{{Short description|Geologic formation in Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox rockunit | name = Precipice Sandstone | image =Mt morgan2005.jpg | caption =Mount Morgan Mine, where strata of the formation was exposed | type = Geological formation | age = Sinemurian to early Pliensbachian<br />~{{fossil range|199|187}} | period = Sinemurian | prilithology = Sandstone | otherlithology = Siltstone, mudstone | namedfor =Sandstone cliffs in the gorge of Precipice Creek, a tributary of the Dawson River | namedby =Whitehouse | region = Queensland, New South Wales | country = Australia | coordinates = {{coord|24.3|S|150.5|E|display=inline,title}} | paleocoordinates = {{coord|58.6|S|92.4|E|display=inline}} | unitof =Bundamba Group | subunits =*Lower Member *Upper Member | underlies = Evergreen Formation | overlies = *Basement *Moolayember Formation | thickness = {{convert|175|m|ft|abbr=on}} | extent = Surat Basin | area = | map = {{Location map+ | Australia | relief = 1 | width = 250 | float = center | places = {{Location map~ | Australia | lat_deg = -24.3 | lon_deg = 150.5 | mark = Blue pog.svg | marksize = 12 }} }} | map_caption = }}

The '''Precipice Sandstone''' an Early Jurassic (Sinemurian to early Pliensbachian, with possible Hettangian levels) geologic formation of the Surat Basin in New South Wales and Queensland, eastern Australia, know due to the presence of abundant vertebrate remains & tracks.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Vickers-Rich |first=Patricia |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.60647 |title=Vertebrate palaeontology of Australasia |date=1991 |publisher=Pioneer Design Studio in cooperation with the Monash University Publications Committee, Melbourne |isbn=0-909674-36-1 |location=Lilydale, Vic|doi=10.5962/bhl.title.60647 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Precipice Sandstone|url=http://dbforms.ga.gov.au/pls/www/geodx.strat_units.sch_full?wher=stratno=15540|website=Australian Stratigraphic Units Database|publisher=Geoscience Australia|accessdate=6 December 2015}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Exon |first=N.F. |date=1976 |title=Geology of the Surat Basin in Queensland |url=https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/corpdata/77/Bull_166.pdf |journal=Bureau of Mineral Resources, Australia. Bulletin |volume=166 |issue=2 |pages=1–235}}</ref> This unit includes the previously described '''Razorback beds'''.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Murray |first1=C.G. |last2=Blake |first2=P.R. |last3=Crouch |first3=S.B.S. |last4=Hayward |first4=M.A. |last5=Robertson |first5=A.D.C. |last6=Simpson |first6=G.A. |date=2012 |title=Geology of the Yarrol Province central coastal Queensland |url=https://geoscience.data.qld.gov.au/data/report/cr088844 |journal=Queensland Geology |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=1–675}}</ref> This unit represents a major, almost primary, source of hydrocarbons in the region, with a Potential CO<sub>2</sub> reservoir of up to 70m.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Farquhar |first1=S. M. |last2=Dawson |first2=G. K. W. |last3=Esterle |first3=J. S. |author-link3=Joan Esterle |last4=Golding |first4=S. D. |date=2013-02-01 |title=Mineralogical characterisation of a potential reservoir system for CO<sub>2</sub> sequestration in the Surat Basin |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08120099.2012.752406 |journal=Australian Journal of Earth Sciences |volume=60 |issue=1 |pages=91–110 |bibcode=2013AuJES..60...91F |doi=10.1080/08120099.2012.752406 |issn=0812-0099|url-access=subscription }}</ref> It was deposited on top of older sediments, like Bowen Basin units, in an unconformable manner, resting along the eastern basin margin and the Back Creek Group in the southern Comet Platform, while in other areas it directly overlies the Triassic Moolayember Formation & Callide Coal Measures, being deposited in a comparatively stable basin.<ref name=":3" /> Isopach maps of the Precipice Sandstone indicate two distinct areas of sediment accumulation, suggesting two separate depocentres filled from different source regions during the Sinemurian, with the Thomson orogeny and New England Orogen hinterlands as possible ones.