Geophysics
Geophysicists at Geoscience Australia work in several different disciplines.
Airborne Electromagnetic data are gathered by transmitting an electromagnetic signal from a system attached to a plane or helicopter.
Geoscience Australia maintains the Australian National Gravity Database which contains data from gravity surveys, and the Australian Fundamental Gravity Network which is a network of gravity base stations.
The magnetic method measures variations in the intensity of the Earth's magnetic field caused by the contrasting content of rock-forming magnetic minerals in the Earth's crust.
Magnetotellurics (MT) is a passive geophysical method which uses natural time variations of the Earth's magnetic and electric fields to measure the electrical resistivity of the sub-surface.
All rocks and soils contain radioactive isotopes, and almost all the gamma-rays detected near the Earth's surface are the result of the natural radioactive decay of potassium, uranium and thorium.
Rock properties provide the vital link between observed geophysical data and interpreted geology. Geoscience Australia has periodically made measurements of rock properties to support various investigations into the composition and structure of the subsurface.
The seismic survey technique is the principal geophysical method used in Australia to acquire images of the Earth's crust at depth which provides data on its structure and its resources.
Topic contact: minerals@ga.gov.au Last updated: June 25, 2012
