Concurrent 6. Oral Presentation for: Application of elemental chemostratigraphy to refine the stratigraphy of the Adavale Basin, Queensland
Stuart Munday A *A Chemostrat Ltd.
The APPEA Journal 63 - https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ22318
Published: 2 June 2023
Abstract
Presented on Tuesday 16 May: Session 6
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.
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Keywords: Adavale Basin, Boree Salt, Buckabie Formation, Bury Limestone, chemostratigraphy, Devonian, Etonvale Formation, Gumbardo Formation, inorganic geochemistry, Log Creek Formation, stratigraphy.
Stuart Munday has worked as a Senior Geologist for Chemostrat in the Perth office on projects throughout the APAC region for 6 years, before recently re-locating to New Zealand. Prior to this, he was Senior Geologist at New Zealand Oil and Gas but spent most of his career at BG Group, where he worked on various North African assets prior to being posted to QGC in Brisbane. Stuart had worked previously for Roc Oil in the North Sea and at Exploration Consultants Ltd, where his focus was on the basins of sub-Saharan Africa. He has a BSc in Geology, an MSc in Petroleum Geology and is a fellow of the Geological Society of London. |
