Progress towards the National Geological Model of Britain

1. Progress towards the National Geological Model of Britain Steve Mathers, Holger Kessler & Jon Ford. GSA 3D Modelling Workshop, Denver, 26 October 2013.

2. National bedrock model – GB3D – some facts 121 sections, c 22,000 line kms built by 20 regional geologists supported by a team of data managers, constructed in GSI3D Matches BGS 625K bedrock maps, honours 250-50K models, published cross sections and literature GB3D_V2012 free download on BGS website in 6 formatsincl Petrel and GOCAD/Skua surfaces to base Pridoli Accompanied by a metadata report, a DOI has been minted and paper on methodology is in press with the open access Geoscience Data Journal

3. National bedrock model – GB3D – some facts cont... Funded by BGS and Environment Agency 2009-12 now being expanded and keying in 300 golden spike boreholes for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. Total cost about $1Million. Utilised for public understanding of science, to assess risk to aquifers from fracking, catchment groundwater studies and selecting prospective areas for high-medium level radwaste storage through the volunteerism process.

4. Multi-scaled London Weald Midlands Multi-scaled division of Chalk aquifer in central London VE x20 Stratigraphies are nested, incorporating detailed models & understanding

5. Parameterized (e.g. aquifer type) Based on yield and flow Type (EA-BGS) 3D Volumes calculated for simple geology, regional and catchment modelling of volumes by voxellation

6. And we can do some neat things Distributionin GSI3D sections (defines subcrop) Outcrop Grey Chalk From shp file attribute table

7. Outcrop and subcrop combined = unit distribution (coverage)

8. Count / grid cell nos. Triassic sandstones full coverage at 3x3km grid resolution Depth / height (mOD)

9. Chalk • Bowland & Craven Groups • In NW England

10. Moving offshore Getting our toes wet!

11. GB3D Phase 2 2014-18 Population of the fence diagram with linking stratigraphic surfaces to yield a national 3D layer model capable of voxellation and analysis Realistically achievable for sedimentary rocks to the base Devonian below which the rocks lack continuity and are twisted

12. National crustal model Uses include academic debate, public understanding of science, geoscience education Undergoing extension to England 2013-2015 BGS-GSNI-GSI

13. Moine Thrust Scotland Midland Valley N Ireland England Ireland Note structural continuity of terranes along the Caledonian trend. Sections 15km deep Illustrates plate tectonic context and fuels debate, e.g. blue Iapetus Suture

14. Permeabilityattribution of York geological model 2 sequences of clay dominated Glaciolacustrine deposits Sherwood Sandstone Aquifer (top 40m) 1km 1km HIGH LOW National 3D Quaternary Coded boreholes and correlated cross-sections in 3D • Unified 3D geological models of Quaternary deposits and landforms on a catchment – regional basis • Models of key Quaternary environments e.g. Buried valleys • Utilise our Quaternary lithostratigraphic framework through model integration and ‘arterial’ cross-section construction along infrastructure routes to produce a ‘mini GB3D’ York Moraine 1km 1km

15. Model integration

16. Improved national rockhead surface

17. National Geological Model, summary BGS’s future baseline product, the 3D mapGeology in 3D as it really isBest available answer everywhereFit for any purposeNational in coverage, onshore then offshoreSupports water, radwaste, hydrocarbon and education sectorsCentre stage in the emerging BGS strategy 2015-20for more information contact Steve Mathers sjma@bgs.ac.uk or visit the BGS webpages at www.bgs.ac.uk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22aEzBZ5tTQ