Airborne radiometric (or gamma-ray spectrometric) surveys measure gamma radiation above the ground that comes from the radioactive decay from potassium, uranium and thorium in shallow soils and rocks. Airborne radiometric surveys are usually carried out together with magnetic measurements.
There are four Statewide grid compilations at 80 metre cell size: total count, potassium, uranium and thorium data (converted to radioelement concentrations) for onshore Western Australia. They are generated from Federal and State Government datasets, acquired with a line spacing of 500 metres or less and from numerous open-file company datasets at various line spacings.
The 'Geoscience Australia radiometric map of Australia' is used to provide the base reference grids. All grids are in ER Mapper format with a cell size of approximately 80 metres (0.000833 degrees). Each grid file is approximately one gigabyte.
Pseudocolour images in JP2 format have been compiled for each grid. For the ternary radiometric image, potassium, thorium and uranium elements are displayed as red, green and blue. Refer to the relevant metadata sheet for further details.
How to access airborne radiometric data
You can download all geophysical datasets online from MAGIX or place an order to receive larger grids and images on an external drive through the online order form (fees apply).
You can search for specific geophysical surveys via a map interface through GeoVIEW.WA
For national datasets, please go to National Geophysical Archive Data Delivery System (GADDS)
We combine data from both government and non-confidential company surveys to create statewide grids and images. The compilation products are updated when new survey data becomes available.
Radiometric grids (80 m) of Western Australia
80-metre cell size radiometric grids show levels of total count, potassium, uranium, and thorium across onshore Western Australia. The grids combine data from Federal and State Government surveys (with line spacing of 500 metres or less) and data from open-file company surveys with various line spacings. Where there are gaps, the Geoscience Australia radiometric map is used as the base grid.
- Format: All grids are in ER Mapper format with cell sizes of about 80 metres (0.000833 degrees).
- Size: Each grid file is about 1 gigabyte.
- Location: The grid files are available for download from MAGIX Online.
Pseudocolour image files
For easier viewing, pseudocolour images (JP2 format) have been created. In the ternary radiometric image, the elements are color-coded:
- Potassium = Red
- Thorium = Green
- Uranium = Blue
Refer to the metadata sheet for specific details about each grid.
Recommended citation
If you use these grids, the suggested citation is: Brett, JW <year>, 80 m radiometric merged grids of Western Australia. Geological Survey of Western Australia.
Available radiometric products
- Dose Rate (Total Count) grid
- eK_% grid (potassium percentage)
- eU_ppm grid (uranium in parts per million)
- eTh_ppm grid (thorium in parts per million)
- Individual grid images
- Ternary radiometric image in JP2 format
- Ternary radiometric image in KMZ format for Google Earth
- Metadata for all grids and images
If you prefer, you can order the grids and images on an external drive through MAGIX Online (fees apply).
Western Australia 1:250 000 map sheets geophysical images
Radiometric images in JP2 format for potassium, thorium, uranium and total count have been created for each 1:250,000-scale map sheet of Western Australia. The data for these images come from the State compilation radiometric grids and have been adjusted to match the data range of each map sheet. You can check the metadata for information on when the data was collected. You can download the datasets from MAGIX data
Goldfields area, Western Australia — 20 metre grid compilations
Release Date: 12 September 2014
This dataset includes magnetic and radiometric grids covering the Goldfields area of Western Australia, specifically between 120E to 123E longitude and 29S to 33S latitude.
Grid details
- Grid Cell Size: 0.000208 degrees, which is about 20 metres.
Data sources
The compilation includes data from several GSWA regional airborne surveys with 100 metre line spacing:
- Menzies North 2013
- Menzies South 2013
- Kalgoorlie East 2013
- Kurnalpi North 2013
- Kurnalpi South 2014
- Widgiemooltha North 2013
- Widgiemooltha South 2012
It also incorporates data from various open-file company surveys with line spacings of 100 metres or less.
How to access the data
- The grids and images from these surveys are available through MAGIX
- You can also find the data via the National Geophysical Archive Data Delivery System (GADDS).
Available downloads
- TMI and Radiometric Grids in ER Mapper format
Images in JP2 and KMZ formats
