Precipice Sandstone

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Precipice Sandstone
Stratigraphic range: Sinemurian to early Pliensbachian
~199–187  Ma
Mt morgan2005.jpg
Mount Morgan Mine, where strata of the formation was exposed
Type Geological formation
Unit of Bundamba Group
Sub-units
  • Lower Member
  • Upper Member
Underlies Evergreen Formation
Overlies
Thickness175 m (574 ft)
Lithology
Primary Sandstone
Other Siltstone, mudstone
Location
Coordinates 24°18′S150°30′E / 24.3°S 150.5°E / -24.3; 150.5
Approximate paleocoordinates 58°36′S92°24′E / 58.6°S 92.4°E / -58.6; 92.4
RegionFlag of Queensland.svg  Queensland
Flag of New South Wales.svg  New South Wales
CountryFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Extent Surat Basin
Type section
Named forSandstone cliffs in the gorge of Precipice Creek, a tributary of the Dawson River
Named byWhitehouse
Australia relief map.jpg
Blue pog.svg
Precipice Sandstone (Australia)

The Precipice Sandstone an Early Jurassic (Sinemurian to early Pliensbachian, with possible Hettangian levels) geologic formation of the Surat Basin in New South Wales and Queensland, eastern Australia, know due to the presence of abundant vertebrate remains & tracks. [1] [2] [3] This unit includes the previously described Razorback beds. [4] This unit represents a major, almost primary, source of hydrocarbons in the region, with a Potential CO2 reservoir of up to 70m. [5] It was deposited on top of older sediments, like Bowen Basin units, in an unconformable manner, resting along the eastern basin margin and the Back Creek Group in the southern Comet Platform, while in other areas it directly overlies the Triassic Moolayember Formation & Callide Coal Measures, being deposited in a comparatively stable basin. [3] Isopach maps of the Precipice Sandstone indicate two distinct areas of sediment accumulation, suggesting two separate depocentres filled from different source regions during the Sinemurian, with the Thomson orogeny and New England Orogen hinterlands as possible ones. [6] This unit represented a fluvial-palustrine-lacustrine braided channel north-flowing succession, that seem to have debouch into a shallow restricted tidal/wave influenced marine embayment, marked at areas like Woleebee Creek. [7] Paleoenvironment-wise, it represents a hinterland rich in vegetation, hinting at wet environments like swamps, where agglutinated foraminifera suggests marine flooding and drier conditions or the encroachment of seawater onto coastal areas. [8]

Contents

Fireclay Caverns

Fireclay Caverns' Site A1 trackmaker (Mount Morgan, Queensland) placed in its footprints to scale with a 1.75 m tall human. Video-mountMorgan-6Tracks-2024021810.jpg
Fireclay Caverns' Site A1 trackmaker (Mount Morgan, Queensland) placed in its footprints to scale with a 1.75 m tall human.

The Fireclay Caverns were excavated by the Mount Morgan Mine to provide clay for its brickworks resulting in very large openings that measure between 4–12 metres in height from the cave floor. [9] Excavation of the caverns ceased when the mine brickworks were decommissioned in the early 1900s. [10] Erosion revealed dinosaur footprints (preserved as infills) being discovered in 1954. [10] To date, nine different ceiling sections of the Fireclay Caverns have been recognised as containing dinosaur footprints. These have been dated to the Early Jurassic (Sinemurian) ~195 million years ago. [9] Walkways and stairs had been constructed in 2010 to provide access to the dinosaur footprints [11] as part of the mine site tours. The site was closed to access in 2011 due to ceiling erosion posing a significant risk to public safety. [9]

