NSW Seamless Geology Version 2.4
The NSW Seamless Geology Project was originally a five-year initiative of the Geological Survey of New South Wales which commenced in late 2013 and aimed to provide a statewide compilation of the best available digital geological mapping data in an internally consistent format. The overarching aims of the NSW Seamless Geology Project were to: (i) compile the different original scales, formats and rock unit naming conventions into a consistent, statewide format; (ii) edge-match the geology across existing map sheets; and (iii) interpret the basement geology under cover. The resulting geodatabase comprises a series of layers which include: (i) solid basement geology; (ii) cover rocks (defined as undeformed and unmetamorphosed); (iii) Mesozoic igneous rocks; and (iv) Cenozoic sedimentary and igneous rocks.
Due to the size of the project, the work was divided into UTM zones, starting in the east with Zone 56, then moving west to Zone 54, and finishing with Zone 55. The western half of Zone 55 was completed in 2018, after which the results were merged with the previously completed Zones to produce version 1 of the NSW Seamless Geology dataset. Completion of this stage saw the end of phase 1 of the Seamless Geology Project, but it is intended that the Seamless Geology dataset will be continually updated and refined as new digital geological mapping data becomes available.
Updates to the Seamless Geology dataset generally occur on an annual basis. Version 2.4 is the 6th major update to the NSW Seamless Geology and was released in May 2024. This release includes: a major upgrade to the geological mapping of the Sydney Basin; significant upgrades to the mapping of numerous areas in the Permian-Mesozoic Igneous Province and the Lachlan Orogen (particularly the Cadia Valley, Lake Cowal and Quarry Creek areas); and attribute updates, data additions, and minor error fixes to all layers.
NOTE: A substantial amount of overlay, erase and intersect geoprocessing of the original multi-layered Seamless Geology was undertaken to produce the single layer surface NSW Seamless Geology dataset. Due to small tolerance differences between different layers in the Seamless Geology dataset, this has, in some places, created small “sliver” polygons between boundaries common to more than one layer of the original multi-layered NSW Seamless Geology. This is a known issue with the current single layer Seamless Geology dataset and while some attempt has been made to resolve these issues, a number of small “sliver” polygons remain. Users are cautioned to be aware of this problem when using this dataset at high zoom levels (ie. under 1:1,000 scale) and to refer to the full Seamless Geology dataset for clarification.
Simple
- Date (Creation)
- 2024-06-13
- Date (Publication)
- 2024-06-13
- Edition
-
2.3
- Edition date
- 2023-05-10T00:00:00
Dr Gary Colquhoun
516 High Street
,Maitland
,New South Wales
,2320
,+61 2 4931 6700
https://www.resourcesandgeoscience.nsw.gov.au/
- Presentation form
- Digital map
- Other citation details
-
COLQUHOUN G.P., HUGHES K.S., DEYSSING L., BALLARD J.C., FOLKES C.B, PHILLIPS G., TROEDSON A.L. & FITZHERBERT J.A. 2023. New South Wales Seamless Geology dataset, version 2.3 [Digital Dataset]. Geological Survey of New South Wales, Department of Regional NSW, Maitland.
- Purpose
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This data is part of the New South Wales Seamless Geology database, version 2.3, which is a statewide compilation of the best available digital geological mapping data in an internally consistent GIS format.
- Credit
-
Dataset Authors:
Colquhoun, G.P.
Hughes, K.S.
Deyssing, L.
Ballard, J.C.
Phillips G.
Troedson, A.L.
Folkes C.B.
Fitzherbert J.A.
- Status
- On going
Geological Survey of NSW
-Dr Gary Colquhoun
(Senior Geoscientist / GIS Analyst - Geospatial Group
)516 High Street
,Maitland
,New South Wales
,2320
,+61 2 4931 6700
https://www.resourcesandgeoscience.nsw.gov.au/
- Maintenance and update frequency
- Irregular
- Update scope
- Dataset
- Maintenance note
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Scheduled updates to this dataset are planned as new data becomes available.
- Theme
-
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GEOSCIENCES-Geology
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- Keywords
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Downloadable Data
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- Access constraints
- License
- Use constraints
- Copyright
- Other constraints
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Disclaimer
While the material has been created with all due care, the Department of Regional NSW does not warrant or represent that the material is free from errors or omission, or that it is exhaustive.
