Carboniferous System Correlation Chart for Australia Based on Marine Fauna

A correlation chart for the Carboniferous System in Australia synthesizes evidence from marine faunas. The chart is based on biostratigraphic scales using conodont, foraminifer, and brachiopod zones from Western Australian intracratonic basins and the New England Geosyncline in eastern Australia. It was published by Geoscience Australia Data and last updated on 2026-04-20.

Use Cases

• Correlating Lower Carboniferous marine sequences based on described conodont and brachiopod zones.
• Comparing Australian Carboniferous faunal sequences with established European biostratigraphic scales like the Kohlenkalk and Kulm facies.
• Making tentative correlations of terrestrial sequences using the described plant and spore evidence.

Strengths

• Chart synthesizes evidence from multiple marine faunal groups including conodonts, foraminifers, and brachiopods.
• Correlates Australian sequences with established European biostratigraphic scales, providing an international context.
• Covers distinct geological regions of Australia, including the Bonaparte Gulf Basin and the New England Geosyncline.

Limitations

• Correlation of terrestrial sequences is described as 'highly tentative' due to sporadic plant and spore evidence.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

A brief synopsis of evidence from Carboniferous marine faunas was used to draw the correlation chart.

Time Range

Carboniferous period

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-20 03:40:22.898930; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Australia, specifically the Bonaparte Gulf Basin in Western Australia and the New England Geosyncline in eastern Australia.