Late Triassic Marine Fossils from the Kuta Formation, Papua New Guinea

The Kuta Formation is the youngest known Triassic formation in Papua New Guinea, dated as late Norian or Rhaetian. Fossils identified include the conodont Misikella posthernsteini, the ammonite Arcestes cf. sundaicus, and brachiopods like Clavigera. This dataset from the Australian Ocean Data Network simplifies local stratigraphy interpretation by confirming continuous marine sedimentation from the Middle to Late Triassic.

Use Cases

• Dating Late Triassic marine sediments based on conodont, mollusc, and brachiopod assemblages.
• Analyzing Tethyan provincial biogeography based on fossil assemblages with a noted exception (Clavigera).
• Studying stratigraphic continuity in Papua New Guinea based on the confirmed age range from Anisian to Rhaetian.
• Identifying specific fossil species like Misikella posthernsteini or Arcestes cf. sundaicus for taxonomic research.

Strengths

• Provides a positive late Norian or Rhaetian age for the Kuta Formation, resolving previous dating uncertainties.
• Includes identified key fossil species such as Misikella posthernsteini and Arcestes cf. sundaicus for analysis.
• Contributes to understanding of continuous marine Triassic sedimentation in Papua New Guinea from Anisian to Rhaetian time.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale analysis.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the specific outcrop on the Kubor Anticline.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Fossil identification and description from limestone deposits.

Time Range

Late Triassic (late Norian to Rhaetian)

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-27 18:44:37.480253; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Kubor Anticline, Central Highlands, Papua New Guinea