the broad geological blocks from Archaean in the west, through Proterozoic in the centre, to Palaeozoic-Cainozoic in the east, are well presented in the 3-D electrical conductivity model as simple lower conductivity structures. In addition, the model shows conductivity contrast in the western craton, characteristic of enhanced conductivity structures which separate the cratonic blocks, and enhanced conductivity anomalies presented in eastern Australia.

An article on how to use Minecraft, the computer game, in the teaching of geology in the school classroom.

Geoscience Australia conducted a marine survey in the Caswell Sub-basin of the Browse Basin, offshore Western Australia, in late 2014 to investigate containment questions relating to the potential long-term geological storage of CO2. The survey aimed to identify and characterise indicators of natural hydrocarbon or fluid seepage that may suggest the presence of deep plumbing systems which could compromise seal integrity. Prior to the survey, 2D and 3D seismic data were used to map fault networks connecting the Aptian regional seal to the sea floor and any associated amplitude anomalies. This mapping informed survey site selection aimed at testing seal integrity over Maastrichtian, Campanian, Valanginian and Barremian submarine fans in the Caswell Sub-basin, and up-dip migration and leakage of hydrocarbons, via channels and basin margin faults, such as the Heywood Fault, into shallow marine sands on the eastern shelf margin. Vessel and Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) multibeam bathymetry and sub-bottom profiler systems confirmed the presence of recently active faults in the area, some with significant seafloor surface expression (up to 40m offset). A subset of these faults was visually inspected with a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) which also confirmed the presence of diverse biological communities. Indications of shallow gas were observed on sub-bottom profiles, including amplitude anomalies, cross-cutting reflectors and zones of signal starvation. Water column observations including sidescan sonar, single-beam and multibeam echosounders, underwater video and photography did not conclusively identify hydrocarbon or other fluid seepage. Strong currents encountered during parts of the survey may have interfered with the direct detection of seeps in the water column. However, headspace gas and high-molecular weight hydrocarbon analysis from shallow cores also provided no evidence for migrated thermogenic gas or oil. While no active signs of seepage were observed, the geochemical and biological sampling undertaken will aid in baseline environmental investigations for this region.

The National Flood Risk Informaiton Project (NFRIp) has produced a flyer for the Floodplain Management Association Conference on 19-22 May 2015 where the Australian Flood Risk Information Portal (AFRIP) will be promoted at a Geoscience Australia booth. NFRIP funded the revision of the guidelines as part of a $12m funding initiative by the Australia Government. The flyer promotes the three core activities of NFRIP; the Australian Flood Risk Information Portal, revision of Australian Rainfall and Runoff guidelines and Water Observations from Space (WOfS).

Geological Survey of South Australia SAREIC Technical Day conference 2015

This dataset is the most current national compilation of catchment scale land use data for Australia (CLUM), as at March 2015. It is a seamless raster dataset that combines land use data for all state and territory jurisdictions, compiled at a resolution of 50 metres by 50 metres. It has been compiled from vector land use datasets collected as part of state and territory mapping programs through the Australian Collaborative Land Use and Management Program (ACLUMP). Catchment scale land use data was produced by combining land tenure and other types of land use information, fine-scale satellite data and information collected in the field. The date of mapping (1997 to 2014) and scale of mapping (1:20 000 to 1:250 000) vary, reflecting the source data capture date and scale. This information is provided in a supporting polygon dataset.

Extensive historical (anecdotal) information covering the past 3 decades indicated that the remote and pristine Nadgee lake estuary in southern NSW had a benthic dominated ecology. All descriptions indicated that it had oligotrophic waters with dense cover of benthic macropyhtes and associated avifauna. When we arrived at Nadgee in late 2008 for the first scientific aquatic survey (ever) it looked nothing like this. The lake was dominated by an intense microalgal bloom and no macrophytes were present. Why? Entrance opening and closure are the major disturbances in an intermittent estuary like Nadgee, but there are no records of past entrance behaviour for such a remote site. This paper describes the use of Geoscience Australia's recent compilation and rectification of Landsat images (the Australian Geoscience Data Cube), along with the application of a consistent water detection tool for all pixels in that compilation, to determine opening and closing regimes. The output of the analyses provides an indication of whether a pixel was wet or dry (or not able to be determined) for all images over the entire 27 year's worth of data. Water level records measured by OEH since 2009 were used to ground-truth the remote sensed data. We can now determine when, over the past 27 years, the Lake opened and how long the water level remained low. This information, along with an understanding of the ecology of the primary macrophytes has been used to provide some possible models that explain when and why the fundamental shift from benthic to pelagic may have occurred.

Geoscience Australia in collaboration with the Geological Survey of Western Australia (Royalties for Regions Exploration Incentive Scheme), the Department of State Development South Australia and AuScope funded the Eucla-Gawler 2D deep seismic survey. The seismic survey acquisition and processing were managed and processed by Geoscience Australia. Geokinetics Australasia Ltd were contracted to collect the Eucla-Gawler 2D deep seismic reflection survey from November 2013 to February 2014. Deep seismic reflection data and gravity readings were acquired along the 834 km seismic line. Magnetotelluric (MT) data (Duan et al, 2015) were also acquired along the seismic line after the completion of the seismic survey. The main objectives of the project are to acquire deep crustal seismic data to (Geoscience Australia, 2013): (1) Image the crustal architecture of the geology underlying the Eucla Basin and its relationship to the Gawler Craton to the east and the Yilgarn Craton to the west; (2) Establish the subsurface extent of the Eucla Basin and look for large structural zones that may have provided fluid pathways for mineralisation.

Diagram produced for the Department of Industry and Science to depict those areas of water adjacent to SA that fall under the OPGGS Act, Petroeum (Seas and Submerged Lands) Act 1982 (SA) and Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000 (SA).

This dynamic map service will be used to provide reference layers for the Department of Industry for use in the Multi Criteria Site Analysis (MCSA) for the RadWaste Project. This MCSA will be used to determine an appropriate location for establishing a radioactive waste storage facility.