Carboniferous System Correlation Chart for Australia Based on Marine Faunas

Geoscience Australia Data provides a correlation chart for the Carboniferous System across the Australian continent, last updated on 2026-04-30. The chart is based on a synopsis of evidence from Carboniferous marine faunas, correlating sequences from Western Australia's intracratonic basins and the New England Geosyncline in the east. Correlation of terrestrial sequences is also attempted using plant and spore evidence, though described as tentative.

Use Cases

• Correlating Lower Carboniferous sequences in Western Australia based on conodont and brachiopod zones.
• Dating Carboniferous brachiopod zones in eastern Australia using ammonoid and conodont zones from the German Kulm facies.
• Making generalized correlations across the marine Carboniferous of Australia by linking European Kohlenkalk and Kulm facies.
• Investigating tentative correlations of terrestrial Carboniferous sequences in Australia based on plant and spore evidence.

Strengths

• Chart synthesizes evidence from multiple marine faunal groups, including conodonts, foraminifers, and brachiopods.
• Correlates sequences across distinct geological regions of Australia (Western intracratonic basins and Eastern New England Geosyncline).
• Attempts to link Australian sequences to established biostratigraphic scales from Britain, Belgium, and Germany.

Limitations

• The description notes that correlation of terrestrial sequences is 'highly tentative' due to the sporadic nature of 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 of Australia.

Time Range

Carboniferous period

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-30 12:32:49.873122; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Australia, with focus on the Bonaparte Gulf Basin in Western Australia and the New England Geosyncline in eastern Australia.