Index of Gravity Surveys - Geoscience Australia

SUMMARYThis catalogue provides details of the specifications of gravity surveys held in the AustralianNational Gravity Database (ANGD). These surveys have been conducted by or for theCommonwealth, State and Territory governments, private industry, educational institutionsand other research organisations. There are more than 2 100 gravity surveys in the databasewhich together contain more than 1 260 000 stations. The open file data are available to thepublic either through Geoscience Australia (GA), or through the relevant State and territoryGeological Surveys.Prior to 1990 most of the surveys had a spacing of 10 km or more and many were conductedas part of the Bureau of Mineral Resources’ (BMR – the forerunner of the AustralianGeological Survey Organisation (AGSO)) first pass reconnaissance gravity survey ofAustralia. From 1990 surveys have usually been conducted employing spacings of 4 km orless.The gravity station spacing varies from approximately 11 km over much of northern andwestern Australia to 1.5 km in Victoria. Patches of denser coverage indicate the detailed andsemi-detailed surveys carried out in areas of greater prospectivity or scientific interest. Thedensity and distribution of gravity stations in Australia is shown in Figure 1, the GravityStation Coverage Map and Figure 2, the Gravity Station Location Map.The surveys have been undertaken under a number of auspices. AGSO/BMR (the forerunnerof GA) conducted its own surveys between 1946 and 1998. Surveys have also beenconducted by geophysical contractors operating under contract to Geoscience Australiaand State and Territory Geological Surveys, either separately or in joint projects. A numberof other surveys, carried out for the private sector, have been purchased or acquired by GA,some under the Petroleum Search Subsidy Act (PSSA). A few of the surveys were conductedunder the Petroleum Submerged Lands Act (P(SL)A).The specifications of all surveys in the ANGD are held in an Index of Gravity Surveys. Thebasic metadata for each survey contained in the Index is published here as the first in a seriesof Geoscience Australia Records. These will contain regularly updated information as thespecifications of new surveys are added to the ANGD.27 January 2006 © Copyright Geoscience Australia 2006 iv