Axax Mine Archaeocyaths and Ajx-M section, Mount Scott Range

Abstract

This classic archaeocyath locality was first studied by Taylor (1908, 1910) and subsequently by the Bedfords (R. Bedford & W.R. Bedford 1934, 1936; R. Bedford & J. Bedford 1936, 1937, 1939) and Ting (1937). Uniquely among Australian archaeocyathan terranes, the mineral replacement of archaeocyath skeletons at Ajax Mine permitted acid etching of samples to reveal the archaeocyaths in three dimensions, without recourse to the preparation of thin sections (Fig. 52). The technique was employed by all the abovementioned authors except Ting. All these collections were later revised by Debrenne and collaborators (F. Debrenne & M. Debrenne 1960; Debrenne 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974a, b, c, 1977, Debrenne et al. 1970, 1971; Debrenne & Rozanov 1972). Ajax Mine has thereby become the type locality for the great majority of described Australian archaeocyath species and genera. Taking revisions into account, Kruse & Shi (in Brock et al. 2000) reported a tally of 110 valid archaeocyath and allied species from Ajax Mine – a diversity far in excess of any other Australian-Antarctic archaeocyath assemblage. Further, international comparisons at the genus level indicate Ajax Mine to be the most diverse archaeocyath locality worldwide.