Automated estimation of uncertainties in a 3D geological model of the Sandstone Greenstone Belt, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia

Abstract

Geological models that represent the structure of the subsurface, are becoming a regular product of geological surveys. It is widely accepted that the sparse data at depth and the ambiguity of structural interpretations of geophysical data lead to inherent model uncertainties . The analysis and visualisation of model uncertainties is therefore the scope of current research. We here apply a recently developed method to estimate uncertainties to a 3D model of the Sandstone Greenstone Belt in the Archean Yilgarn Craton in Western Australia. On the basis of errors in geological parameters, a suite of probable models is generated and analysed. Our results show that visualisations of unit probability and information entropy provide suitable methods analyse uncertainties in this geological model.