Geology of the Fairfield Group in the Canning Basin, Western Australia

The Canning Basin in Western Australia covers approximately 450,000 km². This dataset contains geological field data from the Fairfield Group, collected during a 1972 joint survey by the Bureau of Mineral Resources and the Western Australian Geological Survey. It includes petrographic, palaeontological, and geochemical samples from Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous outcrops.

Use Cases

• Stratigraphic correlation and mapping based on described rock sequences of limestone, shale, and sandstone.
• Analyzing basin evolution and depositional environments from described Devonian reef carbonates and evaporites.
• Conducting geochemical or petrological studies using the collected sample suite.
• Resolving formal stratigraphy and unconformity debates mentioned in the historical work.

Strengths

• Fieldwork involved measuring 30 detailed stratigraphic sections.
• Approximately 500 samples were collected for petrological, palaeontological, and geochemical analysis.
• Data is associated with published reports on limestone distinction, conodonts, and geochemistry.

Limitations

• Row count and specific column definitions are unknown.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data freshness should be verified as the last update is listed as 2026-04-30.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Collection Method

Field mapping on air photographs at 1:80,000 scale, with sections measured and samples collected at intervals of 1.5 meters or more.

Time Range

Fieldwork conducted May-August 1972; data pertains to Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous geological periods.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-30 15:01:36.646152; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Canning Basin, Western Australia, specifically areas near Fitzroy Crossing, the Napier and Oscar Ranges, Horseshoe and Burramundi Ranges, and Red Bluffs.