Late Miocene-Early Pliocene Dinoflagellate Palynostratigraphy in Murray Basin

Late Miocene-Early Pliocene microfossil data distinguishes the Bookpurnong Beds from older sediments in the central west Murray Basin. The dataset identifies key dinoflagellate species like Melitasphaeridium aequabile and Tuberculodinium vancampoae for stratigraphic correlation. It was contributed by the Australian Ocean Data Network and last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Correlate Late Miocene-Early Pliocene Bookpurnong Beds using diagnostic species Melitasphaeridium aequabile and Tectatodinium psilatum.
• Distinguish older Oligocene-Middle Miocene units like the Winnambool Formation using marker species Apteodinium australiense.
• Analyze the frequency of Tuberculodinium vancampoae as an indicator for the Bookpurnong Beds interval.
• Refine regional stratigraphic frameworks in the central west Murray Basin based on dinoflagellate assemblage data.

Strengths

• Focuses on a specific Late Miocene-Early Pliocene temporal interval.
• Identifies multiple diagnostic dinoflagellate species for stratigraphic separation.

Limitations

• Sample size, row count, and data format details are unknown.
• Data is presented in PDF/HTML reports, not a structured, machine-readable format.
• Geographic coverage is limited to the central west Murray Basin.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Palynological analysis of sediment samples.

Time Range

Late Miocene to Early Pliocene

Freshness

Updated in April 2026.

Geography

Central west Murray Basin