The Australian Outback Was Once a GIANT Sea!

#australia #cretaceous #geology
Journey back millions of years to uncover the extraordinary story of Australia's last great inland ocean—the legendary Eromanga Sea. Stretching across vast expanses of the continent's interior during the Cretaceous period, this immense body of water transformed the landscape of ancient Australia, submerging areas we now recognize as iconic outback regions beneath shallow marine waters.

Through detailed geological explanations and immersive storytelling, you'll learn how the Eromanga Sea formed due to processes like tectonic subsidence and mantle-driven dynamic topography, combined with global sea-level rise. We reveal how Australia's continental interior slowly sank, creating extensive basins that allowed the sea to flood inland, depositing distinct sedimentary layers—from the initial sandstone beds of the Cadna-owie Formation to the organic-rich shales of the Toolebuc Formation and finally the river-laden deposits of the Winton Formation marking the sea's retreat.

This video doesn't just explore geology—it uncovers an incredible natural history filled with life. Discover the fossilized remains of creatures that once thrived in the ancient sea, including ammonites, inoceramid bivalves, marine reptiles, and other fascinating organisms that provide a vivid window into a lost world. We examine how these fossils have helped paleontologists reconstruct the ecosystem of this vast prehistoric marine environment.

You'll also delve into how volcanic activity connected to the breakup of Gondwana influenced the chemistry of the Eromanga Sea. Volcanic ash drifting into the sea mixed with marine mud, setting the stage for unique chemical conditions that would eventually create Australia's celebrated opal fields, notably in locations such as Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge. We explain exactly how this geological legacy was preserved, shaping not only Australia's landscapes but also its cultural and economic history.

The journey doesn't end with prehistoric times; it carries forward into Australia's present day. Explore how the sedimentary deposits left behind by the ancient Eromanga Sea form the geological foundation of the Great Artesian Basin—one of the largest and most important groundwater reservoirs in the world. Learn about the significance of this hidden groundwater system to the survival of Australia's interior communities, pastoral stations, agriculture, and unique desert ecosystems.

This comprehensive video offers valuable insights for geology students, fossil enthusiasts, educators, travelers curious about Australia's outback, and anyone interested in understanding the deep geological forces that shape our world. Packed with fascinating facts, detailed geological explanations, and engaging visuals, this video not only explains Australia's geological past—it also connects viewers with its living legacy.

Watch now to experience a vivid journey back to the Eromanga Sea, a once-magnificent inland ocean that has profoundly shaped the Australian continent. Immerse yourself in the geological story of tectonic forces, ancient marine life, volcanic eruptions, sedimentary processes, and the enduring impact of this ancient sea on today's Australian landscape. This is the ultimate geological adventure, bringing millions of years of history vividly to life.

Studies Used To Construct This Video:
Subsidence, sedimentation and sea‐level changes in the Eromanga Basin, Australia

SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY AND THE DEPOSITIONAL HISTORY OF THE MURTA MEMBER (UPPER HOORAY SANDSTONE), SOUTHEASTERN EROMANGA BASIN, AUSTRALIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOURCE AND RESERVOIR FACIES:

Bathymetric change during Early Cretaceous intracratonic marine transgression across the northeastern Eromanga Basin, Australia:

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[OzGeologyOfficial]

Studies Used To Construct This Video:
Subsidence, sedimentation and sea‐level changes in the Eromanga Basin, Australia

SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY AND THE DEPOSITIONAL HISTORY OF THE MURTA MEMBER (UPPER HOORAY SANDSTONE), SOUTHEASTERN EROMANGA BASIN, AUSTRALIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOURCE AND RESERVOIR FACIES:

Bathymetric change during Early Cretaceous intracratonic marine transgression across the northeastern Eromanga Basin, Australia:

[PaulEvans-fy]

My family owns a wheat/sheep farm between Trundle and Condobolin in NSW.
It is fairly easy to break open sedimentary rocks found at ground level especially after ploughing and find imprints of ancient sea shells imprinted over the top of each other of all sizes.
The number of imprints of the sea shells even in small rocks indicates the abundance of sea life once in the area.
I was never sure how old these rock are. So the rocks I have kept since a small child are approx 95 million years old.
Thank you for your effort and wonderful video ! :)

[TheSilmarillian]

Am an opal miner here remote rural L/ridge NSW and often dig up fossils of sea creatures along with opals, my mine has three levels so it happened m0re than once over millions of years.

[rogervanamois]

Most of Australia's Opal Fields are on the edge of this former sea.

[kaloarepo]

In the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area centered on Griffith NSW salt deposits known as seepage have always been a big problem when irrigation water is used - requiring expensive drainage systems. The salt goes back to the era when the region was under the sea.

[aussievp]

In the late 70's on a school excursion to what was then called Ayres Rock, we stopped at Lake Eyre .. walking on the dried, cracked earth, I found several fossilised sea shells. They are still amongst my prized possessions, a reminder of an inland sea millions of years ago

[myausstudy]

Your videos are truly fantastic!! The extent of detail you research and teach us should be part of the popular knowledge and taught in schools. It is fascinating learning about this wonderful land... Thank you very much!!!

[barry]

Love it thanks, I’ve had the good fortune to spend nearly 10 years in and around the Simpson and south west Qld as a field technician and was always fascinated by the geology, fauna and flora.

[michealmccarthy]

The Great Artesean Basin..the local monsoon season starts at the top of the country then proceeds to fill the basin up, runs southwards towards Lake Eyere/ a large wetlands mostly dry all year but fills with life once saturated again.

[MangoPanic]

This is so cool! Wish they taught the more interesting history about Australia in our schools

[Taomantom]

Serious production skills! Enjoy all your work thank you!

[tonyn]

The whole vast area, including the dinosaurs fossils found in places like Winton, Eromanga and Boulia are fascinating..

[asiwasb]

Fascinating ❤, I’m a Geotechnical Engineer and a geology enthusiast! I loved the brief description of the pyrite formation. Specially because my formal training is more focused on the mechanical behaviour rather than the mineralogy details. Anyway, I just learnt that my rock collection has a core sample from this sea bed. It was taken from a Bowen Basin coal mine site. The branches of this 300mi years old tree embedded on a carbonaceous mudstone matrix, sitting just a few meters above the coal roof!

[hawkbartril]

Loved the video of the braided rivers. Beautiful

[EmilyBieman]

Man, this was fascinating. The best one you have done..

[NathanOZlegend]

the amount of floods in that spot I'm not surprised

[micks]

I came across an old beach in winton.
Shells, brain coral, petrified wood.hit the brain coral on the bike and went down in the sand.wild

[tolrem]

Super interesting.Just goes to show how transient conditions are measured on a long timescale.

[neomortalgirl]

The ocean is still kind of there… just underground now. This area must be teaming with fossils! I wish I was rich enough to explore our great country more !!

[jmondragqueen]

we're literally told as kids that the ocean was once within the hills, which makes sense, because you always find shells and fossils in the outback here. very trippy