The National Geochemical Survey of Australia (NGSA) project (www.ga.gov.au/ngsa) was part of Geoscience Australia's Onshore Energy Security Program 2006-2011 and was carried out in collaboration with the geological surveys of all States and the Northern Territory. It delivered (1) Australia's first national geochemical atlas, (2) an underpinning geochemical database, and (3) a series of reports. Catchment outlet sediments (similar to floodplain sediments in most cases) were sampled in 1186 catchments covering ~80% of the country (average sample density 1 sample per 5500 km2). Samples were collected at 2 depths each sieved to 2 grain size fractions. Chemical analyses carried out on the samples fall into 3 main categories: (1) total (using mainly XRF and total digestion ICP-MS), (2) aqua regia, and (3) Mobile Metal Ion® element contents. Results to date indicate a common spatial coincidence of elevated commodity element concentrations near areas of known mineralisation, for instance of U, Au and REEs. The survey data also identifies areas with elevated concentrations of energy and ore-related elements away from known deposits or occurrences, information which may be useful to the exploration industry. Comparison with airborne radiometric data indicates reasonable correlations between ground and airborne concentrations of K, U and Th. The phenomenon of disequilibrium in the radioactive decay chain of U does lead to some insights about leaching and accumulation of the more mobile daughter products (e.g., Rn, Ra). A continental-scale correction factor for airborne gamma-ray U surveys applicable to depositional areas is being developed.

The upper Swan River estuary located in the eastern suburban area of Perth in Western Australia experiences periods of poor water quality in the form high nutrient levels, anoxic bottom water conditions and occasional nuisance algae blooms. It has long been suspected that oxygen uptake and nutrient release from estuarine sediments are major drivers for these poor water quality conditions. Geoscience Australia in conjunction with the Department of Water in Western Australia investigated water quality in the upper Swan River estuary through water and sediment quality studies in October 2006, September 2007 and May 2008. The objectives of these studies were (1) to characterise the distribution of sediments, in particular to identify areas of high nutrient release, (2) to better understand conditions leading to high oxygen consumption and nutrient release, and (3) to determine the influence of the bottom water oxygen status on nutrient release from sediments.

This report contains the preliminary results of Geoscience Australia survey 273 to northwest Torres Strait. This survey was undertaken as part of a research program within the Torres Strait CRC aimed at understanding marine biophysical processes in Torres Strait and their effect on seagrass habitats. Two Geoscience Australia surveys were undertaken as part of this program, survey 266 measured monsoon season conditions (Heap et al., 2005), and survey 273 measured trade wind conditions. Section 6 compares and contrasts the survey results acquired for both surveys. Section 7 addresses the results of the survey program in light of the objectives of the CRC proposal. Survey 273 acquired numerous different data types to assist with characterising the mobile sediments and hydrodynamic nature of the region. Multibeam sonar, current meters, grab samples, vibro-cores, underwater video, meteorological data (from the Bureau of Meteorology), Landsat imagery, were all used to characterise the seabed hydrodynamics of Torres Strait.

From 1995 to 2000 information from the federal and state governments was compiled for Comprehensive Regional Assessments (CRA), which formed the basis for Regional Forest Agreements (RFA) that identified areas for conservation to meet targets agreed by the Commonwealth Government with the United Nations. These 3 CDs were created as part of GA's contribution to the Tasmania CRA. CD1 contains final versions of all data coverages and shapefiles used in the project, and final versions of documents provided for publishing. CD2 contains Published Graphics files in ArcInfo (.gra), postscript (.ps) and Web ready (.gif) formats. CD3 contains all Geophysical Images and Landsat data.

The National Geochemical Survey of Australia (NGSA) project (www.ga.gov.au/ngsa) was part of Geoscience Australia's Onshore Energy Security Program 2006-2011 and was carried out in collaboration with the geological surveys of all States and the Northern Territory. It delivered (1) Australia's first national geochemical atlas, (2) an underpinning geochemical database, and (3) a series of reports. Catchment outlet sediments (similar to floodplain sediments in most cases) were sampled in 1186 catchments covering ~80% of the country (average sample density 1 sample per 5500 km2). Samples were collected at 2 depths each sieved to 2 grain size fractions. Chemical analyses carried out on the samples fall into 3 main categories: (1) total (using mainly XRF and total digestion ICP-MS), (2) aqua regia, and (3) Mobile Metal Ion® (MMI) element contents. The MMI analyses were conducted on the surface (0-10 cm) samples sieved to <2 mm, in one single batch, by ICP-MS. Concentrations of 54 elements (Ag, Al, As, Au, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, Fe, Ga, Gd, Hg, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Nb, Nd, Ni, P, Pb, Pd, Pr, Pt, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ta, Tb, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Yb, Zn and Zr) were determined. Maps and quality assessment of these data are presented in reports available from the project website. Preliminary interpretations of the MMI dataset suggest that it potentially has significant value in geological, mineral exploration and agronomic (e.g., bioavailability) applications.

