Precambrian supercontinent evolution and metallogeny of Australia

The Precambrian geological evolution of Australia was closely linked to supercontinent cycles, with most geological and metallogenic events relating to supercontinent assembly and breakup. Australia mainly grew from west to east since Archean. The nuclei of Australian Precambrian craton consist of two Archean cratons, the Yilgarn and Pilbara cratons, which forming the oldest part of the continent. In Paleoproterozoic-Mesoproterozoic, North Australian craton, South Australian craton and West Australian craton initially assembled during the Paleoproterozoic amalgamation of Columbia, and then Middle-west Australian Precambrian craton came into shape in the process of the amalgamation of Rodinia. The metallogeny of Australian Precambrian craton are linked to the tectonic evolution and the supercontinent cycle, with orogenic gold province as a product of the assembly of Kenorland, whereas major sediment-hosted Zn-Pb deposits, iron oxide-Cu-Au deposits and unconformity-associated uranium deposits formed in the process of Columbia supercontinent breakup. The diverse supercontinent evolution shows different characteristics of metallogeny during supercontinent assembly and breakup which may provide fruitful information for future mineral exploration.