Geoscience Australia

💡 Want to travel back in time? Our geoscientists are taking a lucky few deep under Australian Parliament House to explore an unconformity, that was once thought to be lost to the construction of the building. 🧩 Unconformities are a geological feature where there is a distinct gap in time in a sequence of rocks. This tells geoscientists that there is something missing in the rock record that it is worth investigating! It’s not every day that rock or sediments are removed from the geological record and understanding how it happened offers us insight into the landscape and geological history of a region. 🔎 You won't want to miss this rare opportunity to read the rocks below Australian Parliament House and discover how our Canberra region landscape formed. ⚒️ The Unconformity Geology tours will be running during Enlighten festival on Friday 28 February and Friday 7 March. Get your tickets now 👉 https://bit.ly/42Cpqea

🌋 How do we support our Pacific neighbours in relation to volcanoes? We’ve been working with local experts from the Rabaul Volcanological Observatory (RVO) of the Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management, the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) and Bougainville disaster office to establish the first of two permanent volcano monitoring stations for Mount Bagana, in central Bougainville. The new station serves as the hub for a small two-station monitoring network. It features real-time seismic monitoring and imagery capabilities which enable RVO experts to closely track the volcano’s status, including seismic activity and eruptive activity on Mount Bagana. The data collected via the monitoring station enables the PNG decision-makers to provide the region with informed, data-driven advice that enhances community safety and resilience. 📷 Mt Bagana, September 2024 📷 The new Rabaul station 📷 Real-time monitoring of Mt Bagana

Papua New Guinea’s Lae City faces substantial earthquake risk, with multiple major faults in the region. We have recently finished a detailed earthquake microzonation survey of the region, which aims to identify areas were ground shaking will be amplified or dampened during an earthquake. We have collaborated with local experts to study in-situ measurements of ambient noise at more than 200 locations across the city, and produced a comprehensive dataset that offers a clearer understanding of earthquake site amplification levels. The data gathered is helping identify structures that may experience increased shaking during earthquakes, providing valuable information for urban planning, infrastructure design, and disaster risk reduction. Our collaboration with local organisations , and the Lae community enables us to empower local organisations to gather and own vital earthquake data that is essential for local authorities to make data-informed decisions. We always look forward to working with our colleagues to the north, putting the best possible data to work in managing risk and reducing the impact of earthquakes. We thank the Australian High Commission Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea’s Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management, the PNG University of Technology, the Morobe Provincial Government - Morobe Provincial Disaster Office for making this work possible. Find out more about our work in Papua New Guinea here: https://bit.ly/3QhtIB7  📷 In the field at a local school 📷 Preparing for the survey 📷 Working with the local team

The Delamerian Orogen is an extensive but poorly exposed orogenic system, spanning across five states in central and eastern Australia. Over the last few years extensive efforts have been undertaken across successful precompetitive geoscience programs to enhance geological and geophysical data collection and integration to improve our understanding of the orogen’s geology and resource potential. Our new product release, ‘The Delamerian Orogen on mainland Australia plotted in time and space’, is based on these findings and provides: ◾ An overview time-space plot designed to provide a simplified geological history of the orogen from the Archaean to the present. ◾ A detailed time-space plot with three (northern, central and southern) traverses to reflect changes in geological history and stratigraphy along the strike and width of the orogen; focusing on the Ediacaran to the end of the Devonian. ◾ A location map showing the traverses used in the detailed time-space plot. These products deliver the most up to date geological understanding of the Delamerian Orogen in an easy-to-understand graphical geological framework. They allow users to compare the similarities and differences in the age and location of magmatism, sedimentation, deformation and mineralisation of the orogen across New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. As part of Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity, this foundational precompetitive geoscientific information will help improve our understanding of the potential for carbon-dioxide and hydrogen storage, groundwater, and minerals—including critical minerals and strategic materials – in this region. Access the report 👉 https://bit.ly/4jC5HB7. 📷 Field reconnaissance in the Mount Daubeny Basin, Koonenberry Belt, looking southeast towards the Coturaundee Ranges - Phil Gilmore.

We congratulate Professor Tony Haymet, on his appointment as Australia’s 10th Chief Scientist.     Australia's Chief Scientist is responsible for providing authoritative and independent evidence-based advice on whole-of-government science and technology priorities to support evidence-based decision-making by government. As a well-respected champion of science, with a long and distinguished career as a world-leading oceanographer, chemist and entrepreneur, we look forward to working with Professor Haymet and continuing our strong relationship with the Australian Office of the Chief Scientist. 

🏅Our own Principal Advisor Maritime Mark Alcock has been awarded a Public Service Medal (PSM) for his service to the community through international leadership in maritime affairs. Mark's dedication and exceptional leadership has been instrumental in securing Australia’s maritime jurisdiction, enhancing regional security and improving ocean governance. Congratulations Mark! Thank you for your contribution and dedication to Australia’s maritime affairs. 👉 https://bit.ly/40Q4FKF

We welcome the news today that Ms Melissa Harris PSM has been appointed the role of our Chief Executive Officer, commencing in February. We look forward to working alongside Ms Harris to further strengthen our key role in advancing Australia’s Earth Science. https://bit.ly/42pxPBk

[NEW REPORT] In collaboration with the Geological Survey of NSW and the Department of Regional NSW, we took over 300 soil gas samples throughout New South Wales to look for prospective regions for natural hydrogen and helium. While the nature of natural hydrogen resources remains uncertain, Australia is considered one of the most prospective locations for sub-surface natural hydrogen, due to our ancient geology and presence of potentially suitable hydrogen traps. An earlier review of occurrences of hydrogen in natural sub-surface rocks found high concentrations in various locations across Australia. During our surveys, we found: ◾ Elevated levels of hydrogen in the Tumut region. ◾ Slightly elevated levels of hydrogen and elevated levels of helium across the Curnamona Province and Delamerian Orogen in far western NSW. By assessing different geological settings and rock types that are thought to be conducive for the generation of hydrogen and helium (together or separately), we were able to identify prospective regions that could potentially lead to the discovery of deeper natural hydrogen and helium gas fields. As a clean fuel, emitting only water vapour and heat when combusted, increasing the use of hydrogen gas is an essential part of Australia’s energy transition. Manufacturing clean hydrogen from electrolysis of water or fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage requires additional energy and can be expensive. Natural hydrogen could potentially provide a more cost-effective source of hydrogen if it can be recovered at low cost from the earth directly for use. Access the report and the comprehensive methodology for soil gas sampling 👉 https://bit.ly/3WdDWVF. 📷 Soil gas sampling by the road

🎉 What a year! 🗺️ We finished the Exploring for the Future program, with 8 years of hard work building a solid foundation for the Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity initiative. 📈 We launched the Digital Atlas of Australia, bringing high quality government spatial data to all Australians. 🛰️ We committed to bringing the benefits of Landsat Next’s revolutionary Earth observation data right here to Australia through the signing of a landmark agreement. 👊 We collaborated and partnered with wonderful organisations here in Australia and around the world and shared our love of Earth Science at conferences and events and met lifelong friends and colleagues. 🎄We’re looking forward to a bright and busy 2025, working towards our shared goal of building a better future for all Australians. Wishing you a happy and safe festive season from us all at Geoscience Australia. 🚪Our indoor public spaces at our Canberra headquarters will be closed from today, 24 December 2024 and re-open on Friday 3 January 2025. We’ll see you then!

[NEW RELEASE] 3D model of the 2024 ‘Major crustal boundaries of Australia’ dataset! Building on our 2D GIS dataset from earlier this year, this model visualises the structural features of Australia's crustal boundaries to help understand the nation’s tectonic and geodynamic evolution through time. This evolution allows a better understanding of how the Australian continent was constructed and how these boundaries have controlled mineral deposit formation. The dataset also provides a 3D structural framework for national geophysical arrays such as AusLAMP and AusArray. Using this model, we can identify potential areas for mineral and energy resources as it highlights ancient cratonic margins and potential mantle tapping magma and fluid pathways. Download the data 👉 https://bit.ly/4fkpLEU 📸 3D model of the Major Crustal Boundaries of Australia 2024 Edition. Red lines are the traces of seismic lines utilised to build the model, with deep crustal seismic reflection lines shown. Vertical to horizontal scale is ~5:1. #ResourcingAustraliasProsperity