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OFR 151.pdf - CRC LEME

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Based on the relative abundance of Euphorbiaceae (Malvacipollis spp.) mean annual<br />

temperatures appear to have peaked in the late Early to Middle Miocene (Zone N8-N9)<br />

although by this time sea surface temperatures were inadequate to support Nypa.<br />

3. North-west slopes and plains of New South Wales<br />

Probable Oligocene-Middle Miocene microfloras are preserved in palaeochannels of the<br />

Castlereagh, Macquarie and Darling River systems on the north-west slopes and plains<br />

(Morgan 1977, Martin 1980, 1981, 1988, 1999a, 1999b, McMinn 1981b, Macphail 1999,<br />

unpubl. results). The record is blurred by reworked (Late Eocene) and probable down-hole<br />

caved (Plio-Pleistocene) specimens in the (mostly) cuttings samples. The microfloras mostly<br />

represent cool to warm temperate rainforest communities growing on riverbanks near to or<br />

upstream of the site.<br />

a. North-west plains<br />

Moderately diverse Oligo-Miocene (Proteacidites tuberculatus Zone Equivalent) microfloras<br />

from the ‘Glen Villa’ Bore (DWR 36937) near Bourke in western New South Wales, are<br />

dominated by Casuarinaceae (38%) and unidentified tricolpate/tricolporate types (20%), with<br />

lesser amounts of Myrtaceae (14%, including 4% Eucalyptus), Nothofagus (Brassospora) spp.<br />

(10%) and Onagraceae (3%). Cryptogams are uncommon (4%) and the most frequently<br />

recorded gymnosperms (~1%) are Araucaria, Dacrycarpus and Podocarpus-Prumnopitys.<br />

Rare taxa include Cyathea, Lophosoria, Cupressaceae, Phyllocladus, Chenopodiaceae,<br />

Convolvulaceae (Merremia-type) and Cyperaceae.<br />

A possibly contaminated Oligocene-Early Miocene (Proteacidites tuberculatus Zone<br />

Equivalent) microflora from Darling River Bore DWR 36839 is dominated by a previously<br />

unrecorded Euphorbiaceae type resembling Austrobuxus (31%), Nothofagus (Brassospora)<br />

spp. (23%) and Casuarinaceae (11%) with common Nothofagus (Fuscospora) spp. (6%),<br />

Myrtaceae (6%) and Nothofagus (Lophozonia) spp. (2%). Araucariaceae (Araucaria) and<br />

Podocarpaceae (Dacrydium, Lagarostrobos, Podocarpus-Prumnopitys) are present but rare.<br />

In contrast, probable early Late to late Miocene (Canthiumidites bellus Zone Equivalent)<br />

microfloras from the same region (Jandra Bore DWR 36853) are dominated by Casuarinaceae<br />

(20-24%), Podocarpus-Prumnopitys (11-14%), Nothofagus (Brassospora) spp. (10-18%) and<br />

unidentified tricolpate/tricolporate types (11-15%). Less common taxa are Cyathea (4-6%),<br />

Araucaria (6-7%), Eucalyptus (up to 4%) and Cupanieae, Liliaceae, Nothofagus (Lophozonia)<br />

spp. and Sparganiaceae. Rare taxa include several species that are not found in the P.<br />

tuberculatus Zone Equivalent section, e.g. Podocarpaceae (Halocarpus), Euphorbiaceae<br />

(Amperea, Mallotus-type), Proteaceae (Banksia/Dryandra), Rubiaceae (Canthium) and<br />

Sapindaceae (Dodonaea triquetra-type). Similarly, a sparse possible Miocene microflora<br />

from Darling River Bore DWR 36839 is dominated by Nothofagus, (including 7%<br />

Lophozonia and 4% Fuscospora spp.), Araucaria (9%) and trace numbers of Podocarpaceae<br />

(Dacrycarpus, Dacrydium, Phyllocladus).<br />

Correlative (Canthiumidites bellus Zone Equivalent) microfloras in the Glenmore-1 drillhole<br />

near Broken Hill (McMinn 1981a) are dominated by Myrtaceae (45-60%) with lesser amounts<br />

of Casuarinaceae (7-19%) and Nothofagus (Brassospora) (5-8%). Sporadically frequent taxa<br />

include cryptogams (3%), Araucaria (5%), Podocarpus-Prumnopitys (2%) and Dacrydium<br />

(1%). Rare taxa include Dacrycarpus, Dacrydium, Asteraceae (Tubuliflorae), Cupanieae,<br />

Cyperaceae, Euphorbiaceae (Austrobuxus-type), Mimosaceae (Acacia), non-graminoid<br />

Restionaceae, Sapotaceae and Sparganiaceae (Aglaoreidia qualumis). The flora appears to<br />

represent a gallery sclerophyll forest with a minor but persistent rainforest component.<br />

251

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