The Atlas of Australian Soils (Northcote et al, 1960-68) was compiled by CSIRO in the 1960's to provide a consistent national description of Australia's soils. It comprises a series of ten maps and associated explanatory notes, compiled by K.H. Northcote and others. The maps are published at a scale of 1:2,000,000, but the original compilation was at scales from 1:250,000 to 1:500,000. Mapped units in the Atlas are soil landscapes, usually comprising a number of soil types. The explanatory notes include descriptions of soils landscapes and component soils. Soil classification for the Atlas is based on the Factual Key. This dataset has been modified to show only soil types. For more information go to http://www.asris.csiro.au/themes/Atlas.html

A new continental-scale geochemical atlas and dataset for Australia were officially released into the public domain at the end of June 2011. The National Geochemical Survey of Australia (NGSA) project, which started in 2007 under the Australian Government's Onshore Energy Security Program at Geoscience Australia, aimed at filling a huge knowledge gap relating to the geochemical composition of surface and near-surface materials in Australia. Better understanding the concentration levels and spatial distributions of chemical elements in the regolith has profound implications for energy and mineral exploration, as well as for natural resource management. In this world first project, a uniform regolith medium was sampled at an ultra-low density over nearly the entire continent, and subsamples from two depths and two grain-size fractions were analysed using up to three different (total, strong and weak) chemical digestions. This procedure yielded an internally consistent and comprehensive geochemical dataset for 68 chemical elements (plus additional bulk properties). From its inception, the emphasis of the project has been on quality control and documentation of procedures and results, and this has resulted in eight reports (including an atlas containing over 500 geochemical maps) and a large geochemical dataset representing the significant deliverables of this ambitious and innovative project. The NGSA project was carried out in collaboration with the geoscience agencies from every State and the Northern Territory under National Geoscience Agreements. .../...

Soil mapping at the local- (paddock), to continental-scale, may be improved through remote hyperspectral imaging of surface mineralogy. This opportunity is demonstrated for the semiarid Tick Hill test site (20 km2) near Mount Isa in western Queensland. The study of this test site is part of a larger Queensland government initiative involving the public delivery of 25,000 km2 of processed airborne hyperspectral mineral maps at 4.5 m pixel resolution to the mineral exploration industry. Some of the mineral maps derived from hyperspectral imagery for the Tick Hill area include the abundances and/or physicochemistries (chemical composition and crystal disorder) of dioctahedral clays (kaolin, illite-muscovite and Al smectite, both montmorillonite and beidellite), ferric/ferrous minerals (hematite/goethite, Fe2+-bearing silicates/carbonates) and hydrated silica (opal) as well as soil water (bound and unbound) and green and dry (cellulose/lignin) vegetation. Validation of these hyperspectral mineral products is based on field soil sampling and laboratory analyses (spectral reflectance, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and electron backscatter). The mineral maps show more detailed information regarding the surface composition compared with the published soil and geology (1:100,000 scale) maps and airborne radiometric imagery (collected at 200 m line spacing). This mineral information can be used to improve the published soil mapping but also has the potential to provide quantitative information suitable for soil and water catchment modeling and monitoring.

Data gathered in the field during the sample collection phase of the National Geochemical Survey of Australia (NGSA) has been used to compile the Preliminary Soil pH map of Australia. The map, which was completed in late 2009, offers a first-order estimate of where acid or alkaline soil conditions are likely to be expected. It provides fundamental datasets that can be used for mineral exploration and resource potential evaluation, environmental monitoring, landuse policy development, and geomedical studies into the health of humans, animals and plants.

Geoscience Australia and CO2CRC have constructed a greenhouse gas controlled release facility to simulate surface emissions of CO2 (and other greenhouse gases) from the soil into the atmosphere under controlled conditions. The facility is located at an experimental agricultural station maintained by CSIRO Plant Industry at Ginninderra, Canberra. The design of the facility is modelled on the ZERT controlled release facility in Montana. The facility is equipped with a 2.5 tonne liquid CO2 storage vessel, vaporiser and mass flow controller unit with a capacity for 6 individual metered CO2 gas streams (up to 600 kg/d capacity in total). Injection of CO2 into the soil is via a 120m long slotted HDPE pipe installed horizontally 2m underground. This is equipped with a packer system to partition the well into six CO2 injection chambers. The site is characterised by the presence of deep red and yellow podsolic soils with the subsoil containing mainly kaolinite and subdominant illite. Injection is above the water table. The choice of well orientation based upon the effects of various factors such as topography, wind direction, soil properties and ground water depth will be discussed. An above ground release experiment was conducted from July - October 2010 leading to the development of an atmospheric tomography technique for quantifying and locating CO2 emissions1. An overview of monitoring experiments conducted during the first subsurface release (January-March 2012), including application of the atmospheric tomography technique, soil flux surveys, microbiological surveys, and tracer studies, will be presented. Additional CO2 release experiments are planned for late 2012 and 2013. Poster presented at 11th Annual Conference on Carbon Capture Utilization & Sequestration, April 30 - May 3, 2012, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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).

