Chemostratigraphic analysis of evaporitic sequences in Australian basins: case studies from the Polda, Officer and Adavale basins
John Fleck A * , Jordan Kinsley A , Stuart Munday A , Tim Pearce B and David Riley BA
B
John Fleck is a Geologist at Chemostrat Australia (Perth, WA). He gained his MGeol in Geology and Paleontology from the University of Zagreb. John gained experience working for the Croatian national oil and gas company INA, filling various geological roles over the years in both Exploration and Development sectors, on many different projects. |
Jordan Kinsley is a Geologist at Chemostrat Australia (Perth, WA). Jordan studied his PhD in Geochemistry at The Australian National University, for which he investigated paleoenvironmental redox signals in early Paleozoic settings with a view to developing new organic molecular (biomarker) redox proxies. Jordan gained his MGeol and BSc in Geological Sciences from the University of Leeds and studied a portion of this degree at the University of Alberta. |
Stuart Munday has worked as a senior geologist for Chemostrat on projects throughout the APAC region in the Perth office for 7 years, before recently relocating 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. |
Tim Pearce completed his BSc from the University of Liverpool, and a PhD from the Kingston University. Shortly after, he founded the company Chemostat Ltd, which later developed into the Hafren Scientific, a group of companies developing innovative technologies in geological sources primarily focussed on the energy sector. Tim is currently the CEO of the Hafren group, including Chemostrat Australia Pty Ltd. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London, and members of the PSEGB and AAPG. |
David Riley completed an MGeol and a PhD from the University of Leicester, UK, and joined Chemostrat Ltd as a chemostratigrapher in October 2012. Since joining Chemostrat Ltd has worked on projects from eastern Canada, UK North Sea, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia. In 2022, he became the Chemostrat Ltd Stratigraphy Manager, providing technical oversight on all chemostratigraphic studies. David is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London. |
Abstract
High resolution geochemical data are rare for Australian salt deposits. Recent studies by Chemostrat Australia in the Adavale, Officer and Polda basins have analysed Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic massive halite deposits using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry and –mass spectrometry (ICP-OES-MS), yielding quantitative data for 50 elements. Supporting X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) data has elucidated internal variability of the principal rock forming minerals to produce lithostratigraphic models. Further resolution of the internal architecture of the massive salt deposits using trace elements highlights subtle variabilities in the composition and abundance of non-evaporitic components, principally the accessory heavy minerals and clays. This has allowed for the definition of chemical sub-units within the salt. It is likely that these variations reflect changes in sediment influx and climate and thus can be utilised for regional correlation.
Keywords: Adavale Basin, chemostratigraphy, evaporite, halite, mineral modelling, Officer Basin, Polda Basin, salt, trace elemental assemblages.
John Fleck is a Geologist at Chemostrat Australia (Perth, WA). He gained his MGeol in Geology and Paleontology from the University of Zagreb. John gained experience working for the Croatian national oil and gas company INA, filling various geological roles over the years in both Exploration and Development sectors, on many different projects. |
Jordan Kinsley is a Geologist at Chemostrat Australia (Perth, WA). Jordan studied his PhD in Geochemistry at The Australian National University, for which he investigated paleoenvironmental redox signals in early Paleozoic settings with a view to developing new organic molecular (biomarker) redox proxies. Jordan gained his MGeol and BSc in Geological Sciences from the University of Leeds and studied a portion of this degree at the University of Alberta. |
Stuart Munday has worked as a senior geologist for Chemostrat on projects throughout the APAC region in the Perth office for 7 years, before recently relocating 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. |
Tim Pearce completed his BSc from the University of Liverpool, and a PhD from the Kingston University. Shortly after, he founded the company Chemostat Ltd, which later developed into the Hafren Scientific, a group of companies developing innovative technologies in geological sources primarily focussed on the energy sector. Tim is currently the CEO of the Hafren group, including Chemostrat Australia Pty Ltd. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London, and members of the PSEGB and AAPG. |
David Riley completed an MGeol and a PhD from the University of Leicester, UK, and joined Chemostrat Ltd as a chemostratigrapher in October 2012. Since joining Chemostrat Ltd has worked on projects from eastern Canada, UK North Sea, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia. In 2022, he became the Chemostrat Ltd Stratigraphy Manager, providing technical oversight on all chemostratigraphic studies. David is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London. |
