Recherche Archipelago Quaternary Marine Sediment and Seismic Data

Surficial sediments, video, multibeam sonar, cores, and shallow seismic data were collected from the Recherche Archipelago inner shelf. The dataset documents Holocene carbonate deposits up to 7 meters thick dominated by rhodolith, mollusc, and bryozoan fragments. Data was contributed by the Australian Ocean Data Network, with a record last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Analyze sediment composition and thickness from core data to map Holocene carbonate 'factory' zones.
• Use multibeam sonar and seismic profiles to correlate seabed morphology with underlying granite basement and Pleistocene erosional surfaces.
• Classify surficial sediment types from video and sample data to distinguish carbonate gravel lags from inshore terrigenous deposits.
• Model sediment accumulation rates by integrating seismic stratigraphy with preserved palaeo-shoreline features across sea level cycles.
• Assess the sheltering effect of granitic islands on sediment preservation using spatial data on deposit thickness and distribution.

Strengths

• Includes multiple complementary data types: surficial sediments, video, multibeam sonar, cores, and shallow seismics.
• Documents significant Holocene sediment accumulations, with deposits reported up to 7 meters thick.
• Focuses on a globally recognized modern example of a high-energy, cool-water carbonate depositional realm.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and column definitions for the underlying data are not provided.
• The description suggests there are extensive areas of non-deposition, indicating spatial gaps in sediment accumulation data.
• Data formats are listed only as HTML, which may indicate a metadata portal rather than direct access to primary data files.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Field collection of surficial sediments, video, multibeam sonar data, cores, and shallow seismics.

Time Range

Quaternary period, with focus on Holocene and Pleistocene deposits.

Freshness

Record metadata was last updated in April 2026.

Geography

Recherche Archipelago inner shelf, at the western margin of the Great Australian Bight, South-western Australia.