The western Amadeus Basin: revised stratigraphy and correlations

The northeastern Amadeus Basin is better exposed and better studied than the rest of the basin. A brief summary of relevant parts of the stratigraphy follows as it is used as the standard for interpreting the poorly exposed stratigraphy of the far west. The Neoproterozoic succession begins with the Tonian to early Cryogenian Heavitree Quartzite, overlain by carbonates, evaporites, fine siliciclastics and volcanics of the Bitter Springs Formation. The latter is subdivided into Gillen, Loves Creek and Johnnys Creek Members in ascending order. Thick halite in the Gillen Member is responsible for widespread halotectonic deformation. Overlying carbonates of the Loves Creek Member contain a diverse stromatolite assemblage providing biostratigraphic ties to lower Supersequence 1 throughout the Centralian Superbasin. Basaltic volcanics, probably correlative of the 830 Ma Gairdner dykes in South Australia, appear mainly confined to the carbonate and fine siliciclastic succession of the Johnnys Creek Member based on their position in Ooraminna 1.