Honours and Coursework

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This collection contains Masters and Ph.D by coursework theses from University of Adelaide postgraduate students. Some schools may choose to include Honours theses which make a significant contribution to knowledge.

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Browsing Honours and Coursework by Advisors "Counts, John"

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    Sedimentology and stratigraphy of the Late Neoproterozoic Bonney Sandstone
    (2014) Koyejo, Oyinloye; Amos, Kathryn; Counts, John; Australian School of Petroleum
    This study represents the first good detailed sedimentological and sequence stratigraphic analysis of the Bonney Sandstone exposed at the Arkaroola Syncline in the Northern part of Flinders Ranges, South Australia. The Bonney Sandstone is located between two prominent Late Neoproteozoic Formations, the underlying Wonoka Formation and overlying Rawnsley Quartzite. These rocks have become significant in recent years due to their importance in hydrocarbon exploration in salt withdrawal basins. However there are few published studies on the Bonney Sandstone. Ten lithofacies were identified which formed the five facies associations. These facies associations include Offshore deposits (FA 5), Offshore transition deposits (FA 4), Shoreface/Foreshore deposits (FA 3), Mixed Wave-Tidal delta deposits (FA 2) and Channel Deposits (FA 1). These facies association represent three major depositional environments, shallow marine, mixed wave-tidal delta and fluvial deposit. Sequence stratigraphically, there are shows two significate intervals. The lower transgressive interval which is made up of siltstone deposits with interbedded massive sandstones. Low stand system tract deposit which marked the boundary between the Wonoka Formation and the Bonney Sandstone. The middle to upper section essentially represents a highstand system tract with normal regression. The normal regressive interval was characterised by prograding delta and aggrading channel sandstone deposit. Cyclicity pattern within the Bonney Sandstone are made up of third and fourth order cycles. Eastern paleocurrent directions suggest palaeo flow towards the Arkaroola Syncline. Petrographic interpretation shows basement source rocks with deposition in a low topographic area with little or no exposure of sediments. Adverse effects of prevailing climatic conditions significantly affected sediment deposition as observed within the grain size, mineralogical composition and reservoir potential of the Bonney Sandstone. Reservoir quality of the Bonney Sandstone is essentially low due very poor porosity and permeability.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Late Neoproterozoic Bonney Sandstone, Northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia
    (2014) Liu, Limeng; Amos, Kathryn; Counts, John; Australian School of Petroleum
    The Adelaide Geosyncline is considered as a deformed sedimentary basin located between the Paleoproterozoic Gawler and Curnamona crystalline basement complexes. A suite of Late Neoproterozoic clastic sediments are widely deposited in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. From the Proterozoic to the Cambrian, this area was a passive margin system. The outstanding exposures in this region allow detailed study of the sedimentary structures of analogous basins around the world, which often contain similar styles of source rocks and petroleum reservoirs. The Bonney Sandstone in the Northern Flinders Ranges is the lower part of the coarser, shallow-marine Pound Subgroup. This project provides an opportunity to examine relatively undescribed strata in this area. During the fieldtrip, my investigation consists of two detailed measured stratigraphic sections, which reveal a few well-preserved primary sedimentary structures. Many detailed sedimentological analysis were done during the study, including the measurement of strata and petrography. Several lithofacies were summarized and the associations of them were discovered. The characteristics of sedimentation are influenced by the paleocurrent, sediment supply and basin development. Both the modelling of this sedimentary process and the palaeogeography of the Neoproterozoic of South Australia are required to better understand the sedimentary character in the Northern Flinders Ranges.