Lower Carboniferous Spore Assemblages from Bonaparte Gulf Basin Boreholes

55 species of plant microfossils, distributed among 32 genera, were recovered from Lower Carboniferous sediments in four boreholes in the Bonaparte Gulf Basin. The palynological flora is dominated by Granulatisporites frustulentus, accounting for 44-83 percent of spore populations. The data was published by the Australian Ocean Data Network and updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Classify spore species (e.g., Granulatisporites frustulentus) by their morphological features described in the taxonomic study.
• Analyze the dominance percentage (44-83%) of key species across different borehole samples and lithostratigraphic units.
• Correlate Visean-age sediments using spore assemblages that match known northern hemisphere Lower Carboniferous species.
• Study the distribution of 32 genera, including the new genus Exallospora, across central basinal and southeastern platform regions of the basin.

Strengths

• 55 distinct spore species identified across 32 genera, providing a detailed taxonomic breakdown.
• Data sourced from four distinct boreholes across two geographical provinces (central basin and southeastern platform).
• Specific dominance metric provided for key species Granulatisporites frustulentus (44-83% of populations).

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to four boreholes, which may not represent the full basin heterogeneity.
• Data format is primarily PDF/HTML documentation, not a structured, machine-readable data table.
• Six of the 22 referable species are only tentatively assigned to established taxa, indicating some taxonomic uncertainty.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Palynological analysis of well-preserved microfossil assemblages recovered from borehole sediment cores.

Time Range

Lower Carboniferous, Visean age.

Freshness

Updated April 2026.

Geography

Bonaparte Gulf Basin, Western Australia and Northern Territory.