The Tempe Formation: An early middle Cambrian, open marine, clastic, and carbonate sequence, central Amadeus Basin

The Tempe Formation is an early Middle Cambrian clastic and carbonate sequence that occurs in the central part of the Amadeus Basin, central Australia. Shale and siltstone are the dominant clastic components throughout, with relatively minor amounts of sandstone concentrated towards the base. Near the top of the formation, an interval of skeletal (phosphatic) carbonate occurs. The facies recognized include bay, lagoon, tidal flat, upper shoreface, lower shoreface and offshore. The offshore facies thickens from east to west, the shoreface facies thickens from north to south, and the bay, lagoon, and tidal flat facies are evenly distributed.