A three-dimensional (3D) map of the Cooper Basin region has been produced from 3D inversions of Bouguer gravity data using geological data to constrain the inversions. The 3D map delineates regions of low density within the basement of the Cooper/Eromanga Basins that are inferred to be granitic bodies. This 3D data release constitutes the second version of the 3D map of the Cooper Basin region. It builds on Version 1 of the Cooper Basin Region Geological map, released in 2009. The Cooper Basin region is coincident with a prominent geothermal anomaly and forms part of a broad area of anomalously high heat flow. High-heat-producing granites, including granodiorite of the Big Lake Suite (BLS) at the base of the Cooper and Eromanga Basins sequences combined with thick Cooper/Eromanga sedimentary sequences that provide a thermal blanketing effect, result in temperatures as high as 270° C at depths <5 km. The location and characteristics of other granitic bodies are poorly understood and accurately identifying them is an important first step towards future geothermal exploration in this region. 3D Bouguer gravity field inversion modelling was carried out using the UBC inversion software. An initial gravity inversion was performed using seismic horizons to constrain the 3D distribution of the Cooper/Eromanga Basin sediments. Densities, derived from seismic velocities from a refraction seismic survey in the region, were assigned to the Cooper/Eromanga sediments in order to constrain their gravity contribution. A series of Iso-surfaces were generated, enclosing low density lobes within the basement of the initial sediment-constrained inversion model. Gravity 'worms' were used to pick the iso-surfaces that approximate the lateral sub-sediment extent of potential granites within the basement. A series of subsequent granite-constrained inversions were generated by assigning different maximum cut-off depths to the lobes. The inversion model that produced the most 'neutral' result had a maximum cut-off depth of 10 km. The 3D map was then used to predict temperatures throughout the volume of the map. Thermal properties were sourced from the literature and from direct measurements. Forward predictions of temperatures were carried out using the Simulator for HEat and MAss Transport (SHEMAT) software package. Thermal properties were iteratively updated until a satisfactory match was achieved between the model and temperature measurements. The resulting temperature distribution gives strongly elevated temperatures over the BLS, as well as broader regions of elevated temperature in the northwest of the study area toward Mt Isa, under the Adavale Basin in the north-east of the study area, and south-east of the BLS. Uncertainty was analysed using a stochastic modelling technique. A sensitivity analysis was first performed to select the parameters which, when varied, had the greatest effect on the predicted temperatures. These parameters are: thermal conductivity of the basin sediments, heat production of the basement and granite units, and basal heat flux. Stochastic models were then run, giving the standard deviation of the temperature at each point in the model. The resulting standard deviation distribution shows that areas of highest predicted temperature are also areas of highest error. However, when the standard deviation values are converted to percentage error, a different pattern emerges: Highest error values are observed where the Cooper Basin sediments are thickest. Lower error values are observed over the BLS and in the southeast of the model area.

The borehole temperature data collection contains Logs recorded by Geoscience Australia from a ranges of wells and boreholes throughout Australia.

Australian hourly temperature, humidity and pressure data as produced by the Bureau of Meteorology. Dataset contains: Air Temperature; Dew Point Temperature; Wet Bulb Temperature; Relative Humidity; Mean Sea Level Pressure; Station Level Pressure; Saturated Vapour Pressure; plus additional supporting information.

<div>NDI Carrara 1 is a 1750 m stratigraphic drill hole completed in 2020 as part of the MinEx CRC National Drilling Initiative (NDI) in collaboration with Geoscience Australia under the Exploring for the Future program and the Northern Territory Geological Survey. It is the first stratigraphic test of the Carrara Sub-basin, a recently discovered depocentre in the South Nicholson region. The drill hole intersected Cambrian and Proterozoic sediments consisting of organic-rich black shales and a thick sequence of interbedded black shales and silty sandstones with hydrocarbon shows. A comprehensive analytical program carried out by Geoscience Australia on the recovered core samples from 283 m to total depth at 1751&nbsp;m provides critical data for calibration of burial and thermal history modelling.</div><div>Using data from this drilling campaign, burial and thermal history modelling was undertaken to provide an estimate of the time-temperature maxima that the sub-basin has experienced, contributing to an understanding of hydrocarbon maturity. Proxy kerogen kinetics are assessed to estimate the petroleum prospectivity of the sub-basin and attempt to understand the timing and nature of hydrocarbon generation. Combined, these newly modelled data provide insights into the resource potential of this frontier Proterozoic hydrocarbon province, delivering foundational data to support explorers across the eastern Northern Territory and northwest Queensland.</div> <b>Citation:</b> Palu Tehani J., Grosjean Emmanuelle, Wang Liuqi, Boreham Christopher J., Bailey Adam H. E. (2023) Thermal history of the Carrara Sub-basin: insights from modelling of the NDI Carrara 1 drill hole. <i>The APPEA Journal</i><b> 63</b>, S263-S268. https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ22048

The Geoscience Australia Rock Properties database stores the results measurements of scalar and vector petrophysical properties of rock and regolith specimens. Many are sourced from Geoscience Australia's mapping and research programs, but some are are compiled from published literature, university studies, the resources industry and State/Territory geological surveys. Measured properties include mass density, magnetic susceptibility, magnetic remanence, gamma, electrical conductivity and sonic velocity. The database also records analytical process information such as methods and instrument details wherever possible.

Meteorological data from the Arcturus (ARA) atmospheric greenhouse gas baseline station. Data includes time stamp (local time), air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, sigma, solar radiation, barometric pressure and rainfall total. Dataset limited to the 1/6/12 to 8/7/12.

Metamorphic rocks provide a semi-continuous record of the thermal and barometric history of the crust, which is particularly useful in constraining paleo-crustal architectures, tectonic models and thereby mineral exploration. Given this importance, regional metamorphic studies in Australia have flourished during the past 30 years. However, the national metamorphic map of Australia has not been updated in more than 37 years. Here, we provide a snapshot of a national synthesis of all available quantitative metamorphic data, metamorphic chronology and metamorphic map patterns, integrated with stratigraphic, magmatic and kinematic datasets. Forty-eight orogenic cycles have been identified, spanning from the Paleoarchean to the Miocene, and most of permissible pressure (P) and temperature (T) space, indicating a wide variety of tectonic settings. This compilation provides a basis for establishing best-estimate working models for the metamorphic evolution of all orogenic systems, provinces and terranes. These insights are important in advancing the understanding of mineral systems in Australia.. <b>Citation:</b> Goscombe, B., Czarnota, K. Blewett, R.S. Skirrow, R.G. Everard, J.L. and Lawson, C., 2020. Metamorphic evolution of Australia. In: Czarnota, K., Roach, I., Abbott, S., Haynes, M., Kositcin, N., Ray, A. and Slatter, E. (eds.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, 1–4.

Meteorological data from Arcturus (ARA) atmospheric greenhouse gas baseline station. Data includes time stamp (local time), air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, sigma-theta, solar radiation, barometric pressure and total rainfall. Dataset limited to 15 min and 60 min average data from12/6/13 to 21/6/13.