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sobczak |first1=Kasia |last2=La Croix |first2=Andrew D. |last3=Esterle |first3=Joan |last4=Hayes |first4=Phil |last5=Holl |first5=Heinz-Gerd |last6=Ciesiolka |first6=Rachael |last7=Crowley |first7=James L. |last8=Allen |first8=Charlotte M. |date=2022 |title=Geochronology and sediment provenance of the Precipice Sandstone and Evergreen Formation in the Surat Basin, Australia: Implications for the palaeo-geography of eastern Gondwana |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2022.08.003 |journal=Gondwana Research |volume=111 |pages=189–208 |doi=10.1016/j.gr.2022.08.003 |bibcode=2022GondR.111..189S |issn=1342-937X|url-access=subscription }}</ref> This unit represented a fluvial-palustrine-lacustrine braided channel north-flowing succession, that seem to have debouch into a shallow restricted tidal/wave influenced marine embayment, marked at areas like Woleebee Creek.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bianchi |first1=V. |last2=Zhou |first2=F. |last3=Pistellato |first3=D. |last4=Martin |first4=M. |last5=Boccardo |first5=S. |last6=Esterle |first6=J. |date=2018-04-26 |title=Mapping a coastal transition in braided systems: an example from the Precipice Sandstone, Surat Basin |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08120099.2018.1455156 |journal=Australian Journal of Earth Sciences |volume=65 |issue=4 |pages=483–502 |doi=10.1080/08120099.2018.1455156 |bibcode=2018AuJES..65..483B |issn=0812-0099|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Paleoenvironment-wise, it represents a hinterland rich in vegetation, hinting at wet environments like swamps, where agglutinated foraminifera suggests marine flooding and drier conditions or the encroachment of seawater onto coastal areas.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Martin |first1=M. |last2=Wakefield |first2=M. |last3=Bianchi |first3=V. |last4=Esterle |first4=J. |last5=Zhou |first5=F. |date=2017-12-11 |title=Evidence for marine influence in the Lower Jurassic Precipice Sandstone, Surat Basin, eastern Australia |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08120099.2018.1402821 |journal=Australian Journal of Earth Sciences |volume=65 |issue=1 |pages=75–91 |doi=10.1080/08120099.2018.1402821 |issn=0812-0099|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== Fireclay Caverns == thumb|Fireclay Caverns' Site A1 trackmaker (Mount Morgan, Queensland) placed in its footprints to scale with a 1.75 m tall human. The Fireclay Caverns were excavated by the Mount Morgan Mine to provide clay for its brickworks resulting in very large openings that measure between 4–12 metres in height from the cave floor.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Romilio |first1=Anthony |last2=Dick |first2=Roslyn |last3=Skinner |first3=Heather |last4=Millar |first4=Janice |date=2020-02-13 |title=Archival data provides insights into the ambiguous track-maker gait from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) Razorback beds, Queensland, Australia: evidence of theropod quadrupedalism? |journal=Historical Biology |volume=33 |issue=9 |pages=1573–1579 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2020.1720014 |issn=0891-2963 |doi-access=}}</ref> Excavation of the caverns ceased when the mine brickworks were decommissioned in the early 1900s.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Staines |first=HRE |date=1954 |title=Dinosaur footprints at Mount Morgan. |journal=Queensland Government Mining Journal |volume=55 |issue=623 |pages=483–485}}</ref> Erosion revealed dinosaur footprints (preserved as infills) being discovered in 1954.<ref name=":1" /> To date, nine different ceiling sections of the Fireclay Caverns have been recognised as containing dinosaur footprints. These have been dated to the Early Jurassic (Sinemurian) ~195 million years ago.<ref name=":0" /> Walkways and stairs had been constructed in 2010 to provide access to the dinosaur footprints<ref>{{Cite web |title=Queensland Government: Mines and Energy: Mount Morgan Mine Site Quarterly Update: April-June 2010 |url=http://www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_files/mt_morgan_pdf/4th_qtr_stakeholder_update.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706122711/http://www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_files/mt_morgan_pdf/4th_qtr_stakeholder_update.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2011 |access-date=9 January 2011}}</ref> as part of the mine site tours. The site was closed to access in 2011 due to ceiling erosion posing a significant risk to public safety.<ref name=":0" />

