<p>The Mesoproterozoic Roper Group of the McArthur Basin has excellent petroleum potential, but its poorly constrained post-depositional history has hampered resource exploration and management. The Derim Derim Dolerite occupies an important position in the regional event chronology, having intruded the Roper Group prior to deformation associated with the ‘Post-Roper Inversion’ event. It was assigned a magmatic crystallisation age of 1324 ± 4 Ma (uncertainties are 95% confidence unless otherwise indicated) in 1997, based on unpublished Sensitive High Resolution Ion Micro Probe (SHRIMP) U-Pb analyses of dolerite-hosted baddeleyite from sample 97106010, collected from the Derim Derim Dolerite type locality in outcrop within the northwestern McArthur Basin. Herein, we refine these data via Isotope Dilution-Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (ID-TIMS) analysis of baddeleyites plucked from the SHRIMP grain-mounts, which yielded a precise mean 207Pb/206Pb date of 1327.5 ± 0.6 Ma. This date is significantly older than a baddeleyite U-Pb ID-TIMS date of 1313.8 ± 1.3 Ma recently obtained from dolerite ALT-05, sampled in Pacific Oil and Gas Ltd drillhole Altree 2, near the northern margin of the Beetaloo Sub-basin, and 200 km south of 97106010. This pair of results indicates that Derim Derim Dolerite magmatism spanned at least 10-15 Ma. Previously documented geochemical variation in Mesoproterozoic mafic rocks across the Northern Territory (such as the 1325 ± 36 Ma (2σ) Galiwinku Dolerite in the northern McArthur Basin, 1316 ± 40 Ma phonolites intruding the eastern Pine Creek Orogen, and 1295 ± 14 Ma gabbro in the Tomkinson Province) may reflect episodic pulses of magmatism hitherto obscured by the low precision of the available isotopic dates. <p><b>Citation:</b> Bodorkos, S., Yang, B., Collins, A.S., Crowley, J., Denyszyn, S.W., Claoue-Long, J.C., Anderson, J.R. and Magee, C., 2020 Precise U–Pb baddeleyite dating of the Derim Derim Dolerite: evidence for episodic mafic magmatism in the greater McArthur Basin. In: Czarnota, K., Roach, I., Abbott, S., Haynes, M., Kositcin, N., Ray, A. and Slatter, E. (eds.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, 1–4.

For more than half a century, seismic tomography has been used to map the volumetric structure of Earth’s interior, but only recent advances in computation have enabled the application of this technique at scale. Estimates of surface waves that travel between two seismic stations can be reconstructed from a stack of cross-correlations of continuous data recorded by seismometers. Here, we use data from the Exploring for the Future program AusArray deployment to extract this ambient noise signal of Rayleigh waves and use it to image mid- to upper-crustal structure between Tennant Creek and Mount Isa. Our aim was to establish a repeatable, semi-automatic workflow that can be extended to the entire Australian continent and beyond. Shear wave velocity models at 4, 6, 8 and 10 s periods are presented. A strong low-velocity anomaly (2.5 km/s) at a period of 4 s (~2–4 km depth) delineates the outline of the newly discovered, and prospective for hydrocarbons, Carrara Sub-basin. A near-vertical high-velocity anomaly (3.5 km/s) north of Mount Isa extends from the near surface down to ~12 km and merges with northeast-trending anomalies. These elongate features are likely to reflect compositional variations within the mid-crust associated with major structures inferred to be associated with base metal deposits. These outcomes demonstrate the utility of the ambient noise tomography method of imaging first-order features, which feed into resource potential assessments. <b>Citation: </b>Hejrani, B., Hassan, R., Gorbatov, A., Sambridge, M. Hawkins, R., Valentine, A., Czarnota, K. and Zhao, J., 2020. Ambient noise tomography of Australia: application to AusArray deployment. In: Czarnota, K., Roach, I., Abbott, S., Haynes, M., Kositcin, N., Ray, A. and Slatter, E. (eds.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, 1–4. <b>See eCat record <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/148676">#148676</a> for the updated version of the model package.</b>

Water, energy and mineral resources are vital for Australia’s economic prosperity and sustainable development. However, continued supply of these resources cannot be taken for granted. It is widely accepted that the frontier of exploration now lies beneath the Earth’s surface, making characterisation of the subsurface a unifying challenge. Between 2016 and 2020, the $100.5 million Exploring for the Future program focused on addressing this challenge across northern Australia in order to better define resource potential and boost investment. The program applied a multiscale systems approach to resource assessment based on characterisation of the Australian plate from the surface down to its base, underpinned by methodological advances. The unprecedented scale and diversity of new data collected have resulted in many world-first achievements and breakthrough insights through integrated systems science. Through this multi-agency effort, new continental-scale datasets are emerging to further enhance Australia’s world-leading coverage. The program has identified prospective regions for a wide range of resources and pioneered approaches to exploration undercover that can be applied elsewhere. The outcomes so far include extensive tenement uptake for minerals and energy exploration in covered terranes, and development of informed land-management policy. Here, we summarise the key scientific achievements of the program by reviewing the main themes and interrelationships of 62 contributions, which together constitute the Exploring for the Future: extended abstracts volume. <b>Citation:</b> Czarnota, K., Roach, I.C., Abbott, S.T., Haynes, M.W., Kositcin, N., Ray, A. and Slatter, E., 2020. Exploring for the Future: advancing the search for groundwater, energy and mineral resources. In: Czarnota, K., Roach, I., Abbott, S., Haynes, M., Kositcin, N., Ray, A. and Slatter, E. (eds.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, 1–4.

Crustal architecture places first-order controls on the distribution of mineral and energy resources. However, despite its importance, it is poorly constrained over much of northern Australia. Here, we present a full crustal interpretation of deep seismic reflection profile 18GA-KB1 that extends over 872 km from the Eo- to Mesoarchean Pilbara Craton to the Paleoproterozoic Aileron Province, transecting a range of stratigraphic and tectonic basement units, some of which are completely concealed by younger rocks. The seismic profile provides the first coherent image through this relatively poorly understood part of Australian geology and yields major new insights about the crustal architecture, geometry and definition of the different geological and seismic provinces and their boundaries. Key findings include the following: (1) The Pilbara Craton shows a three-component horizontal crustal layering, where the granite– greenstone East Pilbara Terrane is largely confined to the upper crust. (2) The Pilbara Craton has an extensive reworked margin, the Warrawagine Seismic Province, that thins towards the east, and underlies the western and central Rudall Province. (3) At the largest scale, the Rudall Province shows an approximately funnel-shaped geometry, with limited differences in seismic character between the various terranes. (4) The western Kidson Sub-basin is underlain by rocks of the Neoproterozoic Yeneena Basin and Rudall Province. (5) The central and eastern part of the Kidson Sub-basin rests on the coherent, relatively poorly structured Punmu Seismic Province, which is truncated by the steep, crustal-scale Lasseter Shear Zone, that marks the boundary to the Aileron Province to the east. <b>Citation:</b> Doublier, M.P., Johnson, S.P., Gessner, K., Howard, H., Chopping, R., Smithies, R.H., Martin, D.McB.,Kelsey, D.E., Haines, P.w., Hickman, A., Czarnota, K., Southby, C., Champion, D.C., Huston, D.L., Calvert, A.J., Kohanpour, F., Moro, P., Costelloe, R., Fomin, T. and Kennett, B.L.N., 2020. Basement architecture from the Pilbara Craton to the Aileron Province: new insights from deep seismic reflection line 18GA-KB1. In: Czarnota, K., Roach, I., Abbott, S., Haynes, M., Kositcin, N., Ray, A. and Slatter, E. (eds.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, 1–4.

