fig. 3) to be raised above the level of the surrounding
plain. This is a characteristic feature of all crypto-explosion structures but is
conspicuously absent from undoubted meteorite craters. Dietz (1963) counters
this point by suggesting that it is only the larger impact structures that show
this feature — this, however, is not proven at this stage particularly as Dietz
takes the form of lunar craters as his evidence.
 512 K. A. W. CROOK AND P. J. COOK
(iv) The presence of volcanic material:
The presence of material thought by D. A. McNaughton (pers. comm.)
and R. O. Brunnschweiler (1959) to be volcanic when examined in the field
at Mt Pyroclast, is of uncertain value at the present time in supporting an intra-
terrestrial cause of Gosses Bluff for, in the authors' opinion, none of the material
could be positively identified as volcanic when examined in thin-section. If it
can be later proved that there are undoubted volcanic rocks around Gosses Bluff
then this would be strong evidence for a crypto-volcanic origin, for there are
no volcanics younger than the Bitter Springs Formation known elsewhere in
the Amadeus Basin sequence.
(v) Geophysical results around Gosses Bluff:
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Seismic work suggests that the disturbed zone in the core of the Bluff
extends to a great depth — certainly deeper than that recorded by Eggleton &
Shoemaker (1961) in the core of the Sierra Madera crypto-explosion structure
of Texas. The most likely reason for the disturbed zone extending for some
thousands of metres down is that the force causing the structure came from
below rather than from above.
As is shown in Figure 2, Gosses Bluff is located on a gravity negative. This
has been used as evidence in favour of a diapiric origin, but Innes, Pearson &
Geuer (1964) have also shown that gravity negatives commonly occur over the
Deep Bay Meteorite Crater of Northern Saskatchewan.
The gravity contours (Fig. 8) show that superimposed on the gravity
negative there is a gravity positive over the core of the structure. Any claim
that this positive is due to a body of high density meteoritic material in the core
is not substantiated by the results of drilling Gosses Bluff No. 1 nor by the
absence of a corresponding magnetic anomaly. The same is equally true of a
plug of basic volcanic material that would produce a gravity positive but would
also give a magnetic positive. However, as a terrain correction has not been
applied the validity of the positive is rather uncertain.
(B) THE ASTKOBLEME HYPOTHESIS (K.A.W.C.)
On an hypothesis of extra-terrestrial origin, Gosses Bluff would be regarded
as an astrobleme, or meteorite impact scar. The Bluff as we now see it repre-
sents the eroded roots of the original impact structure, the crater of which has
been removed, or at least substantially modified, by erosion. Indeed, it is not
possible from the remaining evidence to reconstruct the crater form. This is
not surprising, since the geomorphic evidence suggests that the meteorite
impact occurred in the Mesozoic and the structure had already been reduced
to base level at least once before the present cycle of erosion was initiated.
There are several features of the Bluff that can be adduced in support of
an impact origin for the feature. All have been found at sites in other continents
that have been ascribed by various workers to an impact origin.
(i) Structural Evidence:
The most striking feature of the structure of Gosses Bluff, which is very
difficult to explain on any hypothesis other than that of impact, is the presence
 ORIGIN OF GOSSES BLUFF, N.T. 513
of overturned strata on the south rim, and particularly the existence of downward-
facing structures on the major recumbent fold in this region (Fig. 5). Eversion
of the strata could be expected as a result of rebound following the initial impact.
Admittedly, the production of recumbent folds by such a nearly instantaneous
process is difficult to envisage; one would rather expect disrupted, if not chaotic,
arrangement of the everted material. However, a somewhat similar pattern,
involving everted strata, has been described by McCall (1965) from the Wolf
Creek Crater, Western Australia. This crater is regarded by most workers, but
not by McCall, as an astrobleme because of the meteoritic material associated
with it.
The deep structure in the vicinity of the Bluff (Fig. 5) — if this be a correct
interpretation of the seismic evidence — accords well with an impact hypothesis,
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in that the only reflection of the structure at depth is a broad anticlinal doming,
rather than a disrupted structure suggestive of salt diapirism or crypto-volcanic
activity.
