Automated geological map deconstruction for 3D model construction

Abstract

Abstract. We present two Python libraries (map2loop and map2model) which combine the observations available in digital geological maps with conceptual information, including assumptions regarding the subsurface extent of faults and plutons to provide sufficient constraints to build a reasonable 3D geological model. At a regional scale, the best predictor for the 3D geology of the near-subsurface is often the information contained in a geological map. This remains true even after recognising that a map is also a model, with all the potential for hidden biases that this model status implies. One challenge we face is the difficulty in reproducibly preparing input data for 3D geological models. The information stored in a map falls into three categories of geometric data: positional data such as the position of faults, intrusive and stratigraphic contacts; gradient data, such as the dips of contacts or faults and topological data, such as the age relationships of faults and stratigraphic units, or their adjacency relationships. This work is being conducted within the Loop Consortium, in which algorithms are being developed that allow automatic deconstruction of a geological map to recover the necessary positional, gradient and topological data as inputs to different 3D geological modelling codes. This automation provides significant advantages: it reduces the time to first prototype models; it clearly separates the primary data from subsets produced from filtering via data reduction and conceptual constraints; and provides a homogenous pathway to sensitivity analysis, uncertainty quantification and Value of Information studies. We use the example of the re-folded and faulted Hamersley Basin in Western Australia to demonstrate a complete workflow from data extraction to 3D modelling using two different Open Source 3D modelling engines: GemPy and LoopStructural.

Authors 9

1. Mark Jessell corresponding

   The University of Western Australia · Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre , Centre for Exploration Targeting , School of Earth Sciences , The University of Western Australia , Perth , Australia

   Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre, Centre for Exploration Targeting, School of Earth Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

2. Vitaliy Ogarko

   The University of Western Australia · ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics · International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research

   Affiliation as printed

   ARC Centre of Excellence for all Sky Astrophysics in

   International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research , The University of Western Australia , Perth , Australia

   ARC Centre of Excellence for all Sky Astrophysics

   International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

3. Mark Lindsay

   The University of Western Australia · Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre , Centre for Exploration Targeting , School of Earth Sciences , The University of Western Australia , Perth , Australia

   Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre, Centre for Exploration Targeting, School of Earth Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

4. Ranee Joshi

   The University of Western Australia · Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre , Centre for Exploration Targeting , School of Earth Sciences , The University of Western Australia , Perth , Australia

   Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre, Centre for Exploration Targeting, School of Earth Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

5. Agnieszka M. Piechocka

   Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation · The University of Western Australia · Australian Resources Research Centre · Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   CSIRO , Mineral Resources -Discovery , ARRC , Kensington WA , Australia

   Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre , Centre for Exploration Targeting , School of Earth Sciences , The University of Western Australia , Perth , Australia

   CSIRO, Mineral Resources -Discovery, ARRC, Kensington WA, Australia

   Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre, Centre for Exploration Targeting, School of Earth Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

6. Lachlan Grose

   Monash University

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment , Monash University

   School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University

7. Miguel de la Varga Aachen Computational Geoscience and Reservoir Engineering (CGRE)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Computational Geoscience and Reservoir Engineering , RWTH Aachen , Germany

   Computational Geoscience and Reservoir Engineering, RWTH Aachen, Germany

8. Laurent Aillères

   Monash University

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment , Monash University

   School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University

9. Guillaume Pirot

   The University of Western Australia · Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre

   Affiliation as printed

   Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre , Centre for Exploration Targeting , School of Earth Sciences , The University of Western Australia , Perth , Australia

   Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre, Centre for Exploration Targeting, School of Earth Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia