Biostratigraphy is a branch of stratigraphy concerned with the fossil assemblages within sedimentary rock layers and their application in establishing relative ages and correlations between rock successions. Using principles of faunal and floral succession (evolution), the assemblage of fossil taxa in a sample can be used to ascertain the geological age of that rock. Studying microscopic fossil assemblages is a fundamental tool for correlating rock strata across basins and continents. This discipline plays a crucial role in reconstructing Earth’s geological history, understanding past environments and ecosystems, and guiding resource exploration activities.
Index Fossils
Index fossils are taxa with well-defined temporal ranges. They may have broad geographic distributions or useful restricted ranges in a regional context.
Biozones
Biozones are fossil-defined slices of geological time. Each biozone contains specific index fossils or a distinctive assemblage.
Biostratigraphy
Using these biozones as relative time markers, we ascertain the geological age of the rock as well as correlate strata across geographic regions.
Our Biostratigraphy Methodology
- Quantitative analyses utilising well documented counting techniques (repeatable).
- Rigorous taxonomic principles applied.
- Distribution data are delivered in StrataBugs™ format.
- Zonations schemes – a combination of published, global, local and in-house zonations are utilised (and where possible tied to the Gradstein et al. schemes (2004, 2008, 2012). The in-house scheme is readily related to the sequence chronostratigraphic frameworks of Haq et al. (1987), Berggren et al. (1995) or Hardenbol et al. (1998).
- Palaeoenvironmental interpretations using a number of statistical methods and integration of micropalaeontology and palynology.
- Calibration to absolute ages where possible (TSCreator ™).
- Correlations and interpretations are available in ODM™ format, allowing integration with corporate databases such as OpenWorks™.
- Hard copy and digital (Acrobat pdf) report formats supplied as standard.
High-resolution regional chronostratigraphic frameworks are essential for
- More accurate age determination by allowing first order correlation to first order stages.
- Identification of breaks in sedimentation/unconformities and calibration to the sequence stratigraphy.
- Basinwide stratigraphic correlation.
- Review and re-evaluation of vintage biostratigraphic data.
- Resolution of the relationship between lithostratigraphic units.
- A firm basis for dating seismic surfaces essential for regional correlation.
