A new gravity testing site has been launched in the Western Australian town of Bunbury to help identify underground resources.
The site was launched under the government’s AU$3.4 billion Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity initiative. The “highly sensitive” measurement will be used as a benchmark for further gravity tests in Western Australia and across the nation.
“Accurate gravity data helps us better understand the world under our feet, including potential sites for groundwater and minerals, including critical minerals,” according to Resources and Northern Australia Minister Madeleine King.
“Detailed gravity information will enable geological mapping and mineral exploration. It also allows scientists to measure Australia’s land movement, powering the GPS and navigation systems Australians rely on every day.”
Gravity measurements are different across the country, appearing stronger over dense rocks like granite and weaker over less dense rocks like sandstone. The information gathered from gravity data can help identify minerals or groundwater and help in mineral exploration.
Geoscience scientists from Geoscience Australia used an A10 absolute gravimeter to measure the Earth’s gravity at the Bunbury location.
The new gravity measurements will be part of the Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity Initiative, a long-term program to comprehensively map Australia for minerals, alternative energy sources and groundwater using satellite and gravity data.
The results will be added to existing national gravity data and will be made available online for free.
The existing gravity database contains more than 1.8 million gravity observations conducted across Australia since 1938.
