Mesozoic Sediment Palynology from the Great Australian Bight

Palynological investigation of dredged samples from the Bight and Duntroon Basins identifies palynofloras correlating with the Maastrichtian to earliest Paleocene Forcipites longus Zone and the Manumiella druggii Zone. The data, published by the Australian Ocean Data Network, indicates widespread deposition of the upper Potoroo Formation across these offshore basins. Environments ranged from paralic to marine, with evidence of recycled Permian to Cenomanian palynomorphs.

Use Cases

• Correlate sediment age using the Forcipites longus and Manumiella druggii palynomorph zones.
• Map the distribution of the upper Potoroo Formation across the Bight and Duntroon Basins.
• Reconstruct paleoenvironments from paralic to marine based on palynofloral assemblages.
• Identify sediment provenance sources, such as the Ceduna Formation, using Early Cretaceous palynofloras.
• Study the composition of Campanian-Maastrichtian temperate rainforests from palynological evidence.

Strengths

• Identifies specific biostratigraphic zones (Forcipites longus, Manumiella druggii) for age correlation.
• Provides evidence for the widespread geographic extent of the upper Potoroo Formation.
• Includes samples with palynofloras ranging from Santonian to Maastrichtian age.

Limitations

• Sample size is limited, with only two samples noted from each of the Bight and western Duntroon Basins.
• Primary data formats are PDF and HTML reports, not structured data tables.
• Geographic precision is limited to basin-scale interpretations from dredged samples.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Palynological analysis of samples dredged from continental slope and submarine canyon walls during BMR Rig Seismic Cruise 66.

Time Range

Mesozoic, with specific focus on Santonian to Maastrichtian and earliest Paleocene, plus evidence of recycled Permian to Cenomanian material.

Freshness

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Geography

Great Australian Bight area, specifically the offshore Bight and Duntroon Basins, southern Australia.