Organic-Walled Microfossil Study from Barnicarndy 1 Well in Canning Basin

A palynological reconnaissance study analyzes acid-resistant organic-walled microfossils from 42 core samples taken from the Lower Ordovician Nambeet Formation in the Barnicarndy 1 stratigraphic well. The study, conducted by Geoscience Australia, assesses microfossil yield, preservation, and utility for regional and international correlation of the Lower Ordovician section. It identifies a diverse suite of microfossils including acritarchs, cryptospores, and chitinozoans.

Use Cases

• Correlate Lower Ordovician rock units using identified acritarch species like Rhopaliophora pilata and Athabascaella playfordii for regional and international stratigraphy.
• Assess thermal maturity of organic matter by analyzing the color range (brown to black) of palynomorphs within core samples.
• Study the evolution of early land plants and marine groups through the presence and preservation states of cryptospores and chitinozoans.
• Evaluate microfossil yield and preservation quality (poor to good) across the 42 samples to understand depositional environment conditions.

Strengths

• Analysis based on 42 physical core samples from a fully cored stratigraphic well.
• Documents a diverse suite of microfossil types including acritarchs, cryptospores, chitinozoans, and cyanobacteria.
• Includes digital images of all identified microfossil types for visual reference.
• Enables correlation with previously studied assemblages from the Nambeet Formation in other wells.

Limitations

• Microfossil yield per sample is mostly low, limiting statistical analysis.
• Preservation states range from poor (fragmentary/distorted) to good, often mixed within a single sample.
• No palynomorphs were recovered from other intersected formations (Barnicarndy, Yapukarninjarra, Yeneena), leaving their ages undated by this method.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data, part of the Exploring for the Future program.

Collection Method

Palynological study of acid-resistant organic-walled microfossils from core samples.

Time Range

Lower Ordovician (Late Tremadocian–early Floian).

Freshness

Data record last updated in March 2026.

Geography

Barnicarndy 1 well, Barnicarndy Graben, Canning Basin, Western Australia.