Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Precambrian Microfossils of Carpentarian Age from Bungle Bungle Dolomite of Western Australia

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

I WISH to present some preliminary results and interpretations of the examination of a well preserved assemblage of mid-Precambrian microfossils. This previously unknown microflora of blue-green and green or red algal affinities is from chertified stromatolitic dolomites of the Bungle Bungle Dolomite which outcrops in the Osmond Range of Western Australia. There are no published radiometric ages for this formation but the Mount John Shale Member of the overlying Wade Creek Sandstone has been dated (Rb/Sr method) at 1.128±0.1 × 109 yr BP1. Regional studies and the angular unconformity between the Bungle Bungle Dolomite and Wade Creek Sandstone indicate that the former is considerably older than this minimum and that an age of about 1.5×109 yr for the microbiota described here is consistent with the data available. The Bungle Bungle Dolomite consists of at least 1.3 km of dolomite, dolomitic shales, shales and sandstones. Well preserved stromatolites occur at certain levels and have been briefly described elsewhere1. The samples used in this investigation are from the measured section in the upper part of the formation at 17° 13′ S 128° 23′ E.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dow, D. B., and Gemuts, I., Bull. geol. Surv. West Aust., 120, 135 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Walker, T. R., Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 73, 237 (1962).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Chafetz, H. S., J. sediment. Petrol., 42, 25 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Desikachary, T. V., Cyanophyta, Ind. Council Agri. Res., New Delhi, 686 (1959).

  5. Schopf, J. W., and Blacic, J. M., J. Paleont., 45, 925 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Black, M., Phil. Trans. R. Soc., B222, 165 (1933).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Monty, C. L., Annls. Soc. Géol. Belg., 90, B55 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Muir, M. D., Origins of Life (in the press).

  9. Cloud, jun., P. E., Am. J. Sci., 272, 537 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Schopf, J. W., Biol. Rev., 45, 319 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Schopf, J. W., Haugh, B. N., Molnar, R. E., and Satterthwait, D. F., J. Paleont., 47, 1 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Timofeev, B. V., Int. geol. Congr. 21 Sess. Acad. Sci. USSR Press, Moscow (1960).

  13. Tynni, R., and Siivola, J., Bull. Commn. geol. Finl., 222, 127 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, SW7 2BP

    W. L. DIVER

Authors
  1. W. L. DIVER
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

DIVER, W. Precambrian Microfossils of Carpentarian Age from Bungle Bungle Dolomite of Western Australia. Nature 247, 361–363 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/247361a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/247361a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation