Broad Geology of Wet Tropics of Queensland - 2015 (WTMA)

This dataset shows the broad geology of the Wet Tropics of Queensland and surrounding areas from Ayr up to north of Cooktown. It is a combination of the "Geology of the Wet Tropics Bioregion (WTMA)" dataset (WtmaGeology) from the Vegetation mapping of the Wet Tropics and the state wide Regional Ecosystem mapping by the Queensland Government. 

Whilst the WtmaGeology dataset provided high resolution mapping of geology in the Wet Tropics Bioregion it only provided geology where there was remnant vegetation. As a result cleared and regrowth areas were not assigned a geology type. This dataset resolves this problem by filling in these areas with geology information extracted from the Regional Ecosystem mapping. In addition to this the Regional Ecosystem mapping data was used to expand the coverage outside the Wet Tropics Bioregion to provide a continuity with the adjoining Bioregions. To maintain compatibility compatibility between the two sources of mapping some of the WtmaGeology classifications were grouped. As a result this dataset has broader classifications then the WtmaGeology dataset.

The geology in this dataset has the following classifications:
Geology - Landzone
* Saline Alluvium   - 1
* Coastal Dunes- 2
* Alluvium and Colluvium - 3
* Clay Plains - 4
* Loamy and Sandy Plains - 5
* Ironstone - 7
* Basalts - 8
* Sedimentary - 9
* Sandstone - 10
* Metamorphics - 11
* Granites and Rhyolites - 12
* water

More information about each of the geology classifications can be found in the  Land Zone descriptions - https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/plants/ecosystems/land-zones/.

The geology from the Regional Ecosystem mapping was extracted using the following process. The Landzone was extracted from the Pre-clearing regional ecosystems mapping; thence the  Broad Geology was determined from the Landzone descriptions - General term. General term was kept consistent as possible with the geology descriptors in the WtmaGeology coverage. The major discrepancies would be for geology described outside of the Bioregion of the Wet Tropics, such as Desert Uplands or Brigalow Belt.

Background information on the Regional Ecosystem source data: 

Pre-clearing regional ecosystems mapping was developed at a map scale of 1:100,000 and 1:50,000 the in the Bioregion of the Wet Tropics, based on surveys of vegetation communities and related landform, soils and geology and on 1:80,000 B&amp;W 1960-1993 aerial photography. 

The survey and mapping of regional ecosystems of Queensland provides information for regional groups, non-government organisations, government departments, local government and industry, for planning and management purposes. (Dataset for Queensland incomplete). The major discrepancies would be for geology described outside of the Bioregion of the Wet Tropics, such as Desert Uplands or Brigalow Belt. The pre-clearing mapping is based on aerial photography and field survey of vegetation communities. Regional ecosystem linework reproduced at a scale greater than 1:100,000, except in designated areas, should be used as a guide only.

Version 7.0 regional ecosystem descriptions, as originally described in Sattler &amp; Williams (ed.) (1999) is available for download on the website: http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/ecosystems/biodiversity/regional
-ecosystems/how_to_download_redd.html (Regional Ecosystem Description Database). 

Format:

This dataset is available in two formats: a ArcGIS Shapefile (249 MB) and and ArcGIS File Geodatabase  (100 MB).

Organization: Australian Ocean Data Network