The Tellus Airborne Geophysical Survey of Northern Ireland

This paper describes an airborne geophysical survey of Northern Ireland that is being conducted over a two year period. Measurements from a fixed­wing aircraft operating at 56 m include magnetic (gradiometer), radiometric and frequency­domain electromagnetic. The survey will complete over 80,000 line­km of coverage in the summer of 2006. The Phase 1 data, described here, comprise ~47,000 line­km obtained across the western and central areas of the province. The nature of acquiring geophysical data, at high resolution (200 m line spacing) in populated areas is distinct from that of other exploration contexts. The survey is being coordinated and conducted alongside a high public profile. The initial Phase 1 Tellus survey results have exceeded expectations. They have excited the interest of the planning, mineral and environmental communities.