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OFR 151.pdf - CRC LEME

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due to orographic uplift of moist air masses whilst conditions in the lowlands were relatively<br />

warm (possibly upper mesotherm) and with a stronger seasonal bias.<br />

3. Officer Basin<br />

Probable Middle-Late Eocene microfloras from Poynton Creek-2 borehole (Officer Basin),<br />

include Proteacidites pachypolus (Backhouse 1986).<br />

4. Norseman District<br />

Diverse Nothofagus (Brassospora)-Casuarinaceae dominated microfloras preserved in fluvial<br />

sediments at the base of palaeochannels in the Norseman area, are similar to those found in<br />

the Bremer and Eucla Basins (Backhouse 1978, 1989, M.K. Macphail unpubl. results). Intact<br />

anther sacs (from intact flowers) confirm the local presence of Nothofagus and other taxa such<br />

as Anacardiaceae and Proteaceae (Proteacidites pachypolus) in the riparian flora.<br />

5. Eucla Basin<br />

Exceptionally diverse (up to 200 identifiable taxa) microfloras of Middle Nothofagidites<br />

asperus Zone Equivalent age are preserved in marginal marine facies in the Werrillup<br />

Formation in south-west Western Australia and on the eastern margin of the basin (Crae-2,<br />

Ooldea Range-6) in south-west South Australia (Stover and Partridge 1982, Milne 1988,<br />

Alley and Benbow 1989, Alley and Beecroft 1993). Cookson (1954) and Balme and<br />

Churchill (1959) have recorded probable Late Eocene Nothofagus (Brassospora)-<br />

Casuarinaceae dominated microfloras in marine-influenced facies in the Nornalup-Denmark<br />

and Coolgardie districts, respectively.<br />

Palynological dominance is shared between Nothofagus (Brassospora) spp. (up to 60%) and<br />

Casuarinaceae (up to 35%), associated with significant relative abundances of Dacrydium (up<br />

to 16%), Lagarostrobos (up to 8%), Podocarpus-Prumnopitys (up to 10%), Euphorbiaceae<br />

(up to 8%), Myrtaceae (up to 12%), Proteaceae (up to 10%), Restionaceae (up to 12%),<br />

Trimeniaceae (up to 6%) and Xylomelum occidentale-type (up to 8%). Rare to sporadically<br />

frequent taxa include: Sphagnum, Lycopodiaceae, Cyathea, Dicksonia, Pteris, Araucariaceae<br />

(Araucaria, Agathis), Ephedra, Podocarpaceae (Dacrycarpus, Halocarpus, Microcachrys,<br />

Phyllocladus, Podosporites), Anacardiaceae, Anacolosa (Anacolosidites sectus), Ascarina,<br />

Caesalpinaceae, Cunoniaceae (including Gillbeea), Cupanieae, Cyperaceae, Didymelaceae,<br />

Ericales, Ilex, Liliaceae, Loranthaceae (Gothanipollis, Tricolpites thomasii), Meliaceae<br />

(Dysoxylum), Mimosaceae (Archidendron-type), Myrtaceae (including Eucalyptus and<br />

?Eugenia), Nothofagus (Fuscospora), N. (Lophozonia) spp., Onagraceae, Pandanaceae<br />

(Freycinetia), Poaceae, Phormium, Polygalaceae, Rubiaceae (Canthium, Coprosma),<br />

Santalum, Sapotaceae, Sparganiaceae (Aglaoreidia), Strasburgeriaceae, and very diverse<br />

Proteaceae (including Banksia/Dryandra, Beauprea, Musgraveinae, Telopea). A number of<br />

these do not appear in southeastern Australia until Early Oligocene time, e.g. Archidendrontype<br />

and Onagraceae. Most have NLRs in warm temperate rainforest to tropical montane<br />

(mesotherm) vegetation types.<br />

Inferred Climate<br />

The combined evidence indicates relatively cool (lower mesotherm) climates with probable<br />

high year round high humidity.<br />

3.2.5 Central southern Australia<br />

Sparse Middle to Late Eocene microfloras are preserved in offshore wells in the Duntroon<br />

Basin. More diverse microfloras are preserved in marginal marine facies at Venus Bay (Polda<br />

236

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