The Fireclay Caverns were excavated to supply clay to brickworks of the Mount Morgan Mine. Clay was mined from within the caverns by pick and shovel, then transferred by underground rail to a brickworks lower in the Mount Morgan Mine site. Excavation from the caverns ceased when their clay was no longer required by the mine. After cavern excavations ceased, clay progressively fell from the cavern ceilings, revealing rock ceilings above. In 1954, HRE Staines, a Mount Morgan Limited geologist, identified dinosaur footprints in the rock ceilings. [10] [12] Over 300 such footprints have been identified on the cavern ceilings dated to the Early Jurassic (Sinemurian) ~195 million years ago. [13] [14] 2024 represents the 70th anniversary of when Ross Staines published Australia's first dinosaur trackway-consisting of four footprints. [10] [14] To celebrate, previously unpublished archival photographs (c. 1954) enabled a re-examination of Staines' original trackway, from which two additional footprints were revealed. [15] Analyses indicated the trackmaker exhibited a walking gait, initially walking at ~3.8 km/hr and then slowed to 1.8 km/hr in association with a slight turn in direction. [15]

After cavern excavations ceased, a colony of bent-wing bats began inhabiting the caverns. The sections of the caverns containing the bats are inaccessible to protect the bat habitat.

Biota

Invertebrates

GenusSpeciesTypeLocationMaterialOriginNotesImages
Asterosoma [16]
  • Asterosoma isp.
Fodinichnia
  • Chinchilla 4 Borehole
  • Condabri MB9-H Borehole
  • Kenya East GW7 Borehole
  • Moonie 31 Borehole
  • Moonie 34 Borehole
  • Reedy Creek MB3-H Borehole
  • Roma 8 Borehole
  • Taroom 17 Borehole
  • West Wandoan 1 Borehole
  • Woleebee Creek GW4 Borehole
Radiating bulb-like swelling burrowsAnnelid worm, vermiform organismFreshwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils
Conichnus [16]
  • Conichnus isp.
  • Domichnia
  • Cubichnia
trailsGastropodsFreshwater/Blackish fillings-like ichnofossils
Cylindrichnus [16]
  • Cylindrichnus isp.
  • Domichnia
Long, subconical, weakly curved burrows
  • Anemones
  • Polychaete worms
Freshwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils
Diplocraterion [16]
  • Diplocraterion parallelum
DomichniaU-shaped burrowsMarine-Mangroove Vertical, U-shaped, single-spreite Burrows; unidirectional or bidirectional spreite, generally continuous, rarely discontinuous. Most Diplocraterion show only protrusive spreiten, like the local ones, produced under predominantly erosive conditions where the organism was constantly burrowing deeper into the substrate as sediment was eroded from the top.
Diplocraterion parallelum diagram Diplocraterion parallelum diagram DE.png
Diplocraterion parallelum diagram
Helminthopsis [16]
  • Helminthopsis isp.
FodinichniaSimple, unbranched, horizontal cylinder tracesSaltwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils.
Example of Helminthopsis fossil Helminthopsis01.JPG
Example of Helminthopsis fossil
Lockeia [16]
  • Lockeia amygdaloides
  • Lockeia isp.
  • Cubichnia
  • Domichnia
Dwelling traces
  • Bivalves
Marine, brackish or freshwater resting traces of Bivalves.
DevonianLockeia121911.jpg
Naktodemasis [16]
  • Naktodemasis isp.
FodinichniaStraight to sinuous, unlined and unbranched burrows
  • Soil bugs
  • Cicada nymphs
  • Scarabaeid beetle larvae
Freshwater/Terrestrial burrow-like ichnofossils.
Palaeophycus [16]
  • Palaeophycus tubularis
DomichniaStraight or gently curved tubular burrows.Freshwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils.
Example of Palaeophycus fossil Palaeophycus01.JPG
Example of Palaeophycus fossil
Phycosiphon [16]
  • Phycosiphon isp.
FodinichniaIrregularly meandering burrowsVermiform AnimalsFreshwater burrow-like ichnofossils.
Planolites [16]
  • Planolites montanus
  • Planolites beverleyensis
  • Planolites isp.
PascichniaCylindrical or elliptical curved/tortuous trace fossils
  • Polychaetes
  • Insects
Freshwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils. Planolites is really common in all types of the Ciechocinek Formation deposits. It is referred to vermiform deposit-feeders, mainly Polychaetes, producing active Fodinichnia. It is controversial, since is considered a strictly a junior synonym of Palaeophycus .
Example of Planolites fossil Planolites.jpg
Example of Planolites fossil
Scolicia [16]
  • Scolicia isp.
  • Cubichnia
Symmetrical trail or burrowGastropodsFreshwater/Blackish trail-like ichnofossils
Scolicia trails Scolicia Punta San Garcia 01.JPG
Scolicia trails
Skolithos [16]
  • Skolithos isp.
DomichniaCylindrical strands with branches
  • Polychaetes
  • Phoronidans
Blackish trace ichnofossils. Interpreted as dwelling structures of vermiform animals, more concretely the Domichnion of a suspension-feeding Worm or Phoronidan.
Siphonichnus [16]
  • Siphonichnus ophthalmoides
DomichniaCylindrical strands with branches
  • Polychaetes
  • Phoronidans
Blackish trace ichnofossils. Interpreted as dwelling structures of vermiform animals, more concretely the Domichnion of a suspension-feeding Worm or Phoronidan.
Taenidium [16]
  • Taenidium serpentinum
  • Taenidium isp.
FodinichniaUnlined meniscate burrowsFreshwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils. Taenidium is a meniscate backfill structure, usually considered to be produced by an animal progressing axially through the sediment and depositing alternating packets of differently constituted sediment behind it as it moves forward.
Thalassinoides [16]
  • Thalassinoides isp.
Tubular FodinichniaTubular BurrowsBurrow-like ichnofossils. Large burrow-systems consisting of smooth-walled, essentially cylindrical components. Common sedimentary features are Thalassinoides trace fossils in the fissile marlstone to claystone intervals
Thalassinoides burrowing structures, with modern related fauna, showing the ecological convergence and the variety of animals that left this Ichnogenus. Talassinodes illustration.jpg
Thalassinoides burrowing structures, with modern related fauna, showing the ecological convergence and the variety of animals that left this Ichnogenus.
Teichichnus [16]
  • Teichichnus isp.
FodinichniaVertical to oblique, unbranched or branched, elongated to arcuate spreite burrowSaltwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils. The overall morphology and details of the burrows, in comparison with modern analogues and neoichnological experiments, suggest Echiurans (spoon worms) or Holothurians (sea cucumbers) with a combined suspension- and deposit-feeding behaviour as potential producers.
Teichichnus burrows Teichichnus burrows.jpg
Teichichnus burrows

