Updated 1:2 million scale geoheritage sites of South Australia map out now.
More than 400 formally recognised and officially documented sites of geological significance within South Australia are displayed on the 2021 edition of the state geoheritage sites map. Newly released by the Geological Survey of South Australia (GSSA; Fig 1), the map is a recognition of the important contribution of geoheritage to the state’s natural heritage. It includes features of outstanding geological or geomorphological significance worthy of conservation, protection and preservation.
Figure 1 Geoheritage sites South Australia 1:2 million scale.
Many geoheritage sites are well-known scenic and iconic landscape features that have additional roles in research, education, geotourism and recreation. Additional qualities such as aesthetic appeal, rarity, historical and cultural links and environmental aspects are often present. They have potential to enhance local employment opportunities and contribute to rural economies, especially in regard to geotourism. Typical geoheritage sites are natural outcrops, river or coastal sections, disused quarries and mines, road cuttings and occasionally caves. They may be a single small outcrop, or a large landscape feature such as Brachina Gorge in the Flinders Ranges.
The new map, an update of the 2007 edition, contains the latest sites listed on the South Australia Geoheritage webpage (Geological Society of Australia), including the iconic Nilpena Ediacaran Fossil Site and Cambrian archaeocyathid reef complexes in the Flinders Ranges.
Complementary to the published map, an interactive map view of the locations and defined boundaries of all geoheritage sites is available via the South Australian Resources Information Gateway (SARIG) – go to ‘All Map Layers’, ‘Geological Monuments’. The map layer dataset can be downloaded in various digital formats including ESRI shape or database, MapInfo TAB and Google Earth KMZ files.
Background
The state’s geoheritage sites are administered by the South Australian Geological Heritage Subcommittee of the Geological Society of Australia in close cooperation with the GSSA and the Department for Environment and Water. The subcommittee assesses heritage nominations and identifies and records the unique and special scientific attributes of the individual sites. Since 1977 it has episodically released compilations of geoheritage sites (formerly known as geological monuments) in the form of reports that include detailed site maps, summary descriptions and photo galleries for each site. The reports, comprising 10 parts, can be downloaded via the SA Geoheritage webpage.
The GSSA is the custodian of the statewide inventory of geoheritage sites, maintaining the geoheritage module in the SA Geodata geospatial database. The GSSA’s geoheritage activities aim at raising public awareness and appreciation of South Australia’s fascinating geological history, which is also intimately linked with South Australia’s world-class research on the dawn of animal life on Earth.
Download the Geoheritage sites South Australia map (PDF 5.5 MB)
View and download the digital map layer dataset in SARIG
– Mario Werner, Carmen Krapf and Jonathan Irvine, June 2021
