Bunbury Basalt

Collection Highlights | Updated 10 years ago

A massive formation of coastal basalt
Bunbury Basalt
Image copyright of WA Museum

The Bunbury Basalt, that can be seen on the beach at Bunbury, at Capel and at Black Point in Western Australia, erupted approximately 130 million years ago.

It was part of the Kerguelen large igneous province that formed over a period from about 130 to 95 million years ago as Australia, India and Antarctica split apart. The Kerguelen large igneous province produced a phenomenal 17.4 million km3 of igneous rocks dominated by basaltic lavas that are now distributed between the floors of the Great Southern and Indian Oceans, and parts of India, Antarctica and Western Australia.
 

Rock Collection