Vertebrata

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages

Anomoepodidae [17]

Anomoepodidae ichnog. indeterminate

  • Biloela

Lower Member

Footprints

ornithischian footprints, unassigned to any concrete ichnogenus, but with resemblance with Anomoepodidae

Small ornithischians similar to Lesothosaurus may have left these footprints Lesothosaurus ER670.JPG
Small ornithischians similar to Lesothosaurus may have left these footprints

Anomoepus [15] [18]

  • Anomoepus scambus
  • Anomoepus ispp.
  • Carnarvon Gorge
  • Fireclay Caverns
  • Mount Morgan

Lower Member

Footprints

Ornithischian Footprints, originally suggested as quadrupedal theropod tracks, latter identified as of Ornithischian origin. [19] Up to 130 tracks & 4 short trackways are know.

Eubrontes [20]

Eubrontes isp.

Fireclay Caverns

Lower Member

Footprints

Medium-sized Theropod Footprints. Currently represent the largest of the prints at Mount Morgan

Grallator [20]

Grallator isp.

Fireclay Caverns

Lower Member

Footprints

Small-sized Theropod Footprints

Plesiosauria [21]

Indeterminate

  • Mount Morgan

Razorback Beds

  • QM F3983-QM F5500, single disarticulated skeleton preserved as natural moulds

A Freshwater Plesiosaur that cannot be confidently attributed to any particular plesiosaurian clade

Theropodipedia [1] [22]

Theropodipedia ichnog. indeterminate

  • Callide Mine
  • Mount Morgan

Lower Member

Footprints

Possible theropod footprints, unassigned to any concrete ichnogenus. One morphotype includes large tridactyl prints, up to 24 cm.

