Papua New Guinea Geological Fault and Fold Systems from BMR and GSPNG Surveys

A discussion paper from the Australian Ocean Data Network presents geological fault and fold data for Papua New Guinea. The data was compiled from ground surveys, remote sensing, and oil exploration company work over the last 25 years, culminating in a 1:1,000,000 scale geological map. It specifically critiques and corrects a 1971 publication by Wellman regarding lineaments and fault systems in the region.

Use Cases

• Validate and correct historical geological maps based on modern survey data mentioned in the description
• Analyze the spatial distribution of major faults like the Owen Stanley and Frieda Faults referenced in the text
• Study the evidence for vertical versus strike-slip fault movements discussed in the paper
• Compare interpretations from airphoto and side-looking radar imagery analysis described in the document

Strengths

• Data is based on surveys by the Bureau of Mineral Resources and Geological Survey of Papua New Guinea over a 25-year period
• Includes analysis from airphotos at scales from 1:20,000 to 1:80,000 and side-looking airborne radar imagery
• Corrects specific inaccuracies in a 1971 publication, providing a focused critique

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• The primary data format is PDF/HTML, which may require extraction for computational analysis

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, referencing work by the Bureau of Mineral Resources and the Geological Survey of Papua New Guinea

Collection Method

Ground surveys, remote sensing (airphotos, side-looking radar), and oil exploration company mapping

Time Range

Surveys conducted over the last 25 years prior to publication, with specific critique of 1971 data

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-10 18:07:15.966002; freshness should be verified

Geography

Papua New Guinea, specifically the eastern part of the island of New Guinea