Western Margin Of Australia Research Articles

Estimating the relationship between South China and Gondwana based on big data analysis

The situation of South China within the ancient continent Gondwana remains a topic of discussion and controversy. The reconstruction of South China's linking to East Gondwana is crucial for understanding the evolutionary history of the Gondwana breakup, the growth of Asia, and the development of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean. Based on the newly established database of detrital zircons (https://repository.deep-time.org), this study integrates UPb age dating and Hf isotope analysis of detrital zircons from Early Paleozoic strata in South China. The aim is to investigate potential sources, provenance, and reconstruct its tectono-paleogeography during the early Paleozoic on the northeast margin of Gondwana. The UPb age distributions from detrital zircon populations predominantly reveal peaks in the Paleoproterozoic, Mid/Neoproterozoic, and Early Paleozoic eras, ca. 2480, 960, 830, 520, and 440 Ma, with a minor peak at approximately 1750 Ma. The significant temporal shift in the major age populations from approximately 2480 to 440 Ma reveals the global continental crustal growth of South China through a sequence of subduction and collision processes. These geodynamic processes contributed to the development of the mid-Paleozoic Kwangsian intraplate orogeny in the late early Paleozoic (ca. 440 Ma) in South China, ultimately leading to the final assembly of Gondwana. The latter orogeny is marked by regional unconformity between pre-Devonian and Devonian strata, accompanied by prevalent magmatic and metamorphic events. These earliest Proterozoic and mid-Paleozoic detrital zircon grains match with ages from India- Tethyan Himalaya region, but different from those from East Antarctica, western margin of Australia and Lhasa Block where Australia and India were detached by the Kuunga Ocean, suggesting assembly and paleogeographical constraints of South China. It fully shows that South China is located on the northeast margin of the Indian during early Paleozoic, which is of great significance for the reconstruction of the tectonic paleogeography of the continent.

Variations in weathering conditions related to sea level changes during the Albian-Santonian interval in the Western Australian margin as evidenced by clay minerals and Nd/Sr isotopes

The Albian-Santonian interval (∼113–83 Ma) is a key interval for Cretaceous climatic and environmental changes. This interval is associated to a rise in sea level until the Late Cenomanian (∼ 94 Ma) and to a progressive increase in oceanic temperatures, leading to consider the Late Cenomanian-Santonian interval (∼ 94–83 Ma) as the warmest period of the last 200 Myr. While the Albian-Santonian interval has been well studied in the Northern Hemisphere, the climatic and environmental variations and their consequences on weathering conditions are less documented of the Southern Hemisphere, especially in mid and high latitudes. To better understanding the evolution of weathering conditions, associated to continental climate and sea level changes during this key period, an integrated study, based on a coupled mineralogical and geochemical approach, was carried out on the clay-sized (< 2 μm) fraction from sediments of International Ocean Discovery Program Site U1513 (Mentelle Basin, South-western Australia) and Oceanic Drilling Program Site 763 (Carnarvon Basin, North-western Australia). To determinate variations in weathering conditions, the mineral assemblages of the clay fraction was determined by X-ray diffraction and observed for selected samples by electron microscopy. To identify sources of clay minerals, the concentrations of major and selected trace elements, including rare earth elements, together with strontium and neodymium isotopic measurements were performed on the clay-sized fraction. The X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that clay fraction is dominated by R0-type illite/smectite mixed-layers (smectites), followed by variable proportions of illites, kaolinites for both sites and only on Site 763 of palygorskites. These clay minerals are associated with opal and clinoptilolites. Electron microscopy observations have highlighted the dominance of detrital fleecy smectites but also the occurrence of recrystallized lathed smectites and volcanogenic folded smectites for Site U1513, and authigenesis of clay minerals, associated to palygorskites especially on Turonian to Santonian deposits for Site 763. This authigenesis, confirmed by negative cerium anomaly, is also carried by other minerals in the clay-sized fraction (e.g., clinoptilolites, barite). These different authigenic minerals record a seawater-derived isotopic signature. Therefore, isotopic compositions of the clay-sized fraction reflect a mix between a continental contribution, carried by detrital clay minerals and marine one, supported by authigenic minerals, which complicates the identification of sediment sources. However, despite this, our study demonstrates the major influence of sea level variations on mineralogical variations from Albian to Cenomanian in Western margin of Australia. The decrease in kaolinite proportions at Site U1513 from the Albian to the end of the Cenomanian, is probably related to the increase of sea level, which cause a decrease in detrital inputs in the Mentelle Basin associated with a decrease of weathering and drainage conditions. The progressive sea level rise has also enhanced the effect of the differential settling process of clay minerals by the deposition of coarse clays (e.g., kaolinites and illites) on the continental shelf. Kaolinite-bearing clay deposits, derived from the weathering of the Western Australian Craton during the Albian-Cenomanian times, have been progressively substituted from the Turonian by a carbonate sedimentation, for which the terrigenous component consists only of rare detrital and volcanogenic smectites. In Site 763, the occurrence in kaolinite content during the Coniacian would indicate a decrease of differential settling process related to the weathering of the north part of the Western Australia Craton.

