Facies analysis of the Neoproterozoic to Late Cambrian Amadeus Basin, Central Australia

Abstract

The study aims to fill research gaps in sedimentology by presenting a sedimentological study of the
Neoproterozoic to Late Cambrian section in the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges to the east of Alice Springs,
northeastern area of the Amadeus Basin. This study used the facies analysis in order to improve the
current understanding of lithofacies which assists in clarifying depositional environments interpretation
in the northeast of the Amadeus Basin. This study recognised six lithofacies types (massive claystone,
trough cross-stratification sandstone, hummocky cross-stratification sandstone, wave ripple lamination
sandstone, massive siltstone, ripple cross-lamination sandstone) from the sedimentological log section.
The Arumbera Sandstone and Shannon Formation were interpreted as deltaic settings. The Todd River
Dolomite and Giles Creek Dolomite are possibly transitional marine to deltaic-peritidal setting.
Sedimentological analysis in this study classified the Arumbera Sandstone and Todd River as arkoses and
the Shannon Formation as dolostone.