Marine Seismic Survey Maps of Exmouth Gulf Western Australia, 1961

A 1961 reconnaissance marine reflection seismic survey was conducted in Exmouth Gulf and along the west coast of Western Australia. The two-boat operation produced magnetic tape recordings processed into variable area record sections and constructed maps of geological horizons, pre-Cretaceous structure, and water depth. The survey, conducted by West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited, identified synclinal character in Cretaceous sediments and traced major pre-Cretaceous fault trends beneath the Gulf.

Use Cases

• Model subsurface geological structure based on mapped horizons 'A' and 'B' and pre-Cretaceous structure maps.
• Analyze fault trends and anticline axes based on the survey's identification of major pre-Cretaceous faults and the Cape Range Anticline.
• Correlate onshore and offshore geology based on the survey's extension of land-mapped fault trends beneath Exmouth Gulf.
• Assess regional structural continuity based on the survey's tie between the Rough Range-Cape Range area and the Salt Marsh complex.

Strengths

• Survey employed two navigational control systems: Lorac radio for the Gulf and sextant measurements for the coast.
• Original data recorded on magnetic tapes and processed into variable area record sections.
• Maps constructed for five distinct geological and physical features, including specific horizons and water depth.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is from 1961; freshness should be verified for modern applications.

Provenance

Source

West Australian Petroleum Pty Limited, via the Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

A two-boat marine reflection seismic survey with magnetic tape recording.

Time Range

1961

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 19:40:14.433098; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Exmouth Gulf and coastal waters from Frazer Island to Bernier Island, Western Australia.