This web feature service delivers geochemical data for samples analysed both for inorganic and organic geochemistry. Analytical data are sourced from Geoscience Australia's Inorganic Geochemistry Database (OZCHEM) and Organic Geochemistry Database (ORGCHEM), respectively. The data are joined on a unique sample number. Inorganic geochemical data cover the majority of the periodic table, with metadata on analytical methods and detection limits. Organic geochemical data include results of pyrolysis, derivative calculated values, and, where available, isotopic composition of carbonates (D13C) and isotopic composition of rock nitrogen (D15N). Further, there are provisions for delivery of isotopic data for kerogen (H, C, N) and oxygen (O) for carbonates. Where available, sample descriptions include stratigraphic unit names and ages, and lithology. Location information includes coordinates of the sampled feature (eg, borehole), coordinates of the sample and sample depth. Interpretation of the combined inorganic and organic geochemistry for organic-rich shales will facilitate comprehensive characterisation of hydrocarbons source rocks and mineral commodities source and trap environments. All are achieved within the frameworks of petroleum and mineral systems analysis. The initial data delivered by this service include 1785 samples from 35 boreholes from 14 geological provinces, including recently released data for 442 samples from the South Nicholson National Drilling Initiative Carrara 1 stratigraphic drill hole (Butcher et al., 2021; Carson et al., 2021). Many sampled boreholes are located within the polygon of the Exploring for the Future Barkly-Isa-Georgetown project. This dataset will be updated periodically as more data become available.

This service provides header and observation data for gravity stations located throughout continental Australia and Remote Offshore Territories. Data sources include the Australian National Gravity Database (ANGD) and the Australian Fundamental Gravity Network (AFGN) maintained by Geoscience Australia (GA). Data has been obtained by Surveyors, Commonwealth and state/territory Governments, private companies, and educational institutions. Gravity data measures small changes in gravity due to changes in the density of rocks beneath the Earth's surface. The data collected are processed via standard methods to ensure the response recorded is that due only to the rocks in the ground. The results produce datasets that can be interpreted to reveal the geological structure of the sub-surface. The processed data is checked for quality by GA geophysicists to ensure that the final data released by GA are fit-for-purpose.

This service provides header and observation data for gravity stations located throughout continental Australia and Remote Offshore Territories. Data sources include the Australian National Gravity Database (ANGD) and the Australian Fundamental Gravity Network (AFGN) maintained by Geoscience Australia (GA). Data has been obtained by Surveyors, Commonwealth and state/territory Governments, private companies, and educational institutions. Gravity data measures small changes in gravity due to changes in the density of rocks beneath the Earth's surface. The data collected are processed via standard methods to ensure the response recorded is that due only to the rocks in the ground. The results produce datasets that can be interpreted to reveal the geological structure of the sub-surface. The processed data is checked for quality by GA geophysicists to ensure that the final data released by GA are fit-for-purpose.

This database contains geochemical data for samples analysed both for inorganic and organic geochemistry. Analytical data are sourced from Geoscience Australia's Inorganic Geochemistry Database (OZCHEM) and Organic Geochemistry Database (ORGCHEM), respectively. The data are joined on a unique sample number. Inorganic geochemical data cover the majority of the periodic table, with metadata on analytical methods and detection limits. Organic geochemical data include results of pyrolysis, derivative calculated values, and, where available, isotopic composition of carbonates (D13C) and isotopic composition of rock nitrogen (D15N). Further, there are provisions for delivery of isotopic data for kerogen (H, C, N) and oxygen (O) for carbonates. Where available, sample descriptions include stratigraphic unit names and ages, and lithology. Location information includes coordinates of the sampled feature (eg, borehole), coordinates of the sample and sample depth. Interpretation of the combined inorganic and organic geochemistry for organic-rich shales will facilitate comprehensive characterisation of hydrocarbons source rocks and mineral commodities source and trap environments. All are achieved within the frameworks of petroleum and mineral systems analysis. The initial data delivered by this service include 1785 samples from 35 boreholes from 14 geological provinces, including recently released data for 442 samples from the South Nicholson National Drilling Initiative Carrara 1 stratigraphic drill hole (Butcher et al., 2021; Carson et al., 2021). Many sampled boreholes are located within the polygon of the Exploring for the Future Barkly-Isa-Georgetown project. This dataset will be updated periodically as more data become available.