Because the material is designed to promote the free exchange of information only, the Department cannot and does not make any claim as to the accuracy, authenticity, currency, completeness, reliability or suitability of any material, especially material supplied by third parties or linked to third party sites.
The material is provided on the basis that you are responsible for assessing the relevance of its content.
The Department will not accept liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense that you may incur as a result of the use of or reliance upon the material on this product or any linked sites.
Please also note the material may change without notice and you should use the current material from the Mining, Exploration and Geoscience website ( https://meg.resourcesregulator.nsw.gov.au/) and not rely on material previously printed or stored by you.
Copyright Statement
© State of New South Wales and Department of Regional NSW 2024 (unless otherwise indicated). This product contains information, data, documents, pages and images (“the material”) prepared by the NSW Government Department of Regional NSW (the Department).
The New South Wales Government, operating through the Department, supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of publicly funded information and endorses the use of the Australian Governments Open Access and Licensing Framework (AusGOAL).
Subject to the exceptions listed below, the material available on this product is owned by the Department and is protected by Crown Copyright. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The legal code for the licence is available at Creative Commons - see http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
Please give attribution in this form:
© State of New South Wales and Department of Regional NSW 2024
We also request that you observe and retain any copyright or related notices that may accompany this material as part of the attribution.
The Creative Commons licence does not apply to:
• the Government Coat of Arms, New South Wales Government logo, Department logo, or any other government-owned trademarks, logos and brands
• trade marks
• intellectual property (including copyright) owned by third parties including photographs, illustrations, artwork and maps
• personal information
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- Spatial representation type
- Vector
- Denominator
- 100000
- Metadata language
- English
- Character set
- UTF8
- Topic category
-
- Geoscientific information
- Environment description
-
Version 6.2 (Build 9200) ; Esri ArcGIS 10.4.0.5524
- Description
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The dataset covers the land areas of New South Wales, Australia (including Lord Howe Island). A 10 km buffer into Queensland and Victoria is also included.
- Extent type code
- No
- Reference system identifier
-
EPSG
/4283
/8.3.4(3.0.1)
- Topology level
- Geometry only
- Geometric object type
- Composite
- Geometric object count
- 485
- Distribution format
-
-
ArcGIS
(10.4
) -
MapInfo
(11.0
) -
QGIS
(3.28
)
-
Geological Survey of NSW
-Dr Gary Colquhoun
(Senior Geoscientist / GIS Analyst - Geospatial Group
)516 High Street
,Maitland
,New South Wales
,2320
,+61 2 4931 6700
https://www.resourcesandgeoscience.nsw.gov.au/
- OnLine resource
-
Project Homepage
(
WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link
)The Geological Survey of NSW Project page for the NSW Seamless Geology.
- OnLine resource
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Download page: NSW Seamless Geology Data Package
(
WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link
)This product represents a seamless GIS compilation of the best available vector geology data for New South Wales. The data has been organised into a series of layers, or time slices, representing the major lithotectonic units of NSW. All layers have a consistent data structure and attribute schema from the GSNSW’s Statewide Geology Geodatabase (version 2). Base data (roads, railways, rivers, localities), outcrop location, and soil data are also provided.
- OnLine resource
-
MinView
(
WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link
)
- OnLine resource
-
Download page: NSW Seamless Geology Data Package Single Layer
(
WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link
)This a single layer version of the Seamless Geology, where the various time slices have been flattened into a single layer, effectively giving the surface geology only. Base data (roads, railways, rivers, localities), outcrop location, and soil data are also provided.
- Hierarchy level
- Dataset
Absolute external positional accuracy
- Name of measure
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GSNSW testing and editing
Conformance result
- Explanation
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Geological data has mainly been sourced from existing 1:100 000 scale and 1:250 000 scale published geological maps. The accuracy of polygon boundaries is dependent on the original scale of mapping, and the date of mapping. More recent (GPS-era) 1:100 000 geology should be accurate to within 100m, whereas older 1:100 000 scale mapping should be accurate to within 500m. Geology compiled at 1:250 000 scale should be accurate to within 1000m. It should be noted that due to the absence of accurate base maps in this part of NSW at the time of compilation of these early 1:250,000 maps, many of the 1:250,000 geological from the 1960's to early 1970's were compiled on inaccurate base maps. As a result, errors of up to 1.2 km in location can occur. Attempts were made to correct this problem on many 1st edition 1:250,000 sheets (see lineage statement). All features were rubbersheeted to a re-georeferenced map (based on SPOT 5 satellite imagery) during December 2014 to March 2015 using thousands of control points. However, some inaccuracy of features may remain in this older 1:250,000 map in Zone 55 East and Zone 54.
