Prof. Malcolm Walter FAA
B.Sc. (Hons), Ph.D., University of Adelaide
Director
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Contact Details: Office: + 61 2 9850 8354 Home office: + 61 2 4456 5244 (best for weekends); if no response try + 61 2 4456 4480
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Malcolm Walter is a Professorial Fellow at Macquarie University in Sydney, Director of the Australian Centre for Astrobiology based at that university, and Director of M. R. Walter Pty Ltd. He has worked for 35 years on the geological evidence of early life on Earth, including the earliest convincing evidence of life. Since 1989 he has been funded by NASA in their "exobiology" and "astrobiology" programs, focusing on microbial life in high temperature ecosystems, and the search for life on Mars. He is a member of the Executive Council of NASA's Astrobiology Institute. During 1999 his book "The Search for Life on Mars" was published by Allen & Unwin. He has published more than 100 articles and several other books. He also works as an oil exploration consultant and a consultant to museums, and was curator of a special Centenary of Federation exhibition on space exploration (for the National Museum of Australia in Canberra, Museum Victoria, and elsewhere). In 2004 Malcolm was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
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Research Description:
I started my research career with work on an archaeocyathid bioherm in the Cambrian of the Adelaide Rift Complex in South Australia. Then came four years of research on Proterozoic stromatolite biostratigraphy and palaeobiology, for my PhD. During that time and intermittently ever since I worked on the oldest evidence for metazoan life. Research on banded iron formations has been another intermittent occupation. An invitation from NASA in 1987 led to an interest in life on Mars, a pursuit that now preoccupies me. I have studied the oldest convincing evidence of life on Earth, in the Archaean of Western Australia, a topic to which I have recently returned.
Two continuing themes to my work have been an interest in the coevolution of microbial life and its environment (such issues as the oxygenation of the atmosphere and hydrosphere), and simultaneous work in modern and ancient environments. For many years I was director of an interdisciplinary laboratory that studied microbially-dominated environments in Shark Bay and elsewhere, and I have worked extensively in the hydrothermal environments of Yellowstone National Park and to a lesser extent New Zealand.
I have not abandoned my stratigraphic studies, and for the decade of the 1990's with my colleague John Veevers and former students Clive Calver, Kath Grey, Kaye Cotter, Andrew Hill and Paul Gorjan I worked to improve our knowledge of Neoproterozoic stratigraphy, particularly in Australia. I was Vice Chairman with Andrew Knoll of the Subcommission on the Terminal Proterozoic (International Commission on Stratigraphy) which has defined for the first time in more than a century a new geological period, the Ediacaran.
I consider that scientists must interpret their work for the public and to that end I have done numerous interviews for radio, television and the print media in Australia, Europe and North America. My work with museums and my book about the search for life on Mars are also contributions to public education.
When not doing these things most often I am working on my farm south of Sydney, with my wife Sally Sweetapple, raising organic beef, sheep, chickens, ducks and vegetables, and breeding Kelpie dogs.
PUBLICATIONS
Books and Monographs
Journal articles and book chapters
Other Publications
Maps
Abstracts
Major Unpublished Reports
WALTER, M. R., 1972 - Stromatolites and the biostratigraphy of the Australian Precambrian and Cambrian. Special Paper, Palaeontological Association of London, 11, 190 p. (partial translation into Russian, 1973).
WALTER, M. R., editor, 1976 - Stromatolites. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co., 790 p. (translated into Chinese).
WALTER, M. R., editor, 1977 - Life in the Precambrian. Special issue of Precambrian Research 5(2), 105-219.
TRUDINGER, P. A., WALTER, M. R. & RALPH, B. J., editors, 1980 - Biogeochemistry of ancient and modern environments. Australian Academy of Science, 723 p.
WALTER, M. R., editor, 1991 - Proterozoic Petroleum. Special issue of Precambrian Research 54(1), 1-108.
KNOLL, A. H. & WALTER, M. R., editors, 1995 - The Terminal Proterozoic. Special issue of Precambrian Research 73 (1-4), 1-298.
WALTER, M. R. (1999) - The Search for Life on Mars. Perseus Books (US), Allen & Unwin ( Australia), 170p.
WALTER, M. R., editor, (2000) - The Neoproterozoic of Australia. Special issue of Precambrian Research 100, 433 p.
WALTER, M. R. (editor) (2001). To Mars and Beyond: Search for the Origins of Life. Beagle Press, Sydney, 131p.
WALTER, M. R. (editor) (2002). Astrobiology in Australasia. Special issue of Astrobiology 2 (3), 369 p.
Journal Articles and Book Chapters
WALTER, M. R., 1967 - Archaeocyatha and the biostratigraphy of the Lower Cambrian Hawker Group, South Australia. J. Geol. Soc. Austral., 14, 139-152.
GLAESSNER, M. F., PREISS, W. V. & WALTER, M. R., 1969 - Precambrian columnar stromatolites in Australia: morphological and stratigraphic analysis. Science, 164, 1056-1058.
WALTER, M. R., 1970 - Stromatolites used to determine the time of nearest approach of earth and moon. Science, 170, 1331-1332.
WALTER, M. R., 1972 - Tectonically deformed sand volcanoes in a Precambrian greywacke, Northern Territory of Australia. J. Geol. Soc., Austral., 18, 395-399.
WALTER, M. R., 1972 - A hot spring analog for the depositional environment of Precambrian iron formations of the Lake Superior region. Econ. Geol., 67, 965-980.
WALTER, M. R. & PREISS, W. V., 1972 - Distribution of stromatolites in the Precambrian and Cambrian of Australia. Internat. Geol. Congress, 24th Montreal, Proc. 1, 85-93.
WALTER, M. R., BAULD, J. & BROCK, T. D., 1972 - Siliceous algal and bacterial stromatolites in hot spring and geyser effluents of Yellowstone National Park. Science, 178, 402-405.
WALTER, M. R., GOLUBIC, S. & PREISS, W. V., 1973 - Recent stromatolites from hydromagnesite and aragonite depositing lakes near the Coorong Lagoon, South Australia. J. Sediment. Petrol., 43, 1021-1030.
LIAMS, E. G., DIEHL, P. & WALTER, M. R., 1974. Giant stromatolites and associated vertical tubes from the Upper Proterozoic Noonday Dolomite, Death Valley region, eastern California. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., 85, 1869-1882.
