Building 3D geological knowledge through regional scale gravity modelling for the Bowen Basin
Cara Danis 1 3 Craig O'Neill 2 Mark Lackie 2
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
1 Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
2 GEMOC ARC National Key Centre, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
3 Corresponding author. Email: cara.danis@mq.edu.au
Exploration Geophysics 43(1) 8-25 https://doi.org/10.1071/EG11028
Submitted: 3 June 2011 Accepted: 2 December 2011 Published: 23 January 2012
Abstract
Regional scale gravity modelling is an effective and fast way to gain geological understanding of large scale structures like the Bowen Basin. Detailed deep 3D geological knowledge has become an important component of many types of exploration and resource modelling. Current interest in the Bowen Basin for geothermal exploration highlights the need for a complete basin scale model which is compatible with thermal modelling software. The structure of the Bowen Basin is characteristic of a typical asymmetrical extensional rift basin, with up to 5 km of sediment overlying the basement. By combining gravity modelling, calibrated by boreholes and seismic reflection profiles, we produce geologically reasonable 3D surfaces and structures to create a model of the Bowen Basin. This model is the final part in the completion of the 3D Sydney–Gunnedah–Bowen Basin system geological model and provides both an important framework from which detailed thermal models can be derived and a platform from which to expand with new information.
Key words: Bowen Basin, deep 3D structure, gravity modelling, seismic reflection, 3D surfaces.
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