Cenomanian Palynology Data from Bathurst Island Wells

Palynological analysis of 20 core samples from two wells drilled on Bathurst Island, Australia. The study documents 104 dinoflagellate cyst and 16 acritarch species, plus 40 spore and 23 pollen species, identifying new genera and species. Data was published by the Australian Ocean Data Network, with the record last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Classify Cenomanian to early Turonian age strata using the documented spore-pollen sequence and dinoflagellate zone subdivisions.
• Identify new microfossil species from the described 8 new dinoflagellate cyst and 7 new spore/pollen species.
• Correlate regional rock sequences by analyzing the distribution of the 61 genera of dinoflagellate cysts and acritarchs.
• Reconstruct past temperate vegetation from the assemblage of 40 spore and 23 pollen species documented in the cores.

Strengths

• Analysis based on 20 continuously cored well samples, providing a stratigraphic sequence.
• Comprehensive taxonomic work detailing 104 dinoflagellate cyst and 16 acritarch species, varieties, and groups.

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to cores from two specific wells on Bathurst Island, reducing geographic representativeness.
• Primary data format is PDF/HTML reports, requiring manual extraction for quantitative analysis.
• Temporal coverage is specific to the mid- to late Cenomanian and possibly early Turonian periods.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, based on work by M.S. Norvick and D. Burger.

Collection Method

Palynological study of samples selected from continuously cored petroleum exploration wells.

Time Range

Cenomanian to possibly early Turonian (Late Cretaceous period).

Freshness

null

Geography

Bathurst Island, south coast, Northern Territory, Australia.