b'Geophysics in the surveysNewsGeological Survey of Western Australia: AusAEM20 - WA projectThe Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safetys (DMIRS) Geological Survey Division and Geoscience Australia (GA) have recently entered into a new National Collaboration Framework Agreement for the Western Australian component of the Australian 20km Airborne Electromagnetic Survey Objective (AusAEM20).AusAEM20 is a collaborative, national goal of the Commonwealth, State and Territory geological survey agencies to acquire airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data at 20km or closer line spacing across the Australian continent. It is a successor to the 201720 Geoscience Australia Exploring for the Future (EFTF) AusAEM Project, which, on completion, will have covered a substantial part of northern Australia. The AusAEM20WA Project, as the Western Australian agreement is referred to, will complete the 20km AEM coverage of those parts of Western Australia that have not been surveyed as part of Year 2 of EFTF AusAEM (Figure 1).We anticipate that acquisition of the 65000km of data that will be needed for this coverage will take place over the next two to three years.GAs AusAEM EFTF surveys haveFigure 1.Location of AusAEM20WA survey areas.demonstrated that, even at this wide line spacing, AEM data are coherent at very broad reconnaissance scales (Figure 2) and may be used to:determine trends in regolith thicknessmap regional variations in bedrock conductivity, within the depth of penetration of the systemset context for and guide mineral exploration project generation by industryimprove targeting for water resources definitionprovide input for other land-use applications in other industry sectors and land-use agencies.However, if tendered prices are suitably attractive and if adequate funding is available, DMIRS is considering data acquisition at smaller line spacing in particular areas of interest.For more information, please contact geophysics@dmirs.wa.gov.au.David Howard david.howard@dmirs.wa.gov.au Figure 2.AusAEM profiles from 2018 and 2019 surveys (image courtesy of Geoscience Australia).APRIL 2020 PREVIEW 18'