Absolute magnitude of the second-order middle to late, Miocene sea-level fall, Marion Plateau, northeast Australia

The Miocene carbonate platform of the Marion Plateau in northeast Australia preserves an excellent record of sea-level fluctuations. The warm-water platform consists of an early to middle Miocene second-order highstand complex, whereas the late Miocene platform is a second-order lowstand complex. Analysis of the sea-level fall that led to this relation shows that the amplitude of this event was at least 180 m. Furthermore, we suggest a methodology for determining the amplitude of sea-level fluctuations based on measurement of sea-level falls in structurally simple parts of passive margins or in distal parts of foreland basins.