Multiple geochronology and isotopic tracer datasets have been compiled at continental scale and visualised in map view. The compiled datasets include Sm-Nd model ages of magmatic rocks; Lu-Hf isotopes from zircon; Pb isotopes from ore-related minerals such as galena and pyrite; U-Pb ages of magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks; and K-Ar and 40Ar-39Ar ages from minerals and whole rocks. A variety of maps can be derived from these datasets, which we refer to as an Isotopic Atlas of Australia. This ‘atlas’ provides a convenient visual overview of age and isotopic patterns reflecting geological processes that have led to the current configuration of the Australian continent, including progressive development of continental crust from the mantle (Sm-Nd; Lu-Hf), chemical and isotopic evolution in the source regions for mineralising fluids (Pb-Pb), magmatic and high-grade metamorphic reworking of the crust (U-Pb), and cooling and exhumation of the mid-crust (K-Ar; 40Ar-39Ar). These datasets and maps unlock the collective value of several decades of geochronological and isotopic studies conducted across Australia, and provide an important complement to other geological maps and geophysical images—in particular, by adding a time dimension to 2D and 3D maps and models. <b>Citation: </b>Fraser, G.L., Waltenberg,K., Jones, S.L., Champion, D.C., Huston, D.L., Lewis, C.J., Bodorkos, S., Forster, M., Vasegh, D., Ware, B. and Tessalina, S., 2020. An Isotopic Atlas of Australia. In: Czarnota, K., Roach, I., Abbott, S., Haynes, M., Kositcin, N., Ray, A. and Slatter, E. (eds.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, 1–4.

The Exploring for the Future program Virtual Roadshow was held on 7 July and 14-17 July 2020. The Minerals session of the roadshow was held on 14 July 2020 and consisted of the following presentations: Introduction - Richard Blewett Preamble - Karol Kzarnota Surface & Basins or Cover - Marie-Aude Bonnardot Crust - Kathryn Waltenberg Mantle - Marcus Haynes Zinc on the edge: New insights into sediment-hosted base metals mineral system - David Huston Scale reduction targeting for Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold in Tennant Creek and Mt Isa - Anthony Schofield and Andrew Clark Economic Fairways and Wrap-up - Karol Czarnota

SHRIMP U-Pb zircon and monazite geochronology of magmatic, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks sampled from an undercover region informally referred to as ‘East Tennant’, located approximately 200 km east of Tennant Creek, has redefined our knowledge of the geology of this region. These results establish strong temporal links with rocks in the Au-Cu-Bi mineralised Tennant Creek region (Warramunga Province) and the Paleoproterozoic Murphy Province, approximately 270 km to the northeast. Detrital zircon U-Pb analyses of two metasedimentary samples show maximum depositional ages of ca. 1875 Ma and detrital zircon age spectra similar to Warramunga Formation metasedimentary rocks in the Warramunga Province. Additionally, three extrusive rocks and an intermediate intrusive rock have magmatic crystallisation ages of 1858–1849 Ma, synchronous with magmatism in the Warramunga Province associated with the 1860–1845 Ma Tennant Event. Monazite U-Pb analyses of two samples of metapelites from the East Tennant region and Murphy Province record metamorphism at ca. 1845 Ma, which is also synchronous with magmatism associated with the Tennant Event. These new results suggest that the undercover East Tennant region could represent an extension of the Warramunga Province and therefore be prospective for Au-Cu-Bi mineralisation. <b>Citation:</b> Cross, A.J., Clark, A.D., Schofield, A. and Kositcin, N., 2020. New SHRIMP U-Pb zircon and monazite geochronology of the East Tennant region: a possible undercover extension of the Warramunga Province, Tennant Creek. In: Czarnota, K., Roach, I., Abbott, S., Haynes, M., Kositcin, N., Ray, A. and Slatter, E. (eds.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, 1–4.

