Publication Name: The Sedimentary Basins of WA
Authors: John Scott
Publication Volume: 1
Date Published: July 1994
Number of Pages: 26
Reference Type: Book Section
Abstract:
Potential source rock intervals are stratigraphically widespread in Western Australia, being documented in every period from the Ordovician to the Cretaceous. Rich source rock intervals are common in continentalalluvial and continental to marginal marine deltaic facies associations. In general, source rocks of marine facies
are only of moderate quality. Where analysed, generally on basin highs, these marine facies appear to have
accumulated beneath an anaerobic rather than an anoxic water column. In many other parts of the world, source rock black shales have clearly accumulated beneath anoxic waters. In addition, compared to many other marine source rock facies, the input of terrestrially derived organic material is high in WA marine source rock facies. Sedimentary models are suggested for selected source rock intervals to account for the depositional conditions under which WA source rocks accumulated and illustrate the possible changes in organic facies that may occur away from the well data points.