This service has been created specifically for display in the National Map and the chosen symbology may not suit other mapping applications. The Australian Topographic web map service is seamless national dataset coverage for the whole of Australia. These data are best suited to graphical applications. These data may vary greatly in quality depending on the method of capture and digitising specifications in place at the time of capture. The web map service portrays detailed graphic representation of features that appear on the Earth's surface. These features include the administration boundaries from the Geoscience Australia 250K Topographic Data, including state forest and reserves.

The offshore seismic data consists of field, processed, and seismic navigation data. Reports of the acquisition, processing and interpretation reports plus reprocessed seismic data and reports are also held. The collection is derived from the submission of seismic data under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act and previous legislation. The Petroleum (Submerged Lands), the Offshore Petroleum, and the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGSA) requires petroleum data to be submitted to the State Designated Authority (DA). The Act(s) also require the DAs to make copies of the data available to the Commonwealth Minister through the Joint Authority.

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New geophysical data, including gravity, airborne electromagnetic (AEM) and broadband magnetotelluric (BBMT) were collected along a series of traverses in the southern Thomson Oregon region of north-western New South Wales and southwestern Queensland in 2014 as part of the Southern Thomson Project. Comparing and integrating this data over the same spatial extents aimed to provide a better understanding of the crustal architecture of this region, and help estimate cover thicknesses above basement rocks. When comparing all available datasets, AEM cannot be reliably used when cover thickness is > ~150m because of limitations in Depth of Investigation (DOI), and BBMT tends to overestimate cover thickness where it is less than 50m. Audio-MT (AMT) likely provides the best resolution for estimating cover thicknesses of 0-1000m on this regional scale. Forward modelling of the gravity data along selected traverses tested the interpreted crustal architecture and cover thicknesses inferred from available seismic images and the new AEM and MT conductivity models. The variable cover thicknesses interpreted from this combined approach produce a closer match with the observed gravity response when compared to a uniform, average cover thickness. The most accurate crustal-scale forward model was a thickened crust north of the Olepoloko Fault (the proposed southern boundary of the southern Thomson), split into simplified lower, middle and upper layers with basement lithologies immediately beneath cover based on the most recent basement interpretation map. Resistive bodies shown in the MT models were included in the gravity modelling, producing a good match between the observed and calculated gravity responses. These results demonstrate the utility in using a combination of different geophysical techniques to understand crustal architecture and estimations of basement depths in regions of Australia with little surface outcrop and thick cover sequences.

The Stavely region has been described as a continental-margin arc system that developed on the eastern margin of Australia in the mid-Cambrian (c. 510490 Ma). The joint Geoscience AustraliaGeological Survey of Victoria Stavely Project, investigating the regional geology and mineral systems of the Stavely region, resulted in 14 stratigraphic holes being drilled testing regional geological models and recovering material from potentially prospective basement rocks under cover to characterise the subsurface geology. Drill core and field site samples were taken for mineral separation to extract zircon for U-Pb, Lu-Hf, O isotope and trace element geochemical analyses. The analysed samples reported here include rocks from the Mount Stavely Volcanic Complex (MSVC), including mineralised dactic porphyries, and the Bushy Creek Igneous Complex (BCIC). The U-Pb data provide age constraints on the rocks; the Lu-Hf data indicates the relative `maturity of the rocks; the O isotopes indicated the degrees of continental crustal input/recycling into the parent melt; the trace element data provides an indication of the crystallisation environment, including providing evidence of mixing of magmas and subsequent compositional changes. U-Pb data indicate that the ages of many of the igneous rocks in the Stavely region are c. 510500 Ma. Available data indicate that the MSVC was emplaced both during and after deposition of the turbiditic Nargoon Group sediments. Mineralised dacitic porphyries were syn-eruptive with the MSVC, and rocks of the BCIC were emplaced at the same time and after both the MSVC and porphyries. New U-Pb dating of zircon from rocks of the BCIC also suggests they may be syn- to post-deformation, rather than purely post-deformation. O isotope data yield d18O values less than that of the `normal mantle through to values similar to and greater then `normal mantle (values), indicating possible evolution of the arc and increase of crustal material that assimilated into later stage magmas. The samples that yield lower than `normal mantle d18O values are interpreted to have been derived from hydrothermally altered, subducted rocks that were remelted and did not significantly interact with the overlying continental crust at the time of emplacement. The mineralised porphyries display eHf values indicative of depleted mantle suggesting the melt is juvenile (i.e. do not display significant amounts of crustal reworking), while the eHf values of the MSVC rocks are more evolved. This suggests that there were multiple, distinct source magmas that had a different history (i.e. porphyries little to no crustal input, while MSVC rocks had a source with some crustal input). The plutonic rocks of the BCIC are interpreted to have had a greater degree of crustal input again. The combination of isotopic and trace element geochemical data from zircon allows for discrimination of the differences of rock units based on timing, maturity and degree of crustal reworking of their parent melts. This provides a powerful tool in assisting in unravelling the tectonic environment of the continental margin arc setting of the Stavely region.

