Geochemical Comparisons of Southern Australian Asphaltites and Cretaceous Source Rocks

Australian Ocean Data Network hosts a dataset presenting evidence for a mid-Cretaceous source for southern Australian asphaltites. The data includes geochemical and carbon isotopic comparisons between asphaltites and onshore source rock analogues from the Albian-Cenomanian Blue Whale Supersequence and the Albian Toolebuc Formation. The article was prepared for the Eastern Australian Basins Symposium in 2001.

Use Cases

• Correlate hydrocarbon seeps to specific source rock units based on biomarker signatures like C30 methylsteranes and C26 norsteranes.
• Reconstruct paleo-depositional environments based on the presence of metalloporphyrins and carbon isotope data.
• Model petroleum systems in the Great Australian Bight by comparing asphaltite data with potential source rocks like the Late Cretaceous Tiger Supersequence.

Strengths

• The description details a specific geochemical comparison across diverse signatures, including carbon isotopes and biomarker distributions.
• The analysis links data to a specific geological context, the Albian-Cenomanian Blue Whale Supersequence and Toolebuc Formation.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data freshness should be verified; the underlying article dates from 2001.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Geochemical and carbon isotopic analysis of asphaltite samples and source rock analogues.

Time Range

Samples are from geological units of Early Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) age.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-27 21:02:31.812003; freshness should be verified

Geography

Southern Australian margin, specifically the Bight Basin and Eromanga Basin.