AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
An Integrated Study of the CO2 Storage Potential in the Offshore Vlaming Sub-Basin: Results of the study undertaken as part of the NCIP program

As part of the National CO2 Infrastructure Plan (NCIP) between 2011 and 2014 Geoscience Australia undertook a comprehensive study in the offshore Vlaming Sub-basin to provide new pre-competitive data and information to underpin potential CO2 storage solutions. 
The Vlaming Sub-basin is a Mesozoic depocentre within the southern Perth Basin located about 30 km west of Perth. It covers an area of approximately 23,000 km2 and contains up to 14 km of sediments. The basin lies close to industrial sources of CO2 emissions in the Perth area and contains a number of reservoir-seal pairs potentially suitable for CO2 storage. The Gage Sandstone and the overlying South Perth Shale (SPS) deposited as part of the early post-rift succession are considered the most prospective reservoir-seal pair. Previous assessments of this basin indicated that up 1 GT of CO2 can be stored in the Gage Sandstone reservoir. However, lack of interest in the 2009 Greenhouse Gas acreage release in the Vlaming Sub-basin showed that a more detailed assessment is required.
This study addresses critical scientific issues underpinning CO2 storage potential of the Vlaming Sub-basin that were not sufficiently explored previously. These include:
-   better characterisation of the reservoir heterogeneity;
-   detailed understanding  of the seal quality and integrity; 
-   a more accurate estimate of the practical storage capacity and, 
-   an accurate environmental baseline and potential issues of environmental concern 
Overall the study confirmed suitability of the Gage Sandstone reservoir for long-term storage of CO2 and provided a more accurate delineation of the suitable storage sites. At the same time it highlighted the importance of careful consideration of the containment and potential environmental impact in any future CO2 storage projects.

Tags: Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Published_External, Record, marine
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
A Review of the Cenozoic Stratigraphy and Glacial History of the Lambert Graben - Prydz Bay Region, East Antarctica

The Cenozoic glacial history of East Antarctica is recorded in part by the stratigraphy of the Prydz Bay-Lambert Graben region. The glacigene strata and associated erosion surfaces record at least 10 intervals of glacial advance (with accompanying erosion and sediment compaction), and more than 17 intervals of glacial retreat (enabling open marine deposition in Prydz Bay and the Lambert Graben). The number of glacial advances and retreats is considerably less than would be expected from Milankovitch frequencies due to the incomplete stratigraphic record. Large advances of the Lambert Glacier caused progradation of the continental shelf edge. At times of extreme glacial retreat, marine conditions reached &gt; 450 km inland from the modern ice shelf edge. This review presents a partial reconstruction of Cenozoic glacial extent within Prydz Bay and the Lambert Graben that can be compared to eustatic sea-level records from the southern Australian continental margin.

Tags: AQ, Antarctic data, Earth Sciences, External Publication, Published_External, Scientific Journal Paper, marine, stratigraphy
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Multiple field-based methods to assess the potential impacts of seismic surveys on scallops

Marine seismic surveys are an important tool to map geology beneath the seafloor and manage petroleum resources, but they are also a source of underwater noise pollution. A mass mortality of scallops in the Bass Strait, Australia occurred a few months after a marine seismic survey in 2010, and fishing groups were concerned about the potential relationship between the two events. The current study used three field-based methods to investigate the potential impact of marine seismic surveys on scallops in the region: 1) dredging and 2) deployment of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) were undertaken to examine the potential response of two species of scallops (Pecten fumatus, Mimachlamys asperrima) before, two months after, and ten months after a 2015 marine seismic survey; and 3) MODIS satellite data revealed patterns of sea surface temperatures from 2006–2016. Results from the dredging and AUV components show no evidence of scallop mortality attributable to the seismic survey, although sub-lethal effects cannot be excluded. The remote sensing revealed a pronounced thermal spike in the eastern Bass Strait between February and May 2010, overlapping the scallop beds that suffered extensive mortality and coinciding almost exactly with dates of operation for the 2010 seismic survey. The acquisition of in situ data coupled with consideration of commercial seismic arrays meant that results were ecologically realistic, while the paired field-based components (dredging, AUV imagery) provided a failsafe against challenges associated with working wholly in the field. This study expands our knowledge of the potential environmental impacts of marine seismic survey and will inform future applications for marine seismic surveys, as well as the assessment of such applications by regulatory authorities.

