South Canning Basin Aeromagnetic Survey Western Australia, 1962-1963 By West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited

An airborne magnetometer survey was carried out by Aero Service Limited for West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited between November, 1962 and January, 1963. The survey covered an area of approximately 105,000 square miles of the Canning Basin, in northern Western Australia. The project area lies within Permit to Explore 30H.
The objective of the aeromagnetic survey was to delineate the depth and configuration of the Canning Basin, and to reveal, if possible, other structural features in the area. 
A Douglas DC-3 aircraft was used for the 1962-1963 survey and it was eqUipped with a Gulf Research and Development Company Mark III continuously recording total intensity fluxgate magnetometer. Auxiliary equipment consisted of an Aeropath AS-5 35 millimeter continuous strip exposure camera, and an STR 30-B1 radio altimeter. Navigation was by reference to image-matched strips of 1:50,000 aerial photographs. Navigational aids consisted of a Kearfott N-l gyrosyn compass and a B-3 drift meter. On the ground, a Gulf Research and Development Company magnetic storm detector was continuously monitored so that no aeromagnetic data would be obtained during periods of abnormal magnetic disturbance. The survey data were compiled by Aero Service Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A. 
Flying commenced on 30th November, 1962 and was completed on 4th January, 1963. A total of 18,129 line-miles oftraverses was flown at a I&amp;arometric altitude of JOOO feet above mean sea level. The profile flight direction was 030 and the tie lines 120  These directions and altitude were consistent with a previous survey flown over portions of the Basin. In the earlier survey, the direction of the profile flight lines and the altitude were chosen to obtain the maximum information from the geological structures. The flight line interval was 1.5 miles, flown in bands of three profiles. Tie line separation was approximately 25 miles.
The study of the aeromagnetic data resulting from the survey indicates that the Canning Basin is subdivided into four separate depressions, each of which is a major basin in itself with regard to areal dimension, and thickness of the sedimentary section.
In the north, the Fitzroy Trough has been outlined as a long, relatively narrow basin trending northwest-southeast. It appears to be a geosynclinal trough with 25,000 to 30,000 feet of sediments in its deeper regions.
The existence of the Kidson Basin in the south-central part of the survey area and about 200 miles south of the Fitzroy Trough has been confirmed by the study of the survey data. The Basin is similar in shape to the Fitzroy Trough; it trends northwest-southeast, and has .a maximum thickness of between 30,000 and 35,000 feet.
A third major basin is delineated in the east-central area. This depression is on the same trend as the Fitzroy Trough, but its orientation is apparently north-south rather than northwest-southeast. Here, the maximum depth to basement is estimated to be about 30,000 feet below sea level.
Finally, a fourth major basin, outlined by the magnetic interpretation, is shown in the central part of the project area, situated to the north of the Kidson Basin. It trends eastwest and attains a maximum depth of over 20,000 feet below sea level.
The several basement depressions, ridges, and faults indicated by the magnetic study all require further confirmation and modification by other, more detailed, geological and geophysical methods.
This Publication is accompanied by a composite reduction of the total magnetic intensity maps at a scale of 1:1,000,000 to which have been added the interpreted data.
The aeromagnetic survey undertaken in the Canning Basin area of Western Australia was subsidized under the Petroleum Search Subsidy Act 1959-1961.

Tags: AU-WA, Earth Sciences, GA Publication, Other Publication, Published_External, petroleum exploration
Organization: Geoscience Australia Data