CHAPTER SIX Australian Early and Middle Cambrian Sequence Biostratigraphy with Implications for Species Diversity and Correlation This description of Lower and Middle Cambrian strata from the Stansbury, Arrowie, Amadeus, and Georgina basins combines elements of biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy. | 06-C1099 8 10 00 2 06 PM Page 107 CHAPTER SIX David I. Gravestock and John H. Shergold Australian Early and Middle Cambrian Sequence Biostratigraphy with Implications for Species Diversity and Correlation This description of Lower and Middle Cambrian strata from the Stansbury Arrowie Amadeus and Georgina basins combines elements of biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy. The record of some South Australian Lower Cambrian sequences is missing or has not been recognized in central Australia. Deposition in the Middle Cambrian of the central Australian basins and the Stansbury Basin reflects subsidence-induced transgression but these sequences cannot be differentiated in the almost unfossiliferous clastic deposits of the Arrowie Basin. Trace fossil assemblages in basal siliciclastic rocks are most diverse in lowstand half-cycles of relative sea level. Archaeocyath species diversity is highest in transgressive tracts whereas lowstands are accompanied by extinction on shallow to emergent carbonate shelves. Trilobite species diversity is likewise highest in transgressive tracts but is seemingly unaffected by lowstand conditions. Duration of the Early and Middle Cambrian is 25 35 . and 10 15 . respectively indicating very high rates of trilobite speciation in successive transgressive systems tracts. AUSTRALIAN LOWER AND Middle Cambrian sedimentary rocks contain rich assemblages of fossil marine invertebrates calcified and organic-walled microbial fossils and traces of organic activity. Knowledge of the taxonomy and affinities of Australian Cambrian invertebrate fossils has increased significantly in the past decade but at present only the archaeocyaths and trilobites have been studied in detailed stratigraphic successions. Progress is being made in the further study of mollusks and other small skeletal fossils superbly described by Bengtson et al. 1990 . In this chapter we document the species distribution of archaeocyaths in the Lower Cambrian and trilobites in .
