Reconnaissance study of organic-walled microfossils from Barnicarndy 1, Barnicarndy Graben

42 core samples from the Lower Ordovician Nambeet Formation in Western Australia's Canning Basin were analyzed for acid-resistant organic-walled microfossils. Geoscience Australia's palynological reconnaissance study identified a diverse suite of microfossils including acritarchs, cryptospores, and chitinozoans, with digital images provided. The work aims to assess microfossil yield and preservation for regional and international stratigraphic correlation.

Use Cases

• Biostratigraphic correlation based on identified acritarch species like Rhopaliophora pilata and Athabascaella playfordii.
• Assessing thermal maturity of organic matter based on described palynomorph color variations from brown to black.
• Studying early marine and terrestrial ecosystems based on the described diversity of microfossils including algae, cyanobacteria, and cryptospores.
• Evaluating microfossil preservation states and their causes, such as pyrite crystal growth, as described in the sample analysis.

Strengths

• Includes digital images of all identified microfossil types mentioned in the description.
• Analysis is based on 42 samples taken from a fully cored stratigraphic well section spanning approximately 1080 meters.
• Identifies a diverse suite of microfossils including groups used for international correlation.

Limitations

• Microfossil yield per sample is described as mostly low, and preservation ranges from poor to good.
• Row count and column-level documentation are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to a single well in the Barnicarndy Graben.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Palynological analysis of 42 core samples from the Barnicarndy 1 stratigraphic well.

Time Range

Lower Ordovician

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-20 03:55:21.158489; freshness should be verified.

Geography

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