1976 1:5,000,000 Gravity Map of Australia from 260,000 Observations

Approximately 260,000 gravity observations from 300 surveys were compiled to produce a colored 1:5,000,000 gravity map of Australia. The Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR) published the map in 1976 after completing systematic reconnaissance gravity coverage initiated in 1959. Computer processing for the map took about four months, with an additional three months for cartography.

Use Cases

• Modeling subsurface geological structures based on gravity anomaly data.
• Analyzing continental shelf and margin geology based on marine gravity coverage.
• Conducting geophysical reconnaissance for mineral exploration using the compiled gravity observations.
• Studying long-term geodetic and geophysical changes by comparing this historical baseline with modern data.

Strengths

• Based on approximately 260,000 gravity observations, providing a substantial data foundation.
• Derived from 300 individual surveys, suggesting a compilation from multiple sources.
• Includes preliminary gravity values from marine coverage of the continental shelf and margins.

Limitations

• Data is from 1976 or earlier; freshness should be verified for contemporary applications.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR), published via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Compiled from approximately 260,000 gravity observations obtained from 300 surveys.

Time Range

Surveys conducted from at least 1959 to 1976.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-05 07:43:19.746469; freshness should be verified

Geography

Australia, including the continental shelf and margins.