A new set of measured sections and sequence stratigraphic interpretations covering the Surprise Creek Formation, Gunpowder Creek Formation, Torpedo Creek and Warrina Park Quartzites became available on the 5th December 2002. The data in Geoscience Australia Record 2002/3 was collected and compiled by M. Jim Jackson, Peter N Southgate, Paul R Blake, Jan Domagala, Megan E Lech, Andrew Retter, Kurt Barnett and Narelle L Neumann.
This data record provides the mineral exploration industry, university and government geoscientists with thirty four single sections. These sections are subsequently combined to form twenty six composite outcrop and drill core stratigraphic sections through the Surprise Creek Formation, Warrina Park and Torpedo Creek Quartzites, lower Gunpowder Creek Formation and Moondarra Siltstone of the Calvert and Isa Superbasins. Close to twenty three thousand meters of stratigraphic/sedimentological description and interpretation are provided. Most sections contain grain size, lithology, bed thickness, sedimentary structure and gamma ray data from which facies and sequence stratigraphic surfaces are interpreted. The Oxide South Section (Figure 1) shows typical stratigraphic and sedimentological data available on the CD. Gamma ray data is not available for drill holes Templeton 1 and UD784. The section at Fiery Creek is generalised from the earlier work of researchers at Monash University and does not contain the detailed sedimentological information found in the rest of the logs. Eight sections contain revised interpretations from the earlier NABRE work.
Despite the absence of invertebrate fossils the sequence interpretations, in combination with SHRIMP zircon ages, permit the erection of a well-constrained chronostratigraphic framework for these Paleoproterozoic rocks. Previous lithostratigraphic subdivisions were diachronous and emphasised local stratigraphic successions rather than basin-wide correlations. The data contained in this Geoscience Australia record and the earlier companion data releases of AGSO Records 1999/10, 1999/15 1999/19 chronostratigraphic sequence subdivisions from which original basin shape and sediment architecture can be derived.
Lithostratigraphic miscorrelations associated with quartzite sandbodies of the Warrina Park and Torpedo Creek Quartzites, unit Prc of the Surprise Creek Formation and the lower parts of the Gunpowder Creek Formation and Moondarra Siltstone are resolved. Detailed descriptions and discussions of facies, SHRIMP Zircon ages, lithostratigraphic miscorrelations and rationale for sequence stratigraphic interpretations are provided in Jackson et al., (in prep).
Satellite image of
the bushfires in Canberra
© Geoscience Australia.
Smoke billowing from the fires that ravaged through Namadgi National Park and into the south-western suburbs of Canberra on 18 January 2003 can be clearly seen in this MODIS satellite image. The smoke appears as a pale green veil, extending south-east from the lower-central part of the image.
Geoscience Australia acquired this image at approximately 11:00 am (AEST) on 19 January 2003. The geographical extent is from central-western NSW in the top left corner to Bass Strait in the lower right corner. Port Phillip Bay can be seen in the lower left of the image.
The Barmah Forest, a very significant area of remnant natural vegetation can be seen in the centre of the left side of the image.
South of the ACT fires, extensive plumes of smoke generated from major bushfires in the Alpine country of north-eastern Victoria and Southern NSW can also be seen sweeping across the east coast.
MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) is the key instrument aboard the satellites Terra (EOS AM-1), and Aqua (EOS PM-1) and views almost the entire surface of the Earth every day. MODIS imagery such as this plays a vital role in the development of validated, global, interactive Earth system models able to predict global change.
The AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) sensors collect global data on a daily basis for a variety of land, ocean, and atmospheric applications. Specific applications include forest fire detection, vegetation analysis, weather analysis and forecasting, climate research and prediction, global sea surface temperature measurements, ocean dynamics research and search and rescue.
The correct height of Mount Shinn, the third highest mountain in Antarctica, has recently been accurately measured with some help from Geoscience Australia.
Damien Gildea
on his way down
Mt Shinn
© Geoscience Australia
Australian mountaineer and author, Damien Gildea, and his Chilean climbing partner reached the summit of Mt Shinn just after midnight on 1 December 2002. He used a satellite phone to send data from his Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and lap top computer to Geoscience Australia's online GPS processing system, AUSPOS. After descending to his base camp, Damien received an email from AUSPOS with the correct height of Mount Shinn which is 4660.5 metres above sea level.
"The climb was harder and steeper than I had imagined - mostly 50 degrees angle, with some sections 60+ - with some danger at the top from unstable ice, and the downclimb from the summit was one of the scariest things I have done," said Damien.
The GPS, wrapped in
Damien's jumper
on the summit.
© Geoscience Australia.
Mt Shinn is located in the Sentinel Ranges, adjacent to Antarctica's tallest peak Vinson Massif, in the Ellsworth Mountains. The height of Mount Shinn had not been measured since the 1960s when it was estimated to be 140 metres higher. The new height means Mt Shinn is only slightly higher than nearby Mt Craddock at 4650 metres.
Damien is no stranger to Mt Shinn having been a member of an expedition to measure its height last year. Although the climbers managed to traverse to within 100 metres of the summit they were forced to descend because of severe storms and dangerous ice conditions.
AUSPOS is a free online GPS processing service which automatically computes accurate co-ordinates to international standards from GPS data files submitted over the Internet.