Australia's fossil heritage: A catalogue of important Australian fossil sites [Book Review]

2013·0.27 MB·English

by  Mark Warne

BookReviews
A
Australia’s Fossil Heritage: catalogue ofimportant
Australian fossil Sites
EditedbyA Cook, Magee, K Roberts, K Douglas, K O’Callaghan andRSanderson
J
(forTheAustralian HeritageCouncil)
Publisher: CSIROPublishing, Collingwood, Victoria, 2012.200pages,paperback.
ISBN9780643101777. RRP$59.95
This book presents a glimpse into some ofthe
most significant palaeontological sites across AUSTRALIA'S
Australia, and outlines the importance offos- Heritage
silsfromthesesitestoourunderstandingofthe Fossil
bevyolmuutisoenuomflpiafleaeoonntEoalrotghi.sts,Cotmhpisiliesdamorsetaldyy ACatalogueafImportantAustralianFossilSites
reference foriconicfossilsites such asthe Pre-
cambrianEdiacaranearlybiotalocationsofthe
Flinders Ranges, South Australia, the Silurian
Baragwanathia (vascular plant) location from
near Yea, Victoria, and the Miocene mammal
sitesoftheRiversleigharea,Queensland.
Eachchapterfocusesonfossilsitesfromaspe-
cific Australian state or territory. Within each
chapter, nine to fifteen sites are discussed. For
eachsite,informationisincludedongenerallo-
cation,scientificimportance,researchpotential
and significance, fossil preservation, and other
comparable fossil sites within Australia. Also
included are snippets of information relating
to the history ofdiscovery and study, and on
palaeoenvironments and past ecosytems. The nHi
manyinterestingphotographs and illustrations
offossils, and beautiful colour reconstructions anic change. Nonetheless, this book presents
ofancient biotas, enhance the visualisation of acarefullyconsidered inventoryofAustralian
Australia’s faunas and floras from deep time. fossilsites ofsignificantheritagevalue.
Also included are a glossary of terms and a This is a fascinating general reference book
diagram ofthe geological timescale, which are on Australian palaeontology somewhat in the
useful for the general reader. The ‘references tradition of Frederick Chapman’s The Book of
and further reading’ list enables the reader to Fossils,(1934,ShakespeareHeadPress,Sydney).
accessoriginalsourcesofinformation. The information and illustrations in this new
This book includes discussion on fossil sites book will engage the specialist palaeontologist
that are important to both the biological and as well as thegeneral interest reader. I recom-
earth sciences, although there are few sites mend it to anyone who has an interest in Aus-
included that highlight the significance of tralianpalaeontologyand/ornaturalheritage.
micropalaeontological or palynological
studies to the development of Australia’s
petroleum industry. Similarly underrepre- MarkWarne
sented, are sites that highlight the relevance SchoolofLifeandEnvironmentalSciences,
of these types of palaeontological studies to 221 BDuerawkoinodUnHiivgerhswiatyy
our understanding ofpast climates and oce- Burwood,Victoria3125
Vol 130 (2) 2013 87