Small theropods similar to Procompsognathus may have left these footprints Procompsognathus.jpg
Small theropods similar to Procompsognathus may have left these footprints

Theropodipedia "indet. 2" [9]

Fireclay Caverns

Theropodipedia "indet. 3" [9]

Fireclay Caverns

Wintonopus [20]

Wintonopus isp.

Fireclay Caverns

Lower Member

Footprints

Small-sized Ornithischian Footprints

Bryophyta

GenusSpeciesStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages

Annulispora [23]

  • Annulispora folliculosa
  • Annulispora microannulata
  • Razorback Beds
  • Spores

Incertae sedis; affinities with Bryophyta.

Cingutriletes [23]

  • Cingutriletes spp.

Incertae sedis; affinities with Bryophyta.

Distalanulisporites [23]

  • Distalanulisporites punctus
  • Distalanulisporites verrucosus

Affinities with the family Sphagnaceae in the Sphagnopsida.

Foraminisporis [23]

  • Foraminisporis spp.

Affinities with the family Notothyladaceae in the Anthocerotopsida.

Nevesisporites [23]

  • Nevesisporites vallatus

Incertae sedis; affinities with Bryophyta. This spore is found in Jurassic sediments associated with the polar regions.

Polycingulatisporites [23]

  • Polycingulatisporites crenulatus
  • Polycingulatisporites densatus
  • Polycingulatisporites mooniensis

Affinities with the family Notothyladaceae in the Anthocerotopsida. Hornwort spores.

Extant Notothylas specimens Notothylas orbicularis (Anthocerotophyta (hornwort)).png
Extant Notothylas specimens

Stereisporites [23]

  • Stereisporites antiquasporites
  • Stereisporites perforatus

Affinities with the family Sphagnaceae in the Sphagnopsida. "Peat moss" spores, related to genera such as Sphagnum that can store large amounts of water.

Extant Sphagnum specimens SphagnumFallax.jpg
Extant Sphagnum specimens

Lycophyta

GenusSpeciesStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages

Apiculatisporis [23]

  • Apiculatisporis spp.
  • Razorback Beds
  • Spores

Incertae sedis; affinities with Lycopodiopsida

Lycopodiumsporites [23]

  • Lycopodiumsporites austroclavatidites
  • Lycopodiumsporites rosewoodensis

Affinities with the family Lycopodiaceae in the Lycopodiopsida. Lycopod spores, related to herbaceous to arbustive flora common in humid environments.

Extant Lycopodium specimens Lycopodium annotinum 161102.jpg
Extant Lycopodium specimens

Neoraistrickia [23]

  • Neoraistrickia truncata
  • Neoraistrickia spp.

Affinities with the Selaginellaceae in the Lycopsida.

Pteridophyta

GenusSpeciesStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages

Calamospora [23]

  • Calamospora sp spp.
  • Razorback Beds
  • Spores

Affinities with the Calamitaceae in the Equisetales. Horsetails are herbaceous flora found in humid environments and are flooding-tolerant. In the sections of the formation such as Korsodde, this genus has small peaks in abundance in the layers where more Equisetites stems are found.

Reconstruction of the genus Calamites, found associated with Calamospora Calamites reconstruccion.png
Reconstruction of the genus Calamites , found associated with Calamospora

Pteridophyta

GenusSpeciesStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages

Annulispora [23]

  • Annulispora microannulata
  • Annulispora folliculosa
  • Razorback Beds
  • Spores

Affinities with the genus Saccoloma , type representative of the family Saccolomataceae . This fern spore resembles those of the living genus Saccoloma, being probably from a pantropical genus found in wet, shaded forest areas.

