L029 Heywood Experimental Seismic Survey, Western District Basin, 1956

An experimental seismograph survey was conducted near Heywood in south-western Victoria during November and December 1956 by the Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics. The work was requested by Frome-Broken Hill Pty. Ltd. to test if reflections from deeper sediments could be recorded through a surface layer of basalt. Several short traverses were shot to test various surface conditions and seismic techniques, including pattern, air-shooting, and conventional single shot-hole methods.

Use Cases

• Compare seismic reflection quality from different shooting techniques (pattern, air-shooting, single shot-hole) as described.
• Analyze the impact of surface geology (basalt cover, tuff with basalt bands) on seismic data acquisition.
• Correlate recorded seismic reflections with stratigraphic horizons as attempted in the survey.
• Study subsurface information obtainable by seismic exploration in the Heywood area as discussed.

Strengths

• Survey conducted by a national geological authority, the Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics.
• Description details specific experimental conditions, including multiple seismic techniques and surface geology tested.
• Reflections were recorded from depths down to eleven thousand feet in non-basalt areas.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic and temporal bias inherent to a single 1956 survey in Victoria.

Provenance

Source

Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics (now part of Geoscience Australia).

Collection Method

Experimental seismic survey using pattern, air-shooting, and single shot-hole techniques.

Time Range

November-December 1956.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-30 13:13:11.304172; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Heywood area, Western District Basin, south-western Victoria, Australia.