WA Array is a network of instruments called seismometers that will be set up across Western Australia. Seismometers measure vibrations in the Earth produced by sources such as earthquakes, quarry blasts, the rumblings of trains and vehicles and pounding of ocean waves. Recording these vibrations will teach us more about what the Earth’s crust and deeper layers (called the lithosphere) are made of and how they are structured.
This information will help us identify areas that might have valuable mineral or energy resources deep underground, reduce risks from earthquakes, plan for future land uses and support Western Australia's efforts to move toward net-zero emissions. The project is a big and complex task and is one of the largest and highest resolution of its kind ever done in the world.
WA Array is funded by the Western Australian Government and will run for 10 years. Managed by GSWA, it began in 2022. The project involves placing 165 seismometers in a grid pattern across a region, with each device spaced 40 km apart. These seismometers will be moved yearly to cover nine different regions across the State. Each station needs to be set up, maintained, removed after one year, and the site restored after use. About 52% of the stations will need helicopters for transport, while the rest can be reached by road.
As the seismometers collect data, it will go through strict quality checks before being shared for free with explorers, researchers, and the public through AusPASS: the Australian Passive Seismic Server. Additional maps and 3D models created from the data will be available through our online platforms.
The program will focus first on regions with the highest potential for resource development. The data collected and models produced will be released as each region is completed.
The science behind WA Array
Continents are made up of pieces of lithosphere that have come together over time. The boundaries, or sutures, between these pieces are important for finding new mineral deposits because they connect to deep parts of the Earth and can act as pathways for mineral-rich fluids.
Seismologists use techniques like ‘ambient’ seismic noise—caused by ocean waves and storms—and receiver functions, which measure how earthquake signals change as they travel through the Earth. These methods help create images of the Earth's structure, including the speed and composition of layers beneath the surface.
One key feature is the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB), which marks the base of the continental plates. This boundary is crucial for predicting where mineral deposits may be near the surface. High-resolution passive seismic studies can map the LAB and its variations in detail, giving mineral explorers valuable information about where sutures between major lithospheric blocks might be located.
Watch Explaining WA Array to find out more.
You can also learn more by reading our ArcGIS StoryMap, WA Array: listening to the Earth.
The net zero challenge
The world’s shift to a low-carbon economy is driving strong demand for critical minerals needed for renewable energy and storage technologies. To support this, Western Australia needs careful planning to balance land use for renewable energy projects with the exploration and development of new mines and related industries.
Western Australia has one of the most successful and diverse resource sectors globally. It is a top producer of important resources like iron ore, gold, lithium, nickel, and alumina. However, finding new major mineral deposits has become harder, which could affect our ability to meet future demand.
Most known mineral deposits are near the surface or were relatively easy to find. However, about 70% of Western Australia’s prospective basement rocks are hidden under layers of sediment and weathered rock. This makes exploration challenging. Projects like WA Array use advanced geoscience technology to create images of the State’s geology at deep levels, helping exploration companies locate hidden resources more effectively.
Seismic hazards
The South West Seismic Zone is one of the most active earthquake areas in Australia, with regular clusters of earthquakes. This map shows the size (magnitude) and location of earthquakes in Western Australia during 2022. The WA Array project will help pinpoint where new earthquakes occur, giving scientists a clearer understanding of the geological causes of seismic activity and allowing them to create a regional stress map. This information can improve building codes, strengthen infrastructure, and help emergency services focus on high-risk areas.
Big earthquakes can and do happen in Western Australia, causing significant damage. Notable events include the Meckering earthquake in 1968 (magnitude 6.5), Cadoux in 1979 (magnitude 6.1), Kalgoorlie in 2010 (magnitude 5.0), and offshore Broome in 2019 (magnitude 6.6).
WA Array Phase 1
Show moreThe first phase of the WA Array project began with the setup of 128 new passive seismic stations in southwest Western Australia. An additional 16 stations from the South West Australia Passive Seismic Network (SWAN) were also serviced and added to the array. The Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) helped install 11 stations from the national AusArray network within the region, which were incorporated into the WA Array. The remaining network was completed with three stations from the Seismometers in Schools program and six stations from the Australian National Seismograph Network, bringing the total to 161 stations for Phase 1.
The seismic stations used equipment from companies including REF TEK, Nanometrics, Guralp, Silicon Audio, Earth Science Systems, and GaiaCode. These included broadband seismometers with 60-second or 120-second capabilities and a variety of digital recorders, such as Reftek Wranglers, Guralp Minimus, ESS Geckos, and Nanometrics Taurus and Centaurs.
Data from all stations was collected after six months, and issues such as power problems and timing errors were resolved during site visits. The seismic stations were removed in December 2023 after one year in the ground.
See this map for locations of WA Array Phase 1.
Products and models
Waveform data and station metadata can be downloaded through AusPASS: the Australian Passive Seismic Server.
Models and supplementary data are available in MAGIX Online.
The Phase 1 report has now been released and is available through the DMPE eBookshop as GSWA Report 256. The report includes a suite of seismic modelling outputs which include:
- Data QA/QC and instrument calibration
- Depth to bedrock
- Seismic velocity and fundamental regolith frequency
- Local seismicity catalogue and some focal mechanisms
- Crustal layering and MOHO depth
- P- and S-wave velocity models of the crust and mantle
- Comparative analysis with known mineral deposits
- Lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary depth
WA Array Phase 2
Show moreThe second phase of the WA Array project commenced with field deployment in February–March 2024. This phase extends coverage to areas east and north of the Phase 1 region, spanning from Geraldton across to Leonora and Laverton, and continuing south through the Goldfields to Esperance.
The first data download was successfully completed in September 2024, providing a preliminary check on equipment performance and data quality. The removal of seismic stations was undertaken in March 2025, following a full year of continuous data acquisition.
Phase 2 data is currently in the processing and modelling stage, with a report due for release in March 2026.
See this map for locations of WA Array Phase 2.
Waveform data and station metadata will be available to download in March 2026 through AusPASS: the Australian Passive Seismic Server.
WA Array Phase 3
Show moreThe third phase of the WA Array project was deployed in May 2025 across the Mid West and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia. Phase 3 builds directly on the coverage established during Phase 2, providing continuity of data across the northern Youanmi and Narryer terranes of the Yilgarn Craton, and Southern Carnarvon Basin, traversing several major crustal boundaries.
By extending the array northward and inland from the previous deployment area, this phase ensures seamless seismic coverage and enables the development of consistent, high-resolution models of crustal and mantle structure across a broad swathe of Western Australia.
Fieldwork in these areas involves both remote access logistics and close coordination with landholders and Traditional Owners. Equipment was deployed via helicopter and 4WD requiring significant effort from ground crews.
A data download is scheduled for October-November 2025, with removal of equipment timed for May 2026. The equipment will then be serviced and tested before Phase 4 deployment in July 2026.
See this map for locations of WA Array Phase 3.
Take a look at ‘A Selfie Tour of WA Array’ by Adam Pascale, for an on-the-ground (and in-the-air!) perspective of the project and the work involved in setting up seismic monitoring stations!
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