This record summarises seismicity induced by hydrofracturing. It begins with a list of issues of concern to the public about hydrofracturing. The types of fracturing are then defined-tension, shear and hybrid tension and shear-and a failure mode diagram that explains the fluid pressure and stress regimes under which each is likely to occur is introduced. The report sets out the conditions under which fresh rock is fractured and pre-existing weak faults are reactivated. Fractures grow by small increments, with each increment causing a small earthquake. Earthquake magnitudes and intensities are explained so that the fracture size can be related to earthquake magnitude. What people feel is explained in terms of earthquake intensity. The size distribution of earthquakes induced by hydrofracturing of both intact rock and reactivating existing weak faults is then summarised based on case studies in the scientific literature. The background established in the first part of the record is then applied to hydrofracturing in the coal seam gas, shale gas, enhanced geothermal and carbon sequestration sectors. The record concludes by explaining how hydrofracturing and induced seismicity contribute to a discussion of the issues of public concern listed in the introduction to the record. The record is in two parts-the main body of the record and four appendices. The main body is written in a form readable to non-seismologists, although a basic understanding of the scientific principles considered in the record would be an advantage. A more theoretical treatment of the hydrofracture process and earthquake size is given in the first two appendices. The third appendix discusses larger induced earthquakes attributed to a number of causes, including the reinjection of waste water from the unconventional gas industry. The fourth appendix summarises the current approaches to the regulation of the hydrofracturing process in several jurisdictions in Australia.

Geoscience Australia (GA) conducted a marine survey (GA0345/GA0346/TAN1411) of the north-eastern Browse Basin (Caswell Sub-basin) between 9 October and 9 November 2014 to acquire seabed and shallow geological information to support an assessment of the CO2 storage potential of the basin. The survey, undertaken as part of the Department of Industry and Science's National CO2 Infrastructure Plan (NCIP), aimed to identify and characterise indicators of natural hydrocarbon or fluid seepage that may indicate compromised seal integrity in the region. The survey was conducted in three legs aboard the New Zealand research vessel RV Tangaroa, and included scientists and technical staff from GA, the NZ National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd. (NIWA) and Fugro Survey Pty Ltd. Shipboard data (survey ID GA0345) collected included multibeam sonar bathymetry and backscatter over 12 areas (A1, A2, A3, A4, A6b, A7, A8, B1, C1, C2b, F1, M1) totalling 455 km2 in water depths ranging from 90 - 430 m, and 611 km of sub-bottom profile lines. Seabed samples were collected from 48 stations and included 99 Smith-McIntyre grabs and 41 piston cores. An Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) (survey ID GA0346) collected higher-resolution multibeam sonar bathymetry and backscatter data, totalling 7.7 km2, along with 71 line km of side scan sonar, underwater camera and sub-bottom profile data. Twenty two Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) missions collected 31 hours of underwater video, 657 still images, eight grabs and one core. This catalogue entry refers to total sediment metabolism, bulk carbonate and mineral specific surface area measurements, and major and minor trace elements and carbon and nitrogen concentrations and isotopes in the upper 2 cm of seabed sediments.

An important part of the management of Australia's marine resources is mapping the geology beneath the sea floor; as part of this work we must understand and mitigate associated environmental impacts. This multimedia product provides background information on marine seismic surveys and the environment, as well as Geoscience Australia's role in environmental mitigation and research. For further information visit http://www.ga.gov.au/about/projects/m.... About the data visualisation: The visualisation of the seismic survey process is representative of a seismic survey, and does not represent any particular survey performed by a particular party. It is not to scale, and is only intended to convey the basic concepts of marine seismic surveys. Production credits: Script: Robin Swindell, Neil Caldwell, Chantelle Farrar, Andrew Carroll, Rachel Przeslawski Production Management: Chantelle Farrar, Neil Caldwell Edit, Cinematography, Sound: Michael O'Rourke 3D Data Visualisation, Animation: Neil Caldwell, Julie Silec Broadcast Design: Julie Silec Scientific Advice: Andrew Carroll, Rachel Przeslawski, Merrie-Ellen Gunning http://www.ga.gov.au Category Science & Technology License Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)

This Record contains new zircon and monazite U-Pb geochronological data obtained via Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Micro Probe (SHRIMP) from nine samples of volcanic, volcaniclastic and plutonic igneous rocks of the central Lachlan Orogen and the New England Orogen, New South Wales. These data were obtained during the reporting period July 2014-June 2015, under the auspices of the collaborative Geochronology Project between the Geological Survey of New South Wales (GSNSW) and Geoscience Australia (GA), which is part of the National Collaboration Framework (NCF).

The Great Artesian Basin Research Priorities Workshop, organised by Geoscience Australia (GA), was held in Canberra on 27 and 28 April 2016. Workshop attendees represented a spectrum of stakeholders including government, policy, management, scientific and technical representatives interested in GAB-related water management. This workshop was aimed at identifying and documenting key science issues and strategies to fill hydrogeological knowledge gaps that will assist federal and state/territory governments in addressing groundwater management issues within the GAB, such as influencing the development of the next Strategic Management Plan for the GAB. This report summarises the findings out of the workshop.