Northward Migration of Antarctic Polar Front during the Quaternary: Planktic Foraminiferal Record from Southeast Indian Ocean

The ODP Hole 763A is influenced by the northward-flowing cold West Australian Current (WAC) and Southward flowing warm Leeuwin Current (LC). LC is a branch of the South Equatorial Current (SEC), which brings relatively warmer waters from the tropical Pacific Ocean into the Indian Ocean via Indonesian Throughflow (ITF). The modern planktic foraminiferal fauna thrives along the western margin of Australia. It consists mainly of warm water assemblages brought by the LC. The present study provides planktic foraminiferal census data from ODP Hole 763A, influenced by the LC and WAC, to document the history of cold water influence at the site during the quaternary. The northward migration of the Antarctic Polar Front (APF) and resultant intensification of the cold West Australian Current have been inferred based on the dramatic increase in the relative abundance of temperate water species group Globoconella at Hole 763A situated in the low latitude region. The Quaternary planktic foraminiferal census data shows several episodes of invasion of Globoconella. These intervals of high abundance of Globoconella group have been attributed to the intensification of WAC, probably due to Antarctic ice volume expansion and resultant northward migration of the APF at 0.05 Ma, 0.2 Ma, 0.45 Ma, 0.7 Ma and 1.2 Ma. We have documented that the amplitude of fluctuations in cold/warm events has increased after the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT). LC is a heat supplier to the higher latitudes, its weakening during such intervals might have contributed to the ice volume expansion over Antarctica. Thus, the study proposes that the Antarctic ice cap formation creates a positive feedback mechanism by lowering sea level, reduced strength of LC due to a decrease in ITF and less heat supply towards the South Pole. All these phenomena add to further cooling.

Geochemical evidence for a new Triassic petroleum system on the western margin of Australia

The unexpected discovery of oil in Triassic sedimentary rocks of the Phoenix South 1 well on Australia’s North West Shelf (NWS) has catalysed exploration interest in pre-Jurassic plays in the region. Subsequent neighbouring wells Roc 1–2, Phoenix South 2–3 and Dorado 1–3 drilled between 2015 and 2019 penetrated gas and/or oil columns, with the Dorado field containing one of the largest oil resources found in Australia in three decades. This study aims to understand the source of the oils and gases of the greater Phoenix area, Bedout Sub-basin using a multiparameter geochemical approach. Isotopic analyses combined with biomarker data confirm that these fluids represent a new Triassic petroleum system on the NWS unrelated to the Lower Triassic Hovea Member petroleum system of the Perth Basin. The Bedout Sub-basin fluids were generated from source rocks deposited in paralic environments with mixed type II/III kerogen, with lagoonal organofacies exhibiting excellent liquids potential. The Roc 1–2 gases and the Phoenix South 1 oil are likely sourced proximally by Lower–Middle Triassic TR10–TR15 sequences. Loss of gas within the Phoenix South 1 fluid due to potential trap breach has resulted in the formation of in-place oil. These discoveries are testament to new hydrocarbon plays within the Lower–Middle Triassic succession on the NWS.

