Quaternary Coastal Carbonate Stratigraphy of Lord Howe Island

Two distinct calcarenite formations on Lord Howe Island record up to seven discrete phases of carbonate deposition. A chronology was constructed using U/Th dating of speleothems and corals, TL dating of dunes and paleosols, AMS 14C, and amino acid racemization. The dataset is provided by the Australian Ocean Data Network and was last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Correlate depositional phases with oxygen isotope stages (OIS) using U/Th ages from speleothems and corals.
• Analyze lithostratigraphic divisions between the Searles Point and Neds Beach Formations based on cement types and paleosol development.
• Reconstruct paleo-shoreline positions by comparing the lateral extent of eolianite deposits with modern dune dimensions.
• Date Middle Pleistocene dune units and paleosols of the Searles Point Formation using thermoluminescence (TL) ages.

Strengths

• Chronology integrates four distinct dating methods: U/Th, TL, AMS 14C, and amino acid racemization.
• Stratigraphy distinguishes up to seven discrete depositional phases within the carbonate record.
• Analysis covers two distinct formations with different cementation and soil development characteristics.

Limitations

• Specific sample sizes, row counts, and data file sizes are unknown.
• Data format is HTML, which may require parsing to extract structured geological data.
• Geographic scope is limited to a single island location in the southwestern Pacific.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Field stratigraphy and laboratory geochronology (U/Th, TL, AMS 14C, amino acid racemization).

Time Range

Middle Pleistocene to late Pleistocene (e.g., Oxygen Isotope Stage 7 through Stage 5).

Freshness

null

Geography

Lord Howe Island, southwestern Pacific Ocean.