Aminostratigraphy Data for Lord Howe Island Eolianite Deposits

Amino acid racemization (AAR) dating provides a geochronological framework for eolianite deposits on Lord Howe Island, ranging from Holocene to Middle Pleistocene. The dataset defines three aminozones based on racemization extents in land snail (Placostylus bivaricosus) and whole-rock samples, correlating with lithostratigraphic units and Oxygen Isotope Stages. Data was collected and published by the Australian Ocean Data Network, with a record last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Correlate disparate eolianite successions using D/L-leucine ratios from Placostylus shells and whole-rock samples.
• Establish depositional timing for formations like Neds Beach Formation (linked to OIS 5) by analyzing aminozone B data.
• Assess the reliability of AAR dating by checking stratigraphic order of D/L ratios across a suite of seven amino acids.
• Link periods of large dune unit deposition to high sea-level stands using the extended temporal framework revealed by the AAR data.

Strengths

• Data spans a significant time interval from Holocene to Middle Pleistocene.
• Reliability assessed by analyzing multiple samples from individual lithostratigraphic units.
• AAR results are compared with independent U/Th and TL ages for validation.

Limitations

• Sample size and specific row count are unknown.
• Data is presented in an HTML format, which may require extraction for quantitative analysis.
• Geographic scope is limited to Lord Howe Island.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Amino acid racemization (AAR) dating of land snail and whole-rock eolianite samples.

Time Range

Holocene to Middle Pleistocene

Freshness

Record last updated in April 2026.

Geography

Lord Howe Island, Southwest Pacific Ocean