The Northern Australian Development Committee nominated the region of the Ord and Victoria rivers to be surveyed by the Northern Australian Regional Survey, when the Barkly Region had been completed. The immediate objectives of the Survey are "to accurately record the nature of the country, to establish a sound basis upon which the production possibilities of the Region may be appraised and to make general recommendations concerning development and further investigations." It was decided that the region should include the Army Four Mile Map Sheets of Delamere, Victoria River Downs, Wave Hill, Birrundudu, Limbunya, Waterloo, Auvergne, Port Keats, Medusa Banks, Cambridge Gulf, Lissadell, Dixon Range, and Gordon Downs, and that the field work would be commenced during the 1949 dry season. The techniques and methods used to complete this survey work are noted. The stratigraphy, pedology, and economic geology of the area are described in some detail.

Abstract The ability of thermal infrared (TIR) spectroscopy to characterise mineral and textural content was evaluated for soil samples collected in the semi-arid environment of north-western Queensland, Australia. Grain size analysis and separation of clay, silt and sand sized soil fractions were undertaken to establish the relationship between quartz and clay emissivity signatures and soil texture. Spectral band parameters, based on thermal infrared specular and volume scattering features, were found to discriminate fine clay mineral-rich soil from mostly coarser quartz-rich sandy soil, and to a lesser extent, from the silty quartz-rich soil. This study found that there was the potential for quantifying soil mineral and texture content using TIR spectroscopy. Key Words Soil composition, quartz, kaolinite, smectite, grain size, Tick Hill

Introduction Low-density geochemical surveys provide a cost-effective means to assess the composition of near-surface materials over large areas. Many countries in the world have already compiled geochemical atlases based on such data. These have been used for a number of applications, including: - establish baselines from which future changes can be measured - design geologically sensible targets for remediation of contaminated sites - support decision-making regarding appropriate land-use - explore for natural resources - study links between geology and plant/animal health (geohealth) A first pilot project was initiated to help establish sampling and analytical protocols relevant to Australian landscapes and climates. The Riverina region was chosen for this study because of its crucial economic, environmental and societal importance within the Murray-Darling basin. The region is a prime agricultural area, is bordered to the south by the Victorian goldfields, and is home to 11% of the Australian population. Results of this study are presented here. Methods Using a hydrological analysis, 142 sites near the outlets of large catchments were selected within the 123,000 km2 survey area (1 site per 866 km2 on average). At each site, two 10-cm thick overbank sediment samples were taken, one at the surface ('top overbank sediment', TOS) and the other between 60 and 90 cm depth (`bottom overbank sediment', BOS). These were described, dried, sieved (<180 m) and analysed chemically for 62 elements. Exploratory data analysis was undertaken and geochemical maps (various styles are shown here) were prepared. Results and discussion The geology of the area is dominated by Cainozoic sediments found in low-relief plains over the vast majority of the Riverina. The eastern and southern fringes of the area form higher relief landforms developed on outcropping or subcropping Palaeozoic sedimentary, mafic and felsic volcanic and felsic intrusive rocks. The geochemical results of the survey are independently corroborated by the good match between the distributions of K, U and Th concentrations in TOS and airborne gamma-ray maps. The distribution of Ca in BOS indicates generally higher concentrations in the northern part of the study area, which is also reflected in higher soil pH values there. Such data have implications for soil fertility and management in agricultural areas. In terms of applications to mineral exploration, dispersion trains of typical pathfinder elements for gold mineralisation, like As and Sb are clearly documented by the smoothly decreasing concentrations from south (near the Victorian goldfields) to north (over sediments from the Murray basin). Chromium is an element that can be associated with ill-health in animals and humans when present over certain levels. There is a smooth increase in Cr concentration from north to south, and the two sites with the highest values can be correlated with a ridge of Cambrian mafic volcanics. High total Cr concentrations in the Riverina are unlikely, however, to lead to serious health problems as only a very small proportion of Cr will be bioavailable. Conversely, some elements can be present at concentrations that are too low for optimum plant growth, such as potentially Mo. The distribution map for this element shows a general decrease from south to north. Given its lower bioavailability in acid soils, Mo is likely to be deficient in the south of the region, despite higher total concentrations here. Farmers report the necessity to use Mo-enriched fertilisers in this area. Conclusions Low-density geochemical surveys can be conducted in Australia using common regolith sampling media. They provide a cost-effective, internally consistent dataset that can be used by to support a variety of critical economic, environmental and societal decisions.

pH is one of the more fundamental soil properties governing nutrient availability, metal mobility, elemental toxicity, microbial activity and plant growth. The field pH of topsoil (0-10 cm depth) and subsoil (~60-80 cm depth) was measured on floodplain soils collected near the outlet of 1186 catchments covering over 6 M km2 or ~80% of Australia. Field pH duplicate data, obtained at 124 randomly selected sites, indicates a precision of 0.5 pH unit (or 7%) and mapped pH patterns are consistent and meaningful. The median topsoil pH is 6.5, while the subsoil pH has a median pH of 7 but is strongly bimodal (6-6.5 and 8-8.5). In most cases (64%) the topsoil and subsoil pH values are similar, whilst, among the sites exhibiting a pH contrast, those with more acidic topsoils are more common (28%) than those with more alkaline topsoils (7%). The distribution of soil pH at the national scale indicates the strong controls exerted by precipitation and ensuing leaching (e.g., low pH along the coastal fringe, high pH in the dry centre), aridity (e.g., high pH where calcrete is common in the regolith), vegetation (e.g., low pH reflecting abundant soil organic matter), and subsurface lithology (e.g., high pH over limestone bedrock). The new data, together with existing soil pH datasets, can support regional-scale decision-making relating to agricultural, environmental, infrastructural and mineral exploration decisions.