A new Laubieriellus species (Annelida, Spionidae) from Western Australia

A new annelid species within the Prionospio- complex (Spionidae), Laubieriellus cacatua sp. nov., is described from material collected from the continental slope off the western margin of Australia. Laubieriellus cacatua sp. nov. is distinguished by having dorsal crests from chaetigers 6 to 11 and ventral crests on chaetigers 2 to 11. Neuropodial hooded hooks are present from chaetiger 10, with 2 pairs of apical teeth above the main tooth. Ventral sabre chaetae are present from chaetiger 10. This is the first record of Laubieriellus in Australia.

Structure of the lithosphere of the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean according to results of two-dimensional structural-density modeling

From a gravitational field analysis, the lithosphere was regionalized and a structural schematic map of the eastern part of the Indian Ocean was compiled. The area adjacent to the western margin of Australia was studied. The region is characterized by a complex lithospheric structure. It includes heterogeneous blocks of varying age, framed by structures with different morphological and geophysical expression and varying genesis. To clarify the peculiarities of tectonic structures of various genetic types, structural-density modeling was performed. This made it possible to establish certain gravimetric indicators characteristic of structures of various genesis.

Constraining the age and origin of the seamount province in the Northeast Indian Ocean using geophysical techniques

The breakup of western margin of Australia from Greater India started around 155 Ma and progressed southwards. After the separation, the interceding intraplate region experienced large volumes of submarine volcanism, extending over 100 Myrs. The Christmas Island Seamount Province (CHRISP, as it has been dubbed) lies south of the Java-Sunda Trench, and contains numerous submerged volcanic seamounts, and two sub-aerially exposed island groups—Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Christmas Island. While recent geochronological investigations have shed light on the diverse eruption ages of the volcanics of this region, some islands/seamounts have demonstrated protracted volcanic histories, and it is not clear how the volcanic loading, tectonic subsidence, and subsequent emergence history of the islands relates to these discrete volcanic episodes. This study utilises a number of geophysical techniques to determine the crustal structure, loading and subsidence history, and last sub-aerial exposure age for the CHRISP. The study shows that flexural and subsidence modelling are reliable techniques in constraining the age of the seamounts when geochronological techniques are not possible. Utilising regional gravity signatures, we model the crustal structure underneath the Cocos (Keeling) Island, and constrain the thickness of the limestone cover between 900 and 2,100 m. Using age-depth subsidence curves for oceanic lithosphere the time since these seamounts were exposed above sea-level was determined, and a trend in exposure ages that youngs towards the west is observed. Two episodes of volcanism have been recorded at Christmas Island and they are of different origin. The younger phase in the Pliocene is a manifestation of flexure induced cracks produced in the lithosphere as it rides the subduction fore-bulge, whereas a low velocity seismic zone rising from the lower mantle, and tectonic reorganization, may be associated with the older Eocene volcanic phase, as well as much of the rest of the province. Our modelling also supports the existence of an older, undated volcanic core to Christmas Island, based on the loading ages from flexural modelling.

Latest Carboniferous (Late Gzhelian) Fusulinids from Timor Leste and their Paleobiogeographic Affinities

An uppermost Gzhelian bioherm discovered in the central highlands of Timor Leste contains abundant foraminifera belonging to 17 genera. Representatives of the families Biseriamminidae, Biwaellidae, Bradyinidae, Cornuspiridae, Lasiodiscidae, Palaeotextulariidae, Pseudotaxidae, Ozawainellidae, Schubertellidae, Schwagerinidae, Staffellidae and Textrataxidae are present, including 21 species referred to known types and 12 species left in open nomenclature. Two new Schwagerina species are described: Schwagerina timorensis new species, and Schwagerina maubissensis new species. The assemblage belongs to the uppermost Gzhelian Schwagerina robusta–Ultradaixina bosbytauensis Zone although a possible lowest Asselian correlation cannot be excluded (the name Ultradaixina is controversial and sometimes synonymized as Bosbytauella. The case to resolve this issue has been submitted to the Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature). The bioherm is the oldest carbonate unit so far recorded from the Maubisse Formation and the oldest sedimentary unit biostratigraphically dated in Timor. This discovery has implications for the latest Carboniferous–earliest Permian climate history of Timor that lay in the northern part of the north-south East Gondwana rift system along which the western margin of Australia later developed. The highest peak in fusulinid diversity within the Pennsylvanian–Cisuralian interval and a major marine transgression documented in many regions in Northern Pangaea took place during the latest Gzhelian to earliest Asselian and evidence for this is now extended to southern Pangaea. Cluster analysis, using the Jaccard similarity index at species level, of late Gzhelian fusulinids from 16 regions has been performed. This shows that the Timor fauna is most closely related to faunas from South China and the Changning-Menlian region of Yunnan (China). The assemblages here are distinct from those of three biogeographic regions (Arctic, Uralo-Asian and Irano-Taurids) recognized within the Tropical belt.

