Application of elemental chemostratigraphy to refine the stratigraphy of the Adavale Basin, Queensland
David Riley A * , Tim Pearce A , Morven Davidson A , Eva Sirantoine B , Chris Lewis
C and Carmine Wainman C
A Chemostrat Ltd, Welshpool, Powys, UK.
B Chemostrat Australia Pty, Perth, WA, Australia.
C Geoscience Australia, 101 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Symonston, ACT 2609, Australia.
The APPEA Journal 63 207-219 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ22108
Submitted: 20 December 2022 Accepted: 14 February 2023 Published: 11 May 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of APPEA. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY)
Abstract
A prerequisite to understanding the evolution and resource potential of a basin is to establish a reliable stratigraphic framework that enables the correlation of rock units across multiple depocentres. Establishing a stratigraphic model for the Adavale Basin is challenging due to its structurally complexity, lack of well penetration and its lateral changes in facies. Biostratigraphy appears broad-scale, and despite providing chronostratigraphic control for the Lower Devonian Gumbardo Formation when combined with U/Pb zircon geochronology, the rest of the Devonian succession is hampered by a lack of microfossil assemblages and their poor preservation. The aim of this study is to establish an independent chemostratigraphic correlation across the Adavale Basin using whole rock inorganic geochemistry. Within this study, a total of 1489 cuttings samples from 10 study wells were analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry and Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometry for whole rock geochemistry, in order to establish an independent chemostratigraphic zonation scheme. Based on key elemental ratios selected to reflect changes in feldspars, clay minerals and provenance, the Devonian-aged stratigraphy is characterised into four chemostratigraphic mega-sequences that encompass the Gumbardo Formation (Mega-sequence 1); the Eastwood Formation, the Log Creek Formation and the Lissoy Sandstone (Mega-sequence 2); the Bury Limestone and the Boree Salt formations (Mega-sequence 3); and the Etonvale and the Buckabie formations (Mega-sequence 4). These mega-sequences have been further subdivided into a series of chemostratigraphic sequences that can be correlated across the study wells, establishing a regional correlation framework.
Keywords: Adavale Basin, Boree Salt, Buckabie Formation, Bury Limestone, chemostratigraphy, Devonian, Etonvale Formation, Gumbardo Formation, inorganic geochemistry, Log Creek Formation, stratigraphy.
David Riley completed a MGeol and PhD from the University of Leicester, UK, and joined Chemostrat Ltd as a Chemostratigrapher in October 2012. Since joining Chemostrat Ltd, he has worked on projects from eastern Canada, UK North Sea, Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia. In 2022, he became Chemostrat Ltd Stratigraphy Manager, providing technical oversight on all chemostratigraphic studies. He is also a Fellow of the Geological Society of London. |
Tim Pearce completed his BSc from the University of Liverpool and his PhD from the Kingston University. Shortly after founding the company Chemostat Ltd., Chemostrat Ltd later became Hafren Scientific, a group of companies developing innovative technologies in geological sources primarily focused on the energy sector. Tim is currently the CEO of the Hafren group, including Chemostrat Australia Pty. Ltd. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London and a member of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. |
Morven Davidson graduated with a MESci Geology in 2019 from the University of Liverpool. Her master’s research project focussed on the tectonic history and microstructural study of peridotites from NW Italy. She initially worked for Chemostrat Ltd as a Junior Geotech, conducting a range of laboratory analysis, including benchtop X-ray fluorescence (XRF), handheld XRF and magnetic susceptibility to support the work of the geological team. Following this, she spent 1 year working as a Mudlogger in the North Sea (UK) before re-joining Chemostrat as a Junior Geologist and has worked on projects from Australia, Middle East and UK North Sea. |
Eva Sirantoine graduated with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Earth Sciences, from Ecole Normale Superieure (Lyon) in 2013 and went on to complete a Master of Science, majoring in Earth Sciences in 2015 from Ecole Normale Superieure, specialising in Palaeontology, Sedimentology and Palaeoenvironments. In 2016, Eva completed a Master of Education, Biology and Geology from Ecole Normale Superieure, Lyon, and went on to teach secondary school biology and geology at Lycee Saint Exupery. From 2017 to 2022, Eva completed her PhD at The University of Western Australia. In May 2022, Eva joined Chemostrat Australia Pty. Ltd as a Geologist. Eva is a Committee Member of the Geological Society of Australia, WA branch, Equity and Diversity chair. She is a member of the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia. |
Chris Lewis holds a BSc from the University of Adelaide. Since joining Geoscience Australia in 2010, Chris has held numerous positions across the scientific and professional areas of the organisation. Chris is the current Director of Regional Geology and Drilling at Geoscience Australia. His technical background is on the use of geochronology and isotope geochemistry to aid in understanding the paleogeographic and stratigraphic evolution of the Earth. Chris has undertaken studies across most Australian states and territories as well as within the offshore areas of Australia’s exclusive economic zone. |
Carmine Wainman holds a MSci in Geology from the University of Southampton and a PhD in Geosciences from the University of Adelaide. His professional expertise includes sedimentology, stratigraphy, palynology and basin analysis. He currently works at Geoscience Australia as a Basin Analyst in the Minerals, Energy and Groundwater Division. Carmine has over 9 years of industry and research experience both in Australia and the UK, including with the RSK Group, Woodside Energy and the University of Adelaide. Carmine also participated on the International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 369 in late 2017, investigating Australian Cretaceous climate and tectonics, and he is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London. |
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