Marine Geology Survey of the Northwest Australian Continental Shelf, 1967-1968

A 1967-1968 geological reconnaissance of the northwest Australian continental shelf by the Bureau of Mineral Resources, covering 1200 km from Barrow Island to beyond Scott Reef. The bulletin compiles results from two cruises, shallow seismic profiles, echograms, hydrographic soundings, and sea-bed sediment notations. Its objectives were to map sediment distribution and elucidate the late Cainozoic geological history of the continental margin.

Use Cases

• Mapping sea-bed sediment distribution based on notations from Admiralty charts and survey data.
• Analyzing the late Cainozoic geological history of the continental margin based on surface morphology and shallow structures.
• Studying the offshore structural framework and Phanerozoic sedimentation based on petroleum exploration work.
• Investigating potential for phosphate deposits based on ocean water chemistry and circulation patterns mentioned.

Strengths

• Compiles data from multiple authoritative sources including Bureau of Mineral Resources cruises, Ray Geophysical surveys, and RAN Hydrographic Office soundings.
• Covers a significant geographic area spanning 1200 km of the continental shelf.
• Integrates geological, geophysical, and hydrographic data types for a multi-faceted analysis.

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The structural framework description does not include results obtained after 1971, limiting temporal coverage.

Provenance

Source

Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR), with contributions from Ray Geophysical Division, RAN Hydrographic Office, and BOC of Australia Ltd.

Collection Method

Geological reconnaissance during two 3-month cruises, supplemented by shallow seismic reflection profiles, echograms, hydrographic soundings, and chart notations.

Time Range

Survey conducted in late 1967 and late 1968; compilation uses data up to 1971.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-23 04:32:48.292881; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Northwest Australian continental shelf, from Barrow Island to beyond Scott Reef (Rowley Shelf and southern Sahul Shelf).