Hopley, David (2013) Geology and geomorphology. In: Ryan, Michelle, (ed.) The Great Barrier Reef: a Queensland Museum discovery guide. Queensland Museum, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, pp. 9-49.

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Abstract

[Extract] The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system on Earth. However, perhaps surprisingly, it is also one of the youngest reefs with its history of construction taking place with the past million years. During this time, there have been several periods of reef growth, but the modern Reef as we know it is only about 8000-years-old.

Nonetheless, the Great Barrier Reef has a complex history linked to sea level and climatic change and the structural evolution of the Coral Sea Basin. The Great Barrier Reef formed in the warm, shallow seas shelf. Its beginnings are related to the plate tectonics of the Earth's early geological history and the break-up of the ancient super-continent of Gondwanaland.

Item ID:	39015
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Reference)
ISBN:	978-0-9751116-5-9
Date Deposited:	11 Mar 2016 04:36
FoR Codes:	04 EARTH SCIENCES > 0403 Geology > 040305 Marine Geoscience @ 100%
SEO Codes:	97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970104 Expanding Knowledge in the Earth Sciences @ 100%
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