Revised Neoproterozoic stratigraphy in the Mount Conner area, Amadeus Basin, Northern Territory

Abstract

This Record presents the results of a joint Northern Territory Geological Survey (NTGS)-Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) reconnaissance field trip to the Mount Conner area in the central south of the Amadeus Basin. The purpose of the trip was to assess whether recent revisions by GSWA of the Neoproterozoic-early Cambrian stratigraphy in the far west Amadeus Basin (WA) could be recognised in the Mount Conner area.

The revision of the stratigraphy at Mount Conner reported herein involves two components. The first is correlating Neoproterozoic-early Cambrian units with part of the succession in the WA portion of the basin - exposures formerly mapped as Winnall beds at Mount Conner are now identified as Carnegie Formation and Ellis Sandstone (WA). If correct, these correlations would extend the age of the Winnall beds into the early Cambrian. The second component comprises revised stratigraphy related to Neoproterozoic units exposed in the northeast of the basin - recognition of the Loves Creek Formation of the Bitter Springs Group, probable Wallara Formation, the Areyonga Formation (including a newly defined member) and the Aralka Formation (including its Ringwood Member) in units previously mapped collectively as Inindia beds.

The report includes rock descriptions of the Neoproterozoic-early Cambrian succession and a revised geology map of the Mount Conner region.