A continental-scale geochemical atlas for resource exploration and environmental management: the National Geochemical Survey of Australia

摘要: The National Geochemical Survey of Australia (NGSA) was carried out to bridge a vast knowledge gap about the concentration and distribution chemical elements at Earth’s surface in consequent poor understanding processes controlling their here. aim project contribute improving exploration for energy mineral resources through pre-competitive delivery new spatial layer compositional data information. Surface (0–10 cm depth) shallow ( c . 60–80 cm) samples catchment outlet sediments were collected from 1315 sites located near 1186 catchments 10% which sampled duplicate) across Australia. total area covered by survey 6.174 million km 2 , or 81% Australia, an average sampling density 1 site per 5200 km A number field parameters (e.g. soil colour, pH), bulk electrical conductivity, particle size distribution) geochemical (i.e. multi-element composition dry sieved These collated into spreadsheet graphically represented as series 529 maps (http://www.ga.gov.au/ngsa). constitute first continental-scale based on internally consistent, state-of-the-art pertaining same medium collected, prepared analysed uniform thoroughly documented manner over short time period. They are being used better understand accumulation, mobility significance near-surface environment. Applications date ongoing future directions discussed. Supplementary material: Appendices 1-4 summary statistics available http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18853