Extant Saccoloma specimens; Annulispora probably comes from similar genera or maybe a species in the genus Saccoloma brasiliense kz02.jpg
Extant Saccoloma specimens; Annulispora probably comes from similar genera or maybe a species in the genus

Baculatisporites [23]

  • Baculatisporites comaumensis

Affinities with the family Osmundaceae in the Polypodiopsida. Near fluvial current ferns, related to the modern Osmunda regalis.

Extant Osmunda specimens; Baculatisporites and Todisporites probably come from similar genera or maybe a species from the genus Cinnamon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) - Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland 2019-08-10.jpg
Extant Osmunda specimens; Baculatisporites and Todisporites probably come from similar genera or maybe a species from the genus

Camarozonosporites [23]

  • Camarozonosporites spp.

Incertae sedis; affinities with the Pteridophyta

Cyathidites [23]

  • Cyathidites australis
  • Cyathidites minor

Affinities with the family Cyatheaceae in the Cyatheales. Arboreal fern spores.

Extant Cyathea Cyathea medullaris.JPG
Extant Cyathea

Densoisporites [23]

  • Densoisporites spp

Incertae sedis; affinities with the Pteridophyta

Dictyophyllidites [23]

  • Dictyophyllidites mortoni

Affinities with the family Matoniaceae in the Gleicheniales.

Duplexisporites [23]

  • Duplexisporites gyratus

Incertae sedis; affinities with the Pteridophyta

Foraminisporis [23]

  • Foraminisporis tribulosus

Incertae sedis; affinities with the Pteridophyta

Foveosporites [23]

  • Foveosporites sp.

Incertae sedis; affinities with the Pteridophyta

Heliosporites [23]

  • Heliosporites spp

Incertae sedis; affinities with the Pteridophyta

Indusiisporites [23]

  • Indusiisporites parvisaccatus

Incertae sedis; affinities with the Pteridophyta

Osmundacidites [23]

  • Osmundacidites wellmanii

Affinities with the family Osmundaceae in the Polypodiopsida. Near fluvial current ferns, related to the modern Osmunda regalis.

Rugulatisporites [23]

  • Rugulatisporites spp.

Affinities with the family Osmundaceae in the Polypodiopsida. Near fluvial current ferns, related to the modern Osmunda regalis.

Peltaspermales

GenusSpeciesStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages

Alisporites [23]

  • Alisporites australis
  • Alisporites lowoodensis
  • Alisporites sp.
  • Razorback Beds
  • Pollen

Affinities with the families Peltaspermaceae, Corystospermaceae or Umkomasiaceae in the Peltaspermales. Pollen of uncertain provenance that can be derived from any of the members of the Peltaspermales. The lack of distinctive characters and poor conservation make this pollen difficult to classify. Arboreal to arbustive seed ferns.

Vitreisporites [23]

  • Vitreisporites contectus
  • Vitreisporites pallidus

From the family Caytoniaceae in the Caytoniales. Caytoniaceae are a complex group of Mesozoic fossil floras that may be related to both Peltaspermales and Ginkgoaceae.

Conifers

GenusSpeciesStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages

Classopollis [23]

  • Classopollis classoides
  • Classopollis simplex
  • Razorback Beds
  • Pollen

Affinities with the Hirmeriellaceae in the Pinopsida.

Perinopollenites [23]

  • Perinopollenites sp.

Affinities with the family Cupressaceae in the Pinopsida. Pollen that resembles that of extant genera such as the genus Actinostrobus and Austrocedrus , probably derived from dry environments.

Extant Austrocedrus Austrocedrus chilensis.jpg
Extant Austrocedrus

Podosporites [23]

  • Podosporites spp.

Affinities with the family Podocarpaceae. Pollen from diverse types of Podocarpaceous conifers, that include morphotypes similar to the low arbustive Microcachrys and the medium arbustive Lepidothamnus , likely linked with Upland settings

Extant Microcachrys Microcachrys tetragona 112011800.jpg
Extant Microcachrys

See also

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References

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