A geological report describes the oldest Cretaceous sequence in the Giralia Anticline and Giralia No. 1 well in Western Australia. The Australian Ocean Data Network published this detailed biostratigraphic assessment of late Hauterivian-Barremian rocks. The document analyzes sediment composition, fossil assemblages, and climate indicators within the Birdrong Sandstone and Muderong Shale formations.
Use Cases
- Reconstruct paleoclimate conditions based on growth-ring analysis of fossil conifer wood mentioned in the description
- Analyze marine transgression patterns based on described changes in sediment composition and biofacies
- Study fossil assemblages including ichthyosauran bones, plesiosauran remains, and ammonites for biostratigraphic dating
- Model sedimentary systems tracts based on the described transgressive and highstand tracts within the sequence
Strengths
- Provides detailed stratigraphic measurements, including a 10 m thick basal sand unit and 56 m of overlying siltstone-mudstone
- Includes biostratigraphic age assessment linking the sequence to the Muderongia australis Zone
- Analyzes multiple fossil types (wood, bones, ammonites) and paleoclimate indicators
Limitations
- Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
- Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
- The age of the upper Muderong Shale and a probable Windalia Sand Member is noted as uncertain
Provenance
- Source
- Australian Ocean Data Network
- Collection Method
- Outcrop and well core description and biostratigraphic assessment
- Time Range
- Late Hauterivian-Barremian (Early Cretaceous)
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-05-05 01:56:45.076401; freshness should be verified
- Geography
- Giralia Anticline, Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia