The Australian Government has launched the first new gravity testing site under its $3.4 billion Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity initiative, which will use gravity readings “to help identify the resources beneath our feet”.
Scientists from Geoscience Australia recently tested the gravity readings for the Western Australian town of Bunbury in the state’s South West, with the highly sensitive measurement to be a benchmark for further gravity tests in the region and across the nation.
The scientists used an instrument called an A10 absolute gravimeter to measure Earth’s gravity at the new Bunbury location. The results will be added to existing national gravity data and will be made freely available online.
Gravity measurements differ across Australia, appearing stronger over dense rocks like granite and weaker over less dense rocks like sandstone. The information can help identify minerals or groundwater and provide data to help mineral exploration.
The new gravity measurements will be part of the Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity Initiative, which is a long-term program to comprehensively map Australia for minerals, alternative energy sources and groundwater using satellite and gravity data.
Australia’s existing National Gravity Database contains more than 1.8 million gravity observations conducted across Australia since 1938.
Resources Minister Madeleine King says accurate gravity data helps better understand potential sites for groundwater and minerals, including critical minerals.“Detailed gravity information will enable geological mapping and mineral exploration. It also allows scientists to measure Australia’s land movement, powering the GPS and navigation systems Australians rely on every day,” King says.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Geoscience Australia