This study was commissioned by Geoscience Australia (GA) to produce a report on seal capacity of select samples from wells in the Officer Basin of Western Australia and South Australia. Plugs were taken from the Giles-1, Yowalga-3, Vines-1 and Birksgate-1 wells and analysed via mercury injection capillary pressure testing. Results demonstrate that the analysed samples are capable of sealing very large columns of both methane and carbon dioxide.

The Galilee Basin Hydrogeological Model is a numerical groundwater flow model of the Galilee subregion in Queensland, an area of approximately 300,000 square kilometres. The model encompasses the entire geological Galilee Basin as well as parts of the overlying Eromanga Basin and surficial Cenozoic sediments. The model includes aquifers that form part of the Great Artesian Basin (specifically those aquifers in the Eromanga Basin), a hydrogeological system of national significance (see Evans et al 2018). The development of the Galilee Basin Hydrogeological Model represented an ambitious, first-pass attempt to better understand potential regional-scale cumulative groundwater impacts of seven proposed coal mines in the Galilee Basin (as known circa 2014, see Lewis et al. 2014 for details). This work was commissioned as part of the bioregional assessment for the Galilee subregion (https://www.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/assessments/galilee-subregion). Geoscience Australia has made the flow model and associated datasets available to support further academic or research investigations within the region. Importantly though, due to a number of limitations and assumptions (outlined in the final model report, Turvey et al., 2015), the model is not suitable for decision-making in relation to water resource planning or management. Further, the model was not developed to predict potential groundwater impacts of any individual mining operations, but provides a regional cumulative development perspective. The groundwater model and associated report were produced by HydroSimulations under short-term contract to Geoscience Australia in 2015. The report is referenced in several products released as part of the bioregional assessment (BA) for the Galilee subregion. However, due to the size, complexity and limitations of this model, this model was not used as the primary groundwater modelling input for the Galilee BA. Further detail about the key modelling limitations and why it was unsuitable for use in the Galilee BA are outlined in the BA Groundwater modelling report (Peeters et al., 2018). References Evans T, Kellett J, Ransley T, Harris-Pascal C, Radke B, Cassel R, Karim F, Hostetler S, Galinec V, Dehelean A, Caruana L and Kilgour P (2018) Observations analysis, statistical analysis and interpolation for the Galilee subregion. Product 2.1-2.2 for the Galilee subregion from the Lake Eyre Basin Bioregional Assessment. Department of the Environment and Energy, Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO and Geoscience Australia, Australia. http://data.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/product/LEB/GAL/2.1-2.2. Lewis S, Cassel R and Galinec V (2014) Coal and coal seam gas resource assessment for the Galilee subregion. Product 1.2 for the Galilee subregion from the Lake Eyre Basin Bioregional Assessment. Department of the Environment, Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO and Geoscience Australia, Australia. https://www.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/assessments/12-resource-assessment-galilee-subregion. Peeters L, Ransley T, Turnadge C, Kellett J, Harris-Pascal C, Kilgour P and Evans T (2018) Groundwater numerical modelling for the Galilee subregion. Product 2.6.2 for the Galilee subregion from the Lake Eyre Basin Bioregional Assessment. Department of the Environment and Energy, Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO and Geoscience Australia, Australia. http://data.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/product/LEB/GAL/2.6.2. Turvey C, Skorulis A, Minchin W, Merrick NP and Merrick DP (2015) Galilee Basin hydrogeological model Milestone 3 report for Geoscience Australia. Prepared by Heritage Computing Pty Ltd trading as Hydrosimulations. Document dated 16 November 2015. http://www.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/sites/default/files/galilee-basin-hydrological-model-pdf.pdf. <b>The model is available on request from clientservices@ga.gov.au - Quote eCat# 146155</b>

The National Drilling Initiative (NDI) will manage and deliver drilling programs in multiple case study areas proposed by MinEx CRC’s partner geological survey organisations. The NDI vision is to drill multiple holes in a region to map the regional geology and architecture and define the potential for mineral systems in 3D. The areas shown in this web service describe the spatial locations of the study areas.

