1976 Gravity Map of Australia Compiled from 260,000 Observations

260,000 gravity observations from approximately 300 surveys were compiled by BMR to produce the 1976 1:5,000,000 Gravity Map of Australia. The data includes reconnaissance gravity coverage of the continent and preliminary values from marine surveys of the continental shelf and margins. Computer processing for the map took about four months using a CDC Cyber 76 system, followed by three months of cartography.

Use Cases

• Modeling crustal density structures based on Bouguer and free-air anomaly maps.
• Integrating historical gravity data with modern surveys for regional geophysical analysis.
• Studying the geological evolution of the Australian continent and its margins based on systematic reconnaissance coverage.

Strengths

• Based on approximately 260,000 gravity observations from a systematic national program.
• Derived from about 300 surveys conducted between 1959 and 1976, representing a significant investment of effort and resources.
• Includes both continental and marine gravity data, providing coverage of the continental shelf and margins.

Limitations

• Data is historical, with the primary compilation completed in 1976; more recent surveys are not included.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

BMR (Bureau of Mineral Resources), predecessor to Geoscience Australia.

Collection Method

Compiled from approximately 300 individual gravity surveys conducted by various organizations.

Time Range

Surveys conducted from 1959 to 1976.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-14 04:59:13.280578; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Australia, including the continental shelf and margins.