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.

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.

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.

The National Geochemical Survey of Australia (NGSA) project has collected catchment outlet sediment samples from 1315 sites located in 1186 catchments (~10% of which were sampled in duplicate) covering over 80% of Australia, in a collaborative venture between Geoscience Australia and the geoscience agencies of all States and the Northern Territory. At each site, composited samples were collected from two depth intervals: (1) the Top Outlet Sediment from 0-10 cm depth, and (2) the Bottom Outlet Sediment from 60-80 cm depth on average. In the laboratory, the samples were dried, homogenised and separated into two grain-size fractions: (1) a 'coarse' fraction (0-2 mm), and (2) a 'fine' fraction (0-75 um). All together, thus, 5260 samples were prepared for analysis. Bulk splits were also separated for the determination of bulk properties. Samples were analysed for up to 68 chemical elements after Total, Aqua Regia and Mobile Metal Ion digestion methods. Several quality control measures were taken throughout the project and the data quality was assessed in a separate report. This report used the acquired geochemical data to investigate the preliminary implications of this new national dataset on exploration for energy and mineral resources in Australia. This was mostly done by overlaying the NGSA data on coverages of known deposits and occurrences for selected commodities: uranium (U), thorium (Th), gold (Au), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and Rare Earth Elements (REEs). For U, an attempt was made to distinguish between calcrete-related and intrusion-related deposit types, and a local case study in the Pine Creek area is also presented. For Zn, preliminary results from an investigation into discrete field modelling using concentration-area (CA) fractal plots are also presented. Coincidence of known mineral deposits and occurrences with elevated geochemical element concentrations in the same catchment are highlighted. Several catchments have elevated geochemical element concentrations in catchments with no known mineral deposits or occurrences, which provide potential targets for exploration. This technique constitutes a useful and rapid tool for area selection where further, more detailed exploration effort could be expended to test these geochemical anomalies.

Global-scale mapping of surface mineralogy is now becoming possible using remote hyperspectral sensing technologies. Global-scale mineral maps have now been generated for Mars using thermal infrared hyperspectral data collected from the Mars-orbiting Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES- http://jmars.asu.edu/data/), including maps of feldspar, pyroxene, olivine and quartz contents. Other mineral maps of Mars are now being assembled using the recently launched Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer (CRISM - http://crism.jhuapl.edu/), including sulphates, kaolinite, illite/muscovite, chlorites, carbonate and water (www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/7thmars2007/pdf/3270.pdf). In contrast, even though mapping the mineralogy of the Earth's land surface can improve understanding and management of Earth's resources, including: - monitoring of soils (acid sulphate soils, salinity, soils loss and soil carbon); - better characterisation of regolith materials (e.g. transported versus in situ); - discovery of new mineral deposits using alteration vectors; and - more accurate environmental assessments during resource exploitation (baseline mapping, monitoring and closure)