RUTLAND , R. W. R. & WALTER, M. R., 1974 - Philippine archipelago, pp. 491-500 in Mesozoic-Cenozoic orogenic belts: data for orogenic studies (A. M. Spencer, ed.). Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. London 4, 809 p.
GLAESSNER, M. F. & WALTER, M. R., 1975 - New Precambrian fossils from the Arumbera Sandstone, Northern Territory, Australia. Alcheringa 1, 59-69.
WALTER, M. R., GOODE, A. D. T. & HALL, W. D. M., 1976 - Microfossils from a newly discovered Precambrian stromatolitic iron formation in Western Australia. Nature, 261, 221-223.
WALTER, M. R., 1976 - Introduction, pp. 1-3 in Stromatolites, M. R. Walter (ed.). Elsevier Publ. Co., Amsterdam.
WALTER, M. R., 1976 - Geyserites of Yellowstone National Park: an example of abiogenic "stromatolites", pp. 87-112 in Stromatolites, M. R. Walter (ed.). Elsevier Publ. Co., Amsterdam.
WALTER, M. R., 1976 - Hot spring sediments in Yellowstone National Park, pp. 489-498 in Stromatolites, M. R. Walter (ed.). Elsevier Publ. Co., Amsterdam.
WALTER, M. R., BAULD, J. & BROCK, T. D., 1976 - Microbiology and morphogenesis of columnar stromatolites (Conophyton, Vacerrilla) from hot springs in Yellowstone National Park, pp. 273-310 In Stromatolites, M. R. Walter (ed.). Elsevier Publ. Co., Amsterdam.
WALTER, M. R., OEHLER, J. H. & OEHLER, D. Z., 1976 - Megascopic algae 1300 million years old from the Belt Supergroup, Montana: a reinterpretation of Walcott's Helminthoidichnites. J. Paleont., 50, 872-881.
WALTER, M. R., 1977 - Interpreting stromatolites. American Scientist, 65, 563-571.
PREISS, W. V., WALTER, M. R., COATS, R. P. & WELLS, A. T., 1978 - Lithological correlations of Adelaidean glaciogenic sediments in central Australia. BMR Journal of Australian Geology & Geophysics, 3, 43-53.
WALTER, M. R., 1978 - Recognition and significance of Archean stromatolites pp. 1-10 in: J. E. Glover & D. I. Groves (eds), Archaean cherty metasediments: their sedimentology, micropalaeontology, biogeochemistry, and significance to mineralization. Publs. Geol. Dep. & Extension Service, University Western Australia 2.
BUREK, P. J., WALTER, M. R. & WELLS, A. T., 1979 - Magnetostratigraphic tests of lithostratigraphic correlations of Adelaidean and Early Cambrian sediments in central Australia. BMR Journal of Australian Geology & Geophysics, 4, 47-55.
GOLDING, L. & WALTER, M. R., 1979 - Evidence of evaporites in the Archaean Black Flag Beds, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. BMR Journal of Australian Geology & Geophysics, 4, 67-72.
WALTER, M. R., SHERGOLD, J. H., MUIR, M. D. & KRUSE, P. D., 1979 - Early Cambrian and latest Proterozoic stratigraphy of the Desert Syncline, southern Georgina Basin. Journal Geol. Soc. Australia, 26, 305-312.
WALTER, M. R., KRYLOV, I. N. & PREISS, W. V., 1979 - Stromatolites from Adelaidean (late Proterozoic) sequences in central and South Australia. Alcheringa, 3, 287-305.
WALTER, M. R. & AWRAMIK, S. M., 1979 - Frutexites from stromatolites of the Gunflint Iron Formation of Canada, and its biological affinities. Precambrian Research, 9, 23-33.
MUIR, M. D., WALTER, M. R. & JACKSON, M. J., 1979 - Origin of the metazoa - a reply. Nature, 278, 580-581.
WALTER, M. R., 1979 - The causes of glaciation: discussion. American Scientist, 67, 142.
WALTER, M. R., BUICK, R. & DUNLOP, J. S. R., 1980 - Stromatolites 3400-3500 Myr old from the North Pole area, Western Australia. Nature, 284, 443-445.
WALTER, M. R., 1980 - Adelaidean and Early Cambrian stratigraphy of the southwestern Georgina Basin: correlation chart and explanatory notes. Bur. Miner. Resour. Geol. Geophys. Aust. Report, 214, BMR Microform MF92.
BERTRAND-SARFATI, J. & WALTER, M. R., 1981 - Stromatolite biostratigraphy. Precambrian Research, 15, 353-371.
BRIDGWATER, D., ALLAART, J. H., SCHOPF, J. W., KLEIN, C., WALTER, M. R., BARGHOORN, E. S., STROTHER, P., KNOLL, A. H. & GORMAN, B. E., 1981 - Microfossil-like objects from the Archaean of Greenland: a cautionary note. Nature, 289, 51-53.
GLAESSNER, M. F. & WALTER, M. R., 1981 - Australian Precambrian palaeobiology, In Hunter, D. R. (Ed.) Precambrian of the Southern Hemisphere. Elsevier, pp. 361-396.
GLAESSNER, M. F. & WALTER, M. R., 1981 - Australian Precambrian palaeobiology. Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Series 6, 1, (2), 23-42 (in Chinese).
WALTER, M. R., 1981 - Late Proterozoic tillites of the south-western Georgina Basin. In Hambrey, M. J. & Harland, W. B. (Eds.), Earth's Pre-Pleistocene Glacial Record. Cambridge.
GORIN, G. E., RACZ, L. G. & WALTER, M. R., 1982 - Late Precambrian-Cambrian sediments of Huqf Group, Sultanate of Oman. Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., 66, 2609-2627.
SCHOPF, J. W. & WALTER, M. R., 1982 - Origin and Early Evolution of Cyanobacteria: the Geological Evidence. In The Biology of Cyanobacteria, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Chapter 21, pp. 543-564.
SCHOPF, J. W., HAYES, J. M. & WALTER, M. R., 1983 - Evolution of Earth's earliest ecosystems: recent progress and unsolved problems. In Schopf, J. W., (Ed.), The Earth's Earliest Biosphere: its Origin and Evolution, Princeton University Press, Chapter 15, pp. 361-384.
