This glossary gives a brief description of the more important sedimentary rocks. Composition percentages are tentative in nearly all cases. The terms listed are classified as follows.

A quantitative synthesis of the sedimentology and geomorphology of the South West Planning Region of Australia. Sediment data used was sourced from previous and new quantitative carbonate and grainsize data generated from surficial seabed sediment samples. All sample information and assays are available in the MARS database. The report and new assays were generated as part of an MOU with the Department of Environment and Heritage (National Oceans Office) and the results are reported in a format appropriate for use in regional marine planning.

This record summarises the physical environments of the seabed for the Ceduna and Eyre Sub-basins.

On 8 March 2014, the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft registered as Malaysia Airlines 9M-MRO and operating as flight MH370 (MH370) disappeared from air traffic control radar after taking off from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on a scheduled passenger service to Beijing, China with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board. After analysis of satellite data it was discovered that MH370 continued to fly for over six hours after contact was lost. All the available data indicates the aircraft entered the sea close to a long but narrow arc of the southern Indian Ocean. On 31 March 2014, following an extensive sea and air search, the Malaysian Government accepted the Australian Government’s offer to take the lead in the search and recovery operation in the southern Indian Ocean in support of the Malaysian accident investigation. On behalf of Australia, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) coordinated and led the search operations for MH370 in the southern Indian Ocean. Geoscience Australia provided advice, expertise and support to the ATSB in sea floor mapping (bathymetric survey) and the underwater search. GA has also provided quarantine facilities for receipt of possible debris, and has undertaken laboratory analyses for a number of these pieces. This record is a collation of reports describing quarantine procedures and parts analysis undertaken by Geoscience Australia for some of the debris recovered and processed through Geoscience Australia laboratories during the search for flight MH370.

Digital echo sounding, SeaBeam swath bathymetry data and sediment cores were collected on the continental slope off southeastern Tasmania in order to study sedimentary processes in the vicinity of an ocean disposal site.

Craig's seeps is a wonderful example of scientific work.

Controls on the evolution of Tapora Island, an active barrier island located opposite the entrance to the Kaipara Harbour on the high-energy west coast of the North Island of New Zealand are identified. Subsurface facies form an aggradational barrier island succession from subtidal to subaerial elevations. These data, combined with surface samples and geomorphic and geologic relationships, indicate that Tapora Island is the most recent barrier island at this location in the estuary, and forms part of a prograded coast opposite the entrance. Wave data indicate that ocean swell waves penetrate the inlet for approximately two hours either side of high tide and are capable of transporting sand onto the island. The combined effects of swell waves, abundant sediment supply, and exposed aspect are the critical factors that have formed the barrier island. Despite the 'sheltered' estuarine setting, Tapora Island has formed under conditions that are more akin to open ocean coasts. The origin and development of Tapora Island broadly conforms to the accumulating barrier island model.

Keppel Bay is a macrotidal environment that represents the interface of the large catchment of the Fitzroy River with the southern GBR continental shelf. In this study, we assessed the distribution of sediments and their depositional characteristics using a combination of sediment sampling, and acoustic (sonar) seabed mapping tools. Using statistical techniques, we classified the seabed sediments of Keppel Bay into five distinct classes, based on sediment grainsize, chemical composition, and modelled seabed hear stress (the influence of waves and tidal currents).

Geoscience Australia (GA), the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources within the Northern Territory Government (DENR) undertook collaborative seabed mapping surveys (GA0351/SOL6187, GA4452/SOL6432 and combined GA0361 & GA0362) in the Darwin-Bynoe Harbour region between 2015 and 2018. This seabed mapping project forms a core component of a four-year collaborative research program between DENR, GA and AIMS, which was funded by the INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG Project to DENR, with co-investment by GA and AIMS. The purpose of the program is to improve knowledge of the marine environments in the Darwin and Bynoe Harbour regions through the collation and acquisition of baseline data that enable the creation of habitat maps to better inform marine resource management decisions. Mapping and sampling in the survey area utilised multibeam echosounders, sub-bottom profilers, underwater cameras and grab samplers. In total, this data package extends over an area of 1978 km2, including 1754 km2 mapped using multibeam echosounders, during four marine surveys over 247 days. The baseline environmental data acquired in this program provides new insights into the marine environments of the Greater Darwin and Bynoe Harbour region, will inform future environmental assessments in the region and help build our knowledge of seabed features and processes in tropical northern Australia.

In the Lower Darling Valley (LDV) Quaternary fluvial sequence, multiple scroll-plain tracts (Coonambidgal Formation) are incised into higher, older and more featureless floodplain terrain also underlain by lateral-accretion sediment (Menindee Formation). Bordering the floodplain is the Woorinen Formation regional dune field, which overlies lateral-accretion fluvial sediment of the Willotia beds. Also present are the Menindee Lakes lake-floor sediment and lunettes. Due to the subtlety in surface expression and migration of dunes across the floodplain, the boundary between Menindee Formation and Willotia beds may be difficult to discern. In this case, AEM data, acquired over an area of 7,500 sq km and validated by 100 new boreholes, is used to identify and characterise the stratigraphic units. AEM data was generated as both cross sections along individual flight line and depth slices with increasing thickness with depth, ranging from 0.5m to 11m. From the depth slices and borehole lithological information, the thicknesses of the near surface overbank-mud drape were determined and mapped. Conductive and resistive patterns resembling scroll-bar and abandoned channel fills were identified at 13m to 15.6m depths beneath the featureless floodplain. Large sub-surface tracts of resistive features extending between the Darling and the Talyawalka scroll-plains on the surface help establish the distribution of palaeo-river tracts beneath the floodplain. Towards the south, strand patterns associated with the marginal marine Loxton-Parilla Sands were identified.