Chemical and mineralogical characterisation of illite-smectite: Implications for episodic tectonism and associated fluid flow, central Australia

Integrated analyses of authigenic illite provide evidence for three periods of fluid flow and elevated thermal regime associated with regional tectonism during the Carboniferous, Late Triassic and Cretaceous. Our data further show that due to the extremely high geothermal gradient and water/rock ratios, Cretaceous fluid flow had profound effects on the surrounding geology, which may have formed/enhanced two of Australia's most significant energy resources.