SCHOPF, J. W. & WALTER, M. R., 1983 - Archean microfossils: new evidence of ancient microbes. In Schopf, J. W. (Ed.), The Earth's Earliest Biosphere: Its Origin and Evolution, Princeton University Press, Chapter 9, pp. 214-239.
WALTER, M. R., 1983 - Archean stromatolites: evidence of the Earth's earliest benthos. In Schopf, J. W., (Ed.), The Earth's Earliest Biosphere: Its Origin and Evolution, Princeton University Press, Chapter 8, pp. 187-213.
WALTER, M. R. & BAULD, J., 1983 - The association of sulphate evaporites, stromatolitic carbonates and glacial sediments: examples from the Proterozoic of Australia and the Cainozoic of Antarctica. Precambrian Research, v. 21, 129-148.
WALTER, M. R. & CLOUD, K., 1983 - Microfossils from the Albinia Formation. Bureau of Mineral Resources, Australia, Bulletin 212, pp. 82-83.
WALTER, M. R., 1983 - Trace fossils from the Yuendumu Sandstone. Bureau of Mineral Resources, Australia, Bulletin 212, p. 84.
WALTER, M. R. & HOFMANN, H. J., 1983 - Geographic and geologic data for processed rock samples. Appendix I In Schopf, J. W., (Ed.), The Earth's Earliest Biosphere: Its Origin and Evolution, Princeton University Press, 385-413.
WALTER, M. R. & HOFMANN, H. J., 1983 - The palaeontology and palaeoecology of Precambrian iron-formations, in A. F. Trendall & R. C. Morris (eds.), Proterozoic Iron-Formations: Facts and Problems, pp. 373-400.
WALKER , J. C. G., KLEIN, C., SCHIDLOWSKI, M., SCHOPF, J. W., STEVENSON, D. & WALTER, M. R., 1983 - Environmental evolution of the Archaean-Early Proterozoic Earth. In Schopf, J. W., (Ed.), The Earth's Earliest Biosphere: Its Origin and Evolution, Princeton University Press. Chapter 11, pp. 260-290.
AWRAMIK, S. M., SCHOPF, J. W. & WALTER, M. R., 1983, Filamentous fossil bacteria from the Archean of Western Australia. Precambrian Research, v. 20, 357-374.
WALTER, M. R., 1984 - Biased record of early life. Nature, v. 309, 7 June 1984, p. 512.
WALTER, M. R. & HEYS, G. R., 1985 - Links between the rise of the Metazoa and the decline of stromatolities. Precambrian Res., 29: 149-174.
BAUR, M. E., HAYES, J. M., STUDLEY, S. A. & WALTER, M. R., 1985 - Millimeter-Scale Variations of Stable Isotope Abundances in Carbonates from Banded Iron-Formations in the Hamersley Group of Western Australia. Economic Geology, v. 80, No. 2, pp. 270-282.
WALTER, M. R. & HEYS, G. R., 1986 - Links between the rise of the Metazoa and the decline of stromatolities. Precambrian Geology 3, 441-455 (in Chinese).
LAMBERT, I. B., WALTER, M. R., ZANG WENLONG, LU SONGNIAN & MA GUOGAN, 1987 - Palaeoenvironment and carbon isotope stratigraphy of Upper Proterozoic carbonates of the Yangtze Platform. Nature 325 140-142.
WALTER, M. R., KRYLOV, I. N. & MUIR, M. D., 1988 - Stromatolites from Middle and Late Proterozoic sequences in the McArthur and Georgina Basins and the Mount Isa Province, Australia. Alcheringa, 12(2), 79-106.
AWRAMIK, S. M., SCHOPF, J. W. & WALTER, M. R., 1988 - Carbonaceous filaments from North Pole, Western Australia: are they fossil bacteria in Archean stromatolites? A discussion. Precamb. Res., 39, 303-309.
ZANG, W. & WALTER, M. R. (1989) - Latest Proterozoic plankton from the Amadeus Basin in central Australia. Nature, 337, 642-645.
WALTER, M. R., ELPHINSTONE, R. & HEYS, G.R. (1989) - Proterozoic and Early Cambrian trace fossils from the Amadeus and Georgina Basins, Central Australia. Alcheringa,13, 209-256.
FREEMAN, M. J., SHERGOLD, J. H., MORRIS, D. G. & WALTER, M. R. (1990) - Late Proterozoic and Palaeozoic Basins of Central and Northern Australia- regional geology and mineralisation. pp. 1125-1133 In Mineral Deposits of Australia (F. E. Hughes, ed.), Australian Inst. Mining Metall.
WALTER, M. R., DU RULIN & HORODYSKI, R. J. (1990) - Coiled carbonaceous megafossils from the Middle Proterozoic of Jixian ( Tianjin) and Montana. American Journal of Science 290-A, 133-148.
SUMMONS, R. E. & WALTER, M. R. (1990) - Molecular fossils and microfossils of procaryotes and protists from Proterozoic sediments. American Journal of Science 290-A, 212-244.
ELPHINSTONE, R. & WALTER, M. R. (1991) - Trace fossils. In Geological and geophysical studies in the Amadeus Basin (R. J. Korsch & J. M. Kennard, eds). pp. 100-103 in Bureau of Mineral Resources, Australia, Bulletin 236.
WALTER, M. R. (1992) - Stratigraphic distribution of stromatolites and allied structures. pp. 507-509 In The Proterozoic Biosphere: A Multidisciplinary Study (J. W. Schopf & C. Klein, eds), Oxford Uni. Press, 1348p.
WALTER, M. R., GROTZINGER, J. P. & SCHOPF, J. W. (1992) - Proterozoic stromatolites. pp. 253-260 In The Proterozoic Biosphere: A Multidisciplinary Study (J. W. Schopf & C. Klein, eds), Oxford Uni. Press, 1348p.
WALTER, M. R., BAULD, J., DESMARAIS, D., & SCHOPF, J. W. (1992) - A general comparison of microbial mats and microbial stromatolites: bridging the gap between the modern and the fossil. pp. 335-338 In The Proterozoic Biosphere: A Multidisciplinary Study (J. W. Schopf & C. Klein, eds), Oxford Uni. Press, 1348p.
KNOLL, A. H. & WALTER, M. R. (1992) - Latest Proterozoic stratigraphy and Earth history. Nature, 356, 673-678.
