The Geology of Uluru

The ancient monolith has been here since Earth formed. It’s 550 million years old, and it’s incredibly sacred. But what is it made from?

There are two explanations of Uluru’s formation. Uluru is a very sacred site, with high cultural significance to the Anangu people. To the Anangu People, Uluru is a living, breathing organism. Just as fauna and flora are alive, so is the ancient rock. From a geologist’s perspective, they would say that Uluru was formed 550 million years ago and consists of a type of rock called Arkose.

So what kind of rock is Uluru? What exactly is it made from?

The climate of Uluru affects its geology

The harsh landscape climate has vastly affected the geology of Uluru. Central Australia’s climate provides some intensely hot summers. Nature has adapted to these climates, and geology is no different. Over time, the harsh weathering has reduced the softer rocks away, leaving the hard, solid rock of Uluru behind.

Arkose

This is the type of rock that Uluru is made from. It is a reddish-pink type of rock that has coarse grains in it. The sandstone is rich in feldspar, which is a type of mineral.

According to geologists, Uluru is a sediment of sand that was deposited from tectonic plates of the Earth’s crust. This hardened over time and has made the rock what it is today.

Kata Tjuta is made of a whole different range of rocks all in one composition – these rocks are pebbles, boulders, and cobbles that have been joined together by sand and mud to create a rock.

The formation of Uluru

A geologist would say that Uluru is a depression in the Earth’s crust that formed 900 million years ago. Layers of sediment formed on top of one another. There was a hole in the Earth, created by the crust of the Earth coming together in the Amadeus Basin. It collected lots of sediment, which then became the monolith of Uluru.

When Aboriginal settlers arrived in Uluru some 30,000 years ago, the area would have looked very similar to how it does today. Not much has changed, but geologists have a theory about why Uluru looks the way it does.

With Uluru, there are no breaking points – the rock is largely smooth and flat. The running water down the sides of the rock has formed some everlasting water lines. There is a flaky surface on the top of Uluru due to the excess layer of rust that flakes off due to its exposure to the climate.

The Red Soil

The soil is millions of years old, and some even say it’s like the composition of Mars.

The red soil is what gives the Red Centre its name. It’s red because it’s full of iron oxide, which is what gives the rock its red colour and makes it look rusty.

It doesn’t have many nutrients in it, which is why the area is quite sparse and the plant life that survives here doesn’t need much water and thrive in an arid setting.

Visiting Uluru

Uluru is a powerful, unforgettable spectacle that leaves an impression on many of its visitors. Visit Uluru to understand its importance and marvel at its beauty! Soak up the culture of Dreamtime and learn about the formation of Uluru and the Anangu people.