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

Geoscience Australia data from seismic and core sampling programs in 1993, 1995, and 1997 on the East Antarctic continental shelf. The dataset includes information on Paleogene sediments containing microfossils like foraminifera, pollen, spores, and dinoflagellates, as well as physical sediment properties. It documents a prograding sequence about 200 meters thick and relates to inner continental shelf marine environments.

Use Cases

• Reconstructing past Antarctic coastal environments based on described inner shelf marine sediment sequences.
• Dating sedimentary layers using Paleocene and Eocene pollen, spore, and dinoflagellate assemblages mentioned in the description.
• Analyzing sediment provenance and recycling events based on evidence of Permian, Jurassic, and Cretaceous material.
• Modeling depositional cycles by correlating the marine Palaeogene sequence with global cycles referenced in the description.

Strengths

• Data is derived from targeted seismic and physical core sampling programs conducted in multiple years (1993, 1995, 1997).
• Description specifies a detailed sedimentary context, including a 200-meter-thick prograding sequence and multiple fossil types (foraminifera, pollen, dinoflagellates).
• Provides environmental interpretation, indicating a temperate-climate, fully marine inner continental shelf setting.

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 core sampling accompanied by CTD probe, bottom camera, and sediment grab deployments.

Time Range

Primarily focuses on the Paleocene-Eocene geological periods, with sampling events in 1993, 1995, and 1997.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-20 01:28:27.190518; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Mac. Robertson Shelf and western Prydz Bay on the continental shelf of East Antarctica.