Unearthing Australia’s subsurface secrets - An integrated FAIR modelling approach

Output Type: Exploring for the Future Extended Abstract

Short Abstract: To enable a sustainable and responsible use of the Earth's subsurface environment and accelerate Australia’s energy transition to net zero, industry and government rely on a quantified knowledge of Australia’s geology and structure to inform their decision-making. Despite the wealth of subsurface data available across the continent, including stratigraphic boreholes, geological and geophysical data, their uneven distribution, variable quality and diverse data formats prevent the development of consistent national subsurface models of Australia’s geology. A national coordination of data compilation with common standards, along with development of open-source modelling tools in line with the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) principles are required to address this challenge. Here we present an open-source modelling methodology which provides a national seamless chronostratigraphic framework to assess the depth and spatial extent of geological and geophysical horizons to inform decisions on resource exploration and development. Using this approach, regional subsurface models across ~26% of Australia were generated, characterising depth and thickness of key stratigraphic sequences, i.e. Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic and Neoproterozoic. Combined with the layered geology map of Australia, this work supports the basis for an integrated geological framework that facilitates data-driven decision making for decarbonation strategies, land-use management, exploration strategies and water management. 

Citation: Bonnardot, M.A., Grose, L., Wilford, J., Du, P., Hope, J., Wong, S.C.T., Vizy, J. & Rollet, N., (in prep). Unearthing Australia’s subsurface secrets - An integrated FAIR modelling approach. In: Czarnota, K. (ed.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, https://doi.org/10.26186/149719