Sedimentation cycles in the cretaceous and cenozoic of Western Australia

Abstract

There have been eight major marine transgressions on the western margin of Australia since the Late Santonian. These are equated with sea-level highs which are believed to be worldwide. Of the several mechanisms for sea-level control which have been proposed, the one favoured here is that of variation in the rate of sea-floor spreading. Such variation does not need to be world wide itself to have a worldwide effect. The sediments formed during the sedimentation cycles resulting from the transgressions are unconformity-bounded stratigraphie units, the units of seismic stratigraphy. The concept of worldwide sea-level highs may be of considerable value in interregional correlation and has important consequences for the evolution of shallow water marine organisms and those immediately above sea level.