ABSTRACT

Substantially arenaceous and dolomitic rocks of the Leopold Formation are exposed through a composite type section 405 m thick near Port Leopold and on Prince Leopold Island. The formation is highly varied lithologically, contains a sparse, restricted marine fauna and is predominantly intertidal in origin.

The Leopold Formation is herein divided into 3 members. The Cape Seppings Member (28 m thick at the base) is largely dolostone with minor gypsum pods and laminae, transitional between underlying supratidal evaporites of the Cape Crauford Formation and the overlying Cape Clarence Member. This middle member (275 m thick) contains a large proportion of sandstones and dolostones and numerous stromatolitic units. The overlying Prince Leopold Member (102 m thick) is mainly sandstone and limestone, and is transitional into the subtidal fossilferous limestones of the succeeding Read Bay Formation.