Using the Geoscience Australia-CSIRO ASTER maps and airborne geophysics to explore Australian geoscience

Abstract

This study evaluated the geological mapping potential of the recently released Australian CSIRO-GA ASTER satellite geoscience products in providing mineral abundance and compositional information. A range of environments was examined by using test sites including the temperate cultivated New South Wales area of Wagga Wagga, and the semi-arid rangeland Mt Fitton of South Australia. Data integration of the ASTER derived products was undertaken with geophysical data, digital elevation models and fractional vegetation cover information. The study demonstrated that these products can successfully assist geological mapping within semi-arid areas and, to a lesser extent, within temperate open woodland environments.

Keywords::

• Wagga Wagga
• Mt Fitton
• ASTER
• mineralogy
• geology
• DEMs
• geophysics

Acknowledgements

This study has been supported and funded by the Geological Survey of NSW, NSW Trade & Investment, in part, for the purpose of contributing to the knowledge of the Wagga Wagga 100,000 map sheet geology for mineral exploration. Geophysical and associated data for the Wagga Wagga and Mt Fitton study areas was received from the Geological Survey of NSW and the Department of Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy of SA (DMITRE), respectively. ASTER GeoTIFFs and BSQ ASTER map products were also gratefully obtained from Geoscience Australia and CSIRO-Earth Science & Resource Engineering, whilst the original ASTER imagery was made available by NASA and METI. GIS shapefiles for the Wagga Wagga and Mt Fitton areas were also gratefully obtained from Geoscience Australia. Support from Laurie Buxton of RMIT University was also helpful during this study. Peter Waring and and Malcolm Sheard of DMITRE also provided useful information on the Mt Fitton geology. Simone Meakin of the Geological Survey of NSW has been a great help with editorial and enhancement of illustrations. Matilda Thomas publishes with the permission of the Chief Executive Officer of Geoscience Australia.