Kenn Plateau Geological Structure and Sedimentary History

A geological study describes the Kenn Plateau, a submarine continental fragment with an area of about 140,000 km² located east of Queensland. The data, provided by the Australian Ocean Data Network, details its tectonic origin, sedimentary basins containing several kilometres of sediment, and subsidence of over 2000 meters since the Cretaceous breakup. The record was last updated in April 2026.

Use Cases

• Modeling the plateau's 45-degree clockwise rotation and 2000 m subsidence since the Cretaceous using tectonic event timelines.
• Analyzing sediment thickness in basins described as containing 'several kilometres of sediment' for hydrocarbon potential assessment.
• Studying the distribution of rift volcanics on the northern plateau and Oligocene Tasmantid volcanic chains for hotspot track analysis.
• Correlating regional unconformities, like the Late Paleocene to Early Eocene event, with global sea-level or climatic changes.
• Mapping basement highs and fault structures that cut the plateau into smaller blocks for structural geology interpretations.

Strengths

• Covers a significant geological feature with an area of about 140,000 km².
• Provides a detailed multi-stage tectonic history from the Late Triassic to the Neogene.
• Describes specific geological features like sedimentary basins, volcanic chains, and regional unconformities.

Limitations

• No quantitative data, sample data, or column definitions are provided, limiting machine-readability.
• The primary format is HTML, suggesting the information is presented as a narrative report rather than structured data.
• Spatial data extent and resolution are not specified, preventing precise geospatial analysis.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

null

Time Range

Geological time from Late Triassic to present.

Freshness

null

Geography

Kenn Plateau, Southwest Pacific, approximately 500 km east of central Queensland.