Cenomanian Palynology Data from Bathurst Island Cores

Bathurst Island, Northern Territory, Australia, provides the location for this palynological study of Cenomanian to early Turonian marine sediments. The dataset documents 104 dinoflagellate cyst and 16 acritarch species from 61 genera, plus 40 spore and 23 pollen species, derived from 20 continuous cores drilled to over 300 meters depth. Results were published by the Australian Ocean Data Network, with data last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Classify Cenomanian to Turonian age sediments using the documented spore-pollen sequence (palynological units K3a and K3b).
• Identify dinoflagellate cyst species (104 types) and acritarchs (16 types) for biostratigraphic correlation and paleoenvironmental reconstruction.
• Analyze the 40 spore and 23 pollen species to infer characteristics of the surrounding temperate Cretaceous vegetation.
• Correlate core sample depths with microfossil assemblages to interpret depositional sequences in a shallow marine setting.

Strengths

• Systematic documentation of 104 dinoflagellate cyst and 16 acritarch species, varieties, and groups.
• Includes taxonomic descriptions for 40 spore species and 23 pollen species, with proposed new genera and species.
• Data derived from 20 continuously cored wells penetrating over 300 meters of rock sequence.

Limitations

• Sample size is limited to 20 cores from two specific wells on Bathurst Island.
• Data is presented in PDF/HTML formats, requiring extraction for computational analysis.
• Temporal coverage is specific to the mid- to late Cenomanian and possibly early Turonian, limiting broader chronological application.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Palynological analysis of continuous core samples from two drilled wells.

Time Range

Cenomanian to possibly early Turonian (Late Cretaceous epoch).

Freshness

null

Geography

Bathurst Island, south coast, Northern Territory, Australia.