Fairfield Group Geology in the Canning Basin, Western Australia

The Australian Ocean Data Network hosts data from a geological survey of the Fairfield Group in the Canning Basin. The dataset likely contains petrographic, palaeontological, and geochemical samples collected from Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous outcrops during fieldwork in 1972. It covers a 160 km long belt along the Napier and Oscar Ranges and other areas near Fitzroy Crossing.

Use Cases

• Stratigraphic correlation based on detailed conodont and fossil data mentioned in the description
• Geochemical analysis of limestone and shale sequences based on collected sample data
• Mapping geological formations based on measured sections and air photograph mapping described
• Studying sedimentary basin evolution based on thickness and rock type descriptions for the Ordovician to Cainozoic periods

Strengths

• Based on detailed fieldwork involving 30 measured sections and approximately 500 samples
• Covers a significant geological area along a 160 km transect and other ranges
• Associated with published reports on limestone distinction, conodonts, and geochemistry

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to data_gov_au, focusing on specific outcrop areas

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

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

Time Range

Fieldwork conducted May-August 1972; geological time range covers Ordovician to Cainozoic periods.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-23 03:53:32.347733; freshness should be verified

Geography

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