(ii) Geophysical Evidence:
Both the gravity and magnetic anomalies over the Bluff are similar to those
obtained from other presumed impact structures. The gravity pattern over
many such structures is a simple negative anomaly, but certain of them have an
annular negative anomaly with a central positive anomaly, for example, the
Carswell Lake Structure in Saskatchewan, Canada (Innes, 1964). The magnetic
anomaly, being small, would seem to rule out any near-surface association of
igneous rocks with Gosses Bluff itself. Unfortunately, there are no magnetic
data from Mt Pyroclast.
(iii) Mesoscopic and Microscopic Structures:
It was the discovery of abundant shatter-cones in surface outcrops within
the core of Gosses Bluff that first suggested to the authors that the Bluff might
have an origin other than that of salt diapirism. Dietz (1959) has suggested
that the occurrence of shatter-cones in a structure is evidence for its origin as
an astrobleme. If such a monogenetic origin for shatter-cones be accepted,
the widespread distribution of shatter-cones within the Bluff, and to a depth of
1,000 m. beneath the present surface, provides good evidence for an astrobleme
origin of the structure. Moreover, the occurrence of shatter-cones at Mt Pyro-
clast some 3-2 km. from the centre of the Bluff would suggest that the area
of disturbance due to impact is very large.
Support for the conclusion reached from mesoscopic structure is provided
by the microscopic structure of certain sandstones within the Bluff. Quartz in
these sandstones (Plate 14, Fig. 1) exhibits cleavage, deformation lamellae, and
planar fractures. The planar fractures are comparable with those figured by
Carter (1965, pi. 2b) from Clearwater Lakes, Quebec. The orientation of the
deformation lamellae, predominantly parallel to {0001}, is suggested by Carter
(1965) as a criterion for recognition of impact structures.
(iv) Petrology:
The petrogenesis of the peculiar breccias and quartz mosaic rocks from Mt
Pyroclast is a matter of doubt. Insufficient field evidence is available to establish
 514 K. A. W. CROOK AND P. J. COOK
the precise relationships of these rock types to each other and to the stratigraphy
and deformational structures of Mt Pyroclast. However, their association in the
field may indicate the common origin, in which case, on the astrobleme hypo-
thesis, the quartz mosaic rock would be interpreted as a devitrified impact glass,
containing relict sedimentary quartz grains, whereas the breccia would be the
product of rather lower energy disruption and mixing with fluidized normal
sediments available at the site of impact.
The location of the devitrified rocks at some distance from the centre of
the Gosses Bluff structure is consistent with the pattern shown by Dence (1965,
fig. 4) for the East Clearwater Lake Structure, Quebec. This has a central
uplift, with breccia concentrated in a circular depression around the uplift.
There is a striking similarity between the cross-section of Gosses Bluff (Fig. 5)
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and the structure at depth shown in the East Clearwater Lake cross-section.
Erosion at Gosses Bluff proceeded farther than at East Clearwater Lake, and has
probably removed most of the brecciated material from the rim depression.

CONCLUSIONS
Of the three hypotheses for the origin of Gosses Bluff which are outlined
above, that which ascribes the structure to salt diapirism appears, in the light of
currently available evidence, to be the least likely. The authors are unable
to agree as to the relative merits of the crypto-volcanic and astrobleme hypo-
theses except to say that neither can be regarded as proven. Part of the problem
is that, in the case of other structures, protagonists of each of the theories have
adduced the same set of facts in support of their particular theory. The extent
to which this manoeuvre can be carried out in respect to Gosses Bluff is indi-
cated above, and resolution of the problem must await the recognition of
features that effectively discriminate between the two types of structure.
A further difficulty in the way of reaching a definitive conclusion in the case
of Gosses Bluff is that insufficient field work has been carried out with this end
in view. Almost all the data presented above were the results of surveys of a
general nature or related to petroleum search. The authors hope that the appear-
ance of this article will stimulate a more detailed study of Gosses Bluff and its
environs.