ZANG, W. & WALTER, M. R. (1992) - Late Proterozoic and Early Cambrian microfossils and biostratigraphy, northern Anhui and Jiangsu, central-eastern China. Precambrian Research, 57, 243-323.
ZANG, W. & WALTER, M. R. (1992) - Late Proterozoic and Cambrian microfossils and biostratigraphy, Amadeus Basin, central Australia. Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, Memoir 12, 132p.
WALTER, M. R. & DESMARAIS, D. (1993) - Preservation of Biological Information in Thermal Spring Deposits: Developing a Strategy for the Search for Fossil Life on Mars. Icarus 101, 129-143.
JENKINS, R. J. F., LINDSAY, J. F. & WALTER, M. R., 1993 - Field guide to the Adelaide Geosyncline and Amadeus Basin, Australia. Australian Geological Survey Organisation, Record 1993/35, 133 p.
WALTER, M. R. (1994) - Stromatolites: the major source of information on the evolution of the early benthos. pp 270-286 in Early Life on Earth (S. Bengtson, ed.), Nobel Symposium No. 84, Columbia University Press.
WALTER, M. R., GREY, K., WILLIAMS, I. & CALVER, C. R. (1994) - Stratigraphy of the Neoproterozoic to early Palaeozoic Savory Basin, Western Australia, and correlation with the Amadeus and Officer Basins. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 41, 533-546.
WALTER, M. R. & GORTER, J. D. (1994) - The Neoproterozoic Centralian Superbasin in Western Australia: the Savory and Officer Basins. pp. 851-864 in P. G. & R. R. Purcell (eds), The Sedimentary Basins of Western Australia; Proceedings of Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia Symposium, Perth, 1994.
WALTER, M. R. (1994) - The earliest life on Earth: clues to finding life on Mars. Search, 25 (4), 117-119.
WALTER, M. R., VEEVERS, J. J., CALVER, C. R. & GREY, K. (1995) - Neoproterozoic Stratigraphy of the Centralian Superbasin, Australia. Precambrian Research, 73, 173-195.
WALTER, M. R. (1995) - Faecal pellets in world events. Nature, 376, 16-17.
WALTER, M. R. (1996) - Preface. pp.xi-xii In Evolution of Hydrothermal Ecosystems on Earth (and Mars ?). Wiley, Chichester (Ciba Found Symp 202).
WALTER, M. R. (1996) - Ancient Hydrothermal Ecosystems on Earth: a New Palaeobiological Frontier. pp.112-127 In Evolution of Hydrothermal Ecosystems on Earth (and Mars ?). Wiley, Chichester (Ciba Found Symp 202).
KNOLL, A. H. & WALTER, M. R. (1996) - The limits of palaeobiological information: finding the gold among the dross. pp.198-213 In Evolution of Hydrothermal Ecosystems on Earth (and Mars ?). Wiley, Chichester (Ciba Found Symp 202).
WALTER, M. R. (1996) - Summing-up. pp.318-321 In Evolution of Hydrothermal Ecosystems on Earth (and Mars ?). Wiley, Chichester (Ciba Found Symp 202).
WALTER, M. R. (1996) - Old fossils could be fractal frauds. Nature, 383, 385-386.
WALTER, M. R., FARMER, J. D., DESMARAIS, D. & HINMAN, N. (1996) - Lithofacies and biofacies of mid-Palaeozoic thermal spring deposits in the Drummond Basin, Australia. Palaios, 11, 497-518.
WALTER, M. R., SWART, R. & SUMMONS, R. E. (1996) - Oil and gas shows numerous in Nama basin, southern Africa. Oil & Gas Journal, Nov. 25 1996, 76-80.
VEEVERS, J. J., WALTER, M. R. & SCHEIBNER, E. (1997) - Neoproterozoic tectonics of Australia-Antarctica and Laurentia and the 560Ma birth of the Pacific Ocean reflect the 400 m.y. Pangean supercycle. J. Geol. 105, 225-242.
WALTER, M. R. (1997) - Earliest life on Earth: the geological evidence. Proceedings of "The Origin and Early Evolution of Life", Pontifical Academy of Science, Rome, 1996, pp. 149-163.
MCILROY, D. and WALTER, M. R. (1997) - A reconsideration of the biogenicity of Arumberia banksi Glaessner & Walter. Alcheringa 21, 79-80.
WALTER, M. R. and VEEVERS, J. J. (1997) - Australian Neoproterozoic palaeogeography, tectonics, and supercontinental connections. AGSO Journal of Australian Geology and Geophysics 17, 73-92.
MCILROY, D., JENKINS, R. J. F. and WALTER, M. R. (1997) - The nature of the Proterozoic-Cambrian transition in the northern Amadeus Basin, central Australia. Precambrian Research 86, 93-113.
WALTER, M. R., MCLOUGHLIN, S., DRINNAN, A. N. & FARMER, J. D. (1998) - Palaeontology of Devonian thermal spring deposits, Drummond Basin, Australia. Alcheringa 22, 285-314.
WALTER, M. R. (1997) - Life on Mars ? Search 28 (8), 244-245.
WALTER, M. R. (1998) - Prime forme di vita sulla Terra: la testimonianza geologica. Pp. 201-211 in Frontiere della Vita, Estratto dal Vol. I, Instituto della Enciclopedia Italiana, 1998.
AROURI, K., GREENWOOD, P.F., & WALTER, M.R., 1999. A possible chlorophycean affinity of some Neoproterozoic acritarchs. Organic Geochemistry 30, 1323-1337.HILL A. C., AL AROURI, K., GORJAN P. & WALTER M. R. (2000). Geochemistry of marine and nonmarine environments of a Neoproterozoic cratonic carbonate/evaporite: The Bitter Springs Formation, central Australia. Pp. 327-344, SEPM Special Publication 67 .
LOGAN, G. A., CALVER, C. R., GORJAN, P., SUMMONS, R. E., HAYES, J. M. and WALTER, M. R. (1999) - Terminal Proterozoic mid-shelf benthic microbial mats in the Centralian Superbasin and their environmental significance. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 63, 1345-1358.
DESMARAIS, D. & WALTER, M. R.(1999). Astrobiology. Annual Reviews of Ecology and Systematics 30, 397-420.
