Deepwater Gippsland Basin Rock Dredge Samples from 1998 Cruise

18 dredge hauls recovered volcanic and sedimentary rocks from deep water in the Gippsland Basin during the 1998 R/V Franklin research cruise FR 11/98. The study analyzed lithologies, ages, and paleo-environments of the basin, categorizing samples into Late Cretaceous volcanics, volcaniclastics, Neogene calcareous sediments, and Quaternary oozes. Data was collected by the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Use Cases

• Correlate lithology categories (e.g., basalt, hyaloclastite, marly calcareous sediments) with present water depths (3300-3800 m, 800-2040 m) to model depositional environments.
• Analyze palynological age ranges (Turonian to Campanian, ~90 Ma to ~74 Ma) against rock types to reconstruct the timeline of Tasman Sea rifting and marine transgression.
• Map the spatial distribution of dredge sites based on seismic reflection profiles to understand the basin's structural features like the Gippsland Rise.
• Study sediment features (burrows, cross-lamination, ferruginous nodules, trace fossils) within specific lithologies (labile sandstone, siltstone) to infer coastal and marine depositional processes.

Strengths

• 18 distinct dredge hauls provide multiple sampling points across the basin.
• Data covers a significant geological time range from the Late Cretaceous (Turonian) to the Holocene.
• Sample categorization includes four specific lithological groups with described compositions.

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to 18 dredge hauls, restricting statistical analysis.
• Direct dating is absent for volcanic rocks, relying on hypotheses linked to the Tasman Sea rifting phase.
• No Early Cretaceous (Strzelecki Group) rocks were recovered, creating a gap in the stratigraphic record east of ~149°30'E.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Dredge hauls sited using seismic reflection profiles and morphological features during R/V Franklin Cruise FR11/98.

Time Range

Late Cretaceous (Turonian to Campanian, ~90-74 Ma) to Quaternary/Holocene.

Freshness

Data originates from a 1998 research cruise, though metadata was updated in 2026.

Geography

Deepwater Gippsland Basin, offshore Victoria, Australia, with specific stations and water depths (680 m to 3800 m).