Marine Fossils from the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous of Western Australia

Australian Ocean Data Network hosts a collection documenting marine fossils from the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous periods found on the Dampier Peninsula in Western Australia. The data is derived from publications and research conducted primarily in the 1950s, including work by the Bureau of Mineral Resources and West Australian Petroleum Pty Ltd. Some original specimens were lost in a 1953 fire, with documentation relying on surviving photographs.

Use Cases

• Taxonomic identification of marine fossils based on the detailed listings and descriptions.
• Stratigraphic correlation and dating of geological formations in Western Australia based on fossil occurrences.
• Historical analysis of palaeontological research and specimen documentation practices in the mid-20th century.

Strengths

• Data is grounded in multiple published geological and palaeontological studies from the 1950s.
• Provides specific temporal coverage for the Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian, Tithonian) and Lower Cretaceous (Neocomian, Aptian) periods.
• Documents fossils from a defined geographical area: the Dampier Peninsula between Derby and Broome.

Limitations

• Row count and column-level documentation are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Some primary specimen material was lost in a 1953 fire, potentially affecting data completeness.
• The main data files are in PDF and HTML formats, which may require extraction for structured analysis.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, aggregating from publications by researchers like Brunnschweiler, Guppy, Fairbridge, and Teichert.

Collection Method

Compiled from historical geological publications and research notes, with some data preserved from photographs after a fire.

Time Range

Fossils are from the Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous periods; research publications span from 1940 to 1958.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-04 06:17:08.576670; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Dampier Peninsula, between the townships of Derby and Broome in northern Western Australia.