Great Australian Bight Deep-Seismic Crustal Transects

4087 km of deep-seismic data were proposed for acquisition in the central Great Australian Bight to study crustal structure. The survey aimed to support petroleum exploration, an Ocean Drilling Program proposal, and Australia's continental shelf claim under UNCLOS. The Australian Ocean Data Network hosts this proposal.

Use Cases

• Image key detachment surfaces and deep crustal structures using 16-second seismic records to model margin formation.
• Determine the continent-ocean boundary location by analyzing seismic transects alongside magnetic data.
• Investigate the structure of the Diamantina Zone using seismic data to assess its relationship to seafloor spreading changes.
• Support legal claims for an extended continental shelf by providing geophysical framework data for the Great Australian Bight.

Strengths

• Proposed acquisition of 4087 km of deep-seismic data.
• Data interpretation enhanced by 1976 Lamont-Doherty seismic refraction records.
• Survey designed with three specific scientific and legal objectives.

Limitations

• Dataset consists of a proposal document; actual seismic data acquisition and availability are unknown.
• Core data columns and sample data are unavailable for analysis.
• Temporal coverage and update status of any resulting data are unspecified.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Proposed acquisition via the AGSO research vessel Rig Seismic.

Time Range

null

Freshness

null

Geography

Central Great Australian Bight and continental margin south of Western Australia.