The benthic foraminiferMassilina millettiincreases numerically with increasing depth of water in northern Spencer Gulf. In contrast,Cribrobulimina mixta, Nubecularia lucifuga, Peneroplis planatusandDiscorbis dimidiatusare more characteristic of shallow water. Vibrocore #198 recovered a section of Quaternary sediments from one of the deepest parts (c. 20 m) of northern Spencer Gulf. The distribution of benthic foraminifera in the upper 1.5 m of this core records the Holocene transgression and indicates continuous sedimentation since c. 8,000 radiocarbon years B.P. Amino acid racemisation values for samples ofMassilina millettitaken from core #198 are generally consistent with their depth in core. The D/L ratio, taken as an indicator of age, increases with depth. Anomalously high D/L values for the sample from 27–29 cm depth are attributed to slumping and reworking of Lower Holocene sediments, apparently initiated by a sudden seismic event c. 1,700 radiocarbon years B.P.