- Pass
- Yes
gmd:DQ_NonQuantitativeAttributeCorrectness
- Name of measure
-
GSNSW testing and editing
Conformance result
- Explanation
-
Attribute data is the best available at the time of publication. All geological lines and points have a comprehensive set of attributes detailing the feature's origin, characteristics and accuracy. All geological units (polygons) are fully attributed with geological unit name, hierarchy, age, and lithological composition. Polygon attributes are based a table of NSW stratigraphic units (GSL_stratigraphy) which is administered and updated by the GSNSW.
- Pass
- Yes
Topological consistency
- Name of measure
-
GSNSW testing and editing
Conformance result
- Explanation
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This dataset was compiled as an ESRI Geodatabase using ESRI's polygon and line topology verification, ensuring all geological unit (polygon) boundaries are overlain by corresponding geological contacts (lines). The data structure conforms to the Geoscience Australia standard for a digital geological map database. Systematic checks have been made of both unit and line topology throughout the entire data set. Topological checks have also been undertaken to ensure consistency between layers (ie. that boundaries present in two or more layers are coincident). NB. A substantial amount of overlay, erase and intersect geoprocessing of the original multi-layered Seamless Geology was undertaken to produce the single layer Seamless Geology dataset. Due to small tolerance differences between different layers in the Seamless Geology dataset, this has, in some places, created small “sliver” polygons between boundaries common to more than one layer of the original multi-layered Seamless Geology. This is a known issue with the current single layer Seamless Geology dataset and while some attempt has been made to resolve these issues, a number of small “sliver” polygons remain. Users are cautioned to be aware of this problem when using this dataset at high zoom levels (ie. under 1:1,000 scale) and to refer to the full Seamless Geology dataset for clarification.
- Pass
- Yes
Completeness omission
- Name of measure
-
GSNSW testing and editing
Conformance result
- Explanation
-
Geological data has mainly been sourced from existing 1:100 000 scale and 1:250 000 scale published geological maps. The accuracy of polygon boundaries is dependent on the original scale of mapping, and the date of mapping. More recent (GPS-era) 1:100 000 geology should be accurate to within 100m, whereas older 1:100 000 scale mapping should be accurate to within 500m. Geology compiled at 1:250 000 scale should be accurate to within 1000m. It should be noted that due to the absence of accurate base maps in this part of NSW at the time of compilation of these early 1:250,000 maps, many of the 1:250,000 geological from the 1960's to early 1970's were compiled on inaccurate base maps. As a result, errors of up to 1.2 km in location can occur. Attempts were made to correct this problem on many 1st edition 1:250,000 sheets (see lineage statement). All features were rubbersheeted to a re-georeferenced map (based on SPOT 5 satellite imagery) during December 2014 to March 2015 using thousands of control points. However, some inaccuracy of features may remain in this older 1:250,000 map in Zone 55 East and Zone 54.
- Pass
- Yes
- Statement
-
The NSW Seamless Geology Project team has compiled the best available geological data for the state into an internally consistent geodatabase. As part of the compilation process, contributing datasets were organised into a series of layers, or time slices, that represent the major lithotectonic subdivisions of the state’s geology. The data was then stitched/smoothed along existing map and dataset boundaries to create a seamless dynamic model of the geology of NSW. Important datasets and projects that contributed to the NSW Statewide Seamless Geology dataset are detailed below.
The Seamless Geology Project commenced in 2013 when merges of the best available datasets began to be assembled in the Statewide Geology Geodatabase (v.2) format. The source datasets for these merges are shown in the feature class “Seamless_V1_Source_Datasets” in this geodatabase. This merged dataset was divided into stratotectonic layers which were then edited by a small team of geologists, resolving edge-match issues and nomenclature problems between the geology of adjacent map sheets, and interpreting various layers under the cover of overlying layers. This produced a series of seamless geology layers which showed, for the first time, the actual distribution of rock units and structures, both in outcrop and under cover. These datasets were released progressively across the state as this work was completed, with three packages having been previously released; a Zone 56 dataset (Colquhoun, Phillips, Hughes, Deyssing, Fitzherbert & Troedson 2015), a Zone 54 dataset (Colquhoun, Phillips, Ballard, Hughes & Deyssing 2016) and a Zone 55 East dataset (Colquhoun, Deyssing, Ballard, Hughes & Troedson 2017). Zone 55 West was completed in mid-2018 but was not released as a separate dataset. Instead, the Zone 55 West data was merged with the previously released Seamless Geology datasets from the various zones and merged and harmonised to produce the first statewide Seamless Geology of NSW (version 1) in October 2018.