Well and seismic correlation schemes exist for the Western Australian and South Australian parts of the Officer Basin but there are inconsistencies between the western and eastern regions. Hence, as part of the Exploring for the Future Officer-Musgrave Project, a chemostratigraphic correlation has been determined for the sedimentary fill of the Officer Basin with emphasis on Neoproterozoic to Cambrian rocks. The correlations have been developed on whole rock inorganic geochemical data obtained from the analysis of 10 study wells which span the basin from Western Australia and into South Australia. A total of 8 chemostratigraphic mega-sequences (MS) are recognised across the basin, that in turn are subdivided into a total of 24 chemostratigraphic sequences. MS1 to MS6 include the Neoproterozoic to Cambrian sedimentary rocks and are the focus of this study. The Neoproterozoic–Cambrian mega-sequences MS1 to MS4 broadly correspond to the previously defined Centralian supersequences CS1 to CS4 and provide robust well-control to the regional seismic correlations. Confidence in the correlation of these old rocks are important since they contain both potential source and reservoir rocks for petroleum generation and accumulation. MS7 is equivalent to the Permian Paterson Formation, while MS8 is equivalent to the Mesozoic section. The elemental data has also been used to elucidate aspects of the petroleum system by characterising reservoirs and identifying fine-grained siliciclastics deposited in anoxic environments which may have source potential. This work is expected to further improve geological knowledge and reduce the energy exploration risk of the Officer Basin, a key focus of this program. <b>Citation:</b> Edwards D.S., Munday S., Wang L., Riley D. & Khider K., 2022. Neoproterozoic and Cambrian chemostratigraphic mega-sequences of the Officer Basin; a regional framework to assist petroleum and mineral exploration. In: Czarnota, K. (ed.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/146285

Australia is the driest inhabited continent on Earth, and groundwater is crucial to supporting many urban and rural communities, economic activities and environmental values. Geoscience Australia, the nation’s trusted advisor on Earth Science, is renewing a deliberate focus on national-scale hydrogeological challenges within the Exploring for the Future program. This will be accomplished by building upon Geoscience Australia’s historic legacy in groundwater studies, including the development of the 1987 national hydrogeological map. Updating the extents, data and scientific understanding of the regions depicted in this map, and bringing it into a version suitable for access and use in the 21st century, will address many limitations of the existing map and its accompanying knowledge base. This compilation of information on Australia’s major hydrogeological regions, including both geospatial analyses of national datasets and high-level summaries of scientific literature, provides for a clear and consistent synthesis of hydrogeological and related contextual information. Supporting the delivery of the National Water Initiative and National Groundwater Strategic Framework, the inventory will benefit multi-sector water users (agriculture, communities, industry and tourism) and the environment. This work will also directly assist prioritisation and decision-making for future investment, and focus groundwater research in the work programs of Geoscience Australia and potentially inform national hydrogeological research more broadly. <b>Citation: </b>Lewis S. J., Lai E. C. S., Flower C. & Lester J. E., 2022. Towards a national information inventory of Australia’s major hydrogeological regions. In: Czarnota, K (ed.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/146974

To unlock the potential of one of the largest underexplored onshore areas in Australia, the Exploring for the Future Officer-Musgrave project is delivering a wide array of publicly available new analyses and data. The collection of new AEM data, as well as the reprocessing of existing industry acquired AEM data is expected to improve the understanding of groundwater systems in the Officer-Musgrave region. New regional scale data acquisition and analysis, including stratigraphic, petrophysical and geomechanical studies from existing wells, focus on advancing understanding of petroleum systems elements and assist the exploration and evaluation of conventional and unconventional petroleum resources. Here we provide an overview of available new datasets and insights into the stratigraphy of the Officer Basin. Further analysis is underway including well log digitisation, fluid inclusion analysis and a petrographic report on Officer Basin wells. This work is expected to further improve geological knowledge and reduce the energy exploration risk of the Officer Basin, a key focus of this program. <b>Citation: </b>Carr L. K., Henson P., Wang L., Bailey A., Fomin T., Boreham C., Edwards D., Southby C., Symington N., Smith M., Halas L. & Jones T, 2022. Exploring for the Future in the Officer Musgrave region. In: Czarnota, K. (ed.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/146988