ds000003

Dataset updated to current as of August 2020.

Geological observation data (ca 185,000 sites) has been captured during the Geological Survey of Queensland (GSQ) geological mapping activities since 1986. The data compiled includes rock types, rock characteristics (e.g., colour, grain size, texture etc), structural measurements and formation name. Some pre-1986 data has been entered retrospectively from notebooks, and many of these sites include only a free text summary and structural observations. In addition, in 2017, structural measurements and fossil localities were captured from published 1:250 000 geological maps that have not been remapped by more detailed surveys.

The isotopic dates (SHRIMP U-Pb, K-Ar etc) included in this package are all the age determinations obtained by the GSQ and some of those available in the public domain (>2000 samples). The whole rock geochemistry is a compilation of all the analyses (12666) completed by the GSQ during its regional map activities and those collected in joint projects between GSQ and Geoscience Australia. These analyses have been used to classify rock types and improve the understanding of Queensland's geology. The data set has been extracted from the department's corporate relational database and decoded and concatenated where possible for ease of use.

Most tables have been populated with latitude, longitude, AMG zone and co-ordinates for ease of display in GIS (Geographic Information System) software. The data is provided relative to the GDA94 datum, but a table containing coordinates in both AGD66 and GDA94 systems has been provided to allow conversion if required. The data have not been converted to GDA2020 in this release. In addition, many tables have been populated with corresponding Rock Units and Structural Units. Although this introduces some redundancy, it reduces the amount of linking required when the data are used in the GIS software.