Australian Tertiary Marine Bed Age Revisions Based on Microfossil Evidence

A geological dataset documents significant revisions in the age classification of marine Tertiary deposits in Australia. The recognition of Eocene deposits over a wide area in south-eastern Australia resulted from detailed mapping and microfaunal investigation. The dataset includes findings from bores proving over 4,000 feet of Middle Eocene beds and reclassifications of stages like Janjukian and Anglesean.

Use Cases

• Re-evaluating stratigraphic correlations based on the discovery of the Eocene foraminiferal genus Hantkenina.
• Mapping the spatial distribution of Eocene versus Oligocene and Miocene deposits in south-eastern Australia.
• Analyzing changes in geological age interpretations over time for specific locations like Bird Rock, Torquay and Anglesea.

Strengths

• Documents a specific, detailed geological investigation with over 4,000 feet of Middle Eocene beds proven in bores.
• Cites key fossil evidence (Hantkenina) and specific type localities (Janjukian Stage, Anglesean Stage) that anchor the age revisions.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to data_gov_au, focusing on south-eastern and western Victoria.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Likely compiled from geological field mapping, borehole data, and microfossil analysis.

Time Range

Tertiary period (Paleocene to Pliocene), with focus on Eocene reclassifications.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-23 06:08:35.378580; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Australia, specifically south-eastern Australia, south-western Victoria, Torquay, Anglesea, and the Adelaide Basin in South Australia.