A latest Carboniferous warming spike recorded by a fusulinid-rich bioherm in Timor Leste: Implications for East Gondwana deglaciation

During the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic Timor lay in the northern part of the north–south East Gondwana rift system along which the western margin of Australia later developed. Discovery of a latest Gzhelian bioherm in the central highlands of Timor Leste has implications for latest Carboniferous–earliest Permian climate history and deglaciation in basins further south in the rift system.Limestone outcrop of the Maubisse Formation near the village of Kulau is recognized as a bioherm with a massive lower unit, including reef framework at the base, and a bedded grainstone upper unit. The bioherm developed on a basalt substrate in warm shallow-water, as indicated by photozoan assemblages in the massive lower unit. Foraminifera belonging to 17 genera are recorded from the bioherm. These include representatives of the families Biseriamminidae, Biwaellidae, Bradyinidae, Cornuspiridae, Lasiodiscidae, Palaeotextulariidae, Pseudotaxidae, Ozawainellidae, Schubertellidae, Schwagerinidae, Staffellidae and Textrataxidae. Twenty-one species have been referred to known types and 12 species are left in open nomenclature. The assemblage probably belongs within the uppermost Gzhelian Schwagerina robusta–Ultradaixina bosbytauensis Zone although a possible lowest Asselian correlation cannot be excluded. The bioherm is the oldest carbonate unit so far recorded from the Maubisse Formation, and the oldest sedimentary unit biostratigraphically dated in Timor.The dominantly heterozoan composition of the skeletal component of the limestone (except for the basal photozoan assemblage) and the taxonomic diversity of the larger foraminifera suggest a subtropical environment consistent with a paleolatitude of about 40° S. The late Pennsylvanian was a time of glaciation that in Australia is represented by a significant stratigraphic hiatus in basins to the south of Timor in the East Gondwana rift system. The development of the Kulau bioherm during the latest Gzhelian may have coincided with a global warming spike that led to rapid melting of continental ice sheets and a substantial influx of glacigene sediment (alternating diamictite and mudstone) in the southern basins.

Intra-seasonal and inter-annual variations in phytoplankton biomass, primary production and bacterial production at North West Cape, Western Australia: Links to the 1997–1998 El Niño event

Phytoplankton biomass, community and size structure, primary production and bacterial production were measured at shelf and continental slope sites near North West Cape, Western Australia (20.5°S–22.5°S) over two summers (October–February 1997–1998 and 1998–1999), and in April 2002. The North West Cape region is characterized by upwelling-favorable, southwesterly winds throughout the summer. Surface outcropping of upwelled water is suppressed by the geostrophic pressure gradients and warm low-density surface waters of the southward flowing Leeuwin Current. Strong El Niño (ENSO) conditions (SOI <0) prevailed through the summer of 1997–1998 which resulted in lower sea levels along the northwestern Australian coast and a weaker Leeuwin Current. La Niña conditions prevailed during the 1998–1999 summer and in April 2002. During the summer of 1997–1998, the North West Cape region was characterized by a shallower thermocline (nutricline), resulting in larger euphotic zone stocks of inorganic nitrogen and silicate over the continental slope. There was evidence for episodic intrusions of upper thermocline waters and the sub-surface chlorophyll maximum onto the outer continental shelf in 1997–1998, but not in 1998–1999. Pronounced differences in phytoplankton biomass, community size structure and productivity were observed between the summers of 1997–1998 and 1998–1999 despite general similarities in irradiance, temperature and wind stress. Phytoplankton primary production and bacterial production were 2- to 4-fold higher during the summer of 1997–1998 than in 1998–1999, while total phytoplankton standing crop increased by<2-fold. Larger phytoplankton (chiefly diatoms in the >10 μm size fraction) made significant contributions to phytoplankton standing crop and primary production during the summer of 1997–1998, but not 1998–1999. Although there were no surface signs of upwelling, primary production rates near North West Cape episodically reached levels (3–8 g C m −2 day −1) characteristic of eastern boundary Ekman upwelling zones elsewhere in the world. Bacterial production (0.006–1.2 g C m −2 day −1) ranged between 0.6 and 145 percent (median=19 percent) of concurrent primary production. The observed differences between years and within individual summers suggest that variations in the Leeuwin Current driven by seasonal or ENSO-related changes in the Indonesian throughflow region may have episodic, but significant influences on pelagic productivity along the western margin of Australia.

