The Cook Government’s recent release of seismic data from the WA Array project marks a major step toward enhancing Western Australia’s understanding of its complex geology. More than just a scientific initiative, the $30 million, decade-long investment is poised to reshape mineral exploration, contribute to seismic hazard assessment, and support WA’s broader transition to a net-zero economy.
While this project might seem technical on the surface, its economic, environmental, and industrial implications will be felt across the state, including in Perth. By improving geoscientific data, WA strengthens its ability to attract mining investment, mitigate seismic risks, and balance land use for sustainable development.
What is the WA Array Project?
The WA Array is a passive seismic survey launched in 2022 by the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA). Using 165 seismometers arranged in a 40-kilometre grid, the project is creating high-resolution, 3D images of the Earth’s crust across the entire state. Each year, the seismometers are repositioned to cover a different regional area, with the full mapping expected to take nine years.
This initiative builds upon previous national seismic surveys (such as AusArray) but significantly improves resolution, making it one of the largest and most detailed passive seismic projects in the world. The Phase 1 data, covering WA’s South West, is now publicly available on the Australian Passive Seismic Server (AusPass).
Why This Matters to WA
While seismic surveys are typically associated with oil and gas exploration, the WA Array focuses on critical minerals—elements essential for renewable energy technologies, batteries, and electric vehicles (EVs). With global demand for lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements surging, the Cook Government sees geoscience innovation as a way to cement WA’s leadership in the future energy economy.
The project has several key objectives:
Unlocking new mining opportunities: By providing high-resolution geological data, exploration companies can pinpoint mineral-rich areas more efficiently, reducing financial risks and unnecessary drilling.
Supporting net-zero goals: WA needs significant amounts of nickel, lithium, and rare earths for battery storage and clean energy. Mapping these deposits is crucial to meeting global demand.
Mitigating seismic hazards: Advanced crustal imaging will improve earthquake risk assessments, protecting infrastructure and communities from unexpected geological events.
Balancing land use: As WA transitions away from fossil fuels, the data can help plan sustainable development, ensuring mining, conservation, and Indigenous heritage protection coexist.
The Economic Impact: Securing WA’s Mining Future
Western Australia’s mining sector generates over $136 billion annually and employs more than 145,000 people. With traditional resources like iron ore facing increased competition, the government is pushing for diversification into battery minerals and green technologies.
By improving mineral targeting, the WA Array enhances WA’s investment appeal, making it easier for exploration companies to justify large-scale projects. Similar initiatives, such as WA’s Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS), have already contributed to major mineral discoveries, including:
Rare earth elements in West Arunta (EIS-funded Rincon Resources project)
Nickel deposits in the Fraser Range (leading to IGO’s Nova mine)
Lithium-rich pegmatites in the Pilbara, critical for EV battery production
WA competes globally for mining investment, and countries like Canada and Chile are ramping up exploration subsidies. If WA wants to maintain its dominance, world-leading geoscience initiatives like the WA Array are essential.
Environmental and Indigenous Considerations
While the project focuses on economic growth, it also raises environmental and cultural considerations. Increased mineral exploration could lead to greater land disturbance and potential conflicts over land access.
Key considerations include:
Indigenous land rights: The seismic survey covers areas with significant Aboriginal cultural heritage, requiring ongoing consultation with Traditional Owner groups.
Balancing conservation and mining: WA’s environmental groups have long raised concerns about mineral extraction near national parks and biodiversity hotspots.
Bridging data gaps: The WA Array’s open-access model ensures public transparency, but ensuring Traditional Owners and environmental groups can interpret and use the data effectively is critical.
The destruction of Juukan Gorge in 2020 by Rio Tinto exposed the gaps in cultural heritage protections within WA’s resources sector. While the WA Array itself does not involve excavation, better geological knowledge can empower communities to make informed land-use decisions.
Comparison with Past Initiatives
This is not WA’s first large-scale geophysical survey. However, it is unique in its scale, resolution, and passive seismic approach. Comparing it with past projects provides insight into its impact:
Project Scope Outcome
WA Array (2022–2032) Statewide passive seismic survey with high-resolution imaging Open-access data for industry, research, and hazard assessment
AusArray (2018–2025) National passive seismic survey, lower resolution Broad geological framework, but less detail for exploration
Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) Co-funded drilling and geophysics projects Led to key mineral discoveries, but smaller-scale mapping
Pilbara Passive Seismic Survey (2015) Regional seismic imaging focused on iron ore regions Provided insights for mining, but limited to specific sites
The WA Array scales up previous efforts, offering unprecedented detail that could reshape WA’s approach to resource management.
Challenges and Feasibility
While the WA Array presents significant benefits, it also faces challenges that could impact its success.
Data Interpretation and Accessibility
High-resolution seismic data is complex. Smaller exploration companies may lack the expertise to fully utilize it.
Encouraging collaborations between government, academia, and industry will be key to translating raw data into actionable insights.
Environmental and Regulatory Risks
While seismic surveys are non-invasive, the mining projects they enable could face resistance from conservation groups.
Future land-use planning must balance mining expansion with environmental protections.
Funding and Longevity
The $30 million budget over 10 years relies on continued government support.
Political shifts or economic downturns could put funding at risk, so securing long-term investment stability is crucial.
Global Competition
Canada and Chile are making significant investments in mineral exploration.
WA must stay ahead by ensuring its geoscience infrastructure remains world-class.
What Comes Next?
The first detailed models from Phase 1 of the WA Array were presented at GSWA’s Open Day in Perth on 15 November 2024. The event showcased how the data can be applied to mining, hazard mitigation, and environmental planning.
As the project moves into Phase 2 and beyond, it will provide a complete seismic picture of WA, helping shape the future of mining, clean energy, and land-use policy.
For Perth and WA residents, the WA Array is more than just a geophysical project—it’s a blueprint for how the state navigates the next era of economic and environmental transformation.
Conclusion
The WA Array project represents a major leap forward in WA’s resource strategy, combining cutting-edge geophysics with economic and environmental foresight. With climate change, global competition, and Indigenous land rights shaping the mining industry’s future, this initiative could be the key to unlocking WA’s next generation of mines while balancing sustainability and heritage protection.
As WA positions itself as a leader in critical minerals and renewable energy, high-resolution geological data will be one of its most valuable assets. The challenge now is to ensure that this knowledge translates into smart, sustainable, and equitable decision-making for the future.