The Fireclay Caverns were excavated to supply clay to brickworks of the Mount Morgan Mine. Clay was mined from within the caverns by pick and shovel, then transferred by underground rail to a brickworks lower in the Mount Morgan Mine site. Excavation from the caverns ceased when their clay was no longer required by the mine. After cavern excavations ceased, clay progressively fell from the cavern ceilings, revealing rock ceilings above. In 1954, HRE Staines, a Mount Morgan Limited geologist, identified dinosaur footprints in the rock ceilings.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Queensland Government: Mines and Energy: Mount Morgan Mine Rehabilitation Project: Project Summary |url=http://www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_files/mt_morgan_pdf/project_summary_mount_morgan_mine.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312161801/http://www.dme.qld.gov.au/zone_files/mt_morgan_pdf/project_summary_mount_morgan_mine.pdf |archive-date=12 March 2011 |access-date=9 January 2011}}</ref> Over 300 such footprints have been identified on the cavern ceilings dated to the Early Jurassic (Sinemurian) ~195 million years ago.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Saini |first=N |title=Geology and palaeo-ichnology of the Razorback beds, Mount Morgan, Queensland [Thesis] |publisher=University of Wollongong |year=2005}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Romilio |first=Anthony |date=2020-04-20 |title=Additional notes on the Mount Morgan dinosaur tracks from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) Razorback beds, Queensland, Australia. |journal=Historical Biology |volume=33 |issue=10 |pages=2005–2007 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2020.1755853 |issn=0891-2963 |s2cid=218778298}}</ref> 2024 represents the 70th anniversary of when Ross Staines published Australia's first dinosaur trackway-consisting of four footprints.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> To celebrate, previously unpublished archival photographs (c. 1954) enabled a re-examination of Staines' original trackway, from which two additional footprints were revealed.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Romilio |first1=Anthony |last2=Dick |first2=Roslyn |last3=Skinner |first3=Heather |last4=Millar |first4=Janice |date=2024-02-21 |title=Uncovering hidden footprints: revision of the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) Razorback Beds – home to Australia's earliest reported dinosaur trackway |journal=Historical Biology |volume=37 |issue=3 |language=en |pages=596–603 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2024.2320184 |issn=0891-2963|doi-access=free }}</ref> Analyses indicated the trackmaker exhibited a walking gait, initially walking at ~3.8&nbsp;km/h and then slowed to 1.8&nbsp;km/h in association with a slight turn in direction.<ref name=":4" />

After cavern excavations ceased, a colony of bent-wing bats began inhabiting the caverns. The sections of the caverns containing the bats are inaccessible to protect the bat habitat.

