Partially pyritised Holocene Banksia cones from Tianjara Plateau, New South Wales

Partially mineralised Banksia ericifolia L.f. cones collected from the Tianjara Plateau, New South Wales are described. The fossils have an outer layer of pyrite covering a charcoal interior. The cones were burnt prior to burial. Adsorbed organic material was subsequently oxidised under anaerobic conditions. Pyrite was formed by the precipitation of sulphide, produced by the concomitant reduction of sulphate, and ferrous ions. Carbon dating of material from the inside of one sample gave a conventional radiocarbon age of 6130 ± 80 BP.