WALTER, M. R.,VEEVERS, J. J., CALVER, C. R., GORJAN, P. & HILL, A. C. (2000). Dating the 840-544 Ma Neoproterozoic interval by isotopes of strontium, carbon and sulfur in seawater, and some interpretative models. Precambrian Research 100, 371-433.
GORJAN, P., VEEVERS, J. J. & WALTER, M. R. (2000). Neoproterozoic sulfur-isotope variation in Australia and global implications. Precambrian Research 100, 151-179.
CALVER, C. R. & WALTER, M. R. (2000). The late Neoproterozoic Grassy Group of King Island, Tasmania: correlation and palaeogeographic significance. Precambrian Research 100, 299-312.
HILL, A. C., & WALTER, M. R. (2000). Mid-Neoproterozoic (~850-750 Ma) isotope stratigraphy of Australia, and global correlation. Precambrian Research 100, 181-211.
AROURI, K., GREENWOOD, P.F., & WALTER, M.R., 2000. Biological affinities of Neoproterozoic acritarchs from Australia: microscopic and chemical characterisation. Organic Geochemistry 31, 75-89.
WALTER, M. R. (2001). Stromatolites. Chapter 4.1.2 in Palaeobiology 2 (D. E. G. Briggs, ed.).
LOGAN, G. A., M. C. HINMAN, M. R. WALTER and R. E. SUMMONS (2001). Biogeochemistry of the 1640 Ma McArthur River (HYC) lead-zinc ore and host sediments, Northern Territory, Australia. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 65, 2317-2336.
JAVAUX, E. J., KNOLL, A. H. & WALTER, M. R. (2001). Morphological and ecological complexity in early eukaryotic ecosystems. Nature 412, 66-69.
WALTER, M. R. (2001). Overview. In: WALTER, M. R. (editor) (2001). To Mars and Beyond: Search for the Origins of Life. Beagle Press, Sydney,13-17.
WALTER, M. R. (2001). Is Mars inhabited? In: WALTER, M. R. (editor) (2001). To Mars and Beyond: Search for the Origins of Life. Beagle Press, Sydney, 76-85.
ANITORI, R. P.,TROTT, C, SAUL, D. J., BERQUIST, P. L. and. WALTER, M.R. (2002) A culure-independent survey of the bacterial community in a radon hot spring. Astrobiology 2, 255-270.
THOMAS, M. & WALTER, M. R. (2002). Application of hyperspectral infrared analysis of hydrothermal alteration on Earth and Mars. Astrobiology 2, 335-351.
CHEN, J., WALTER, M. R., LOGAN, G. A., HINMAN, M. C. and SUMMONS, R. E. (2003) The Paleoproterozoic McArthur River (HYC) Pb/Zn/Ag deposit of northern Australia: organic geochemistry and ore genesis. Earth & Planetary Science Letters 210, 467-479.
GORJAN, P., WALTER, M. R. & SWART, R. (2003). Global Neoproterozoic (Sturtian) sulfide-sulfur isotope anomaly recognised in Namibia. Journal of African Earth Science, 36, 89-98.
GREY, K., WALTER, M. R., and CALVER, C. R. (2003). Plankton and isotope changes at the late Neoproterozoic Acraman Impact Ejecta Layer. Geology 31, 459-462.
ANITORI , R. P, TROTT , C., SAUL, D.J., BERGQUIST,P.L.and WALTER, M. R., (2002) A culure-independent survey of the bacterial community in a radon hot spring. Astrobiology 2, 255-270.
SHEN, Y., ANDREW., A.H., WALTER, M.R. (2003). Facies-dependent sulphur isotopic fractionation in a mid-Proterozoic marine basin. Nature 423, 632-635.
JAVAUX , E.J., A.H. KNOLL, C. P. MARSHALL, AND M. R. WALTER (2004) Recognizing Early life on Earth and Mars. European Space Agency Special Paper 545.
WALTER, M. R. & ALLWOOD (2005) Microbes and biofilms. Elsevier Encyclopedia of Geology 279-294.
JAVAUX, E. J., A. H. KNOLL, & M. R.WALTER (2004) TEM evidence for eukaryotic diversity in mid-Proterozoic oceans. Geobiology.
KNOLL, A. H. M. R. WALTER, G. M. NARBONNE& N. CHRISTIE-BLICK (2004) Science Perspective: A New Period for the Geologic Time Scale. Science 305, 621-622.
BROWN, A. J., WALTER, M. R. AND CUDAHY, T. J. (2004) Short Wave Infrared Reflectance Investigation of Sites of Palaeobiological interest: Applications for Mars Exploration. Astrobiology 4(3) 359-376.
HINMAN , N. W. & WALTER, M. R. (2005). Textural preservation in siliceous hydrothermal spring deposits during early diagenesis: examples from Yellowstone National Park and Nevada. Journal of Sedimentary Research 75, 200-215.
WALTER, M.R., BROWN, A.J. AND CHAMBERLAIN, S.C. (2005) “Geology of Mars” in Encyclopaedia of Geology, Elsevier.
KNOLL, A. H. M. R. WALTER, G. M. NARBONNE& N. CHRISTIE-BLICK (2004) Three “first places” for Ediacaran Period. Episodes 27, 222.
Marshall, C. P., Javaux,E.J., A. H. Knoll, A.H., Walter M.R. (in press). Combined Micro-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Micro-Raman spectroscopy of Proterozoic acritarchs: a new approach to Palaeobiology. Precambrian Research
KNOLL, A. H., M. R. WALTER, G. M. NARBONNE & N. CHRISTIE-BLICK (in press) The Ediacaran Period: a new addition to the geologic time scale. Lethaia.
WALTER, M. R. & PLEDGE, N. S., 1967 - Vertebrate palaeontology of the Quaternary deposits of the Nullarbor Plain, pp. 43-46 in Caves of the Nullarbor, J. R. Dunkley & T. M. L. Wigley (eds.), The Speleological Research Council Ltd., Sydney, 61 p.
WALTER, M. R., 1971 - Review of "Handbook of South Australian Geology". Economic Geology, 66, 818-820.
WALTER, M. R., 1972 - Review of "Geology of the Amadeus Basin, Central Australia". Economic Geology, 67 , 686-687.