{{clear}}

== Biota ==

=== Invertebrates === {| class="wikitable" !Genus !Species !Type !Location !Material !Origin !Notes !Images |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Asterosoma''<ref name="Ichnos">{{cite journal |last1=La Croix |first1=A. D. |last2=Wang |first2=J. |last3=He |first3=J. |last4=Hannaford |first4=C. |last5=Bianchi |first5=V. |last6=Esterle |first6=J. |last7=Undershultz |first7=J. R. |date=2019 |title=Widespread nearshore and shallow marine deposition within the Lower Jurassic Precipice Sandstone and Evergreen Formation in the Surat Basin, Australia |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264817219303009 |journal=Marine and Petroleum Geology |volume=109 |issue=3 |pages=760–790 |doi=10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2019.06.048 |bibcode=2019MarPG.109..760L |hdl=10289/12877 |access-date=30 May 2023|hdl-access=free }}</ref> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''A. isp.'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Fodinichnia | rowspan="16" style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Chinchilla 4 Borehole * Condabri MB9-H Borehole * Kenya East GW7 Borehole * Moonie 31 Borehole * Moonie 34 Borehole * Reedy Creek MB3-H Borehole * Roma 8 Borehole * Taroom 17 Borehole * West Wandoan 1 Borehole * Woleebee Creek GW4 Borehole | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Radiating bulb-like swelling burrows | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Annelid worm, vermiform organism | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Freshwater/brackish burrow-like ichnofossils | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Conichnus''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''C. isp.'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Domichnia * Cubichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |trails | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Gastropods | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Freshwater/brackish fillings-like ichnofossils | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Cylindrichnus''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''C. isp.'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Domichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Long, subconical, weakly curved burrows | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Anemones * Polychaete worms | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Freshwater/brackish burrow-like ichnofossils | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Diplocraterion''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''D. parallelum'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Domichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |U-shaped burrows | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Polychaeta annelids (''Axiothella'', ''Abarenicola'' and ''Scolecolepis'') * Sipunculans (''Sipunculus'') * Enteropneustans (''Balanoglossus'') * Echiurans (''Urechis''). | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Vertical, U-shaped, single-spreite Burrows; unidirectional or bidirectional spreite, generally continuous, rarely discontinuous. Most ''Diplocraterion'' show only protrusive spreiten, like the local ones, produced under predominantly erosive conditions where the organism was constantly burrowing deeper into the substrate as sediment was eroded from the top. | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |center|thumb|288x288px|''Diplocraterion'' parallelum diagram |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Helminthopsis''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''H. isp.'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Fodinichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Simple, unbranched, horizontal cylinder traces | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Polychaetes * Priapulids | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Saltwater/brackish burrow-like ichnofossils. | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |center|thumb|155x155px|Example of ''Helminthopsis'' fossil |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Lockeia''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''L. amygdaloides'' * ''L. isp.'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Cubichnia * Domichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Dwelling traces | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Bivalves | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Marine, brackish or freshwater resting traces of Bivalves. | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |thumb|155x155px |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Naktodemasis''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''N. isp.'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Fodinichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Straight to sinuous, unlined and unbranched burrows | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Soil bugs * Cicada nymphs * Scarabaeid beetle larvae | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Freshwater/Terrestrial burrow-like ichnofossils. | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Palaeophycus''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''P. tubularis'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Domichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Straight or gently curved tubular burrows. | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Polychaetes * Semiaquatic Insects (Orthoptera and Hemiptera) * Semiaquatic and non-aquatic Beetles. | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Freshwater/brackish burrow-like ichnofossils. | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |center|thumb|155x155px|Example of ''Palaeophycus'' fossil |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Phycosiphon''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''P. isp.'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Fodinichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Irregularly meandering burrows | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Vermiform Animals | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Freshwater burrow-like ichnofossils. | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Planolites''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''P. montanus'' * ''P. beverleyensis'' * ''P. isp.'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Pascichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Cylindrical or elliptical curved/tortuous trace fossils | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Polychaetes * Insects | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Freshwater/brackish burrow-like ichnofossils. ''Planolites'' is really common in all types of the ''Ciechocinek Formation'' deposits. It is referred to vermiform deposit-feeders, mainly Polychaetes, producing active Fodinichnia. It is controversial, since is considered a strictly a junior synonym of ''Palaeophycus''. | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |center|thumb|155x155px|Example of ''Planolites'' fossil |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Scolicia''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''S. isp.'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Cubichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Symmetrical trail or burrow | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Gastropods | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Freshwater/brackish trail-like ichnofossils | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |none|thumb|155x155px|''Scolicia'' trails |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Skolithos''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''S. isp.'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Domichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Cylindrical strands with branches | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Polychaetes * Phoronidans | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Brackish trace ichnofossils. Interpreted as dwelling structures of vermiform animals, more concretely the Domichnion of a suspension-feeding Worm or Phoronidan. | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Siphonichnus''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''S. ophthalmoides'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Domichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Cylindrical strands with branches | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Polychaetes * Phoronidans | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Brackish trace ichnofossils. Interpreted as dwelling structures of vermiform animals, more concretely the Domichnion of a suspension-feeding Worm or Phoronidan. | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Taenidium''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''T. serpentinum'' * ''T. isp.'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Fodinichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Unlined meniscate burrows | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Deposit-feeding Sipuncula * Polychaetes * Phoronidans | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Freshwater/Blackish burrow-like ichnofossils. ''Taenidium'' is a meniscate backfill structure, usually considered to be produced by an animal progressing axially through the sediment and depositing alternating packets of differently constituted sediment behind it as it moves forward. | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Thalassinoides''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''T. isp.'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Tubular Fodinichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Tubular Burrows | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Thalassinidea * Several Crustaceans (Anomura, Decapoda) * Annelids (Polychaeta * Sipuncula * Dipnoi | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Burrow-like ichnofossils. Large burrow-systems consisting of smooth-walled, essentially cylindrical components. Common sedimentary features are ''Thalassinoides'' trace fossils in the fissile marlstone to claystone intervals | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |none|thumb|155x155px|''Thalassinoides'' burrowing structures, with modern related fauna, showing the ecological convergence and the variety of animals that left this Ichnogenus. |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Teichichnus''<ref name="Ichnos" /> | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * ''T. isp.'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Fodinichnia | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Vertical to oblique, unbranched or branched, elongated to arcuate spreite burrow | style="background:#FEF6E4;" | * Polychaetes * Dwelling Echiurans * Dwelling Holothurians. | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Saltwater/brackish burrow-like ichnofossils. The overall morphology and details of the burrows, in comparison with modern analogues and neoichnological experiments, suggest Echiurans (spoon worms) or Holothurians (sea cucumbers) with a combined suspension- and deposit-feeding behaviour as potential producers. | style="background:#FEF6E4;" |center|thumb|155x155px|''Teichichnus'' burrows |- |}

