Minerals Alert February 2007

  1. Surface Geology of the Northern Territory - 1:1 million scale data release in February
  2. National geochemical survey launched
  3. Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Annual Convention 2007
  4. Seismic and Airborne EM data acquisition in South Australia
  5. New geophysical surveys
  6. Update on geophysical survey data acquisition
  7. About Minerals Alert

1. Surface Geology of the Northern Territory - 1:1 million scale data release in February

The next instalment of the 1:1 million digital geology of Australia will be released in mid-February. The Surface Geology of Northern Territory will be available as shapefiles and ESRI export files for use in most common GIS applications. The data is seamless across the Territory, and has been compiled mainly from the most recent 1:250 000 scale mapping. Polygons and linework are fully attributed with geological unit names, ages and lithological descriptions.

The data will be available as a free download on the Geoscience Australia website (type "surface geology" in quotes into the search engine) or on CD for $99 from the Geoscience Australia Sales Centre.

The dataset will be formally launched with the Northern Territory Geological Survey at the Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar conference in Alice Springs, 20-21 March.

For further information, please email Ollie Raymond, or phone +61 (0)2 6249 9575.

2. National geochemical survey launched

A new project aimed at unravelling the geochemical composition of the regolith at the national scale has recently been approved under the Onshore Energy Security Initiative (OESI). The primary aim of the new National Geochemical Survey of Australia is to provide actual measurements of uranium and thorium concentrations that can lead to discoveries of economic deposits, as well as of other elements useful in targeting hot granites as potential geothermal energy resources. As such, the project will add value to other OESI projects focussing on radiometrics, airborne electro-magnetics and geothermal resources.

The National Geochemical Survey project will adopt a cost-effective ultra-low density sampling approach to collect surface and near-surface transported regolith materials at approximately 1600 sites. Sample collection, preparation and analysis protocols have been established during pilot projects carried out in recent years by Geoscience Australia and the Cooperative Research Centre for Landscape Environments and Mineral Exploration. National Geoscience Agreements between Geoscience Australia and State/NT agencies will be fundamental to the success of the project and negotiations will start in February 2007.

For further information, please email Patrice de Caritat or phone +61 (0)2 6249 9378.

3. Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Annual Convention 2007

Geoscience Australia is again coordinating the Team Australia promotion with the States/NT for the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Annual Convention, Trade and Investors Exchange - Mining Investment Show (PDAC) to be held in Toronto from 4-7 March 2007. Record numbers are expected to attend this year. A highlight of the promotion will be the half-day "Exploration Down Under" seminar on Monday 5 March 2007.

For further information, please email Mike Huleatt or phone +61 (0)2 6249 9087.

4. Seismic and Airborne EM data acquisiton in South Australia

As part of the Federal Government's Onshore Energy Security Initiative (2006-2010), plans for acquisition of new seismic reflection and airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data in the Gawler Craton, Curnamona Province and Mt Painter region, will be announced in Adelaide at the forthcoming meeting:

  • When: Monday 26 February 2007
  • Time: 9.30 - 10.30 am
  • Where: Department of Primary Industries and Resources of South Australia (7th Floor, 101 Grenfell Street, Adelaide CBD)
  • Agenda: Plans for multiple transects of seismic reflection data in South Australia (Roger Skirrow - Geoscience Australia); Scoping of AEM surveys in the Mt Painter region, Curnamona Province and Gawler Craton (Alan Whitaker - Geoscience Australia); Discussion and feedback

For further information, please email Roger Skirrow or phone +61 (0)2 6249 9442.

5. New geophysical surveys

Location State Survey Area (km2) Gravity Stations Flight Lines Spacing Ground Clearance Comments
Australia-wide N/A Airborne Geophysical tie-line N/A (145 000 line km) N/A north-south 75km 80m Data acquisition is expected to commence in February 2007. The north-south lines will be equally spaced at 75km across each 1:250 000 standard map sheet. East-west tie lines will be located at the boundary of each 1:1000 000. The Australia-Wide Airborne Geophysical Tie-line Survey (AWAGS 2) has the objective of providing a common datum for all of the airborne radiometric and magnetic data in Australia.
Isa Area D Qld Gravity 75 460 4 903 N/A 4.0km grid N/A Data acquisition will commence in February. The survey covers the entire Bedourie, Machattie, Birdsville and Betoota 1:250 000 Map Sheets and parts of the Connemara 1:250 000 Map Sheet.

