2015
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The Surface Hydrology Points (Regional) dataset provides a set of related features classes to be used as the basis of the production of consistent hydrological information. This dataset contains a geometric representation of major hydrographic point elements - both natural and artificial. This dataset is the best available data supplied by Jurisdictions and aggregated by Geoscience Australia it is intended for defining hydrological features.
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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.
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Compilation of new and existing data can be used to show systematic variations in initial ore-related Pb isotope ratios and derived parameters for the Lachlan and Delamerian orogens of southeast Australia. In addition to mapping tectonic boundaries and providing genetic context to mineralising processes, these variations map mineralised provinces at the orogenic scale and can provide vectors to ore at the district scale. In New South Wales and Victoria, mapping using a parameter termed the 'Lachlan Lead Index' (LLI), which measures relative mixing between crustal- and mantle-derived Pb using the curves of Carr et al. (1995, Economic Geology 90:14671505), clearly demarcates the boundary between the Eastern and Central Lachlan provinces, and seems to identify boundaries between zones within the Western Lachlan Province of Victoria. The LLI also maps the extent of the isotopically juvenile Macquarie 'Arc' in New South Wales. However, rocks in the Rockley-Gulgong Belt, initially mapped as part of the Macquarie Arc, have a more evolved isotopic character, suggesting that these rocks are not part of the Macquarie Arc. This interpretation supports recent mapping that casts doubt on the attribution of this belt to the Macquarie Arc (Quinn, et al., 2014, Journal of the Geological Society of London 171:723736). The LLI has also identified small exposures of Ordovician volcanic rocks, well removed from the main Macquarie Arc, as possible correlates to this arc, with potential to host porphyry and epithermal deposits. Metallogenically, porphyry Cu-Au deposits in the Macquarie Arc are characterised by juvenile Pb. In contrast, Sn and Mo deposits in the Central Lachlan Province (i.e., the Wagga tin belt) are characterised by highly evolved Pb even though these deposits formed over 30 million years. Moreover, the Pb isotope data suggest that the original interpretation that copper deposits in the Girilambone district are volcanic-associated massive sulfide deposits was correct and that these deposits formed in a back-arc to the Macquarie Arc at ~480 Ma. In the Mount Read Volcanics of western Tasmania, all deposits appear to cluster along the same growth curve. However, when divided according to age (i.e., Cambrian (~500 Ma) versus Devonian (~360 Ma)), spatial patterns are visible in 206Pb/204Pb data. For Cambrian deposits 206Pb/204Pb decreases overall to the southeast, although low values are also present in the far south (i.e., Elliott Bay) and northeast. The most highly mineralised central part of the belt seems to be broadly associated with the zone of highest 206Pb/204Pb. Variations in 206Pb/204Pb for Devonian deposits broadly mimic the patterns seen for the Cambrian deposits. More importantly, a district-scale pattern in 206Pb/204Pb is present in the Zeehan district. Isotopically, the Sn-dominated core of the Zeehan district (e.g. Queen Hill and Severn deposits) is characterised by high 206Pb/204Pb, which decreases outward into the Zn-Pb-Ag-dominated peripheries. Lead isotope distribution patterns can potentially be used as an ore vector in this and other intrusion-centered mineral systems.
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The `Inferred Isotopic Domain Boundaries of Australia data set is based on an interpretation of the recently released Neodymium depleted mantle model age map of Australia (GA Record 2013/44). The isotopic map of Australia was produced by gridding two-stage depleted mantle model ages calculated from Sm-Nd isotopic data for just over 1490 samples of felsic igneous rocks throughout Australia. The resultant isotopic map serves as a proxy for bulk crustal ages and accordingly allows the potential recognition of geological domains with differing geological histories. One of the major aims of the Neodymium depleted mantle model age map, therefore, was to use the isotopic map (and associated data) to aid in the recognition and definition of crustal blocks (geological terranes) at the continental and regional scale. Such boundaries are recognisable by regional changes in isotopic signature but are hindered by the variable and often low density of isotopic data points. Accordingly two major procedures have been adopted to locate the regional distribution of such boundaries across the geological continent. In areas of high data density (and high confidence), such as the Yilgarn Craton Western Australia, isotopic data alone was used to delineate crustal domains. In such regions it is evident that identified crustal blocks often but not universally approximate known geological terranes. In areas of moderate data density (and corresponding moderate confidence) (smoothed) boundaries of known geological provinces were used as a proxy for the isotopic boundary. For both high and moderate data densities identified crustal boundaries were extended (with corresponding less confidence) into regions of lower data density. In areas of low data density (and low confidence) boundaries were either based on other geological and/or geophysical data sets or were not attempted. The latter was particularly the case for regions covered by thick sedimentary successions. Two levels of confidence have been documented, namely the level of confidence in the location of the isotopic domain boundary, and the level of confidence that a boundary may actually exist. The `Inferred Isotopic Domain Boundaries of Australia map shows the locations of inferred boundaries of isotopic domains, which are assumed to represent the crustal blocks that comprise the Australia continent. The map therefore provides constraints on the three dimensional architecture of Australia, and allows a better understanding of how the Australian continent was constructed from the Mesoarchean through to the Phanerozoic. It is best viewed as a dynamic dataset, which will need to be refined and updated as new information, such as new isotopic data, becomes available.
