- WA
Array seismic data will help uncover the State's next big mineral discovery
- Data is
from one of the world's largest and highest resolution seismic surveys
- Project
reinforces Cook Government's commitment to unearthing mines of tomorrow
The first release of seismic data being
collected through the ongoing WA Array project is now available for use in the
Cook Government's multimillion-dollar plan to gain a better understanding of
the State's complex geology.
With a $30 million investment over ten years, the WA Array data will
help exploration companies target areas of high prospectivity, evaluate future
competing land uses, mitigate seismic hazards and maximise Western Australia's
opportunities in the transition to net-zero emissions.
The Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) project, which started
in 2022, deploys 165 seismometers arranged in a grid pattern and spaced at 40-kilometre
intervals. The entire State is being mapped by relocating the instruments
annually between nine regional areas.
Waveform data from Phase 1 in the South West of WA is now
available on the national Australian Passive Seismic Server (AusPass).
While the WA Array builds on similar surveys across the rest of
Australia, the project has higher density data collection that leads to more
detailed images and models.
More information on the WA Array and data is available at https://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/Geological-Survey/WA-Array-30572.aspx
The GSWA will present the first detailed previews of the processed
results and models from Phase 1 at its Open Day in Perth on 15 November 2024.
Comments attributed to Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael:
"As one of the world's largest and highest resolution passive seismic
surveys, the WA Array will digitally transform and supercharge the State's
resources sector.
"The freely available geoscientific data reinforces the Cook
Government's commitment to developing future mines, attracting downstream
processing and supporting even more local jobs for Western Australians.
"WA competes with many other jurisdictions to attract investment, so its
important to keep ahead of the pack with world-leading data projects of this
kind."