For further information, please email Murray Richardson, or phone +61 (0)2 6249 9229.

6. Update on geophysical survey data acquisition

The status of current surveys is:

Location State Survey % Complete Gravity Stations Flight Lines Spacing Ground Clearance Comments
Musgrave Extension WA Airborne magnetic & radiometric 100% N/A northern area north-south; southern area east-west 400 m 60 m Completed 10 October. Data planned for release on 13 February 2007.
Ashburton WA Airborne magnetic & radiometric 100% N/A north-south 400 m 60 m Completed 27 December 2006.
Southern Officer Basin WA Airborne magnetic & radiometric 100% N/A north-south 400 m 60 m Completed 18 January 2007.
Webb WA Gravity 100% 4100 new east-west over an area of 24 800 km2 2.5 km N/A Data was released via GADDS on 21 December 2006.
Murchison WA Gravity N/A 3600 new east-west over an area of 22 000 km2 2.5 km N/A This survey is expected to commence in February 2007
Isa South-West Qld Airborne magnetic & radiometric 100% N/A east-west 400 m 80 m Planned for release on 13 February 2007.
Isa South-East Qld Airborne magnetic & radiometric 100% N/A east-west 400 m 80 m Preliminary data was supplied to GA on 24 January 2007.
Isa Area B Qld Gravity 100% 9898 new east-west 2 km & 4 km N/A Survey was released via GADDS on 5 December 2006.
East Isa North Qld Magnetic & Radiometric N/A N/A east-west 400 m 80 m Data acquisition is expected to commence 23 February 2007. Survey covers parts of Richmond, Hughenden, McKinlay, Manuka and Tangorin 1:250 000
East Isa South Qld Magnetic & Radiometric 15% N/A east-west 400 m 80 m The survey covers parts of the McKinlay, Manuka, Mackunda, Winton, Brighton Downs and Maneroo 1:250 000 map sheets, with data acquisition expected to commence at the end of flying on the Isa South-East airborne survey. When complete, the survey will have collected approx 145 900 line kilometres of new data.
Mount Isa C1 - Duchess and Urandangi Qld Gravity 72% ~9 236 with C2 (below) N/A 2.0 km grid N/A N/A
Mount Isa C2 - Glenormiston and Mount Whelan Qld Gravity 32% ~9 236 with C1 (above) N/A 4.0 km grid N/A N/A
Isa Area E Qld Gravity N/A 6 233 N/A 4.0km grid N/A Data acquisition will commence on completion of Isa Area D. The survey will cover the entire McKinlay, Mackunda, Brighton Downs, Richmond and Manuka 1:250 000 Map Sheets and parts of the Winton and Maneroo 1:250 000 Map Sheet
Croydon Qld Airborne & Radiometric N/A N/A east-west 400m 80m Data acquisition expected to commence in April 2007. The survey covers parts of the Burketown, Normanton, Donors Hill, Croydon and Millungera 1:250 000 Map Sheets. When complete, the survey will have collected approx 100 000 line kilometres of new data.
Tiwi Islands NT Airborne magnetic & radiometric 100% N/A north-south 400 m 80 m Data is planned for release in February 2007.
North-East Tasmania Tas Airborne magnetic & radiometric N/A N/A east-west 200 m 90 m Data acquisition is expected to commence in February 2007, and will cover approx 51 280 line km of magnetic and radiometric data. Survey covers Tasmanian land mass over part of the following standard 1:100 000 map sheets - Ninth Island, Cape Portland, Swan Island, St Patricks, Forester, Georges Bay, St Pauls and Break O'Day
Flinders Island Tas Airborne magnetic & radiometric 72% N/A east-west 200 m 90 m Data acquisition commenced in January, and will cover approx 18 600 line km of magnetic and radiometric data

For further information, please email Murray Richardson, or phone +61 (0)2 6249 9229.

7. About Minerals Alert

For more information contact Mike Huleatt on +61 2 6249 9087 or email mike.huleatt@ga.gov.au.

To view past editions of Geoscience Australia's Minerals Alert, visit the Minerals Alert Newsletter Archive.

Topic contact: minerals@ga.gov.au Last updated: September 26, 2012