=== Vertebrata === {| class="wikitable" !Genus !Species !Location !Stratigraphic position !Material !Notes !Images |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Anomoepodidae<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Romilio |first=Anthony |date=2020-11-12 |title=Evidence of ornithischian activity from the Lower Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian) Precipice Sandstone, Callide Basin, Queensland, Australia — preliminary findings |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2020.1846033 |journal=Historical Biology |volume=33 |issue=11 |pages=3041–3045 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2020.1846033 |issn=0891-2963|url-access=subscription }}</ref> | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Indeterminate | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| * Biloela | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Lower Member | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Footprints | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| ornithischian footprints, unassigned to any concrete ichnogenus, but with resemblance with Anomoepodidae | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| [[File:Lesothosaurus ER670.JPG|thumb|center|155px| Small ornithischians similar to ''Lesothosaurus'' may have left these footprints]] |- | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| ''Anomoepus''<ref name=":4"/><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Thulborn |first=Richard A. |date=1994 |title=Ornithopod dinosaur tracks from the Lower Jurassic of Queensland |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03115519408619498 |journal=Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology |volume=18 |issue=3 |pages=247–258 |doi=10.1080/03115519408619498 |bibcode=1994Alch...18..247T |issn=0311-5518|url-access=subscription }}</ref> | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| * ''A. scambus'' * ''A. ispp.'' | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| * Callide Basin<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last1=Romilio |first1=Anthony |last2=Park |first2=Ron |last3=Nichols |first3=Wes |last4=Jackson |first4=Owen |title=Dinosaur footprints from the Lower Jurassic (Hettangian–Sinemurian) Precipice Sandstone of the Callide Basin, Queensland, Australia |journal=Historical Biology |date=2025 |volume=0 |pages=1–12 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2025.2472153 |issn=0891-2963|doi-access=free }}</ref> * Carnarvon Gorge * Fireclay Caverns * Mount Morgan | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Lower Member | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Footprints | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Ornithischian Footprints, originally suggested as quadrupedal theropod tracks, latter identified as of Ornithischian origin.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Romilio |first1=Anthony |last2=Dick |first2=Roslyn |last3=Skinner |first3=Heather |last4=Millar |first4=Janice |date=2020-02-13 |title=Archival data provides insights into the ambiguous track-maker gait from the Lower Jurassic (Sinemurian) Razorback beds, Queensland, Australia: evidence of theropod quadrupedalism? |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2020.1720014 |journal=Historical Biology |volume=33 |issue=9 |pages=1573–1579 |doi=10.1080/08912963.2020.1720014 |issn=0891-2963|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Up to 130 tracks & 4 short trackways are known. | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| |- |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| ''Eubrontes''<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last1=Cook |first1=A. G. |last2=Saini |first2=N. |last3=Hocknull |first3=S. A. |date=2010 |title=Dinosaur footprints from the lower Jurassic of Mount Morgan, Queensland |url=https://www.academia.edu/1142863 |journal=Memoirs of the Queensland Museum - Nature |volume=55 |issue=1 |pages=135–146}}</ref> |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| ''E. isp.'' |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Fireclay Caverns |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Lower Member |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Footprints |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Medium-sized Theropod Footprints. Currently represent the largest of the prints at Mount Morgan |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| |- |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| ''Grallator''<ref name=":6" /> |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| ''G. isp.'' |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Fireclay Caverns |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Lower Member |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Footprints |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Small-sized Theropod Footprints |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| |- |Plesiosauria<ref name="Ples2">{{cite journal |last1=Kear |first1=B. P. |date=2012 |title=A revision of Australia's Jurassic plesiosaurs |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1475-4983.2012.01183.x |journal=Palaeontology |volume=55 |issue=5 |pages=1125–1138 |doi=10.1111/j.1475-4983.2012.01183.x |bibcode=2012Palgy..55.1125K |access-date=30 May 2023}}</ref> | Indeterminate | * Mount Morgan | Razorback Beds | * QM F3983-QM F5500, single disarticulated skeleton preserved as natural moulds | A Freshwater Plesiosaur that cannot be confidently attributed to any particular plesiosaurian clade | |- |style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''Steropoides''<ref name=":7" /> |style="background:#FEF6E4;" |''S?. isp'' |style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Biloela tracksite |style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Lower Member |style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Footprints |style="background:#FEF6E4;" |Small-sized Ornithischian Footprints |style="background:#FEF6E4;" | |- | rowspan="3" style="background:#FEF6E4;" | Theropodipedia<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Molnar |first=R. E. |date=1980 |title=Australian late Mesozoic continental tetrapods: some implications |journal=Mémoires de la Société Géologique de France |series=Nouvelle Série |volume=139 |issue=5 |pages=131–143}}</ref> | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Indeterminate | style="background:#FEF6E4;"| * Callide Mine * Mount Morgan | rowspan="3" style="background:#FEF6E4;" | Lower Member | rowspan="3" style="background:#FEF6E4;" | Footprints | rowspan="3" style="background:#FEF6E4;" | Possible theropod footprints, unassigned to any concrete ichnogenus. One morphotype includes large tridactyl prints, up to 24&nbsp;cm. | rowspan="3" style="background:#FEF6E4;" | [[File:Procompsognathus.jpg|center|thumb|155x155px|Small theropods similar to ''Procompsognathus'' may have left these footprints]] |- |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| "Indet. 2"<ref name=":0" /> |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Fireclay Caverns |- |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| "Indet. 3"<ref name=":0" /> |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Fireclay Caverns |- |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| ''Wintonopus''<ref name=":6" /> |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| ''W. isp.'' |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Fireclay Caverns |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Lower Member |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Footprints |style="background:#FEF6E4;"| Small-sized Ornithischian Footprints | |- |}

