OFR 151.pdf - CRC LEME
OFR 151.pdf - CRC LEME
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 />
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