AWRAMIK, S. M., LOGAN, B. W., MACGREGOR, A. R., PLAYFORD, P. E., REZAK, R., VON DER BORCH, C. C. & WALTER, M. R., 1975 - Conservation of Hamelin Pool, Western Australia. Department of Environmental Protection, Western Australia, 21 p.
WALTER, M. R., 1976 - Stromatolites, microfossils and trace fossils in the Precambrian and Early Cambrian of the Amadeus Basin, pp. 28-33 in A. T. Wells, Geology of the late Proterozoic-Palaeozoic Amadeus Basin. 25th International Geological Congress, Excursion Guide 48A.
WALTER, M. R., 1977 - Preface to special issue of Precambrian Research with papers from the symposium Life in the Precambrian held during the 25th International Geological Congress, 5, 105-107.
AWRAMIK, S. M., HAUPT, A., HOFMANN, H. J. & WALTER, M. R., 1979 - Stromatolite bibliography 2. Precambrian Research, 9, 105-166.
WALTER, M. R., 1979 - Review of "Fossil Algae - Recent Results and Developments", Marine Geology, 30, 315-317.
WALTER, M. R., 1982 - Review of "Microfossils", Marine Geology.
WALTER, M. R., 1983 - Contributions to "Perspectives of the Earth", I. F. Clark & B. J. Cook (eds), Australian Academy of Science, Canberra, 651p.
WALTER, M. R., 1991 - Review of "The Adelaide Geosyncline", Precambrian Research, 49, 373-374.
WALTER, M. R., 1994 - Review of "Paleobiology of the Neoproterozoic Svanbergfjellet Formation, Spitsbergen", Nomen Nudum, 23, 14-15.
WALTER, M. R. (1996) - Review of "The Geology of South Australia, v. 1, The Precambrian", Precambrian Research, 78, 298-299.
WALTER, M. R. (1996) - Search for life on Mars: an opportunity missed. Sydney Morning Herald, 13 December 1996.
WALTER, M. R. (1997) - Series of five invited articles about the NASA Pathfinder lander on Mars. Sydney Morning Herald, July 1997.
WALTER, M. R. (1998) - Squeezing expectation into results. Mars Underground News 10 (2),p.6.
WALTER, M. R. 2005. Review of “Life in the Solar System and Beyond” by B. W. Jones.Australian Physics 42, 96.
1979 Toko Geological Sheet 1:100 000. Bureau of Mineral Resources, Australia
1979 Adam Special Geological Sheet 1:100 000. Bureau of Mineral Resources, Australia
1986 Hay River - Mt. Whelan 1:250 000 Special ( Southern Georgina Basin) Bureau of Mineral Resources, Australia
1987 Huckitta Geological Sheet 1:250 000. Northern Territory Geological Survey and Bureau of Mineral Resources, Australia
WALTER, M. R. & PREISS, W. V., 1972 - Distribution of stromatolites in the Precambrian and Cambrian of Australia. 24th International Geological Congress, Abstracts, p. 30.
WALTER, M. R., 1975 - Microfossils from a newly discovered Precambrian stromatolitic iron formation in Western Australia., Geol. Soc. Austral., First Austral. Geol. Conv., "Proterozoic Geology", Abstracts, pp. 15-16.
PREISS, W. V. & WALTER, M. R., 1975 - Stromatolites of the Australian Precambrian: use in intra- and inter-continental correlations. International Geological Correlation Programme, Symposium "Correlation of the Precambrian", Moscow, Abstracts, pp. 74-75.
WALTER, M. R., 1975 - The biostratigraphic significance and biological affinities of microfossils from a newly discovered Precambrian stromatolitic iron formation in Western Australia. International Geological Correlation Programme, Symposium "Correlation of the Precambrian", Moscow, Abstracts, pp. 41-42.
WALTER, M. R., 1975 - The biostratigraphic significance and biological affinities of microfossils from a newly discovered Precambrian stromatolitic iron formation in Western Australia. International Geological Correlation Programme, Symposium "Correlation of the Precambrian", Moscow, Abstracts, pp. 41-42.
WALTER, M. R., 1975 - Morphogenetic analysis: a unifying approach to the study of stromatolities. International Symposium on Fossil Algae, Erlangen, Program and Abstracts, pp. 44-45.
OEHLER, J. H., OEHLER, D. Z. & WALTER, M. R., 1975 - Mid-Proterozoic megascopic algae from the Belt Supergroup of Montana. International Symposium on Fossil Algae, Erlangen, Program and Abstracts, pp. 26-27.
WALTER, M. R., 1976 - Palaeobiological information from Precambrian and Cambrian stromatolites. 25th International Geological Congress, Abstracts, 1, 38-39.
WALTER, M. R., 1977 - The association of stromatolites and desiccating environments: three models. 3rd International Symposium on Environmental Biogeochemistry, Wolfenbuttel, Germany. Abstracts, pp. 124-125.
AWRAMIK, S. M. & WALTER, M. R., 1978 - Comparative biogeology of the Gunflint Iron Formation ( Canada) and Frere Formation ( Western Australia). Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Prog., 10(7), 361.
WALTER, M. R., 1978 - Late Precambrian to early Cambrian stratigraphy of the S.W. Georgina Basin, Australia. Geol. Mag., 115(2), 137.
MUIR, M.D., CRICK, I.H. & WALTER, M.R., 1979 - The significance of recent sedimentological studies in the Lower Proterozoic of Northern Australia, with respect to the evolution of the atmosphere and hydrosphere. In: Abstracts and timetable, Interdisciplinary symposia, International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, 17th General Assembly, Canberra, Australia.
SCHOPF, J. W. & WALTER, M. R., 1980 - Archaean microfossils and microfossil-like objects - a critical appraisal. Second Internat. Archaean Symposium, Perth.
WALTER, M. R., 1980 - Palaeobiology of Archaean stromatolities. Second Internat. Archaean Symposium, Perth.
WALTER, M. R., 1980 - Archean stromatolites: the history of the Earth's earliest benthos. UCLA, Interdisciplinary study of the origin and evolution of the Earth's earliest biosphere, 10-11.
WALTER, M. R., 1981 - Proterozoic and Cambrian stromatolitic carbonates as sources and reservoirs of hydrocarbons. International Proterozoic Symposium, University of Wisconsin. Abstracts.
