One page article discussing aspects of Australian stratigraphy; this article discusses practical Australian solutions to igneous nomenclature and the indexing of relevant Antarctic units

part-page article on stratigraphic issues

Palaeogrographic analysis of the Early Cretaceous South Perth Supersequence.

part-page item on matters related to the Australian Stratigraphy Commission and the Australian Stratigraphic Units Database. This column explains international connections and reviews several recent relevant articles.

Part- page item on matters related to the Australian Stratigraphy Commission and the Australian Stratigraphic Units Database. This column discusses the usefulness and vulnerability of type sections and reference sections.

The Browse Basin, NW Australia, contains significant hydrocarbon reserves. It was identified as potentially suitable for offshore geological storage of CO2. A sequence stratigraphic analysis of 60 key wells was conducted to improve the understanding of sequence architecture, facies and palaeogeographic evolution of the earliest Campanian to latest Maastrichtian section for CO2 storage assessment.in the Browse Basin. This study provided new insights into sediment source and transport to the basin deep. Well log analysis and seismic interpretation identified submarine fans of the K60 interval as potential CO2 storage targets. In some areas potential lateral connection between submarine fans and the shelf via submarine canyons and channels can limit containment. More detailed investigations at a prospect scale are needed to fully assess sand-body connectivity and CO2 storage potential.

One page article discussing aspects of Australian stratigraphy; this article is about the need for more unit definitions.

Discussion of the uses made of the Australian Stratigraphic units database (ASUD), the sources of data to update it, and issues with maintaining quality. The importance of correct and consistent terminology, and the value of good reviews and editing are highlighted with examples.

Discussion of available stratigraphic resources: the Australian Stratigraphic Units Database (ASUD); documentation of procedures for modifying existing units or establishing new ones; contact details for the Australian Stratigraphy Commission members and ASUD staff. Suggestions on ways of raising awareness through modern media such as a podcast or app, and a request for feedback on what sort of approach might appeal to a university student audience.

The advent of Chemical Abrasion-Isotope Dilution Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (CA-IDTIMS) has revolutionised U-Pb dating of zircon, and the enhanced precision of eruption ages determined on volcanic layers within basin successions permits an improved calibration of biostratigraphic schemes to the numerical timescale. The Guadalupian and Lopingian (Permian) successions in the Sydney, Gunnedah, Bowen and Canning basins are mostly non-marine and include numerous airfall tuff units, many of which contain zircon. The eastern Australian palynostratigraphic scheme provides the basis for much of the local correlation, but the present calibration of this scheme against the numerical timescale depends on a correlation to Western Australia, using rare ammonoids and conodonts in that succession to link to the standard global marine biostratigraphic scheme. High-precision U¿Pb zircon dating of tuff layers via CA-IDTIMS allows this tenuous correlation to be circumvented¿the resulting direct calibration of the palynostratigraphy to the numerical timescale highlights significant inaccuracies in the previous indirect correlation. The new data show: the top of the Praecolpatites sinuosus (APP3.2) Zone lies in the early Roadian, not the middle Kungurian; the top of the Microbaculispora villosa (APP3.3) Zone lies in the middle Roadian, not the early Roadian; the top of the Dulhuntyispora granulata (APP4.1) Zone lies in the Wordian, not in the latest Roadian; the top of the Didecitriletes ericianus (APP4.2) Zone lies in the first half of the Wuchiapingian, not the latest Wordian; the Dulhuntyispora dulhuntyi (APP4.3) Zone is exceptionally short and lies within the Wuchiapingian, not the early Capitanian; and the top of the Dulhuntyispora parvithola (APP5) Zone lies at or near the Permo-Triassic boundary, not in the latest Wuchiapingian.