<b>Citation:</b> Rachel Przeslawski, Zhi Huang, Jade Anderson, Andrew G. Carroll, Matthew Edmunds, Lynton Hurt, Stefan Williams, Multiple field-based methods to assess the potential impacts of seismic surveys on scallops,<i> Marine Pollution Bulletin</i>, Volume 129, Issue 2, 2018,Pages 750-761, ISSN 0025-326X, 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.10.066.

Tags: EARTH SCIENCES, Gippsland Basin, Published_External, bivalve, invertebrate, noise impacts, remote sensing
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
The Ngalia Basin, Northern Territory: stratigraphy and structure

The Ngalia Basin comprises Adelaidean and Palaeozoic, mainly arenaceous sediments, up to 
about 5 km thick, preserved in an intracratonic downwarp in Lower and Middle Proterozoic igneous and metamorphic basement rocks. 
The maximum known thicknesses of sediments are Adelaidean, 3200 m; Cambrian, 800 m; probable Ordovician, 300 m; and Devono 
Carboniferous 3100 m; but a complete sequence is not present in any one area. The basin sequence is largely concealed by 
Cainozoic deposits, except for a belt of folded sediments along parts of the northern margin and narrow quartzite ridges 
along the southern margin.Unconformities in the Ngalia Basin sequence record nine alternate periods of sedimentation and 
diastrophism between Adelaidean and late Palaeozoic time. The major unconformities which record these periods of diastrophism 
divide the succession into four early tectosomes of continental and marine sedimentation and two later tectosomes of continental 
sedimentation. Until Devonian time the basin was part of a much larger sedimentary or structural province. Subsequent major 
latitudinal uplifts to the north and south of the present basin margins formed an ancestral basin outline. 
These uplifts were the provenance for a thick clastic wedge, comprising the youngest sequence in the basin. A major orogeny in the Carboniferous folded and thrusted the sediments and thin Tertiary lacustrine and fluvial sediments were deposited on the eroded basin surface. Seismic data indicate that the basin is essentially a faulted easterly trending asymmetrical syncline in which the thickest sediments are preserved towards the northern margin, where north-to-south thrusting has controlled the structural framework of the basin. Major faults and thrusts outline the main structural divisions of the basin. The northern margin in the west is formed by two thrust nappes, which are partly separated from a gently basinward-inclined platform in the south by a wide fault trough. Farther east, sinusoidal horsts and grabens dominate the structure in the centre of the basin. In the east the thick sedimentary pile at the northern margin is truncated by a thrust. The large number of unconformities and the absence of demonstrated good source rocks in the sequence reduce the petroleum potential of the basin. However, a probably thick and more complete Palaeozoic sequence in the subsurface may have some potential. Uranium mineralisation confined to the Devono-Carboniferous continental sandstone is the most important potentially economic mineral deposit. Water supply is principally from bores, but quality varies considerably; Devono-Carboniferous arenaceous sediments have yielded potable water, and Cainozoic rudites have yielded large flows of stock water.

Tags: AU-NT, Bulletin, Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Published_External, stratigraphy, structural geology
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Diamond drilling at Maranboy tin-field, Northern Territory, 1958-1959

Eleven diamond drill holes, totalling 5,646 feet in
length, were drilled at the Maranboy Tinfield in the Northern
Territory between March, 1958 and November, 1959 by the Bureau of
Mineral Resources. Drilling was concentrated on two mining leases
in order to ascertain whether the known ore-shoots extend or
repeat at depth.

