The ability of thermal and shortwave infrared spectroscopy to characterise composition and textural was evaluated using both particle size separated soil samples and raw soils. Particle size analysis and separation into clay, silt and sand sized soil fractions was undertaken to examine possible relationships between quartz and clay mineral spectral signatures, and soil texture. Spectral indices, based on thermal infrared specular and volume scattering features, were found to discriminate clay mineral-rich soil from mostly coarser quartz-rich sandy soil, and to a lesser extent, from the silty quartz-rich soil. Further investigations were undertaken using spectra and information on 51 USDA and other soils within the ASTER Spectral Library to test the application of shortwave, mid- and thermal infrared spectral indices for the derivation of clay mineral, quartz and organic carbon content. A non linear correlation between quartz content and a TIR spectral index based on the 8.62 im was observed. Preliminary efforts at deriving a spectral index for the soil organic carbon content, based on 3.4 - 3.5 im fundamental H-C stretching vibration bands were also undertaken with limited results.

We describe the information content of soil visible-near infrared (vis-NIR) reflectance spectra and map their spatial distribution across Australia. The spectra of 4030 surface soil sample from across the country were measured using a vis-NIR spectrometer with a wavelength range between 350-2500 nm. The spectra were treated using a principal component analysis (PCA) and the resulting scores were mapped by ordinary point kriging. The largely dominant and common feature in the maps was the difference between the more expansive, older and more weathered landscapes in the centre and west of Australia and the generally younger, more complex landscapes in the east. A surface soil class map derived from the clustering of the principal components was similar to an existing soil classification map. We show that vis-NIR reflectance spectra: (i) provide an integrative measure to rapidly and efficiently measure the constituents of the soil, (ii) can replace the use of traditional soil properties to describe the soil and make geomorphological interpretations of its spatial distribution and (iii) can be used to classify soil objectively.

This report deals with an investigation of the electrical resistivities of a variety of wet surface soils, gravels and sands. The work may be regarded as preliminary to an investigation by Mr. R.F. Thyer into the detection of electrically resistive bodies buried in wet soils at shallow depths. It was required to determine the range over which the resistivities of surface soils vary, and also the changes that may be expected in any one type of soil between measurements made within any 1 foot of each other. Measurements were made in four localities, three being in the bed or on the banks of the Molonglo River, where the surface materials are sand, gravel, silts, and in some places, clay. The fourth locality was near the head of Sullivan's Creek, where the soil is a heavy black clay.

This report deals with the problem of detecting electrically resistive bodies of small size buried at shallow depths in wet soils. Detection was attempted by means of measurements made on the surface of the soil using the electrical resistivity method. The present report can be regarded as an extension of an earlier one (No. 1943/64B). The purpose of the new tests was twofold. Firstly it was proposed to make tests of 'normal' resistivity effects using a constant electrode arrangement and measuring the resistivity at closely spaced points on water saturated soils. The second part of the testing programme was contingent on the first part proving that under saturated conditions soil resistivities were sufficiently constant to warrent an attempt being made at detection. If this condition of constancy existed, it was proposed to extend the work of the tests, reviewed in the previous report, to actual field conditions. This has been done and the present report deals with the results obtained.

Recently, continental-scale geochemical surveys of Europe and Australia were completed. Thanks to having exchanged internal project standards prior to analysing the samples, we can demonstrate direct comparability between these datasets for 10 major oxides (Al2O3, CaO, Fe2O3, K2O, MgO, MnO, Na2O, P2O5, SiO2 and TiO2), 16 total trace elements (As, Ba, Ce, Co, Cr, Ga, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Th, V, Y, Zn and Zr), 14 aqua regia extracted elements (Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Ce, Co, Cs, Cu, Fe, La, Li, Mn, Mo and Pb), Loss On Ignition (LOI) and pH. By comparing these new datasets to one another, we can learn lessons about continental-scale controls on soil geochemistry and about critical requirements for global geochemical mapping. Although the median soil compositions of both continents are overall quite similar, the Australian median values are systematically lower, except for SiO2 and Zr. This reflects the generally longer and, locally more intense weathering in Australia (median Chemical Index of Alteration values are 72 and 60% for Australia and Europe, respectively). We found that element concentrations typically span 3 (and up to 5) orders of magnitude on each continent. The comparison of 2 continental geochemical surveys shows that the most critical requirement for global geochemical mapping is good analytical quality. Only where a comprehensive quality control program, including field and laboratory duplicates, internal project standards and Certified Reference Materials, is implemented and documented, are the results credible and comparable with other datasets.

