Overcoming the Tyranny of depth
05 November 2001
Mineral deposits in Australia are becoming harder to find. If Australia wants to keep enjoying the $55.6 billion that mineral exports contributed to the economy in 2000-2001, it must focus its research and development efforts on finding mineral deposits buried beneath the surface.
Dr Neil Williams, chief executive, Geoscience Australia, will put forward solutions to this challenge at the opening of exploration day at the Mining 2001 Resources Convention, 9am on November 8 in auditorium one, Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne.
"To maintain Australia's position as the world's number one destination for exploration investment, government and industry need to meet the challenge of the tyranny of depth," said Dr Williams. "Gone are the days when prospectors stumbled over outcropping world-class deposits because most economic deposits near the surface have already been discovered. Many more giant mineral deposits undoubtedly exist in Australia but they are likely to be buried beneath surface cover, increasing the challenge of exploration success," said Dr Williams.
Dr Williams will discuss the need for new data-acquisition tools that will allow explorers and geoscientists to probe further beneath the Earth's surface; new analytical methods for interpreting both existing and new geoscience data; and new exploration models that overcome the predictive weaknesses of current models.
Topic contact: media@ga.gov.au Last updated: May 31, 2012
