Geoscience Australia carried out a marine survey on Carnarvon shelf (WA) in 2008 (SOL4769) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through colocated sampling of surface sediments and infauna, observation of benthic habitats using underwater towed video and stills photography, and measurement of ocean tides and wavegenerated currents. Data and samples were acquired using the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) Research Vessel Solander. Bathymetric mapping, sampling and video transects were completed in three survey areas that extended seaward from Ningaloo Reef to the shelf edge, including: Mandu Creek (80 sq km); Point Cloates (281 sq km), and; Gnaraloo (321 sq km). Additional bathymetric mapping (but no sampling or video) was completed between Mandu creek and Point Cloates, covering 277 sq km and north of Mandu Creek, covering 79 sq km. Two oceanographic moorings were deployed in the Point Cloates survey area. The survey also mapped and sampled an area to the northeast of the Muiron Islands covering 52 sq km. cloates_3m is an ArcINFO grid of Point Cloates of Carnarvon Shelf survey area produced from the processed EM3002 bathymetry data using the CARIS HIPS and SIPS software

Biostratigraphic analysis of macrofossils extracted from samples taken from BMR Mt Isa 1 well

Regolith carbonate or secondary carbonate is a key component of the regolith, particularly in many Mediterranean, arid and semi-arid regions of Australia. National maps of regolith carbonate distribution have been compiled from regional soil, regolith and geological mapping with varying degrees of confidence and consistency. Here we apply a decision tree approach based on a piecewise linear regression model to estimate and map the near-surface regolith carbonate concentration at the continental scale. The model is based on relationships established from the 1311 field sites of the National Geochemical Survey of Australia (NGSA) and 49 national environmental covariate datasets. Regolith carbonate concentration (weight %) was averaged from the <2 mm grain size-fractions of samples taken from two depth ranges (0-10 cm and ~60-80 cm) at each NGSA site. The final model is based on the average of 20 runs generated by randomly selecting 90% training and 10% validation splits of the input data. Results present an average coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.56 on the validation dataset. The covariates used in the prediction are consistent with our understanding of the controls on the sources (inputs), preservation and distribution of regolith carbonate within the Australian landscape. The model produces a continuous, quantitative prediction of regolith carbonate abundance in surficial regolith at a resolution of 90 m with associated estimates of model uncertainty. The model-derived map is broadly consistent with our current knowledge of the distribution of carbonate-rich soil and regolith in Australia. This methodology allows the rapid generation of an internally consistent and continuous layer of geoinformation that may be applicable to other carbonate-rich landscapes globally. The methodology used in this study has the potential to be used in predicting other geochemical constituents of the regolith.

"Cultural landmarks (dataset derived from the DIgital Chart of the World (DCW) Cultural coverage). For more information on the Digital Chart of the World data please browse the DCW Internet Site <a href=""http://www.maproom.psu.edu/dcw/"">http://www.maproom.psu.edu/dcw/</a>. Data can be downloaded from here in <b>vpf format</b>. <p>NOTE : For more accurate and detailed data covering <b>continental Australia only</b> please obtain the <b><a href=""http://www.auslig.gov.au/download/"">Global Map Data 1M</a></b> <p><b>Generic information on DCW datasets :-</b> <br>The primary source for DCW is the US Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) Operational Navigation Chart (ONC) series produced by the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The ONC's have a scale of 1:1,000,000, where 1 inch equals approximately 16 miles.The charts were designed to meet the needs of pilots and air crews in medium and low altitude en route navigation and to support military operational planning, intelligence briefings, and other needs. Therefore, the selection of ground features is based on the requirement for rapid visual recognition of significant details seen from a low perspective angle. The DCW database was originally published in 1992. Data currency varies from place to place depending on the currency of the ONC charts. Chart currency ranges from the mid 1960's to the early 1990's. Compilation dates for every ONC chart are included in the database."

The Queen Charlotte Fault (QCF) off western Canada is the northern equivalent to the San Andreas Pacific - America boundary. Geomorphology and surface processes associated with the QCF system have been revealed in unprecedented detail by recent seabed mapping surveys. The QCF bisects the continental shelf of British Columbia forming a fault-valley that is visible in multibeam sonar bathymetry data. The occurrence of the fault within a valley, and its association with what appear to be graben structures, suggest the fault may exhibit minor rifting (extension) as well as strike-slip motions in the region offshore from Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). Fault-valley formation, slumping and stranding of submarine canyon thalwegs are geomorphic expressions of QCF tectonism, illustrating the general applications of multibeam technology to marine geophysical research.