Tags: AU-NT, Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Published_External, Record
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Mesozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks dredged from the northern Exmouth Plateau: petrography and microfacies

The deeply incised northern margin of the Exmouth Plateau has been dredged extensively along seismic reflection profiles, in water 2000- 5600 m deep, by R. V. Sonne (Cruise SO-8) and R. V. Rig Seismic (BMR Cruise 56). Geological samples obtained have greatly increased our understanding of the Late Triassic- Recent history of the margin.  Detailed petrography and microfacies analysis have enabled us to define seven major lithofacies associations. Three Late Triassic to Middle Jurassic associations were laid down roughly coevally on this southeastern margin of Tethys: (1) a Late Triassic- early Liassic volcanic and volcaniclastic association of early rift volcanics, (2) a Late Triassic- Middle Jurassic shallow water carbonate association, and (3) a ?Late Triassic- Middle Jurassic coal measure association.  The coal measures were uplifted and weathered to form a ?Jurassic ferruginous sediment and ironstone association. We distinguish 14 Late Triassic- Callovian microfacies types of shallow water carbonates, which can be correlated with the facies of coeval platform carbonates in the Alps and Mediterranean area of the Tethys ocean.  During Late Triassic times intertidal to shallow-subtidal carbonates were deposited in the Swan Canyon area close to the palaeo-coastline in the east, and deeper subtidal and shelf lithologies in the Wombat Plateau area in the west. During the latest Triassic and earliest Jurassic, the carbonate platform subsided and was structured into shoals with red biomicrites, and basinal areas with hemipelagic autochthonous micrites and redeposited calcarenitic turbidites.  Locally, uplifted blocks, such as the Wombat Plateau horst, were subaerially eroded during Jurassic or earliest Cretaceous times.  Carbonate platform deposition continued in places until Middle Jurassic time. Following breakup to form the Argo Abyssal Plain in the earliest Cretaceous, the margin started to subside and a Lower Cretaceous marginal-marine claystone association was deposited, followed by a hemipelagic late Lower Cretaceous radiolarian claystone. As subsidence continued, from Turonian times onwards, there was increasingly pelagic deposition of a Late Cretaceous to Cainozoic association of hemipelagic to eupelagic variably silicified marls and chalks. Complex diagenetic transformations involve silica, silicates, carbonates, and phosphates.

Tags: Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Journal, Published_External, WA, marine
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Best Practice Standards for Land Air Marine Access and Stakeholder Engagement

The Land Air Marine Access team have developed a Best Practice Standards approach to land, air and marine access and stakeholder engagement to protect Geoscience Australia's social licence and maximise the benefits of our science outcomes.

Tags: BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND DESIGN, Best Practice, CULTURAL STUDIES, EARTH SCIENCES, EDUCATION, LANGUAGE, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE, LAW, LAW AND LEGAL STUDIES, Land Access, Negotiation, OTHER BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND DESIGN, OTHER EARTH SCIENCES, OTHER EDUCATION, OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, Published_External
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Biogeochemical Zones Within a Macrotidal, Dry-Tropical Fluvial-Marine Transition Area: A Dry-Season Perspective

The Fitzroy River delivers large amounts of nutrients and fine sediments to Keppel Bay (contiguous with the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon) during intermittent flow events. This study explores sources, forms and transformations of nutrients in Keppel Bay, and develops a functional process zonation that integrates seabed geochemistry and water column nutrient characteristics which are controlled by suspended sediment. The water column and seabed properties were investigated over two dry seasons, with supplementary core incubations taken to measure carbon decomposition rates and nutrient fluxes. Keppel Bay can be divided into three zones, the: zone of maximum resuspension (ZMR); coastal transitional zone (CTZ); and blue water zone (BWZ). Mineralisation of predominantly terrestrial organic matter occurs in the ZMR where nutrient uptake by phytoplankton is light limited. The CTZ and BWZ had higher light penetration and phytoplankton growth was likely limited by N and P, respectively. The identified zones conform to the bathymetry and hydrodynamic characteristics of the bay, allowing for the development of an integrated conceptual model accounting for the benthic and pelagic biogeochemical processes. Recognition of these different zones shows that considerable variation in benthic and water column properties is possible within a small system with the bathymetric and hydrodynamic characteristics of the fluidised bed reactor.