===Bryophyta=== {| class = "wikitable" |- ! Genus ! Species ! Stratigraphic position ! Material ! Notes ! Images |- |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Annulispora''<ref name=FloraB>{{cite journal |last1=Playford |first1=G. |last2=Cornelius |first2=Kenneth D. |title=Palynological and lithostratigraphic features of the Razorback Beds, Mount Morgan District, Queensland |journal=Papers Department of Geology, University of Queensland |date=1967 |pages=81–94 |url=https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:179036}}</ref> |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''A. folliculosa'' *''A. microannulata'' | rowspan="7" style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *Razorback Beds | rowspan="7" style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *Spores |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Incertae sedis''; affinities with Bryophyta. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Cingutriletes''<ref name=FloraB/> |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''C. spp.'' |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Incertae sedis''; affinities with Bryophyta. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Distalanulisporites''<ref name=FloraB/> |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''D. punctus'' *''D. verrucosus'' |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the family Sphagnaceae in the Sphagnopsida. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Foraminisporis''<ref name="FloraB" /> |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''F. spp.'' |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the family Notothyladaceae in the Anthocerotopsida. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Nevesisporites''<ref name=FloraB/> |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''N. vallatus'' |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Incertae sedis''; affinities with Bryophyta. This spore is found in Jurassic sediments associated with the polar regions. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Polycingulatisporites''<ref name=FloraB/> |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''P. crenulatus'' *''P. densatus'' *''P. mooniensis'' |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the family Notothyladaceae in the Anthocerotopsida. Hornwort spores. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | [[File:Notothylas orbicularis (Anthocerotophyta (hornwort)).png|thumb|none|155px|Extant ''Notothylas'' specimens]] |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Stereisporites''<ref name="FloraB" /> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''S. antiquasporites'' *''S. perforatus'' | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the family Sphagnaceae in the Sphagnopsida. "Peat moss" spores, related to genera such as ''Sphagnum'' that can store large amounts of water. | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | [[File:SphagnumFallax.jpg|thumb|none|155px|Extant ''Sphagnum'' specimens]] |- |}

