Thursday, 16 April, 2026 / Edition 106

Welcome to the world's biggest iron ore province and the paradise it contains: Karijini National Park in the Hamersley Ranges.

In a land where everything seems red, you suddenly find lush green plants in majestic gorges with stunning waterholes. There, you are stepping back in time so far that life hardly existed, and the world had a breathtaking atmosphere… Can you envision it? Let's take a look. 

Christin Schulz

Exploration Geologist

@the.happy.geo

The Hammersley Ranges and Karinjini National Park

Folds at the Hammersley Gorge/ Courtesy of Christin Schulz

Area geology:

• The Hamersley Ranges contain the Brockman and Marra Mamba banded iron formations, which host world-class hematite deposits such as Mt. Tom Price and Mt. Whaleback.
• These banded iron formations formed between 2.62 and 2.46 billion years ago, before our atmosphere was oxygenated and toxic to most recent forms of life.
• A similarly toxic environment was produced during the mining of Crocidolite, an asbestos mineral, in the now-abandoned town of Wittenoom, north of the national park.

Trip tips:

• Stay in Tom Price, the nearest town to the national park, or inside the park at Karijini Eco Retreat.
• Use the cooler early hours of the day to hike up Mount Bruce, the second-highest peak in Western Australia, and enjoy spectacular views all along the nine-kilometer return trail.
• In the afternoon, drive about 45 minutes northwest to the park's edge to visit the easily accessible Hamersley Gorge and explore the famous Spa Pool, naturally carved by water in the riverbed. Keep an eye out for the amazing folds on your way!
• The Oxer Lookout, an hour-and-fifteen-minute drive further west and my personal favorite, peers over stunning views into three gorges. A short walk away, Handrail and Kermits pools offer chances to cool off in the stream.
  • The hike is only slightly strenuous and can include some swimming. I saw kids doing it in about 45 min.
• Continuing west for another hour, you will find Dales Gorge, which provides the perfect combination of trail walking and admiring the nearby Fortescue Falls.
• Another quick and easy 45-minute hike, and you can swim in the Fern Pool. If you are extra curious, you can find blue Crocidolite seams along the walk (for the full hike, allow two to three hours). Undisturbed, they are a harmless attraction.

Go deeper: Learn more about the park's geology here and here.

Trip Highlight: Spa Pool

Video courtesy of Christin Schulz

Let the water run over your back and enjoy swimming in an ancient ocean floor brought to surface.

Join AAPG Women's Network, AWG Lonestar, and Midwest GeoSciences Group on 17 April at 4 pm CDT for a free virtual event to learn more about the geology of jewelry. Expert speakers will guide you on the journey from ore to adornment.

Whether you are a geoscientist, jewelry designer, rockhound, student, or simply someone who has ever looked at a gemstone and wondered "How did the Earth make that?", this conversation was designed with you in mind.

Want to help AAPG grow?

Consider supporting AAPG's free resources, like this one, by donating today.