As a results of representations made to the Bureau of Mineral Resources by the Australian Aluminium Production Commission during 1948 a brief examination was made in July, 1949, of the area known as Sogeri Plateau which is situated some 24 miles east-north-east of Port Moresby. The object of the inspection was to determine whether any bauxitic laterite was present on the plateau and if so to obtain samples for chemical determination of alumina soluble in caustic soda solution, that is, alumina extractable by the Bayer process. Three car traverses of the area were made - one along the Sogeri-Uberi road, one along the Sogeri-Subitana road and one along the Sogeri-Eilogo road. Two grab samples were collected and sent for analysis. The findings of the examination of the area and the results of the chemical analyses are described in this report.

A fundamental component of soils is its mineralogy which is a key driver/indicator of important soil properties/processes such as soil pH (acidity), metal availability (e.g. Al, K, Fe, Si, Ca, Mg) and water content/permeability/runoff. However, soil mineralogy is not routinely measured as part of current soil mapping programs at the paddock-, catchment- or continental-scales mainly because currently deployed measurement technologies are not able to deliver soil mineralogy directly, though remote radiometric and microwave sensing technologies do provide useful soil information. In contrast, mineralogy is now being efficiently delivered to the Australian minerals exploration industry through a new generation of field, airborne and spaceborne hyperspectral technologies (www.hyvista.com; nvcl.csiro.au/). This mineral information includes two of the three major soil mineral components, namely: clays (e.g. kaolinite, illite, smectite); and iron/aluminium oxyhydroxides (e.g. hematite. goethite, gibbsite), with specific information being delivered on their composition, abundances and physicochemistries (disorder and chemistry). The third dominant soil mineral component, quartz, is also spectrally measurable but has diagnostic features at wavelengths longer than current "operational" hyperspectral systems. These hyperspectral technologies thus provide an excellent opportunity to transfer mineral mapping capabilities being developed for the minerals industry into the soil mapping application, especially for establishing baseline inventories of soil mineral composition and providing a possible mechanism for quantitative monitoring of change in soil properties related to its mineralogy (e.g. pH, soil loss, water effects, metal activities and possibly soil carbon and salinity). This opportunity is explored using results from a collaborative geological remote sensing project between the CSIRO, the Geological Survey of Queensland and Geoscience Australia (www.em.csiro.au/NGMM, www.nrw.qld.gov.au/science/geoscience/projects/hyperspectral.html) which involves the collection and processing of 25,000 km2 of airborne HyMap imagery (~300 flight-lines at 5m pixel resolution and totalling >1 Terabyte of raw data) from across Queensland, including areas covered by airborne radiometrics and published geology at 1:100 000 scale around the Mount Isa region. The processed hyperspectral data show that lateritic materials in the Tick Hill area comprise relatively abundant iron oxides and kaolinite (poorly ordered) whereas the radiometrics shows these areas as being relatively high Th and U counts. This kaolinite is presumably developed in response to more acid conditions and/or better (downward percolating) drainage. The hyperspectral data also maps extensive areas of Al-smectite (montmorillonite) associated with the weathering of carbonate (calcite and dolomite) parent rocks or as "pedogenic" occurrences in alluvium/colluvium, with the latter sometimes associated with abundant opaline silica (also mapped using the hyperspectral data). These Al-rich smectites are formed in more alkaline conditions where there is sufficient Ca or Mg and water at the near surface and typically show in the radiometric as being poor in K and Th. Muscovite (water-poor, K-bearing white mica) is mapped over exposed parent rocks whereas illite (water-rich, K-bearing white mica) is typically mapped in weathered materials, including many soils and dried lake beds where there is sufficient available K. The radiometric data typically shows these areas as being K-rich. Note that the accuracy of the hyperspectral clay mineral maps was also validated by field sampling and associated laboratory spectral and X-Ray diffraction analyses.