Tags: AU-QLD, Earth Sciences, External Publication, Published_External, Scientific Journal Paper, coasts, geochemistry, marine
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Post Cruise Report, Prydz Bay and Mac. Robertson Shelf, Antarctica, January - March 1993

The Natural Variability Sub-program of the Co-operative Research Centre for Antarctic and Southern Ocean Environments aims to study past environmental change by examining ice core and sedimentary records in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. As the first stage in marine sedimentological studies, Voyage 7 of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) 1992/1993 shipping season included a geoscience program comprising echo sounder traverses, gravity coring and grab sampling of the Antarctic continental shelf and slope on the Mac. Robertson Shelf and in Prydz Bay. This record describes the preliminary results of the voyage and presents location information for core and grab samples and preliminary descriptions of grab samples and lists of subsamples taken by associated research programs.

Tags: AQ, Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Published_External, Record, marine, marine survey
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Buried reef structures in the Lennard Shelf, Canning Basin, Western Australia

Buried Upper Devonian reef has been found in Meda No. 1 borehole in the Lennard Shelf, Canning Basin. Frequency analysis made on seismic-record sections across the structure indicates an increase in the frequency of seismic reflection above the structure. The frequency increase is interpreted as indicating thinning of sedimentary layers caused by differential compaction commonly found above a reef. Analysis of a further sixteen selected seismic-record sections containing features suspected to be reef structures shows the presence of similar frequency anomalies on four of the seismic sections, and is suggestive of a further four buried reef structures in the Lennard Shelf.

Tags: Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Journal, Published_External, WA, marine
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Bowen Basin hydrogeological inventory

This Bowen Basin dataset contains descriptive attribute information for the areas bounded by the relevant spatial groundwater feature in the associated Hydrogeology Index map. Descriptive topics are grouped into the following themes: Location and administration; Demographics; Physical geography; Surface water; Geology; Hydrogeology; Groundwater; Groundwater management and use; Environment; Land use and industry types; and Scientific stimulus.

The Bowen Basin is part of the Sydney–Gunnedah–Bowen basin system and contains up to 10,000 m of continental and shallow marine sedimentary rocks, including substantial deposits of black coal. The basin's evolution has been influenced by tectonic processes initiated by the New England Orogen, commencing with a phase of mechanical extension, and later evolving to a back-arc setting associated with a convergent plate margin. 

Three main phases of basin development have been identified; 1) Early Permian: Characterized by mechanical extension, half-graben development, thick volcanic units and fluvio-lacustrine sediments and coal deposits. 2) Mid Permian: A thermal relaxation event led to the deposition of marine and fluvio-deltaic sediments, ending with a regional unconformity. 3) Late Permian and Triassic: Foreland loading created a foreland basin setting with various depositional environments and sediment types, including included fluvial, marginal marine, deltaic and marine sediments along with some coal deposits in the late Permian, and fluvial and lacustrine sediments in the Triassic. Late Permian peat swamps led to the formation of extensive coal seams dominating the Blackwater Group. In the Triassic, fluvial and lacustrine deposition associated with foreland loading formed the Rewan Formation, Clematis Sandstone Group, and Moolayember Formation. The basin is a significant coal-bearing region with over 100 hydrocarbon accumulations, of which about one third are producing fields. The Surat Basin overlies the southern Bowen Basin and contains varied sedimentary assemblages hosting regional-scale aquifer systems. 

Cenozoic cover to the Bowen Basin includes a variety of sedimentary and volcanic rock units. Palaeogene and Neogene sediments mainly form discontinuous units across the basin. Three of these units are associated with small eponymous Cenozoic basins (the Duaringa, Emerald and Biloela basins). Unnamed sedimentary cover includes Quaternary alluvium, colluvium, lacustrine and estuarine deposits; Palaeogene-Neogene alluvium, sand plains, and duricrusts. There are also various Cenozoic intraplate volcanics across the Bowen Basin, including central volcanic- and lava-field provinces.