Updates to the Seamless Geology dataset have occurred every year since its release in 2018. These changes are detailed in a GS Report which can be downloaded at https://digs.geoscience.nsw.gov.au/report/R00055828. Changes to the current version (v. 2.4) are detailed below:
What's new in Version 2.4 (May 2024)?
• Leucitite volcanic suites, western NSW – updated the “Dominant Lithology” attribute of all Cenozoic age leucitite volcanic rocks of western New South Wales from "Igneous Rock, other" to the more accurate “Foid-bearing extrusive rock”.
• Davis Creek Syncline, New England Orogen – the Davis Creek Syncline (centred at 151.124854° -32.141107° – GDA94) was misaligned in previous versions of the Seamless Geology, plotting ~200 m south of its correct location. This has been fixed in version 2.4.
• Duplicate fold axes, Werrie Basin area, New England Orogen – deleted several duplicate fold axes around 150.796725° -31.700391° – GDA94. Named the large fold in this area the ‘Chilcotts Creek Anticline’ after Roberts (2001).
• Lightning Ridge update - the boundary between the Cretaceous Rolling Downs Group outcrop / subcrop areas and the Quaternary black soil alluvial plains (Marra Creek Formation) has been significantly upgraded in this version of the Seamless Geology using data from Burton et al. (2023). This study involved reinterpreting and re-digitising this boundary at 1:10,000 scale using the best available ADS imagery in combination with 1–2 m DEM data.
• Lake Cowal geology upgrade – the mapping of the Lake Cowal Volcanic Complex was significantly upgraded based on several recent publications and publicly available theses.
• Cadia Valley geology upgrade – the geological mapping of the Cadia Valley (host to the Cadia–Ridgeway Au–Cu porphyry-related deposits) was significantly upgraded based on several recent publications and publicly available theses.
• Llandovery–Wenlock sequences of the Angullong Syncline and Bridge Creek areas – richly fossiliferous early Silurian sequences of the Ashburnia Group and Waugoola Group southwest of Orange were updated based on the detailed mapping of Jenkins (1973, 1978).
• Gidginbung Volcanics and Rain Hill Monzodiorite – the Gidginbung Volcanics was moved from the Lake Cowal Volcanic Complex into "Ungrouped Ordovician igneous units", and the Rain Hill Monzodiorite (near Barmedman) was added to the Seamless Geology based on the work of Mowat (2003) and Goesch (2011).
• Gunningbland Formation and Billabong Creek Formation, Gunningbland area – the geology of the Gunningbland area was updated from figures 1 and 2 of Zhen et al. (2023), which outline several newly documented areas of outcrop and changes to several areas from Gunningbland Formation – limestone to Billabong Creek Formation (based on faunal evidence).
• Benolong Volcanic Suite (Permian–Mesozoic Igneous Province) – the peralkaline Mesozoic volcanic rocks and intrusions around Toongi (22 km south of Dubbo), previously undifferentiated, have been placed in the newly-defined Benolong Volcanic Suite (Tbv), which comprises four constituent units. Updated boundaries for many of the intrusions have been interpreted based on radioelement imagery, DEM data and ADS imagery, resulting in changes to fours layers: Cenozoic Sedimentary Province (CSP), Permian–Mesozoic Igneous Province (PMIP), Permo–Triassic Basins (PTB), and the Lachlan Orogen (LAO).
