The first edition ACE - Australian Continental Elements dataset is a GIS representation of the lithosphere fabrics of the Australian plate, interpreted from linear features and associated discontinuities in the gravity anomaly map of continental Australia (Bacchin et al., 2008; Nakamura et al., 2011) and the global marine gravity dataset compiled from satellite altimetry (Sandwell & Smith, 2009). It should be used in context with these input data sources, at scales no more detailed than the nominal scale of 1:5 000 000.

This dataset provides the spatially continuous data of the seabed sand content (sediment fraction 63-2000 mm) expressed as a weight percentage ranging from 0 to 100%, presented in 0.01 decimal degree resolution raster format. The dataset covers the Australian continental EEZ, including seabed surrounding Tasmania. It does not include areas surrounding Macquarie Island, and the Australian Territories of Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, and Cocos (Keeling) Islands or Australia's marine jurisdiction off of the Territory of Heard and McDonald Islands and the Australian Antarctic Territory. This dataset supersedes previous predictions of sediment sand content for the Australian Margin with demonstrated improvements in accuracy. Accuracy of predictions varies based on density of underlying data and level of seabed complexity. Artefacts occur in this dataset as a result of insufficient samples in relevant regions. This dataset is intended for use at national and regional scales. The dataset may not be appropriate for use at local scales in areas where sample density is insufficient to detect local variation in sediment properties. To obtain the most accurate interpretation of sediment distribution in these areas, it is recommended that additional samples be collected and interpolations updated.

Magnetic field interpretation is not an alternative to palaeomagnetic methods of recovering remanent magnetization information, both because it deals with the resultant of induced and remanent magnetizations and because confidence in recovered magnetization directions cannot match than provided by direct palaeomagnetic measurement. Nevertheless, magnetic field interpretation is highly complementary to palaeomagnetic studies. Palaeomagnetism provides detailed information from small, localised samples whereas magnetic field interpretation provides estimates of the bulk magnetization of substantial volumes (which may be completely buried and un-sampled by boreholes). Without palaeomagnetic and rock magnetic studies much of the geological information latent in magnetic field measurements cannot be accessed, and without the coverage of magnetic field data the extents and relationships of subsurface magnetization events revealed by palaeomagnetic studies cannot be fully mapped.

Legacy product - no abstract available

This publication is the successor to Oil and Gas Resources of Australia 2002 and continues as the definitive reference on exploration, development and production of Australia's petroleum resources. It covers exploration, reserves, opportunity for growth of oil and gas resources, development, coalbed methane resources, production, crude oil and shale oil and supporting information and statistics. It includes a forecast of Australia's crude oil and condensate production from 2004 to 2025, and sustainability indicators for petroleum resources. Information on Australia's petroleum data availability is also included and an estimate of Australia's undiscovered oil and gas potential and a review of developments in geological sequestration of carbon dioxide. The Appendices describe wells drilled and seismic surveys carried out in 2003. There is also a chronological listing of offshore and onshore oil and gas discoveries to 2003 listings of all petroleum platforms and pipelines, and a map showing all Australian petroleum exploration and development titles, with a key of title holders and interests as at March 2004. OGRA 2003 provides the background for much of the advice on petroleum resources given to the Australian government and is a key source for petroleum exploration, production and service companies, petroleum engineers and geologists, energy analysts, stockbrokers and share investors.

Geophysical modelling, especially 3D inverse modelling, requires significant computational power due to the application of complex calculations to large datasets. To meet this need, parallelised codes running on a High-Performance Computing (HPC) are utilised to perform these geophysical modelling tasks. There are, however, often difficulties for scientists to access these codes and no consistency in approach to the preparation of input data to these codes. To reduce this complexity and lack of consistency access to parallel grid computing services via the internet, termed cloud computing, has been established for geophysical inverse modelling using the University of British Columbia, Geophysical Inversion Facility (UBC-GIF) codes GRAV3D and MAG3D. Portals and workflows have been developed to simplify the inversion modelling process and to allow more efficient access to inversion modelling tools. A mechanism which allows inversion modelling jobs to be submitted to cloud computing resources using a web browser (a geophysical portal) is being developed and tested at the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI) housed at the Australian National University (ANU). This work is the result of a collaborative project between Geoscience Australia, CSIRO and NCI.

The world's first satellite-derived mineral maps of a continent, namely Australia, are now publicly available as digital, web-accessible products. The value of this spatially comprehensive mineral information is readily being captured by explorers at terrane to prospect scales. However, potentially even greater benefits can ensue for environmental applications, especially for the Earth's extensive drylands which generate nearly 50% of the world's agricultural production but are most at risk to climate change and poor land management. Here we show how these satellite mineral maps can be used to: characterise soil types; define the extent of deserts; fingerprint sources of dust; measure the REDOX of iron minerals as a potential marine input; and monitor the process of desertification. We propose a 'Mineral Desertification Index' that can be applied to all Earth's drylands where the agriculturally productive clay mineral component is being lost by erosion. Mineral information is fundamental to understanding geology and is important for resource applications1. Minerals are also a fundamental component of soils2 as well as dust eroded from the land surface, which can potentially impact on human health3, the marine environment4 and climate5. Importantly, minerals are well exposed in the world's 'drylands', which account for nearly 50% of Earth's land area6. Here, vegetation cover is sparse to non-existent as a result of low rainfall (P) and high evaporation (E) rates (P/E<0.65). However, drylands support 50% of the world's livestock production and almost half of all cultivated systems6. In Australia, drylands cover 85% of the continent and account for 50% of its beef, 80% of its sheep and 93% of its grain production7. Like other parts of the world, Australia is facing serious desertification of its drylands6. Wind, overgrazing and overstocking are major factors in the desertification process8. That is, the agriculturally productive clay-size fraction of soils (often includes organic carbon) is lost largely through wind erosion, which is acerbated by the loss of any vegetative groundcover (typically dry plant materials). Once clay (and carbon) loss begins, then the related break down of the soil structure and loss of its water holding capacity increases the rate of the degeneration process with the final end products being either exposed rock or quartz sands that often concentrate in deserts.

Extended abstract version of the abstract (Geocat#73747) submitted in March 2012 and accepted for an oral presentation at the symposium.

Abstract for submission to 11th IEA GHG International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies. Conference paper to follow pending selection for oral or poster presentation. Abstract covers the GA-ACCA21 China Australia Geological Storage of CO2 (CAGS) Project run through PMD/ED 2009-2012.

Legacy product - no abstract available