Tags: Basin Analysis, EARTH SCIENCES, ECOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, Environmental Management, Exploring for the Future, GEOLOGY, Groundwater, Hydrogeology, Land Use and Environmental Planning, National Groundwater Sytems, National Hydrogeological Inventory, PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOSCIENCE, Published_External, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy (incl. Biostratigraphy and Sequence Stratigraphy)
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Petrel Sub-basin Marine Survey (GA-0335 / SOL5463) (NLECI Program) - interpreted geomorphic map

The Petrel Sub-basin Marine Environmental Survey GA-0335, (SOL5463) was undertaken by the RV Solander during May 2012 as part of the Commonwealth Government's National Low Emission Coal Initiative (NLECI). The survey was undertaken as a collaboration between the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and GA. The purpose was to acquire geophysical and biophysical data on shallow (less then 100m water depth) seabed environments within two targeted areas in the Petrel Sub-basin to support investigation for CO2 storage potential in these areas. This dataset comprises an interpreted geomorphic map.

Interpreted local-scale geomorphic maps were produced for each survey area in the Petrel Sub-basin using multibeam bathymetry and backscatter grids at 2 m resolution and bathymetric derivatives (e.g. slope; 1-m contours). Five geomorphic units; bank, plain, ridge, terrace and valley, were identified and mapped using definitions suitable for interpretation at the local scale (nominally 1:10 000). Maps and polygons were manual digitised in ArcGIS using the spatial analyst and 3D analyst toolboxes.

Tags: GIS Dataset, Marine Data, Marine Geoscience, Published_External, geomorphology, marine, marine environmental baselines, seabed
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Biostratigraphy of Rig Seismic samples from Vening Meinesz seamounts, Christmas Island area, northeastern Indian Ocean

Samples from eight dredge hauls collected during BMR cruise 107 from several seamounts in the Vening Meinesz chain, south of Christmas Island, yielded calcareous nannofossils, foraminiferids, and fragmentary macrofossils with ages ranging from Late Cretaceous to Holocene.  Many samples are mixtures, suggestive of debris flows, and some contain lithologies of various ages.  The Late Cretaceous assemblages suggest shallow-water to upper bathyal depths.  The seamounts were built up rapidly by volcanism, probably commencing during the Albian or Santonian, continuing through the Campanian, by which time they had shoaled, and ceasing during the Maastrichtian. Atolls comprising mounds of shelly algal biostromes dominated by rudists and Inoceramus had formed by the Maastrichtian. The sea was warm at this time, when the area was at latitudes far south of those of today.  The Palaeogene assemblages suggest increasingly deeper depositional environments. The Paleocene is indirectly indicated by the presence of nannofloras of this age reworked into younger assemblages, but Eocene calcareous microfossils are well represented. Shallow-water assemblages (including large neritic benthic foraminifetids) are wide-spread in the late Early to early Middle Eocene samples, suggesting subtropical or tropical water temperatures.  The fresh volcanic content in some samples hints at the possibility of renewed volcanism during the Eocene.  The Oligocene is marked by pelagites containing nannofossils.  Most of the Neogene assemblages are Late Miocene or younger, although some Middle Miocene nannofloras were recovered. Depositional depths appear to have been bathyal during this time, an accompaniment to seamount sinking and crustal and subcrustal cooling.  Volcanism had ceased. Debris flows, however, continued to transport shallow-water sediments downslope. Holocene and present-day oozes mantle all previous deposits.

Tags: Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Journal, Published_External, WA, marine
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data
Permit No. 39, Papua Marine Seismic Survey, 1966 By Phillips Australian Oil Company Sunray Dx Oil Company Canadian Superior Oil (Aust.) Pty Ltd And Anacapa Corporation

A detailed marine reflection seismic survey was carried out by Western
Geophysical Company of America, Party 87, for Phillips Australian Oil Company, Sunray
DX Oil Company, Canadian Superior Oil (Aust.) pty Ltd, and Anacapa Corporation between
22 January and 24 April 1966. The survey covered 1505 line miles over the Papuan Basin,
in the Gulf of Papua, within Oil Permits Nos 39 and 42, and Oil Licence No. 4 (see Fig. 1).

The objective of the seismic survey was to obtain more detailed information on structures indicated by previous reconnaissance seismic work, with a view to determining drilling sites, and tor extend the reconnaissance in the area.

Tags: Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Other Publication, Published_External, marine, petroleum exploration
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data