Constraints on the morphology of the Moho are essential to establish reliable models of the subsurface and infer the evolution of the Australian crust. Reliable information on crustal thickness variations is important for thermal modelling and structural mapping, for both energy and mineral system studies. Here, we combine information from both passive seismic deployments and full-crustal reflection seismic profiling to produce a new representation of the character of the Moho in northern Australia. Data coverage has been dramatically improved by investments, under the Exploring for the Future program, in new deployments of passive seismic instrumentation and expansion of the network of reflection seismic profiles in the South Nicholson and Barkly regions. Using a new approach to combining results from different classes of seismic analysis, different spatial sampling associated with the various types of data have been taken into account. The resulting Moho surface reveals small-scale features not seen in previous models. New data reveal that some Moho discontinuities are clearly associated with known structures such as the Willowra Suture. Similar ~100 km wavelength undulations are visible in areas under cover that may indicate the presence of unknown major structures. Significant base metal mineral deposits appear to be localised along the edges of thicker crustal block. <b>Citation:</b> Gorbatov, A., Medlin, A., Kennett, B.L.N., Doublier, M.P., Czarnota, K., Fomin, T. and Henson, P., 2020. Moho variations in northern Australia. In: Czarnota, K., Roach, I., Abbott, S., Haynes, M., Kositcin, N., Ray, A. and Slatter, E. (eds.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, 1–4.

In recent years there has been a considerable expansion of deployments of portable seismic stations across Australia, which have been analysed by receiver function or autocorrelation methods to extract estimates of Moho depth. An ongoing program of full-crustal reflection profiles has now provided more than 25,000 km of reflection transects that have been interpreted for Moho structure. The Moho dataset is further augmented by extensive marine reflection results. These new data sources have been combined with earlier refraction and receiver function results to provide full continental coverage, though some desert areas remain with limited sampling. The dense sampling of the Moho indicates the presence of rapid changes in Moho depth and so the Moho surface has been constructed using an approach that allows different weighting and spatial influence depending on the nature of the estimate. The inclusion of Moho results from gravity inversion with low weighting helps to resolve the continent-ocean transition and to provide additional control in the least sampled zones. The refined distribution indicates the presence of widespread smaller-scale variations in Moho structure. Strong lateral contrasts in crustal thickness remain, but some have become more subdued with improved sampling of critical areas. The main differences from earlier results lie in previously poorly sampled regions around the Lake Eyre Basin, where additional passive seismic results indicate somewhat thicker crust though still witha strong contrast in crustal thickness to the cratonic zone to the west. Appeared in Geophysical Journal International, January 2023

<div><strong>Output Type: </strong>Exploring for the Future Extended Abstract</div><div><br></div><div><strong>Short Abstract: </strong>The continental crust directly hosts or underlies almost all mineral resources on which society depends. Despite its obvious importance its structure is poorly characterised. In particular, its density is surprisingly poorly constrained because it is difficult to directly image from the surface. Here we collate a global database of crustal thickness and velocity constraints. In combination with a compilation of published laboratory experimental constraints on seismic velocity at a range of pressures, we develop a scheme with which to convert seismic velocities into density as a function of pressure and temperature. We apply this approach to the Australian crystalline basement. We find that the Australian crust is highly heterogeneous, ranging in bulk density from 2.7—3.0 g cm-3. Finally, we explore the utility of our database for testing hypotheses about the location and endowment of mineral resources using porphyry copper deposits as an example. Our results provide an improved framework with which to explore the subsidence and thermal evolution of sedimentary basins, as well as probing relationships between deposit types and crustal architecture.</div><div><br></div><div><strong>Citation: </strong>Stephenson, S.N., Hoggard, M.J., Haynes, M.W., Czarnota, K. & Hejrani, B., 2024. Constraints on continental crustal thickness and density structure. In: Czarnota, K. (ed.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, https://doi.org/10.26186/149336</div>