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Analyses of fault trends and aeromagnetic images, together with burial history modelling, show that the onshore northern Perth Basin has a complex tectonic history. Three major phases of tectonism are recognised.
1) Extension in a direction of 005° in the Late Permian that resulted in normal faults striking 275°, and sinistral strike-slip along the Darling Fault.
2) Extension in a direction of 355° in the Jurassic resulted in the onset of rifting which produced normal faults striking 265°, and sinistral strike-slip on transcurrent faults oriented at 310°.
3) The break-up of Greater India from Australia in the Early Cretaceous and the resultant extension direction of 255° produced normal faults striking 345°, and dextral strike-slip along transcurrent faults oriented at 300°.