OFR 151.pdf - CRC LEME
OFR 151.pdf - CRC LEME
OFR 151.pdf - CRC LEME
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4. TIME SLICE T-4<br />
Age Range: Oligocene-Middle Miocene [33.7-11.2 Ma]<br />
Zones: Upper Nothofagidites asperus to Canthiumidites bellus Zones<br />
Phthanoperidinium comatum and informal Oligospheridium Zones<br />
4.1 Macrofloras<br />
The Tasmanian and southern Victorian macrofossil floras are the more extensive than for any<br />
other interval of Cenozoic time. Many taxa can be assigned to extant families and genera but<br />
most specimens represent extinct species within these higher order taxa. Many of the<br />
gymnosperms present in Tasmania during the Oligo-Miocene have become restricted to South<br />
America, Fiji and/or New Zealand.<br />
4.1.1 North-West Australia<br />
No known record.<br />
4.1.2 North-East Australia<br />
Macrofloras include (1) fruits of Proteaceae (Wilkinsonia) and Elaeocarpaceae (Elaeocarpus<br />
peterii) in Oligocene-Middle Miocene sediments at Glencoe (Rozefelds 1995) and (2) fruits<br />
and seeds of wire-reeds (Restionaceae) and bull rushes (Typhaceae) in a latest Eocene-<br />
Oligocene mudstone underlying oil shale deposits in the Casuarina Basin near Rockhampton<br />
(Dettmann and Clifford 2000b). Wilkinsonia is closely related to Athertonia, a tree now<br />
confined to tropical rainforest on the Atherton Tableland. The NLR of Elaeocarpus peterii<br />
(E. stellaris) is endemic to rainforest in northeastern Queensland.<br />
1. North-east New South Wales<br />
Holmes et al. (1982) have recorded the leaves and/or flowers of Cunoniaceae<br />
(Ceratopetalum), Lauraceae and Myrtaceae (including Eucalyptus) from the Middle Miocene<br />
Chalk Mountain Formation, Warrumbungle Mountains. The 15 m thick deposit also<br />
preserves freshwater diatoms and the remains of fish and a bird.<br />
Inferred climate<br />
The Glencoe Flora indicates very warm (upper mesotherm) and seasonally very wet<br />
(perhumid) conditions during the possible Early Oligocene in central Queensland. The Chalk<br />
Mountain Flora is closely related to modern warm temperate rainforest and indicates cooler<br />
(lower mesotherm) but equally wet conditions during the Middle Miocene in northern New<br />
South Wales.<br />
4.1.3 Central Australia<br />
No known record.<br />
4.1.4 South-West Australia<br />
No known record unless the Myrtaceae-Proteaceae dominated West Dale macroflora is<br />
Oligocene or younger (cf. Barnes and Hill 1999b). Species assigned to extant families and<br />
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