The Tellus survey is a national programme to gather geochemical and geophysical data across Ireland – in other words, to examine the chemical and physical properties of our soil, rocks and water.
Tellus is undertaken by the Geological Survey Ireland and is funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. All data from Tellus is made available free of charge online.
Tellus involves two types of surveying – airborne geophysical surveying using a low-flying aircraft and ground-based geochemical surveying of soil, stream water and stream sediment.
To date, Tellus surveying has been completed in Northern Ireland (2004–2008) and the border region of Ireland (2011–2013). Tellus airborne surveying has been completed in the north midlands region of Ireland (2014–2015), the eastern midlands region (2015), and most recently the west of Ireland (2016 - 2017). The Tellus airborne geophysical survey has now mapped 50% of the country.
For 2018, plans are underway which will see the Tellus aircraft extend its surveying activities into counties Limerick and north Tipperary as well as west Cork, due to commence in July 2018. Details of plans for the geochemistry survey for 2018 will follow soon.
Tellus has established a
Product Development workstream in order to produce more focused, user-centric data products, the need for which has been identified through stakeholder consultation, independent reviews of Tellus and government policy. Product development is undertaken under five main themes: Mineral prospectivity, smart agriculture, environment and health, climate action and education.
