Carboniferous Marine Fauna Correlation Chart for Australia

A correlation chart for the Carboniferous System in Australia, based on a synopsis of marine faunal evidence. It was published by the Australian Ocean Data Network and last updated on April 10, 2026. The chart correlates Lower Carboniferous sequences from Western and Eastern Australia using biostratigraphic zones established in European reference facies.

Use Cases

• Correlating marine Carboniferous sequences across Australia based on described conodont and brachiopod zones.
• Dating geological formations in the Bonaparte Gulf Basin using the established biostratigraphic scales.
• Comparing Australian Carboniferous faunas with European Kulm and Kohlenkalk facies.
• Evaluating tentative correlations of terrestrial sequences based on the described plant and spore evidence.

Strengths

• Provides a continent-wide correlation framework for the Australian Carboniferous System.
• Integrates multiple biostratigraphic scales based on conodonts, foraminifers, brachiopods, and ammonoids.
• Distinguishes between marine sequences from Western Australia (Bonaparte Gulf Basin) and Eastern Australia (New England Geosyncline).

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Correlation of terrestrial sequences is described as 'highly tentative' due to sporadic plant and spore evidence.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

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

Time Range

Carboniferous period

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 17:46:02.309410; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Australia, with focus on the Bonaparte Gulf Basin (Western Australia) and New England Geosyncline (Eastern Australia)