Previous investigations of the northern Pilbara Craton are briefly summarized, followed by an outline of the region’s lithostratigraphy and major tectonic units. Previous interpretations of its tectonic evolution have not taken account evidence that the presently preserved 500,000 km2 Pilbara Craton is composed of fragments of much larger Paleoarchean and Mesoarchean continents. This consideration provides important new insights on the original scales of the processes and tectonic units that existed before two major events of continental breakup.

Модели прочности на сдвиг в двухмерном и трехмерном измерениях для оценки устойчивости анизотропных горных склонов в регионе Пилбара в Западной Австралии.

The bedded iron ore and gold deposits in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia are hosted in highly anisotropic rock masses. For iron ore, these comprise strong banded iron formations discretely interbedded with very weak shales. Gold and other precious metals deposits in the same region are hosted by interbedded siltstones, sandstone and quartzites. Slope instability mechanisms generally involve sliding along bedding planes combined with joints or faults acting as release planes.