Analytical data for 10 major oxides (Al2O3, CaO, Fe2O3, K2O, MgO, MnO, Na2O, P2O5, SiO2 and TiO2), 16 total trace elements (As, Ba, Ce, Co, Cr, Ga, Nb, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Th, V, Y, Zn and Zr), 14 aqua regia extractable elements (Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Ce, Co, Cs, Cu, Fe, La, Li, Mn, Mo and Pb), Loss On Ignition (LOI) and pH from >3500 soil samples from two continents (Australia and Europe) are presented and compared to (1) the composition of the upper crust, (2) published world soil average values, and (3) data from other continental-scale soil surveys. It is demonstrated that average upper continental crust values do not provide reliable estimates for natural concentrations of elements in soils. For many elements there exist substantial differences between published world soil averages and the median concentrations observed on two continents. Direct comparison with other continental datasets is hampered by the fact that often mean, instead of the statistically more correct median, is reported. Using a database of the worldwide distribution of lithological units, it can be demonstrated that lithology is a poor predictor of soil chemistry. Climate-related processes such as glaciation and weathering are strong modifiers of the geochemical signature inherited from bedrock during pedogenesis. To overcome existing shortcomings of predicted global or world soil geochemical reference values, we propose Preliminary Empirical Global Soil reference values based on analytical results of a representative number of soil samples from two continents (PEGS2).

From 2007 to 2009, the National Geochemical Survey of Australia (NGSA) project collected sediment samples from 1315 sites located in 1186 catchments (~10 % of which were sampled in duplicate) from across Australia. Overbank sediments were chosen as sampling media, with a near-surface sample (Top Outlet Sediment, TOS, from 0-10 cm below the surface) and a bottom sample (Bottom Outlet Sediment, BOS, ~10 cm interval between approximately 60-80 cm below the surface) being collected. The sample sites were selected to be near outlets or spill points of large catchments, so that overbank sediments there could reasonably be assumed to represent well-mixed, fine-grained composite samples of all major rock and soil types present in the catchment. Sample sites and their corresponding sediment samples were subjected to a detailed description and the determination of bulk parameters in the field (texture, moist and dry colour, field pH). This is complemented by a series of laboratory measurements and analyses reported elsewhere. This report documents the complete field dataset and discusses the pH and soil colour data that were collected in the field. At the time of writing, field pH and colour are the only datasets available for all sites. Maps are presented showing the spatial distribution of these data in both TOS and BOS samples. These data will be the basis of further interpretative work.

Geoscience Australia and CO2CRC have constructed a greenhouse gas controlled release reference facility to simulate surface emissions of CO2 (and other GHG gases) from an underground slotted horizontal well into the atmosphere under controlled conditions. The facility is located in a paddock maintained by CSIRO Plant and Industry at Ginninderra, ACT. The design of the facility is modelled on the ZERT controlled release facility in Montana, which conducts experiments to develop capabilities and test techniques for detecting and monitoring CO2 leakage. The first phase of the installation is complete and has supported an above ground, point source, release experiment, utilising a liquid CO2 storage vessel (2.5 tonnes) with a vaporiser, mass flow controller unit with a capacity for 6 individual metered gas outlet streams, equipment shed and a gas cylinder cage. Phase 2 involved the installation of a shallow (2m depth) underground 120m horizontally drilled slotted well, in June 2011, intended to model a line source of CO2 leakage from a storage site. This presentation will detail the various activities involved in designing and installing the horizontal well, and designing a packer system to partition the well into six CO2 injection chambers. A trenchless drilling technique used for installing the slotted HDPE pipe into the bore hole will be described. The choice of well orientation based upon the effects of various factors such as topography, wind direction and ground water depth, will be discussed. It is envisaged that the facility will be ready for conducting sub-surface controlled release experiments during spring 2011.