WALTER, M. R., 1981 - The stromatolite succession through the Archaean: a record of the Earth's earliest benthos. Fifth Australian Geological Convention, Perth. Abstracts.
BAULD, J. & WALTER, M. R., 1981 - Antarctic saline lakes: analogue of Proterozoic evaporite-stromatolite-carbonate-tillite associations? Fifth Australian Geological Convention, Perth. Abstracts, p. 18.
WALTER, M. R., 1981 - Fossil Evidence of the Earliest Microbial Ecosystems. Aust. Soc. for Microbiol. Ann. Scientific Mtg., Canberra, Abstracts, p. 333.
WALTER, M. R., 1982 - Microbial communities on the early Earth. 13th Internat. Congress Microbiology, Boston.
WALTER, M. R. & BAULD, J., 1986 - Subtidal stromatolites of Shark Bay. 12 th Internat. Sediment. Congress, Canberra, p. 315.
PACKER, B. M. & WALTER, M. R., 1986 -Late Archean hot spring deposits, Pilbara Block, Western Australia. 12th Internat. Sediment. Congress, Canberra, p. 232.
WALTER, M. R., 1988 - Fossil life on Mars. in Exobiology and future Mars missions , NASA Conf. Publ. 10027, p. 60. National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA.
WALTER, M. R., 1988 - Major features in the record of Proterozoic stromatolites. Precambrian Paleobiology Research Group, Los Angeles.
WALTER, M. R. (1989) - Major features in the record of Proterozoic stromatolites. 28th Internat. Geol. Congress, Washington, 3-318-319.
WALTER, M. R. (1989) - Proterozoic petroleum in Australia. 28th Internat. Geol. Congress, Washington, 3-318.
WALTER, M. R. (1990) - Proterozoic petroleum. 10th Australian Geological Convention, Hobart.
WALTER, M. R., J. J. VEEVERS, C. R. CALVER, K. GREY & D. HILYARD (1992) - The Proterozoic Centralian Superbasin: a frontier petroleum province. 1992 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, p.77.
WALTER, M. R., VEEVERS, J. J., CALVER, C., GREY, K., HILYARD, D. & JENKINS, R. J. F. (1992) - The Neoproterozoic History of Australia. 26th International Geological Congress, Kyoto.
WALTER, M. R. (1992) - The Biostratigraphy of the Proterozoic. 26th International Geological Congress, Kyoto.
WALTER, M. R., VEEVERS, J. J., CALVER, C. R. & GREY, K. (1993) - The Neoproterozoic Centralian Superbasin. in E. M. Alexander and D. I Gravestock (eds), Central Australian Basins Workshop, Alice Springs, Program and Abstracts Volume, p. 8.
WALTER, M. R. & DESMARAIS, D. (1992) - Searching for martian fossils in thermal spring deposits. 29th Plenary Meeting of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR), Washington, D.C.
WALTER, M. R., DESMARAIS, D. FARMER, J. D. & HINMAN, N. (1994) - Palaeobiology of Palaeozoic thermal spring deposits in the Drummond Basin: a step in the search for fossil life on Mars. Australasian Palaeontological Convention 94, Sydney, Abstracts and Programme, p. 15.
WALTER, M. R., VEEVERS, J. J., CALVER, C. R. & GREY, K. (1995) - The Neoproterozoic Centralian Superbasin. PESA Journal, 22, p. 8.
WALTER, M. R. & SWART, R. (1996) - The Neoproterozoic to Cambrian Nama Basin, southern Africa, and its petroleum prospectivity. 13 th Australian Geological Congress, Canberra. Abstracts 41, 455.
M. R. WALTER and J. J. VEEVERS (1996) - The Neoproterozoic palaeogeography of Australia. 13th Australian Geological Congress, Canberra. Abstracts 41, 456.
SWART, R. & WALTER, M. R. (1996) - The Nama Basin, southern Africa. 30th International Geological Congress, Beijing.
M. R. WALTER and J. J. VEEVERS (1996) - The Neoproterozoic palaeogeography of Australia. 30th International Geological Congress, Beijing.
CADY, S.L., WALTER, M.R., DES MARAIS, D.J. FARMER, J.D. and BLAKE, D.J. (1996) - The role of hyperthermophilic biofilms in silica-depositing hydrothermal systems. Eos Trans AGU [Abs] 77 (46), F249.
CADY, S.L., FARMER, J.D., DES MARAIS, D.J., BLAKE, D.F., and WALTER, M.R. (1997) - Hyperthermophilic biofilms, silica, and preservation of biogenicity. American Chemical Society, Annual Meeting (April 13-17), Geochemistry Division Symposium "Surface and Interfacial Geochemistry: A Special Symposium in Honor of Professor George A. Parks, Stanford University.
CADY, S.L., WALTER, M.R., DES MARAIS, D.J., and BLANK, C., E. (1997) - Exopaleontological Search Strategy for Mars Exploration: A Case for Siliceous Epithermal Deposits. 28th Lunar & Planetary Science Conference (March 17-21), Houston.
CADY, S.L., BLANK, C., E., DES MARAIS, D.J., WALTER, M.R., and FARMER, J.D. (1997) - Microbial Diversity in Hyperthermophilic Biofilms: Implications for Recognizing Biogenicity in Hydrothermal Mineral Deposits. Conference on Early Mars: Geologic and Hydrologic Evolution, Physical and Chemical Environments, and the Implications for Life, Eds Clifford, S. M., Trieman, A. H., Newson, H. E. and Farmer, J. D. Lunar & Planetary Institute/NASA, Houston, p. 15-16.
FARMER, J.D., CADY, S.L., DES MARAIS, D.J. and WALTER, M.R. (1997) - Fossilization processes in modern thermal springs: clues for assessing the biogenicity of ancient hydrothermal deposits. Conference on Early Mars: Geologic and Hydrologic Evolution, Physical and Chemical Environments, and the Implications for Life, Eds Clifford, S. M., Trieman, A. H., Newson, H. E. and Farmer, J. D. Lunar & Planetary Institute/NASA, Houston, p. 31.
CADY, S.L., BLANK, C. E., DES MARAIS, D.J. and WALTER, M.R. (1997) - Microbial Diversity in Siliceous Thermal Springs Near the Upper Temperature Limits of Life: Implications for Recognizing the Biogenicity of Ancient Analog Hydrothermal Deposits. Eos Trans AGU [Abs] 77 (46), F249.