REFERENCES
AMSTUTZ, G. C., 1964: Impact, Cryptoexplosion or Diapiric Movements? Trans. Kans. Acad.
Sci., 67, pp. 343-356.
BRANCO, W., & FRAAS, E., 1905: Das Kryptovulkanische Bechen von Steinheim. Abh. preuss.
Akad. Wiss., Phys. Kl., Jahrgang 1905, 64 pages.
BRUNNSCHWEILER, R. O., 1959: Geology of Gosses Bluff (N.T.) and Vicinity. Report to
Enterprise Exploration Co., Pty Ltd. 23 pages [unpublished].
BUCHER, W. H., 1936: Cryptovolcanic Structures in the United States. Rep. 16 Int. geol.
Congr., 2, pp. 1055-1084.
, 1963: Cryptoexplosion Structures caused from without or from within the Earth?
("Astroblemes" or "Geoblemes"?). Am. J. Sci., 261, pp. 597-649.
CARTER, N. L., 1965: Basal Quartz Deformation Lamellae—a Criterion for Recognition of
Impactites. Am. J. Sci., 263, pp. 786-806.
 ORIGIN OF GOSSES BLUFF, N.T. 515
CHAO, E. C. T., FAHEY, J. J., & LITTLE, J., 1961: Coesite from Wabar Crater, near A)
Hadida, Arabia. Science, 133, pp. 882-883.
COOK, P. J., 1966: The Illamurta Structure of Central Australia: its Development and Relation-
ship to a Major Fracture Zone. Rec. Bur. Miner. Resour. Geol. Geophys. Aust.
1966/46 [unpublished].
DENCE, M. R., 1965: The Extraterrestrial Origin of Canadian Craters. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.,
123, art. 2, pp. 941-969.
DIETZ, R. S., 1959: Shatter Cones in Cryptoexplosion Structures (Meteorite Impact?).
J. Geol., 67, pp. 496-505.
, 1961: Astroblemes. Scient. Am., 205, pp. 51-58.
, 1963: Cryptoexplosion Structures: A Discussion. Am. J. Sci., 261, pp. 650-664.
EGGLETON, R. E., & SHOEMAKER, E. M., 1961: Breccia at Sierra Madera, Texas. Prof. Pap.
U.S. geol. Surv., 424D, pp. 151-153.
FORMAN, D. J., 1966: Geology of the Southern Margin of the Amadeus Basin, Northern
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Territory. Rep. Bur. Miner. Resour. Geol. Geophys. Aust., 87.

, MILLIGAN, E. N., & MCCARTHY, R. C., 1966: Structure of the North-Eastern Margin
of the Amadeus Basin, Northern Territory. Rep. Bur. Miner. Resour. Geol. Geophys.
Aust., 103 [in press].
GEOPHYSICAL ASSOCIATES PTY LTD, 1965: Missionary Plain Seismic and Gravity Survey, Oil
Permits 43 and 56 Northern Territory, for Magellan Petroleum (N.T.) Pty Ltd
[unpublished].
INNES, M. J. S., 1964: Recent Advances in Meteorite Crater Research at the Dominion
Observatory, Ottawa, Canada. Meteoritics, 2, pp. 219-241.
, PEARSON, W. J., & GEUER, J. W., 1964: The Deep Bay Crater. Publs Dom. Obs.,
31, pp. 19-52.
LONSDALE, G. R., & FLAVELLE, A. J., 1963: Amadeus and South Canning Basins Recon-
naissance Gravity Survey using Helicopters, N.T., and W.A. 1962. Rec. Bur.
Miner. Resour. Geol. Geophys. Aust. 1963/152 [unpublished].
MABBUTT, J. A., 1965: Landforms of the Western Macdonnell Ranges, in Dury, G. (ed.),
Geomorphological Essays. Heinemann, London, pp. 83-119.
