Geochemical Evidence for Photic Zone Euxinia in the Late Devonian Canning Basin

Geochemical data from the Canning Basin provides insights into photic zone euxinia during the Givetian–Frasnian stages of the Late Devonian. The dataset, associated with a 2018 study in Marine and Petroleum Geology, includes biomarker assemblages from rock extracts and oils, linking them to specific formations and geographic margins. It examines the relationship between anoxic conditions, algal activity, and the formation of petroleum source rocks in a confined ancient basin.

Use Cases

• Correlating oil biomarkers to specific source rock formations based on hopane, sterane, and carotenoid abundances mentioned in the description.
• Modeling the development of photic zone euxinia in relation to nutrient supply and restricted marine settings described for the Lennard Shelf and Barbwire Terrace.
• Assessing the petroleum potential of Late Devonian shales by analyzing geochemical evidence for episodic versus persistent anoxia.
• Studying the impact of confined basin geometry and limited ocean circulation on organic matter preservation, as inferred from the structural evidence for the Fitzroy Trough.

Strengths

• Data is directly linked to a peer-reviewed 2018 publication in Marine and Petroleum Geology (Volume 93, pages 33-56).
• Geographic coverage includes specific, named sub-regions within the Canning Basin: the Lennard Shelf and Barbwire Terrace.
• Analysis includes biomarker data from multiple sample points, such as the Blina-1, Blina-4, Janpam North-1, and Mirbelia-1 wells.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network via data.gov.au

Collection Method

Geochemical analysis of rock extracts and oils, as described in the associated scientific publication.

Time Range

Givetian–Frasnian stages of the Late Devonian period.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-27 16:47:49.172723; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Canning Basin, Western Australia, specifically the Lennard Shelf and Barbwire Terrace margins of the Fitzroy Trough.