Geochemical Comparisons of Southern Australian Asphaltites and Cretaceous Source Rocks

A 2001 study presents evidence for a mid-Cretaceous source for southern Australian asphaltites, based on geochemical and carbon isotopic comparisons. The dataset likely contains analytical results comparing asphaltites with onshore source rock analogues from the Albian-Cenomanian Blue Whale Supersequence and the Albian Toolebuc Formation. It was prepared for the Eastern Australian Basins Symposium and is hosted by Geoscience Australia Data.

Use Cases

• Correlating asphaltite samples to specific source rock formations based on biomarker signatures like C30 methylsteranes and C26 norsteranes.
• Investigating paleo-depositional environments using metalloporphyrin biomarkers that suggest deep-water anoxic conditions.
• Assessing the influence of terrestrial plant input on marine organic matter using isotopic and geochemical comparisons.
• Refining source rock age and location models for the Great Australian Bight by comparing Late Cretaceous and mid-Cretaceous organic facies.

Strengths

• Analysis includes diverse geochemical signatures such as carbon isotopes and age-diagnostic biomarkers.
• Compares samples from multiple geological formations and basins, including the Bight Basin and Eromanga Basin.
• Includes evidence from artificial pyrolysis of polar fractions to support genetic links.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The description contains typographical errors, which may indicate incomplete metadata curation.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

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

Time Range

Early Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian), with study prepared in 2001.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-30 14:46:39.551681; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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