AGN+
AusGeochem (now known as ‘AuScope EarthBank Platform’) is a geospatial platform combining a cloud-hosted relational database engine, capable of interpreting and visualising complex global geochemical databases. Image: AuScope
The AGN+ project piloted the expansion of the AuScope Geochemistry Network (now known as ‘EarthBank’), an unprecedented collaboration of Australia’s university sector geochemistry analytical facilities (laboratories and staff). By systematically collecting, aggregating, and integrating geochemistry data from rocks on Earth and even the solar system through the AusGeochem platform, Australia’s major domain repository for geochemistry data, AGN+, helped enhance accessibility to crucial geological information.
Overview
Led by Professor Brent McInnes, Dr. Byant Ware and Dr. Alexander Prent from Curtin University, AGN+ expanded the AuScope Geochemistry Network (AGN) by adding new institutions with significant concentrations of geological samples and data. This initiative marked a significant step towards establishing a national-scale cooperation of geochemistry analytical facilities, researchers, and data management in Australia.
The challenge
Unlike Europe and the US, Australia did not have a trusted domain repository for geochemistry data. The AuScope Geochemistry Network, with collaborator Lithodat Pty Ltd, built the collaborative AusGeochem platform for collating, preserving, and disseminating geochronology and geochemistry (isotopic, major and trace) data. By increasing the number of data partners, the existing AusGeochem platform ushered in the first national-scale cooperation in the systematic collection, aggregation and integration of geochemistry data spanning the Earth and its solar system.
The outcomes
Expansion of the AuScope Geochemistry Network (AGN) to include new institutional nodes: James Cook University, The University of Queensland, University of Wollongong, Australian National University, The University of Adelaide, Monash University, University of Tasmania and The University of Western Australia
These new partner labs contributed additional high-value data sets (e.g., mineralogy, isotope geochemistry, geochronology) to the AGN’s FAIR data platform, AusGeochem, enhancing accessibility to geological samples and data of national importance
Continued development of the AusGeochem platform for systematic collection, aggregation, and integration of geochemistry data from rocks on Earth and across the solar system
Collaboration among geochemistry laboratories in asset procurement, maintenance and end-user support
The AGN Data Partnerships project has allowed, for the first time, multiple university laboratories to report their geochemical data collections on a single platform, which can be accessed by industry and other end users to improve targeting for critical minerals.
Who will benefit?
Researchers, government agencies, and industry stakeholders involved in geological research, resource exploration, and environmental management will benefit from the AGN's establishment of a trusted domain repository for geochemistry data. Additionally, the expansion of the AuScope Geochemistry Network (AGN) through the AGN+ project will facilitate better organisation and collaboration of national geochemistry research infrastructure and data sharing among institutions nationwide.
Access
Data Access: Access to high-value geochemistry datasets of national significance is made available through the AuScope Discovery Portal.
Acknowledging AuScope
This project was made possible by support from the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) through AuScope. Acknowledging AuScope and NCRIS helps us demonstrate the value of shared research infrastructure, ensuring continued support and resources for the research community.
If you helped deliver this project or have benefited from its outputs, please credit AuScope so we can include your work in our impact reporting. For examples of acknowledgment, please visit our ‘How to Acknowledge AuScope’ page.
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Project Name
AGN+
Project Lead
Timeframe
2022 to 2023
Status
Complete
Funding
AuScope Pilots 3
Hosts
Curtin University
Other Collaborators
Australian National University
James Cook University
Monash University
The University of Adelaide
The University of Queensland
The University of Western Australia
University of Tasmania
University of Wollongong
Additional Links
A new era of open Earth science data with AuScope EarthBank — AuScope
AuScope Programs