Objectives To determine whether there are patterns in cancer occurrence in NSW which might be related to geological setting, in particular the occurrence of elevated uranium in granites. Methods The full cancer record of the top 10 cancers for NSW for the period 1974-2003 was obtained from the NSW Cancer Registry, along with Census data from the ABS, and geological data from Geoscience Australia. Geostatistical methods were used to predict the spatial distribution of radiogenic granites across NSW. Analyses were carried out in ArcGIS to map 1) the spatial distribution of cancer occurrence by Statistical Local Area (SLA), 2) relate it to census data for the determination of Standardised Morbidity Ratios, and 3) calculate a range of spatial statistics to determine local and global spatial autocorrelation and hotspots. SatScan statistical cluster analysis software was used to analyse the distribution of common ingestion related cancers, excluding lung cancer, using a Poisson spatial model. Results The spatial statistical analysis in ArcGIS indicates the presence of strong autocorrelation in cancer incidence in south-eastern NSW as well as high clustering in the data. The SatScan analysis identified primary clusters in the Hunter Valley, western Sydney and south-eastern NSW. The Hunter Valley and western Sydney clusters are most likely due to industrial exposure, but this is unlikely for south-eastern NSW. Elevated uranium in granites occurs primarily in south-eastern NSW and to a lesser extent in northern NSW. Conclusion Results indicate a potential correlation exists between highly radiogenic granite bodies and elevated rates of cancer incidence, although it is difficult to ascertain exposure modes and the influence of other confounders such as exposure to agricultural chemicals, nitrates in drinking water and lifestyle effects.

The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) has identified as key ecological features (KEFs) numerous geomorphic features or regionally important species or habitats in the northwest marine region. This process supports the department's establishment of the development of Marine Bioregional Plans and a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA). A total of ten KEFs are included in this study of which seven lie in the deep-sea where information on biodiversity and ecosystems is scarce. The ten KEFs are: Wallaby Saddle, Cuvier Abyssal Plain, Cape Range Canyons, Exmouth Plateau, Argo Abyssal Plain, Bowers and Oates Canyons, Scott Plateau, Scott Reef, the Holocene Coastline, and Glomar Shoals. Geoscience Australia was engaged to investigate habitat heterogeneity of these KEFs utilising its existing expertise in habitat mapping and surrogacy.

As part of a continuing program to date Permian plant microfossil zones using CA-IDTIMS dating, 11 tuff and 18 sedimentary core samples were examined from the Bowen Basin succession intersected in APLNG Meeleebee 5, a CSG well spudded in the Surat Basin, Queensland. The Bowen Basin consists of terrestrial and marine sediments interspersed with numerous tuff layers and economic coal seams. Palynological strew-slides were examined using a light microscope to identify taxa. Quantitative analyses, with counts up to 100 specimens, were undertaken. Almost all the plant microfossil assemblages analysed from the Meeleebee 5 core belong to the Price (1997) APP5 spore-pollen zone, and one may belong to the younger APP6 zone. The APP5 index species, Dulhuntyispora parvithola was present throughout the section. The APP5005 index species Microreticulatisporites bitriangularis was also present in many samples and the Micrhystridium evansii acme event was readily identified. Triquitrites proratus, a species usually restricted to APP6, was identified near the top of the succession, although no other species typical of APP6 were found. When compared with CA-IDTIMS tuff ages, the Dulhuntyispora parvithola zone spans around five million years, almost extending to the Permian-Triassic boundary. Additionally, the Microreticulatisporites bitriangularis Subzone and Microstridium evansii event are both younger than previously estimated. By combining the results of the palynology and CA-IDTIMS dating, numeric ages are attached to palynostratigraphic units, aiding regional and global correlations of the palynofloras and economic coal-bearing sequences of the basin.

This study aims to determine whether element excesses or deficiencies exist in the regolith of the Riverina region, and how this may impact plant, animal and/or human health. Top (0-10 cm depth) and bottom (~60-90 cm) overbank sediment samples were collected near the outlet of 142 catchments and the composition of the <180 m fractions determined. Total concentrations of As (0.8-159.8 mg/kg), Ba (189-1263 mg/kg), Br (<1-89.5 mg/kg), Cd (<0.1-2.33 mg/kg), Cr (29-200 mg/kg), F (150-610 mg/kg), Ga (6.3-26.1 mg/kg), Sb (0.37-10.8 mg/kg), U (1.26-8.49 mg/kg) and V (31-145 mg/kg) are locally elevated above guidelines and these elements therefore have potential for health concerns. At least half of the samples were above the guidelines for Ba, Cr, F, Ga and V. Most elements are unlikely to cause harm due to their low plant uptake or their ability to adsorb onto clays, however Cd and U in particular require follow up investigations. Co (2.96-34.2 mg/kg) and Mo (0.5-1.9 mg/kg) are potentially deficient in parts of the region but, once identified, are easy to remedy with the application of appropriate fertilisers. There are few Australian guidelines on maximum tolerable element concentrations in soils. Guidelines based on appropriate geological, climatic and landscape conditions that also include estimates of elemental bioavailability are needed. Keywords: floodplain sediment; geochemical mapping; geomedicine; overbank sediment

High element enrichment factors (EFs) are commonly used in the literature to support the hypothesis that a particular suite of elements is of anthropogenic origin. Real-world examples of regional geochemical surveys demonstrate that EFs can be high or low due to a multitude of reasons, of which contamination is but one. This applies to EFs calculated relative to either the crust or some local background (e.g., a deeper soil layer). Results from local studies near industrial centres showing high (and pollution-related) EFs cannot be generalised over large areas or for sample sites far removed (i.e., more than some tens of kilometers) from a likely pollution source. Regional-scale geochemical mapping, on the other hand, facilitates the reliable estimation of the influence of contamination on the measured element concentrations. EFs are strongly influenced by, among other factors, biogeochemical processes that redistribute chemical elements between environmental compartments at the Earth?s surface. Using EFs to detect or 'prove' human influence on element cycles in remote areas should be avoided because, in most cases, high EFs cannot conclusively demonstrate, nor even suggest, such influence.