Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1
Features of geoheritage signi
cance in King Sound and the tide-dominated delta of the Fitzroy River, and the rationale for the assessment
Geological feature
Type of site, and its scale (category of site from
Fig.
1
)
Signi
cance
Rationale for assigning the level of signi
cance
Tide-dominated delta of the
Fitzroy River
Modern landscapes and setting (active
processes); regional scale
International Geomorphic, sedimentologic and stratigraphic description of a tide-dominated delta in a
tropical semiarid climate; this is a tide-dominated delta globally with the largest tide
Principles and processes of
tidal erosion
Modern landscapes and setting (active
processes);
ne scale to large scale
International
Tidal creek erosion and formation of tidal landscapes provides an international model of
coastal development in a tropical, macrotidal environment, particularly in the transition of
the small scale to the large scale which provides a powerful natural laboratory
Mangroves in response to
coastal development
Modern landscapes and setting (active
processes); medium scale to large scale
International An example of geodiversity where landscape evolution determines mangrove response
Carbonate nodules
Modern landscapes and setting (active
processes); small scale
International
First description of the variety of Holocene carbonate nodules under tropical tidal
ats; sets a
standard as a type location for Holocene carbonate nodules under tidal
ats
Holocene stratigraphy
Geohistorical site; medium scale to large scale
International One of the most stratigraphically complex tidal
at systems in the world and also unique
because of its tropical and macrotidal setting; well exposed along Airport Creek
Pleistocene linear dunes
and Holocene tidal at
sediment
Geohistorical site; medium scale
International
Important site for stratigraphic relationship of Quaternary tidal sediments and linear desert
dunes, for models of coastal geomorphic adjustments with sea level rise, and climatic
history
Holocene stratigraphy at
Christine Point
Geohistorical site; medium scale to large scale
National
The most southern occurrence of the deposits of the
phase of the early
Holocene of sedimentation in northern Australia and an important indication of climate
history and fossil mangrove biogeography
“
Big Swamp
”
Pleistocene stratigraphy
Geohistorical site; medium scale to large scale
National
First and only description to date nationally of Pleistocene tidal at stratigraphy; an important
record of Pleistocene climate history, sedimentation, and diagenesis
Holocene mangrove stumps Geohistorical site; small scale to medium scale
National
Outcrop of fossil mangrove stumps embedded in situ in grey clay, extending to below MSL
Spits and cheniers
Geohistorical site and modern landscapes and
setting (active processes); medium scale to
large scale
National
Response of linear dunes to coastal erosion and the effect of coastal process on the exposed
northern tip of the Point Torment Peninsula; in Australia. this is the only sand-based
north-facing peninsula in a large gulf, where wave cation, storms, and cyclones have
consistently reworked the sand peninsula foundation to form a set of prograded parallel
cheniers
Freshwater seepage
Modern landscapes and setting (active
processes); medium scale
National
Example of coastal freshwater seepage from dune sand aquifer that has been onlapped by
tidal
at sediments; this is the only one of two places in Australia where tidal
at
sediments onlap linear dunes, the latter discharging freshwater into the saline subsurface
Mathews et al. (
2011
), Semeniuk (
1980
,
1983
,
2008
)
Stratigraphic type sections
Reference sites; medium scale
State-wide/
regional
The area contains a number of stratigraphic type sections (stratigraphic type sections are
signi
cant because they are the reference section in the State or Nation for a stratigraphic
unit)
