Authors / CoAuthors
McMahon, A.P. | McKay, W.J. | Porritt, K. | Lucas, A.P.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The National Atlas of Mineral Resources, Mines and Processing Centres is a collaborative project between Geoscience Australia, the Minerals Council of Australia and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources (through its Regional Minerals Program). It has long been recognised that an Atlas of Australia?s mineral resources was required. Several print versions were published, the last being in 1988. With the advent of new technologies, including the internet, and web-visible databases, a new online edition of the Atlas has emerged. AIMS The Atlas is designed to provide authoritative information on Australia's known mineral and energy (solid fuel) assets, mines and production/processing centres (existing and planned). It presents factual data that can assist with planning, decision making, investment, education and management of the environment. The Atlas complements other national data sets and coverages dealing with soils and land use, population, agriculture, climate, water and vegetation. Additionally, the Atlas helps show where, and how, the mining industry is placed to continue its contribution to regional development in Australia and sustain its role as a major exporter of mineral commodities. The Atlas seeks to provide an interactive decision support system with small-scale map-making capability. It will be an instrument for education and an aid in industry research. THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE The Atlas currently provides information on 20 commodities, at three levels (Educational, General and Industry). Information on the current outlook for the industry, and a report on exploration are also available. The mapping component allows users to use a small-scale map making facility to explore the minerals industry. Industry-specific spatial layers include operating and historic mines, undeveloped deposits, major infrastructure projects, mineral processing centres and ports. Other cultural and topographic layers are also available. An important aspect is the ability to view terrain, gravity, magnetics, geology and Landsat imagery as a background to the map. These maps are easily saved and reloaded through the site. In addition to the mapping, most layers can be queried. Users can select a mine, mineral resource, processing centre, port and query it for further information. Returned information includes weblinks, location, pictures and resource data. This information is all retrieved in ?real-time? from Geoscience Australia?s Oracle database OZMIN. This ?real-time? linkage is what ensures the currency and maintenance of such a large volume of information. WHERE TO FROM HERE The primary focus of the development team has been to complete the core components of the Atlas, for release in June 2003. Significant enhancements are planned thereafter, including additional spatial layers, further information within spatial layers, incorporation of spatial information into the Australian Spatial Data Directory, enhanced educational focus with lesson plans and interactivity, addition of virtual mine and deposit models, enhancement of the site for remote and mobile phone use, advanced query options to highlight specific groups of mines/deposits, and flyovers/movies of Australia?s major mineral provinces. Feedback is essential to providing a relevant product. We would therefore appreciate your views on the content and how it might be further enhanced. The Atlas is an exciting and innovative technology that we believe will be an invaluable research tool for the industry, an additional resource for the educational community, and decision/policy support tool for government and industry.
Product Type
nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
47316
Contact for the resource
Custodian
Point of contact
Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia
Keywords
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- External PublicationAbstract
- ( Theme )
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- mineral deposits
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Earth Sciences
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- Published_Internal
Publication Date
2003-01-01T00:00:00
Creation Date
Security Constraints
Legal Constraints
Status
Purpose
Maintenance Information
unknown
Topic Category
geoscientificInformation
Series Information
Lineage
Unknown
Parent Information
Extents
[-44.0, 0.0, 100.0, 180.0]
Reference System
Spatial Resolution
Service Information
Associations
Downloads and Links
Source Information
Source data not available.