A 1965 marine geophysical survey by the Bureau of Mineral Resources collected combined gravity and seismic reflection data in the Timor Sea and Joseph Bonaparte Gulf. The survey recorded good-quality seismic reflections to 1.6 seconds and operated equipment simultaneously at boat speeds of 8 to 9 miles per hour. Results indicate a large offshore sedimentary basin containing at least 10,000 feet of post-Permian sediments.
Use Cases
- Modeling the extent and structure of the offshore Bonaparte Gulf Basin based on described seismic reflection results.
- Investigating the correlation between gravity anomalies and basement structures as mentioned in the survey findings.
- Assessing the historical performance of spark discharge seismic sources and surface marine gravity meters for reconnaissance work.
- Analyzing sediment thickness and basin evolution from the described Permian and Mesozoic sequences.
Strengths
- Seismic reflection sections were described as 'much better than expected', with good-quality reflections recorded to 1.6 seconds.
- Survey successfully operated gravity and seismic equipment simultaneously, a key objective of the work.
- Results provided a concrete estimate of basin sediment thickness: 'at least 10,000 feet of post-Permian sediments'.
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 a single survey in 1965; modern acquisition techniques may provide higher resolution.
Provenance
- Source
- Bureau of Mineral Resources (historical), via Australian Ocean Data Network.
- Collection Method
- Marine survey using a combined gravity meter and seismic spark discharge source array.
- Time Range
- 1965
- Freshness
- Last updated 2026-06-05 05:51:58.334869; freshness should be verified.
- Geography
- Timor Sea and Joseph Bonaparte Gulf, northwest Australia.