- WA Array geological data now freely available to users
- Data will provide critical information on the geology of greenfield regions
- Project is one of the largest of its kind in the world
A new dataset released by the WA Array project today will help the State Government gain valuable insights into Western Australia’s complex geology.
The WA Array 1 – Southwest Western Australia report will help evaluate future competing land uses, reduce seismic hazards, and maximise WA’s opportunities in the transition to net-zero emissions.
Deploying a network of seismometers, the WA Array is a ten-year project that maps the composition and structure of the State’s crust and lithosphere.
The Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA), a division of Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, has successfully completed the first phase of data collection from the southwest of the State, with the final dataset now being freely available to users.
Funded by a $30 million investment from the State Government, the initiative is one of the largest of its kind globally
Phase 2 is currently underway, expanding data collection to the Geraldton and Eastern Goldfields regions. The insights gained will add further depth and scope to the overall program.
GSWA will split Phase 3 of the data collection across the Central East and Shark Bay regions once it completes the earlier phases. As one of the most remote and logistically challenging areas of the project, Phase 3 will require helicopter access to seismic sites.
DEMIRS Acting Director General Jai Thomas said the key challenge facing mineral exploration in WA is the extensive sedimentary basins and weathered rock that obscure around 70 per cent of the State’s prospective basement rocks.
“The program will also improve earthquake mapping by offering insights into seismic activity and supporting the development of a regional stress map,” Mr Thomas said.
“This information can inform building codes, strengthen infrastructure, and help emergency services identify high-hazard areas.”
All data undergoes rigorous quality assessment and seismological review before being made freely accessible via the national AusPass Portal.
Derivative spatial and 3D products will be available through DEMIRS’ online geoscience platforms.
More information on the WA Array and data is available at WA Array
WA Array Phase 1 - Southwest Western Australia
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Media Contact: media@demirs.wa.gov.au, 9222 6102 (media enquiries only)
