Carboniferous Marine Fauna Correlation Chart For Australia

A correlation chart synthesizes evidence from Carboniferous marine faunas across the Australian continent. The chart correlates Lower Carboniferous sequences from Western Australia's Bonaparte Gulf Basin with those from the New England Geosyncline in eastern Australia, using biostratigraphic scales from European facies. This resource was published by the Australian Ocean Data Network and was last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Correlate conodont and brachiopod zones from the Bonaparte Gulf Basin with European Kohlenkalk facies scales.
• Date ammonoid and conodont zones from the New England Geosyncline using German Kulm facies references.
• Establish tentative correlations for terrestrial sequences using plant and spore evidence.
• Compare faunal sequences between intracratonic basins of Western Australia and eastern geosynclinal regions.

Strengths

• Correlation spans the marine Carboniferous across the entire Australian continent.
• Integrates multiple fossil groups including conodonts, brachiopods, foraminifers, and ammonoids.

Limitations

• Correlations for terrestrial sequences are described as highly tentative due to sporadic plant and spore evidence.
• Specific row counts, sample sizes, and quantitative data metrics are unavailable.
• Primary data format is a descriptive PDF/HTML document, limiting direct computational analysis.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Synthesis of evidence from Carboniferous marine faunas to draw a correlation chart.

Time Range

Carboniferous period

Freshness

Last updated in April 2026.

Geography

Australian continent