===Lycophyta=== {| class = "wikitable" |- ! Genus ! Species ! Stratigraphic position ! Material ! Notes ! Images |- |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Apiculatisporis''<ref name=FloraB/> |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''A. spp.'' | rowspan="3" style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *Razorback Beds | rowspan="3" style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *Spores |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Incertae sedis''; affinities with Lycopodiopsida |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Lycopodiumsporites''<ref name="FloraB" /> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''L. austroclavatidites'' *''L. rosewoodensis'' | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the family Lycopodiaceae in the Lycopodiopsida. Lycopod spores, related to herbaceous to arbustive flora common in humid environments. | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | [[File:Lycopodium annotinum 161102.jpg|thumb|none|155px|Extant ''Lycopodium'' specimens]] |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Neoraistrickia''<ref name="FloraB" /> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''N. truncata'' *''N. spp.'' | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the Selaginellaceae in the Lycopsida. | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- |}

===Pteridophyta=== {| class = "wikitable" |- ! Genus ! Species ! Stratigraphic position ! Material ! Notes ! Images |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Calamospora''<ref name="FloraB" /> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''C. spp.'' | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *Razorback Beds | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *Spores | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the Calamitaceae in the Equisetales. Horsetails are herbaceous flora found in humid environments and are flooding-tolerant. In the sections of the formation such as Korsodde, this genus has small peaks in abundance in the layers where more ''Equisetites'' stems are found. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | [[File:Calamites reconstrucción.png|thumb|center|155px|Reconstruction of the genus ''Calamites'', found associated with ''Calamospora'']] |- |}

