The Late Pleistocene evolution of palaeo megalake Bungunnia, southeastern Australia: A sedimentary record of fluctuating lake dynamics, climate change and the formation of the modern Murray River

Abstract

The ephemeral lacustrine carbonates of the Bungunnia Limestone, deposited in palaeo megalake Bungunnia, preserve a detailed record of Pleistocene palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic change in southeastern Australia. Five distinct lake shorelines (Lake Levels 0-4) are visible on digital elevation models, ranging in elevation from around 70. m to 30. m above sea level. The Bungunnia Limestone is preserved on the three lowest terraces ranging over 20. m in elevation (Lake Levels 2-4). On the two higher of these terraces Bungunnia Limestone contains ooids and stromatolites and is calcite- and aragonite-dominated whereas on the lower terrace level Bungunnia Limestone is dolomite-, gypsum- and ..