• Sydney Basin – major review and update – the mapping of the western margin of the Sydney Basin was substantially updated for version 2.4 of the Seamless Geology. Nine 1:50,000 provisional geology maps from the 1960's and early 1970's were added to the dataset. In areas not covered by the 1:50,000 geology series maps, the updated Permo-Triassic geology was re-digitised from the original (approximately 1:20,000 scale) compilation maps of the Warragamba Catchment geology maps (McElroy and Relph, 1958b) combined with interpretation from 2 m DEM imagery and 5 m contours. The mapping of the Narrabeen Group in the Northern Beaches area (Sydney) and the northern Illawarra escarpment was updated based on published and unpublished data, and several errors in previous versions of the Seamless Geology were corrected. The geology of the Lapstone Structural Complex, west of Penrith, was updated using mapping from Fergusson and Hatherley (2023). The mapping of the Wolgan Valley Inlier (north of Lithgow) was updated based on unpublished mapping by Colquhoun (1991). The Marrangaroo Formation (Pibm, previously Marrangaroo Conglomerate) was added around its type area near Marrangaroo Railway Station, 5 km northwest of Lithgow based on published and unpublished sources. Detailed (1:12,500 scale) mapping (Figure 43) of the Illawarra Coal Measures between Ben Bullen and Portland by Dove (1987) was digitised and added to the Seamless Geology to join to the above-mentioned 1:50,000 scale mapping.
• Quarry Creek area – Waugoola Group and Mirrabooka Formation – mapping of the richly fossiliferous limestone and shale sequences in the Quarry Creek area (22 km west of Orange) was substantially updated based on two Honours theses and several published maps.
• Borenore Limestone – the main area of outcrop of the Borenore Limestone (around Borenore Caves, 15 km west-northwest of Orange) was missing from previous versions of the Seamless Geology. The unit has been added to the dataset at version 2.4 based on the mapping of Partridge (1967) and Krynen et al. (1997).
• Mount Halfway Volcanics units – the units Dhhh and Dhhl from the Mount Allen 1:100,000 Geological Sheet (Scheibner, 1985) were added to version 2.4 of the Seamless Geology. These two units had been previously combined into a generalised rhyolite lava unit.
• Curnamona Province – line attribute update – many of the geological boundaries, faults, and fold axes of the Curnamona Province were attributed as “accurate” despite many being under Cenozoic cover. At version 2.4 of the Seamless Geology, linework under shallow Cenozoic cover which was attributed as “accurate” has been changed to “concealed” or “inferred”, resulting in 9,848 linework attribute changes.
• Fault attributes – New England Orogen, Lachlan Orogen, Delamerian Orogen and Curnamona Province layers- the fault attributes “Fault Dip Direction”, “Gravity Visibility” and “Magnetic Visibility” had been accidentally removed from large areas of the orogenic belt layers and the Curnamona Province layer. These attributes were replaced in version 2.4 of the NSW Seamless Geology using various backups of the fault attributes data.
• Structural data – Merimbula Group (and adjacent units) – Five hundred and twenty-six structural points were added to the Lachlan Orogen layer from spreadsheets supplied by Chris Fergusson from the publication Fergusson (2023) on structure of the Merimbula Group.
• Pokolbin Inlier, Mount View area – Recent feedback from Ed Willey and Chris Fergusson has pointed to several small errors in the mapping of the Pokolbin Inlier, including inaccurate mapping of the base of Narrabeen Group and the absence of several marker units in Seaham Formation. These have been added to the Seamless Geology at version 2.4. In addition, 63 structure points were added to this area from the earlier Honours mapping of Brakel (1967).
• General GSL_Stratigraphy changes - numerous code changes, spelling mistake corrections, and formalising of names were made to the GSNSW's GSL_stratigraphy database. These have flowed through to the Seamless Geology dataset at version 2.4.
• Bergalia Formation – the Oligocene Bergalia Formation of the NSW South Coast was present in both the Cenozoic Igneous Province and Cenozoic Sedimentary Province layers in previous versions of the Seamless Geology. It has now been placed in the Cenozoic Igneous Province layer exclusively. Although the unit is predominantly sedimentary, it largely underlies the Cenozoic basalts of the area and is closely related to them.
- File identifier
- 8e537fe7-7d48-4ead-8fd0-0d83d765a8ab XML
- Metadata language
- English
- Character set
- UTF8
- Hierarchy level
- Dataset
- Hierarchy level name
-
dataset
- Date stamp
- 2024-06-19T10:40:54
- Metadata standard name
-
ISO 19139 Geographic Information - Metadata - Implementation Specification ISO 19139 Geographic Information - Metadata - Implementation Specification
- Metadata standard version
-
2007
Dr Gary Colquhoun
516 High Street
,Maitland
,New South Wales
,2320
,+61 2 4931 6700
https://www.resourcesandgeoscience.nsw.gov.au/