Onshore Canning Basin Geology and Resource Assessment

Five major periods of sedimentation from the Early Ordovician to the Cainozoic characterize the onshore geology of this large intracratonic basin. The sequence includes faulted and folded Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks up to 18 km thick, with assessments for petroleum and groundwater resources. The dataset was compiled by the Australian Ocean Data Network and last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Identify hydrocarbon source rocks and reservoir rocks within the Devonian reef-carbonate sequences.
• Assess groundwater potential in Jurassic sandstones, Tertiary valley calcrete, and Quaternary alluvium features.
• Model the structural geology of the Fitzroy Trough using data on faulting, folding, and right lateral shear along the Fenton Fault System.
• Analyze sedimentation phases from the Ordovician to Cainozoic, including marine, continental, glacial, and evaporitic deposits.
• Map the dendritic palaeodrainage system and duricrusted peneplain formed during the wet Cainozoic climate period.

Strengths

• Covers five major sedimentation periods spanning from the Early Ordovician to the Cainozoic.
• Describes sedimentary rock sequences up to 18 kilometers thick.
• Identifies specific resource targets including Devonian reefs and the Fairfield Group.

Limitations

• Data is primarily descriptive text in PDF/HTML formats, lacking structured tabular data for quantitative analysis.
• Sample data and specific row/column counts are unavailable, limiting direct machine learning application.
• Geographic focus is restricted to the onshore Canning Basin in Western Australia.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Compiled from reconnaissance mapping, drilling, and geophysical data.

Time Range

Early Ordovician to Cainozoic (geological time).

Freshness

Last updated in April 2026.

Geography

Onshore Canning Basin, Western Australia, between the Halls Creek Province and the Pilbara Block.