"Geographic areas (dataset derived from the DIgital Chart of the World (DCW) geog coverage). For more information on the Digital Chart of the World data please browse the DCW Internet Site <a href=""http://www.maproom.psu.edu/dcw/"">http://www.maproom.psu.edu/dcw/</a>. Data can be downloaded from here in <b>vpf format</b>. <p>NOTE : For more accurate and detailed data covering <b>continental Australia only</b> please obtain the <b><a href=""http://www.auslig.gov.au/download/"">Global Map Data 1M</a></b> <p><b>Generic information on DCW datasets :-</b> <br>The primary source for DCW is the US Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) Operational Navigation Chart (ONC) series produced by the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The ONC's have a scale of 1:1,000,000, where 1 inch equals approximately 16 miles.The charts were designed to meet the needs of pilots and air crews in medium and low altitude en route navigation and to support military operational planning, intelligence briefings, and other needs. Therefore, the selection of ground features is based on the requirement for rapid visual recognition of significant details seen from a low perspective angle. The DCW database was originally published in 1992. Data currency varies from place to place depending on the currency of the ONC charts. Chart currency ranges from the mid 1960's to the early 1990's. Compilation dates for every ONC chart are included in the database."

This is a polygon file, one of five within the Rockhampton Regional Council coastline, which buffers the coastline by 4 km inland. This extent was use to clip the storm tide inundation extents and to visualise each of the five distinct inundation zones. This use of this data should be carried out with the knowledge of the contained metadata and with reference to the associated report provided by Geoscience Australia with this data (Reforming Planning Processes Trial: Rockhampton 2050). A copy of this report is available from the the Geoscience Australia website (http://www.ga.gov.au/sales) or the Geoscience Australia sales office (sales@ga.gov.au, 1800 800 173).

Geoscience Australia's GEOMACS model was utilised to produce hindcast hourly time series of continental shelf (~20 - 300 m depth) bed shear stress (unit of measure: Pascal, Pa) on a 0.1 degree grid covering the period March 1997 to February 2008 (inclusive). The hindcast data represents the combined contribution to the bed shear stress by waves, tides, wind and densitydriven circulation. Included in the parameters that represent the magnitude of the bulk of the data are the quartiles of the distribution; Q25, Q50 and Q75 (i.e. the values for which 25, 50 and 75 percent of the observations fall below). Q25, or the 0.25 Quartile of the Geomacs output, represents the values for which 25% of the observations fall below (Hughes & Harris 2008).

This is the positional data of AGSO's offshore seismic surveys that fall into the area of the project. The line locations for these seismic surveys are from AGSO's Mardat Database. The surveys have been 'clipped' to the project polygon. There are 9 surveys in the one file, they are: 100r97, 116, 119, 130, 163VTT, 165VTT, 165YST, 175BBHR and 98r Each survey has a number of lines attached to them. There is only one vector file: agso_seismic.shp - Line data

Due to extensive cover by Mesozoic and younger sedimentary basins and regolith, the geology of the southern Thomson Orogen is poorly understood. Small outcrops of the Thomson Orogen are exposed along the Eulo Ridge (south Qld) and in the southwest around Tibooburra (NSW). Proximal to these regions the average thickness of cover is estimated to be <200 m, which is within exploration and mining depths. The southern Thomson Orogen is true greenfields' country. Although the mineral potential of the region is largely unknown, the northeastern Thomson Orogen is well mineralised (e.g., Thalanga, Charters Towers), as is the similar-aged Lachlan Orogen to south (e.g., Cadia, Cobar, Tibooburra). In order to attract investment (exploration) into the southern Thomson Orogen, Geoscience Australia, the Geological Survey of Queensland and the Geological Survey of New South Wales have commenced a three-year collaborative project to collect new (and synthesise existing) pre-competitive data. The first year and half of the project will synthesise existing datasets across the state borders to create a revised solid geology map. This map will form the basis of a 3D model (map), which will utilise pre-existing government and industry seismic and drilling data. In support of the 3D map, several programmes of geophysical data acquisition, processing and interpretation will be undertaken. These include: airborne electromagnetic (AEM), broad-band magnetotelluric (MT) and gravity data, amongst others. In order to understand the nature of the cover rocks and their relationship to basement, a surface geochemical survey will also be completed to provide higher resolution infill of the existing National Geochemical Survey of Australia (NGSA) dataset. In addition, the potential mineral systems of the region will be assessed and a gap analysis conducted, with these results and the 3D and cover maps informing a planned drilling programme to be conducted in 2014-15. The drilling methods will be informed by the results of a similar drilling project in the Stavely Zone of western Victoria. Prior to drilling, a series of geophysical experiments will be conducted in the vicinity of the proposed holes to aid selection and improve prediction of expected cover depths. The actual drill holes will test the predictive capacity of the various pre-drilling geophysical experiments - a useful outcome in itself. The recovered core will be analysed with a range of geochemical, geochronological, geophysical and geological techniques. The combined results will be synthesised and integrated into a pre-competitive geoscience data package for exploration investment. Interim products and datasets will be released throughout the project, with the final results delivered to industry in 2016.