Paleocene-Eocene Antarctic Biostratigraphy from Mac. Robertson Shelf and Prydz Bay

Geoscience Australia Data collected sediment core and seismic data from the Mac. Robertson Shelf and western Prydz Bay in East Antarctica during expeditions in 1993, 1995, and 1997. The dataset includes Paleocene and Eocene microfossils like foraminifera, pollen, spores, and dinoflagellates, alongside sedimentological data. It was last updated on 2026-04-30.

Use Cases

• Reconstructing Paleogene coastal plain environments based on sediment descriptions of mudstone, siltstone, and carbonised wood.
• Dating Antarctic shelf sediments based on Paleocene (P4) and Middle Eocene (Globigerinatheka) foraminiferid faunas.
• Analyzing paleoclimate signals based on temperate-climate water temperature indicators and the Transantarctic dinocyst flora.
• Studying sediment provenance and recycling based on evidence of Permian, Jurassic, and Cretaceous material within the cores.

Strengths

• Data collection involved multiple methods including seismic surveys, coring, CTD probes, and bottom cameras during dedicated expeditions.
• The description specifies recovery of distinct fossil groups (foraminifera, pollen, dinoflagellates) from identified geological periods (Paleocene, Eocene).
• Spatial coverage is precisely defined as the Mac. Robertson Shelf and western Prydz Bay on the East Antarctic continental shelf.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• The description notes uncertainty about whether all fossil material is in situ or has been reworked by later glacial activity.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Seismic surveys and sediment coring programs accompanied by CTD probe, bottom camera, and grab sampling.

Time Range

Sampling occurred in 1993, 1995, and 1997; data covers the Paleocene and Eocene geological epochs.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-30 12:39:30.123617; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Mac. Robertson Shelf and western Prydz Bay, East Antarctic continental shelf.