Volcanic margin formation and Mesozoic rift propagators in the Cuvier Abyssal Plain off Western Australia

The western margin of Australia is characterized by synrift and postrift magmatism which is not well understood. A joint interpretation of magnetic anomaly, satellite gravity anomaly and seismic data from the Cuvier Abyssal Plain and margin shows that the breakup between India and Australia started circa 136 Ma (M14) and was followed by two rift propagation events which transferred portions of the Indian Plate to the Australian Plate. Post breakup magmatism continued with the emplacement of the Wallaby and Zenith plateaus (∼17–18 km thick at their centers) along a transform margin. Two narrow magmatic edifices adjacent to the Wallaby Plateau (Sonne and Sonja ridges) represent an extinct ridge and a pseudofault, respectively. They formed by excess volcanism, probably by lateral migration of buoyant melt along upside‐down crustal drainage channels from the melt source underneath the Wallaby Plateau. In a mantle plume scenario a small plume (∼400 km diameter) located underneath the rift could have locally uplifted the Bernier Platform and Exmouth Sub‐basin in the Early Cretaceous and left a track consistent with the azimuth of the Wallaby and Zenith plateaus. In this case, ridge‐plume interaction would have caused two consecutive ridge propagation events towards the plume while the ridge moved away from the hotspot. The abrupt end of the hotspot track west of the Zenith Plateau would be a consequence of the accelerating south‐eastward motion of the spreading ridge relative to the mantle after 120 Ma, leaving the mantle plume underneath the Indian Plate. An alternative nonmantle‐plume scenario is based on the observation that between breakup and chron M0 (∼120 Ma) the ocean crust in the southern Cuvier Abyssal Plain was formed while the spreading ridge abutted Indian continental crust. Small‐scale convection may have been initiated during rifting in the Early Cretaceous and maintained until the Wallaby‐Zenith ridge‐transform intersection passed by the eastern edge of Indian continental crust at chron M0.

The structure of the Easter Platform, Houtman Abrolhos reefs: Pleistocene foundations and Holocene reef growth

Seismic reflection profiles have been used to expand an evolutionary model developed from a drilling and dating program of the Easter Platform, one of three shelf-edge coral reef platforms on the western margin of Australia. The Houtman Abrolhos reefs are surrounded by an open shelf which is mantled by cool-water carbonate sediments, and exist in a temperate-tropical transition zone, in conditions which are close to the limits for coral reef development. The Easter Platform has distinct windward and leeward reefs, and a lagoon divided by a central platform consisting of several small islands. Reef limestones of the central platform are calcretised, and are Last Interglacial in age, whilst the windward and leeward reefs, and associated “blue-hole” and reticulate reef terrains, are Holocene features. Seismic investigations indicate that Holocene reef growth was strongly asymmetrical about the antecedent Last Interglacial reef platform. The windward reef front is dominated by relict reef morphology, and relatively thin (ca. 9 m or less) Holocene reefs have recolonised the windward margin of the antecedent platform at the site of the present-day windward reef. Most Holocene reef growth took place on the lee-side of the antecedent platform, and colonised an essentially flat surface at SL −40 m, which has been seismically identified as the Last Interglacial surface. Up to 40 m of interpreted Holocene reef overlies this monotonous surface, throughout the leeward reef and associated “blue-hole” and reticulate reef terrains, demonstrating that the antecendent surface has had little influence on the processes and morphology of Holocene reef construction. In addition to the Last Interglacial reflector, three deeper subparallel reflectors at SL −46 m, −52 m and −60 m, interpreted to represent calcrete horizons, are present beneath the leeward lagoon and leeward reef terrains, and are traceable to beneath the adjacent shelf surface. The unconformity-bound sequences so defined are thin (6–8 m) and blanket-like and are likely to be shelfal equivalents of pre-Holocene reef buildup phases found within the central platform.