===Pteridophyta=== {| class = "wikitable" |- ! Genus ! Species ! Stratigraphic position ! Material ! Notes ! Images |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Annulispora''<ref name=FloraB/> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''A. microannulata'' *''A. folliculosa'' | rowspan="13" style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *Razorback Beds | rowspan="13" style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *Spores | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the genus ''Saccoloma'', type representative of the family ''Saccolomataceae''. This fern spore resembles those of the living genus ''Saccoloma'', being probably from a pantropical genus found in wet, shaded forest areas. | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | [[File:Saccoloma brasiliense kz02.jpg|thumb|center|155px|Extant ''Saccoloma'' specimens; ''Annulispora'' probably comes from similar genera or maybe a species in the genus]] |- |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Baculatisporites''<ref name=FloraB/> |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''B. comaumensis'' |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the family Osmundaceae in the Polypodiopsida. Near fluvial current ferns, related to the modern ''Osmunda regalis''. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | [[File:Cinnamon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum) - Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland 2019-08-10.jpg|thumb|none|155px|Extant ''Osmunda'' specimens; ''Baculatisporites'' and ''Todisporites'' probably come from similar genera or maybe a species from the genus]] |- |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Camarozonosporites''<ref name=FloraB/> |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''C. spp.'' |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Incertae sedis''; affinities with the Pteridophyta |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Cyathidites''<ref name="FloraB" /> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''C. australis'' *''C. minor'' | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the family Cyatheaceae in the Cyatheales. Arboreal fern spores. | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | [[File:Cyathea medullaris.JPG|thumb|none|155px|Extant ''Cyathea'']] |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Densoisporites''<ref name="FloraB" /> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''D. spp'' | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Incertae sedis''; affinities with the Pteridophyta | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Dictyophyllidites''<ref name="FloraB" /> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''D. mortoni'' | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the family Matoniaceae in the Gleicheniales. | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Duplexisporites''<ref name="FloraB" /> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''D. gyratus'' | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Incertae sedis''; affinities with the Pteridophyta | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Foraminisporis''<ref name="FloraB" /> |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | * ''F. tribulosus'' |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Incertae sedis''; affinities with the Pteridophyta |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Foveosporites''<ref name=FloraB/> |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''F. sp.'' |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Incertae sedis''; affinities with the Pteridophyta |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Heliosporites''<ref name="FloraB" /> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''H. spp'' | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Incertae sedis''; affinities with the Pteridophyta | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Indusiisporites''<ref name="FloraB" /> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''I. parvisaccatus'' | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Incertae sedis''; affinities with the Pteridophyta | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Osmundacidites''<ref name="FloraB" /> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''O. wellmanii'' | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the family Osmundaceae in the Polypodiopsida. Near fluvial current ferns, related to the modern Osmunda regalis. | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Rugulatisporites''<ref name="FloraB" /> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''R. spp.'' | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the family Osmundaceae in the Polypodiopsida. Near fluvial current ferns, related to the modern ''Osmunda regalis''. | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- |}

===Peltaspermales=== {| class = "wikitable" |- ! Genus ! Species ! Stratigraphic position ! Material ! Notes ! Images |- | rowspan="2" style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Alisporites''<ref name=FloraB/> | rowspan="2" style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''A. australis'' *''A. lowoodensis'' *''A. sp.'' | rowspan="3" style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *Razorback Beds | rowspan="3" style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *Pollen | rowspan="2" style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the families Peltaspermaceae, Corystospermaceae or Umkomasiaceae in the Peltaspermales. Pollen of uncertain provenance that can be derived from any of the members of the Peltaspermales. The lack of distinctive characters and poor conservation make this pollen difficult to classify. Arboreal to arbustive seed ferns. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Vitreisporites''<ref name=FloraB/> |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''V. contectus'' *''V. pallidus'' |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | From the family Caytoniaceae in the Caytoniales. Caytoniaceae are a complex group of Mesozoic fossil floras that may be related to both Peltaspermales and Ginkgoaceae. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- |}

===Conifers=== {| class = "wikitable" |- ! Genus ! Species ! Stratigraphic position ! Material ! Notes ! Images |- |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Classopollis''<ref name="FloraB" /> |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''C. classoides'' *''C. simplex'' | rowspan="3" style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *Razorback Beds | rowspan="3" style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *Pollen |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the Hirmeriellaceae in the Pinopsida. |style="background:#D1FFCF;" | |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Perinopollenites''<ref name="FloraB" /> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''P. sp.'' | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the family Cupressaceae in the Pinopsida. Pollen that resembles that of extant genera such as the genus ''Actinostrobus'' and ''Austrocedrus'', probably derived from dry environments. | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | [[File:Austrocedrus chilensis.jpg|thumb|none|155px|Extant ''Austrocedrus'']] |- | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | ''Podosporites''<ref name="FloraB" /> | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | *''P. spp.'' | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | Affinities with the family Podocarpaceae. Pollen from diverse types of Podocarpaceous conifers, that include morphotypes similar to the low arbustive ''Microcachrys'' and the medium arbustive ''Lepidothamnus'', likely linked with Upland settings | style="background:#D1FFCF;" | [[File:Microcachrys tetragona 112011800.jpg|thumb|none|155px|Extant ''Microcachrys'']] |- |}

== See also == * List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations ** List of stratigraphic units with ornithischian tracks *** Ornithopod tracks

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:Jurassic System of Australia Category:Sinemurian Stage Category:Pliensbachian Stage Category:Sandstone formations Category:Paleontology in New South Wales Category:Paleontology in Queensland Category:Caves of Queensland Category:Central Queensland