Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy of Marion Plateau Dredge Samples

Miocene to Pleistocene foraminiferal assemblages from dredge samples at two sites on the Marion Plateau, offshore Queensland. The dataset documents distinct geological histories: a northern Early-Middle Miocene platform with subaerial exposure and later infill, and a southern Late Miocene platform with a hardground and slope mounds. Faunal evidence suggests shallow-water deposition (<50m) and periods of non-deposition, aiding reconstruction of the platform's paleoenvironmental evolution.

Use Cases

• Reconstructing paleobathymetry and depositional environments based on benthic foraminiferal assemblages and associated shallow-water indicators.
• Dating geological events and hiatuses using planktic foraminiferal biostratigraphy from cavity fills and borings.
• Correlating stratigraphic sequences between platform sites using age zones (e.g., N.18, N.22).
• Studying diagenetic history and hardground formation through analysis of condensed phosphatic sections.

Strengths

• Provides detailed geological context for two distinct sites with different Miocene platform histories.
• Includes biostratigraphic age control ranging from Pliocene to Pleistocene, with specific zone references (N.18, N.22).
• Cross-platform presence on a government data portal suggests vetting and persistence.

Limitations

• Column names and data structure are unknown, limiting direct analytical utility.
• Key metadata (row count, license, author) is consistently missing across all source entries.
• The dataset appears to be a published study (PDF/HTML), which may limit machine-readability.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Study of planktic and benthic foraminiferids in thin section from dredge samples.

Time Range

Early Miocene to Pleistocene

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-04.

Geography

Marion Plateau, offshore Queensland, Australia