Palynological Borehole Analysis Of Central Murray Basin

Palynological analyses from four fully cored boreholes in the central west Murray Basin provide a biostratigraphic framework for groundwater-related geology. The study, augmented by analysis from other boreholes, was conducted by the Australian Ocean Data Network. It focuses on sediments from the Early Cretaceous to the Middle Miocene, including the Geera Clay aquitard and Renmark Group aquifers.

Use Cases

• Correlate aquifer layers in the Renmark Group using pollen zones like Middle and Upper Nothofagidites asperus.
• Identify marine influence and aquitard deposition timing via the Proteacidites tuberculatus and Triporopollenites bellus pollen zones.
• Analyze Late Oligocene to earliest Miocene vegetation shifts from pollen assemblages to infer climatic changes from year-round to seasonal rainfall.
• Assess the spatial extent of marine incursions represented by the Buccleuch Beds using dinoflagellate data from the Geera Clay sequence.

Strengths

• Analysis based on four fully cored boreholes (Woodlands-1, Manilla-1, Piangil West-2, Hatfield-1).
• Temporal coverage spans from the Early Cretaceous to the Middle Miocene.
• Augmented by additional core and cuttings analysis from areas east of the main marine influence.

Limitations

• Resolution of palynological zones is described as too poor to correlate with global sea-level curve pulses.
• Specific row counts, column details, and sample sizes are unknown.
• Patterns of vegetation change in space and time are described as complex, limiting correlative value.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Palynological analysis of fully cored boreholes, augmented by analysis of cores and cuttings from other boreholes.

Time Range

Early Cretaceous to Middle Miocene, with focus on mid-Eocene to earliest Oligocene and Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene intervals.

Freshness

Last updated metadata indicates 2026-04-04.

Geography

Central west Murray Basin, including Wentworth Trough and areas east of the main marine influence.