CADY, S.L., DES MARAIS, D.J., JAHNKE, L. L., SUMMONS, R. E., BLANK, C. E., and WALTER, M.R. (1997) - Biogenic signatures of modern subaerial hydrothermal deposits formed near life's upper temperature limit: a comprehensive model for ancient analog studies. GSA, Salt Lake City, October.
AL-AROURI, K., GREENWOOD, P. and WALTER, M. R. (1998). Neoproterozoic acritarchs: what are they? Australian Organic Geochemistry Conference, Canberra, September 1998, Abstracts, p.26 -29.
LOGAN, G. A., CALVER, C. R., GORJAN, P., SUMMONS, R. E., HAYES, J. M. and WALTER, M. R. (1998). Terminal Proterozoic mid-shelf benthic microbial mats in the Centralian Superbasin and their environmental significance. Australian Organic Geochemistry Conference, Canberra, September 1998, Abstracts, p. 26 -29.
AL-AROURI K., WALTER M. R. AND BISCHOFF G. C. O.(1998) Organic Geochemistry of Neoproterozoic microbial mats, central Australia. Proceedings of the 14 th Australian Geological Convention. Geological Society of Australia, Abstract No. 49, pp. 5. Townsville, Australia.
AL-AROURI K., GREENWOOD P. F. AND WALTER, M. R. (1998) Neoproterozoic acritarchs: What are they? Proceedings of the 1998 Australian Organic Geochemistry Conference, pp. 26-29. Canberra, Australia.
LOGAN, G. A., CALVER C. R., GORJAN P., SUMMONS R. E., HAYES J. M. AND WALTER, M. R. (1998) Terminal Proterozoic mid-shelf benthic microbial mats in the Centralian Superbasin and their environmental significance. Proceedings of the 1998 Australian Organic Geochemistry Conference, pp. 50-51. Canberra, Australia.
BROWN, A., WALTER, M.R., & T. CUDAHY (2003). Detection of biosignatures by remote sensing of Archean hydrothermal deposits. NASA Astrobiology Institute General Meeting, Tempe.
MacKENZIE K.L., MARSHALL, C.P., LOGAN, G.A., CHEN, J., GREENWOOD P.F., WALTER, M.R., (2003). REGIONAL ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY OF HOST SEDIMENTS OF PALEOPROTEROZOIC MCARTHUR RIVER ORE DEPOSIT, AUSTRALIA. 21 st International Meeting on Organic Geochemistry, which will be held in Krakow, Poland on 8-12 September 2003.
CHEN, J., LOGAN, G.A., R. WALTER, M.R., SUMMONS, R.E., (2003). hydrocarbon distribution patterns and the formation mechanism of the 1640 ma mesoproterozoic mcarthur river pb-zn-ag ore deposit, australia. 21 st International Meeting on Organic Geochemistry, which will be held in Krakow, Poland on 8-12 September 2003.
ALLWOOD, A., WALTER, M.R., VAN KRANENDONK, M.J., KAMBER, B.S., 2005: 3.43 Ga Stromatolites, Rocky Shorelines and a Carbonate Platform: Strelley Pool Chert, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia. NASA Astrobiology Institute Biennial Meeting abstract
ALLWOOD, A., WALTER, M., MARSHALL, C. AND VAN KRANENDONK, M., 2004, Habit and habitat of earliest life on Earth: International Journal of Astrobiology, Supplement 1, Abstracts from the Astrobiology Science Conference, NASA Ames, 28 March – 1 April 2004. p. 105.
ALLWOOD, A., WALTER, M., MARSHALL, C., AND VAN KRANENDONK, M. Pilbara Craton , Western Australia : Geological Society of America, Abstracts with 2004, Palaeobiology and Palaeoenvironment of the stromatolitic Strelley Pool Chert, Programs, p. 196.
ALLWOOD, A.C., WALTER, M.R., VAN KRANENDONK, M.J., 2005: Stromatolite facies of the 3.43 Ga Strelley Pool Chert: Pilbara Craton, Western Australia. NASA Astrobiology Institute Biennial Meeting abstract
WALTER, M. R., 1965 - Beach Petroleum No Liability. Completion Report, Monash No. 1 Well, O.E.L. 23 South Australia. Geosurveys of Australia Pty. Ltd., 17 p.
INDNURM, M., ROBERTSON, M. J. R., COOK, P. J., DALLWITZ, W. B., DOOLEY, J. C., GIDDINGS, J. W. G., JONES, H. & WALTER, M. R., 1976 - Future role of palaeomagnetism in the BMR. Bur. Miner. Resour. Geol. Geophys. Aust., Record 1976/70, 34 p.
SHERGOLD, J. H. & WALTER, M. R., 1979 - BMR stratigraphic drilling, Georgina Basin 1977-1978. Bur. Miner. Resour. Geol. Geophys. Aust., Record 1979/36, 34 p.WALTER, M. R., BAULD, J., BURNE, R. V., FERGUSON, J., JACKSON, M. J., KENNARD, J. M., MUIR, M. D. & SKYRING, G. W., 1979 - Holocene carbonate environments in South Australia and Western Australia. Bur. Miner. Resour. Geol. Geophys. Aust., Record 1979/40.
WALTER, M. R., with contributions by T. E. Powell and M. A. Semikhatov, 1991 - Proterozoic Petroleum: Major Petroliferous Basins and Predictive Models. Petroconsultants Australasia.
EKE, J. N., WALTER, M. R. & ALIMI, M. H., 1992 - The oil potential of Proterozoic and early Paleozoic source rocks. Global Geochemistry Corporation, USA. 11 volumes.
WALTER, M. R. (ed.), 1992 - Geological and geophysical conditions of formation of oil and gas bearing deposits in the ancient rocks of eastern Siberia. B. A. Sokolov et al., Moscow University Press 1989. Petroconsultants Australasia.
WALTER, M. R., with contributions by C. Calver, K. Grey, and J. J. Veevers, 1993 - Centralian Superbasin, Australia. Petroconsultants Australasia.
WALTER, M. R., with contributions by C. Calver, S. W. F. Grant, K. Grey, C. Herbert, and R. E. Summons, 1994 - Techniques for the Analysis of Proterozoic Basins. Petroconsultants Australasia.
Last Updated: May 9 2006