Northwest Australian Shelf Sediment Distribution and Geology

Two 3-month marine geology cruises in 1967 and 1968 surveyed a 1200 km region from Barrow Island to beyond Scott Reef. The Bureau of Mineral Resources reconnaissance mapped shelf and upper slope sediments using seismic profiles, echograms, and hydrographic soundings. Results compiled in this bulletin do not include data obtained after 1971.

Use Cases

• Map sediment distribution across the continental shelf and upper slope using sediment notations and survey data.
• Analyze shallow seismic reflection profiles and echograms to elucidate the late Cainozoic geological history of the margin.
• Assess regional potential for phosphate deposits using data on ocean water chemistry, circulation patterns, and recovered sediment samples.
• Study the offshore structural framework and Phanerozoic sedimentation based on subsidized petroleum exploration work.

Strengths

• Covers a 1200 km survey region from Barrow Island to beyond Scott Reef.
• Integrates data from multiple sources: BMR cruises, seismic profiles, hydrographic soundings, and petroleum exploration work.

Limitations

• Data is temporally stale, with the main description not including results obtained after 1971.
• Sample data and specific column details are unavailable, limiting quantitative analysis.
• Primary data formats are PDF and HTML reports, not structured machine-readable data files.

Provenance

Source

Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR), Australian Ocean Data Network.

Collection Method

Geological reconnaissance from two 3-month marine cruises, supplemented by shallow seismic profiles, echograms, hydrographic soundings, and petroleum exploration data.

Time Range

Survey cruises in late 1967 and late 1968; compiled results predate 1972.

Freshness

null

Geography

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