The Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) maps the geology of our state to produce robust interpretations of tectonic setting, crustal architecture and geological evolution that can be fed into regional exploration models.
Field-based, regional geological mapping programs are spread across the diverse geology of Western Australia.
Our approach is multidisciplinary combining:
- igneous and metamorphic petrology
- geochemistry
- geochronology and isotope studies
- structural geology
- geophysical interpretation
- basin studies
- mineralization studies
- regolith studies
Western Australia has a geological record extending from some of the oldest known rocks and minerals on the planet to the present day. Reports, maps, and GIS information on the geology, geophysics, geochemistry, geochronology and resources of Western Australia’s cratons, orogens and sedimentary basins can be viewed or downloaded free of charge from our online systems, listed on the right.
Geochemistry Online is a multi-element geochemistry database of rocks and regolith, which provides base level information for mineral exploration.
The use of radiogenic isotope geochronology to determine the absolute timing of geological events is an essential component of GSWA’s geoscience programs. GSWA geochronology information can be accessed using GeoVIEW.WA, an online interactive mapping system that allows data to be viewed and searched.
The GeMPet thesaurus provides geoscience professionals with a standardized terminology with which to index material. The need for standardized geoscience taxonomy is more important now than ever as the expansion of online information delivery through intranets and the Internet has highlighted the necessity to use controlled indexing to identify and organize information effectively. GeMPeT is designed to provide geoscience organizations with a ready-made taxonomy for this purpose.
Seismic and magnetotelluric (MT) surveys are being carried out across the West Australian, North Australian, and South Australian Cratons, and the intervening Neoproterozoic and Phanerozoic basins in Western Australia, to provide a key to the geological evolution of the Australian lithosphere over some four billion years of Earth history. They also provide an understanding of mineral system localization within the upper crust.
Recent publications regarding Geoscience in Western Australia.
Collaboration with external groups is conducted where the outcomes strongly align with GSWA's work plan, and may be either short term or extend over a number of years.
The 'HyLogger' core scanner is a rapid spectroscopic logging and imaging system that uses continuous visible and infrared spectroscopy and digital imaging to examine core without destroying it in the process.
