The Diamantina River ring feature, Winton region, western Queensland

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe Diamantina ∼120 km-diameter ring feature, a unique feature in western Queensland, is manifested by a near-360° circular drainage pattern, radial creeks and a coincident radiometric K–Th–U pattern. The structure has been studied in the context of an investigation of the nature and origin of Australian circular structures. Geophysical signatures, including total magnetic intensity (TMI), gravity and seismic reflection transect data from the region of the ring feature are examined to help test the origin of the structure. A western subdued TMI arc with a ∼110 km diameter is offset by ∼30 km eastward from the western rim of the drainage ring. Bouguer anomaly data show a gravity low near the centre of the ring structure, but no outer circular pattern. Two recent seismic transects indicate a moderately reflective to weakly reflective crust below flat lying strata of the Jurassic–Cretaceous Eromanga and Permian–Triassic Galilee basins, and above a usually well-defined ∼39–45 km-deep Moho. An approximately ∼100 km-wide seismically non-reflective to weakly reflective zone overlapping the Diamantina ring feature separates crust of different seismic reflection character to either side. The nature of the seismic non-reflective crust is unknown. A potential interpretation of the ring structure in terms of asteroid impact cannot be confirmed or rejected given the present state of knowledge, owing to (1) the near-30 km depth of the seismically non-reflective zone along the transects; and (2) the shift of the TMI part ring zone relative to the geomorphic expression of the Diamantina ring feature. A test of the nature and origin of the Diamantina ring feature requires a cored drill hole near the centre of the TMI ring structure.