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Geological Survey of South Australia SAREIC Technical Day conference 2015
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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.
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The video explains the challenges faced when managing vast quantities of satellite data, for the benefit of humankind, to address a range of environmental, social and agricultural issues. The video introduces the architecture of the Australian Geoscience Data Cube as a key tool for unlocking Earth observation satellite data, to better manage and store vast amounts of data. The Data Cube has already been used to for understanding water observations from Space and its related application for better flood management. The video also provides a case study of developing a satellite data management infrastructure for Kenya. This video was used to launch Australia¿s tenure as the Chair of the Committee of Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) at the 2015 Plenary CEOS meeting held in Kyoto, Japan in November 2015. Detailed production information: Concept development: Alex Held (CSIRO), Jonathon Ross (Geoscience Australia), Stephen Ward (Symbios Communications), Bobby Cerini (GA), Stuart Minchin (GA), Alexis McIntyre (GA), Chris McKay (CSIRO) Scriptwriter: Bobby Cerini (Geoscience Australia) Production management/ Direction: Bobby Cerini (Geoscience Australia), Adrian King (Redboat) Post production: Adrian King (Redboat), Peter Butz (Redboat), Woro Larasati (Geoscience Australia), Neil Caldwell (Geoscience Australia), CSIRO Land and Water Animation: Neil Caldwell (Geoscience Australia), Stanislav Galan (Redboat), Artjom Zenevich (Redboat), Adrian King (Redboat), NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre Scientific Visualization Laboratory Videography: Andy Wong (Redboat), Michael O'Rourke (Geoscience Australia) Stock footage: European Space Agency, NASA, AFP, Rick Ray/Shutterstock.com, Stock4KVideo/Shutterstock.com, Rekindle Photo and Video/Shutterstock.com, Frazao Production/Shutterstock.com, paintings/Shutterstock.com Photography: NASA-SEO, Clinton Climate Initiative, Stephen Ward (Symbios Communications) Voice recording: AbesAudio Subtitles: Neil Caldwell (Geoscience Australia), Chantelle Farrar (Geoscience Australia)
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InaSAFE is free and open source software for developing realistic disaster impact scenarios for better disaster planning and response. Originally developed in Indonesia, it is now being used in many countries around the world to inform disaster management decision making with a strong scientific evidence base. Designed to be simple to use, InaSAFE can rapidly output the estimated impacts of a hazard event on a given exposure dataset and translate this information into a series of questions targeting particular disaster management actions. This supports disaster managers to make better decisions about the resources that they may need to respond to a disaster event. This presentation will demonstrate case studies of InaSAFE use for a range of hazards (earthquake, tsunami, volcanic ash and fire) for locations in Australia and the region. This will demonstrate InaSAFE's capability and its applicability to a diverse range of disaster management problems.
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Storymap showing the top 68 images shortlisted by judges in the 2015 TopGeoShot competition.
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Tholeiitic intrusion-hosted nickel sulphide deposits are highly sort exploration targets due to their potential size and co-products platinum-group elements and copper. The Norilsk-Talnakh (Russia), Voisey's Bay (Canada) and Jinchuan (China) deposits are world class examples. Although Australia holds the largest economic resources of nickel in the world, its nickel resources are mainly sourced from komatiitic-hosted and lateritic deposits. Known resources of tholeiitic intrusion-hosted nickel sulphides are relatively small, with Nebo-Babel and Nova-Bollinger in Western Australia the most significant examples. Given the abundance of tholeiitic igneous rocks in Australia, this important deposit type seems to be under-represented when compared to other continents with similar geology. To support the discovery of world class nickel sulphide deposits in Australia, Geoscience Australia has recently undertaken a continental-scale GIS-based prospectivity analysis for tholeiitic intrusion-hosted deposits across Australia. This analysis exploits a suite of new relevant digital datasets recently released by Geoscience Australia. For example, the analysis utilises the Australian Mafic-Ultramafic Magmatic Events GIS Dataset which places mafic and ultramafic rocks across Australia into 74 coeval magmatic events based on geochronological data. Whole rock geochemistry of mafic and ultramafic rocks has been used to differentiate between magma series and discriminate between different magmatic events and units within those events. Other new datasets include crustal domain boundaries derived from both deep crustal seismic data and neodymium depleted mantle model age data as well as a coverage of the minimum thickness of mafic rocks in the crust derived from the Australian Seismogenic Reference Earth Model. This continental-scale GIS-based nickel sulphide prospectivity analysis uses a mineral systems approach to map the four essential components of ore-forming mineral systems; (1) sources of ore constituents, (2) crustal and mantle lithospheric architecture, (3) energy sources or drivers of the ore-forming system, and (4) gradients in ore depositional physico-chemical parameters. These four components are combined into a prospectivity map using weights-of-evidence GIS-based techniques, with the most prospective areas across the continent occurring where all components are present. The mineral systems approach allows for the identification of a much larger footprint than the deposit itself, and can be applied to greenfield and/or undercover areas. The results highlight areas that contain known tholeiitic intrusion-hosted nickel sulphide deposits, such as the Musgrave and Pilbara Provinces, as well as regions that do not contain any known deposits, such as the southern margin of the Arunta Province in the Northern Territory, the Mount Isa Province in Queensland and the Paterson Province in Western Australia.