Pliocene-Pleistocene coastal events and history along the western margin of Australia

Coastal deposits along the western coastal margin of Australia, a region of relative tectonic stability, record Plio-Pleistocene events and processes affecting the inner shelf and adjacent hinterland. Tectonic deformation of these deposits is more apparent in the Carnarvon Basin, and rather less so in the Perth Basin. The most complete record comes from the Perth Basin, where units of Pliocene and Pleistocene ages are well represented. In the Perth Basin, the predominantly siliciclastic Yoganup Formation, Ascot Formation and Bassendean Sand represent a complex of shoreline, inner shelf and regressive-dune facies equivalents, the deposition of which began at an undetermined stage of the Pliocene, through to the Early Pleistocene. The deposition of this sequence closed with a major regression and significant faunal extinction. Bioclastic carbonates characterize the Middle and Late Pleistocene of the Perth and Carnarvon basins. Fossil assemblages include a distinct subtropical element, unknown from the Ascot Formation and suggesting a strengthening of the Leeuwin Current. The estuarine arcoid bivalve Anadara trapezia characterizes assemblages of Oxygen Isotope Stages 5 and 7 in the Perth and Carnarvon basins, where it is now extinct. Deposits of Substage 5e (Perth Basin) also record a southerly expansion of warm-water corals and other fauna consistent with shelf temperatures warmer than present. New uranium-series ages on corals from marine sequences of the Tantabiddi Member, of the Bundera Calcarenite of the western Cape Range are consistent with the ‘double peak’ hypothesis for levels of Substage 5e but the evidence remains less than conclusive. Initial uranium-series dates from the Bibra and Dampier formations of Shark Bay indicate that both derive from the Late Pleistocene. These numerical ages contradict previous interpretations of relative ages obtained from field studies. The age relationship of the units requires further investigation.

Pre-breakup continental extension in East Gondwanaland and the early opening of the eastern Indian Ocean

Extension of continental crust by up to 360 km on a north-northeast azimuth in the Great Australian Bight occurred prior to the Middle Cretaceous (96 Ma) onset of seafloor spreading between Australia and Antarctica. This large amount of continental extension is constrained to the Late Jurassic (≈ 160 Ma)-Middle Cretaceous interval, about a pole estimated to lie about 40° southeastward of southeastern Australia. Using bathymetric data combined with seismic and magnetic determinations of the continent-ocean boundaries off Australia, India and Antarctica, we determine a revised fit of East Gondwanaland prior to continental extension, and at various stages thereafter. In the first stage from 160 to 132.5 Ma (≈ M11), India-Australia rotated from Antarctica with continental crustal extension between Australia and Antarctica and largely transform motion between the Coromandel Coast margin of India and the Kron Prins Olav Kyst margin of Antarctica. In the second stage, from 132.5 to 96 Ma, India rotated northwestward away from Australia-Antarctica, producing M10 and younger magnetic anomalies along the western margin of Australia. Continental extension was greatest between Australia and Antarctica during this stage. The newly determined 132.5-96 Ma rotation between India and Australia provides an improved fit between the orientation of observed M10-M0 magnetic anomalies and the southward decrease in spreading rate off the western Australian margin. Together with bathymetry, the new rotation parameters lead to identification of the abandoned 96 Ma spreading ridge along the Lost Dutchmen and Dirck Hartog ridges. The Naturaliste Fracture Zone is found to lie nearly parallel to the Early Cretaceous transform direction between India and Antarctica suggesting that slow seafloor spreading, required between Australia and Antarctica to accommodate the continental extension further east, occurred between Naturaliste Fracture Zone and the M4-M0 anomalies adjacent to the Naturaliste Plateau. The revised fit of India in East Gondwanaland reduces the eastward extent of Greater India to 95° E but does not change its extent as far north as the Cape Range Fracture Zone. The new pole determined for the Early Cretaceous rotation between India and Australia-Antarctica lies within 15° of the southern tip of India, significantly closer than in previous determinations, thereby reducing the amount of seafloor spreading generated between Africa and Antarctica by the India-Antarctica rotation, and thus offering a possible solution to the perceived spreading-rate problems between M11 and M0 in the Somali, Mozambique and Antarctic basins.

