Georgetown in northern Queensland once part of North America – geologists

Researchers found rocks in the area 412km west of Cairns were unlike any others in Australia, but similar to those in Canada

Geologists in northern Australia have made a discovery that suggests the area around Georgetown in northern Queensland was once part of North America, more than a billion years ago.

Researchers from Curtin University discovered that rocks in the area, 412km west of Cairns, were unlike any other rock deposits in Australia, but similar to those found in Canada.