MCCALL, G. J. H., 1965: Possible Meteorite Craters—Wolf Creek, Australia, and analogs.
Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 123, art. 2, pp. 970-998.
Moss, F. J., 1964: Gosses Bluff Seismic Survey, Amadeus Basin, Northern Territory, 1962.
Rec. Bur. Miner. Resour. Geol. Geophys. Aust., 1964/66 [unpublished].
PEMBERTON, R. L., & PLANALP, R. N., 1965: Well Completion Report, Gosses Bluff No. 1
Well, Exoil (N.T.) Pty Ltd [unpublished].
RANFORD, L. C., COOK, P. J., & WELLS, A. T., 1966: The Geology of the Central Amadeus
Basin, Northern Territory, Rep. Bur. Miner. Resour. Geol. Geophys. Aust., 86.
RICHARDS, K. A., 1958: Gravity and Magnetic Survey, Gosses Bluff, McDonnell Ranges,
Northern Territory. Frome-Broken Hill Co. Pty Ltd, Rep. 4300-P-2 [unpublished].
SHOEMAKER, E. M., & CHAO, E. C. T., 1961: New Evidence for the Impact Origin of the Ries
Basin, Bavaria, Germany. J. geophys. Res., 66, pp. 3371-3378.
, GAULT, D. E., MOORE, H. J., & LUGN, R. V., 1963: Hypervelocity Impact of Steel
into Coconino Sandstone. Am. J. Sci., 261, pp. 668-682.
YOUNG, G. A., & SHELLEY, E. P., 1966: Amadeus Basin Airborne Magnetic and Radiometric
Survey, N.T., 1965. Rec. Bur. Miner. Resour. Geol. Geophys. Aust., 1966/64
[unpublished].

Dr K. A. W. Crook, P. J. Cook,
Dept of Geology, Bureau of Mineral Resources,
Australian National University, Geology & Geophysics,
Canberra, A.C.T. Canberra, A.C.T.
 516 K. A. W. CROOK AND P. J. COOK
EXPLANATION OF PLATES
PLATE 11
Fig. 1. View of Gosses Bluff, looking south. Photograph by C. Zawartko, Bureau of Mineral
Resources.
Fig. 2. Vertical photograph of Gosses Bluff, taken from a height of 25,000 ft (7,600 m.).
Reprinted by permission of the Director, Division of National Mapping.
PLATE 12
Shatter-cone in sandstone. Specimen from the centre of Gosses Bluff. Large scale
divisions are in inches; small divisions are in centimetres. Photograph by L. Seeuwen,
Australian National University.
PLATE 13
Fig. 1. Shatter-cone in sandstone. Specimen, which is 12 cm. in length, is from the Gosses
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Bluff No. 1 Well, depth 630 m. Photograph by C. Zawartko, Bureau of Mineral

Resources.
Fig. 2. Shatter-cone in sandstone at Mt Pyroclast (hammer handle is 32 cm. long).
PLATE 14
Fig. 1. Thin section (x 55) of quartz sandstone from the centre of Gosses Bluff. The
grain in the centre shows {0001} planar features (horizontal) and two prominent
cleavages (diagonal).
Fig. 2. Thin section (x 36) of quartzite clast in breccia from Mt Pyroclast showing breccia-
tion around the margin of quartz grains.
Fig. 3. Vesicular material (devitrified glass?) in breccia from Mt Pyroclast (x 120).
Fig. 4. Devitrified vesicular glass showing irregular outline and infiltration of silt in centre.
Breccia from Mt Pyroclast (x 120, crossed nicols).
Fig. 5. Dark-grey breccia from Mt Pyroclast showing rough fluidal fabric (x 0-95).
Fig. 6. Ovate quartz grains in matrix composed of green phyllosilicate and ilmenite euhedra,
interpreted as quartz xenocrysts in a previously molten matrix. Breccia from Mt
Pyroclast (x 120).
 CROOK & COOK PLATE 11
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