Late Triassic Fossils from the Kuta Formation, Papua New Guinea

Fossil identifications from the Kuta Formation, a limestone deposit in the Central Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The data positively dates the formation as late Norian or Rhaetian (Late Triassic) based on conodonts, molluscs, and brachiopods. This dating clarifies the local stratigraphy, indicating marine Triassic sedimentation in the region likely lasted from the Anisian to the Rhaetian.

Use Cases

• Refine Late Triassic biostratigraphic timelines based on identified conodont and ammonite species.
• Study Tethyan provincial biogeography based on the described fossil assemblage with a New Zealand/New Caledonian component.
• Correlate marine sedimentation events in Papua New Guinea based on the described stratigraphic interpretation.

Strengths

• Includes specific fossil identifications, such as the conodont Misikella posthernsteini and the ammonite Arcestes cf. sundaicus.
• Provides a definitive late Norian or Rhaetian age for the Kuta Formation, resolving previous dating uncertainties.
• The description outlines a clear stratigraphic interpretation for Triassic sedimentation in Papua New Guinea.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data may reflect geographic/temporal bias inherent to data_gov_au.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia Data

Time Range

Late Triassic (late Norian or Rhaetian)

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-20 03:23:16.936523; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Kubor Anticline, Central Highlands, Papua New Guinea