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

© NERC All rights reserved 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 K models, published cross sections and literature GB3D_V2012 free download on BGS website in 6 formats incl 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 National bedrock model – GB3D – some facts

© NERC All rights reserved Funded by BGS and Environment Agency 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. National bedrock model – GB3D – some facts cont...

© NERC All rights reserved Multi-scaled Midlands LondonWeald VE x20 Multi-scaled division of Chalk aquifer in central London Stratigraphies are nested, incorporating detailed models & understanding

© NERC All rights reserved 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

© NERC All rights reserved Outcrop Grey Chalk From shp file attribute table Distribution in GSI3D sections (defines subcrop) And we can do some neat things

© NERC All rights reserved Outcrop and subcrop combined = unit distribution (coverage)

© NERC All rights reserved Triassic sandstones full coverage at 3x3km grid resolution Depth / height (mOD) Count / grid cell nos.

© NERC All rights reserved Bowland & Craven Groups In NW England Chalk

© NERC All rights reserved Moving offshore Getting our toes wet!

© NERC All rights reserved GB3D Phase 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

© NERC All rights reserved National crustal model Uses include academic debate, public understanding of science, geoscience education Undergoing extension to England BGS-GSNI-GSI

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

© NERC All rights reserved National 3D Quaternary 1km Coded boreholes and correlated cross-sections in 3D York Moraine 1km 2 sequences of clay dominated Glaciolacustrine deposits Sherwood Sandstone Aquifer (top 40m) Permeability attribution of York geological model 1km LOWHIGH 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’

© NERC All rights reserved Model integration

© NERC All rights reserved Improved national rockhead surface

© NERC All rights reserved BGS’s future baseline product, the 3D map Geology in 3D as it really is Best available answer everywhere Fit for any purpose National in coverage, onshore then offshore Supports water, radwaste, hydrocarbon and education sectors Centre stage in the emerging BGS strategy for more information contact Steve Mathers or visit the BGS webpages at National Geological Model, summary