Seafloor constraints on the reconstruction of Gondwanaland

M-series magnetic anomalies in the Mozambique Basin, off Dronning Maud Laud, and off the western margin of Australia, taken with other oceanic evidence, are used to test a new fit of Gondwanaland in which Madagascar adjoins the northern part of the western margin of India, the Falkland Plateau opposes part of Antarctica, and the southern part of South America fits without deformation into the Weddell Sea re-entrant of Antarctica. The first stage of spreading, from 150 m.y. to 125 m.y., is between East and West Gondwanaland, during which Madagascar, as part of East Gondwanaland, rotated half-way to its present position. The second stage, from 125 m.y. to 105 m.y., began with the separation of South America from Africa, and Antarctica-Australia from India-Madagascar, and ended with Madagascar reaching its final position with respect to Africa. In the third stage, from 105 m.y. to just before 90 m.y., spreading continued except between India-Madagascar and Africa which were part of a single plate. A major reorganisation of spreading systems at the end of the third stage saw India separate from Madagascar. In our reconstructions, a slight mismatch between the modelled transform faults and the observed fracture zone on the eastern side of the Dronning Maud set suggests that only small adjustments are required to the new reconstruction of Gondwanaland.

Sedimentation cycles in the cretaceous and cenozoic of Western Australia

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.

Western margin of Australia: Evolution of a rifted arch system: Discussion and reply

Western margin of Australia: Evolution of a rifted arch system: Discussion and reply

Western margin of Australia: Evolution of a rifted arch system: Discussion and reply

No Abstract Available. The article discussed was published in the Bulletin , v. 89, p. 337–355.

Western margin of Australia: Evolution of a rifted arch system

The 4,000-km-long western Australian margin and adjacent ocean floor are probably unique among older (>100 m.y.) passive margins and adjacent oceans in having such a thin ( 4 ) are thus traceable in seismic-reflection profiles across the ocean-continent boundary, and in many places are a continuous surface. Drilling shows that the oldest oceanic crust adjacent to the margin is almost the same age as the oldest part of the continental break-up unconformity. Two types of margin are distinguished by the shape of R 4 : stepped , in which R 4 is offset at the ocean-continent boundary by a long transform fault, and smooth , including the transition from normal ocean floor through oceanic upgrowths, called epiliths, that developed after the start of sea-floor spreading. The marginal plateaus of the western margin originated variously as epiliths or from the post–break-up subsidence of regions that originally lay between rifted arches. After 100 to 150 m.y. of rifting along a multiple rift valley arch system analogous to that of modern East Africa, with concomitant deposition in inter-arch and extra-arch basins, the northwestern margin was initiated by plate divergence 160 m.y. ago (Late Jurassic time) and the southwestern margin 125 m.y. ago (Early Cretaceous time). After break-up, a diachronous clay was deposited on the newly generated sea floor and behind the subsiding continental rim or half-arch (the former rift valley shoulder) in what is called a rim basin. The rim subsided below sea level 30 to 45 m.y. after break-up, and thereafter sediments were dispersed seaward across the entire margin.

Western margin of Australia: A Mesozoic analog of the East African rift system

All the significant preservable geologic features of the modern East African rift system and the preceding Karroo graben system are matched in the western margin of Australia. The match holds over three orders of magnitude, from the length of the systems (measured in 103 km) to the width of individual grabens (50 km). In both regions, triple junctions are a dominant tectonic element and are spaced about 700 km apart. Interrift regions, such as Lake Victoria, are probably destined to become marginal plateaus after continental breakup.