The Maldon gold deposit in central Victoria has geological, geochronological and fluid chemistry characteristics that distinguish it from typical vein-hosted, orogenic' gold deposits in this region. The deposit lies within the contact aureole of the Harcourt Granite and associated granitic dykes. The ore-bearing fluids are characterised by the presence of non-aqueous (i.e. carbonic) fluids, which exhibit complex freezing and heating behaviour, as well as mixed CO2-low-salinity aqueous fluids (mostly - 10 wt.% NaCl eq.). Raman analysis indicates that carbonic inclusions can vary from CO2-rich to CH4-rich, with N2 contents up to 38 mol.%. Higher-salinity brine inclusions, 20-22 wt.% NaCl eq., only occur locally. The Harcourt Granite is a moderately reduced, I-type granite and the reduced fluids (e.g. CH4-N2-rich) are believed to have formed within (or in close proximity to) thermal aureoles of the dykes or granites during contact metamorphism. This further supports the premise that the Maldon deposit is an 'orogenic' gold deposit that was metamorphosed and/or remobilised during the emplacement of post-orogenic intrusions/dykes. We conclude that some 'orogenic' gold deposits worldwide may have been completely overprinted by later magmatic/metamorphic events and are now only evident as reduced intrusion-related gold systems.

Exploring for the Future (EFTF) was an Australian Government program led by Geoscience Australia (GA), in partnership with state and Northern Territory governments. The EFTF program (2016-2024) aimed to drive industry investment in resource exploration in frontier regions of onshore Australia by providing new precompetitive data and information about their energy, mineral and groundwater resource potential. Under the EFTF program, the Onshore Energy Project undertook a study of petroleum prospectivity of the onshore Officer Basin in South Australia and Western Australia. Mallabie 1 well in South Australia was selected based on the occurrence of gas and oil shows reported in the well completion report. Sampling of cuttings and cores was done at Geoscience Australia's Petroleum Data Repository in Canberra. Geoscience Australia commissioned a fluid inclusion stratigraphy (FIS) study on the downhole samples. Here, volatile components ostensibly trapped with fluid inclusions are released and analysed revealing the level of exposure of the well section to migrating fluids. Integration of thin section (TS) preparations reveal the extent of gas and fluid trapping within fluid inclusions while microthemometry (MT) gives an estimation of fluid inclusion trapping temperature. For Mallabie 1, FIS analysis was performed on 153 cuttings and 21 cores between 9.1 metres and 1495.5 metres base depth, together with 22 samples prepared for TS and 4 samples for MT. To support this study, lithostratigraphic tops were compiled by Geoscience Australia. The results of the study are found in the accompanying documents.

This web-enabled system allows researchers to retrieve fluid inclusion data from anywhere in the world. The concept is to build a free and widely available web-based library of fluid properties for a range of geological fluids. The database is being developed as an "open" project, which intends to bring together researchers interested in the properties of geological fluids or fluid inclusions.

Exploring for the Future (EFTF) is an Australian Government program led by Geoscience Australia (GA), in partnership with state and Northern Territory governments. The EFTF program (2016-2024) aims to drive industry investment in resource exploration in frontier regions of onshore Australia by providing new precompetitive data and information about their energy, mineral and groundwater resource potential. Under the EFTF program, the Basin Inventory Project undertook a study of petroleum prospectivity of the onshore Eromanga Basin in Queensland and South Australia. Yongala 1 well in Queensland was selected based on the occurrence of gas and oil shows reported in the well completion report. Sampling of cuttings and cores was done at Geoscience Australia's Petroleum Data Repository in Canberra. Geoscience Australia commissioned a fluid inclusion stratigraphy (FIS) study on the downhole samples. Here, volatile components ostensibly trapped with fluid inclusions are released and analysed revealing the level of exposure of the well section to migrating fluids. Integration of thin section (TS) preparations reveal the extent of gas and fluid trapping within fluid inclusions while microthemometry (MT) gives an estimation of fluid inclusion trapping temperature. For Yongala 1, FIS analysis was performed on 418 cuttings and 52 cores between 15.2 metres and 3104.5 metres base depth, together with 22 samples prepared for TS and 3 samples for MT. To support this study, lithostratigraphic tops were compiled by Geoscience Australia. The results of the study are found in the accompanying documents.

Exploring for the Future (EFTF) is an Australian Government program led by Geoscience Australia (GA), in partnership with state and Northern Territory governments. The EFTF program (2016-2024) aims to drive industry investment in resource exploration in frontier regions of onshore Australia by providing new precompetitive data and information about their energy, mineral and groundwater resource potential. Under the EFTF program, GA’s National Hydrogen Project and in collaboration with Minerals Resources Tasmania (MRT) undertook a study of hydrogen and helium potential of south-east Tasmania with the sampling of cores from Jericho 1 on Bruny Island. This well was selected based on the availability of core and historic reports of hydrogen-rich natural gases from this well and petroleum exploration wells in the region. Sampling of cores was done at MRT’s Core Repository in Hobart. Geoscience Australia commissioned a fluid inclusion stratigraphy (FIS) study on the downhole samples. Here, volatile components ostensibly trapped with fluid inclusions are released and analysed revealing the level of exposure of the well section to migrating fluids. Integration of thin section (TS) preparations reveal the extent of gas and fluid trapping within fluid inclusions while microthemometry (MT) gives an estimation of fluid inclusion trapping temperature. For Jericho 1, FIS analysis was performed on 179 cores between 87 m and 640.6 m base depth, together with 7 samples prepared for TS and 1 sample for MT. To support this study, lithostratigraphic tops were compiled by MRT. The results of the study are found in the accompanying documents.

Exploring for the Future (EFTF) is an Australian Government program led by Geoscience Australia (GA), in partnership with state and Northern Territory governments. The EFTF program (2016-2024) aims to drive industry investment in resource exploration in frontier regions of onshore Australia by providing new precompetitive data and information about their energy, mineral and groundwater resource potential. Under the EFTF program, the Onshore Energy Project undertook a study of petroleum prospectivity of the onshore Officer Basin in South Australia and Western Australia. Yowalga 3 well in Western Australia was selected based on the occurrence of gas and oil shows reported in the well completion report. Sampling of cuttings and cores was done at Geoscience Australia's Petroleum Data Repository in Canberra. Geoscience Australia commissioned a fluid inclusion stratigraphy (FIS) study on the downhole samples. Here, volatile components ostensibly trapped with fluid inclusions are released and analysed revealing the level of exposure of the well section to migrating fluids. Integration of thin section (TS) preparations reveal to extent of gas and fluid trapping within fluid inclusions while microthemometry (MT) gives an estimation of fluid inclusion trapping temperature. For Yowalga 3, FIS analysis was performed on 698 cuttings and 30 cores between 140 metres and 3526 metres base depth, together with 22 samples prepared for TS. To support this study, lithostratigraphic tops were compiled by Geoscience Australia. The results of the study are found in the accompanying documents. Note: Yowalga 3 results are in two parts, Part 1 and Part 2, since the total number of samples exceeded to maximum number of samples (575) for a Schlumberger well report. Part 1 has cuttings by increasing depth and Part 2 has the remaining cuttings then the cores.

The Paleoproterozoic Westmoreland region is located 1250 km southeast of Darwin. The Westmoreland region is flanked on the southeast by the Paleoproterozoic Mt Isa Inlier and the Neoproterozoic South Nicholson Basin and in the northwest it is overlapped by Mesoproterozoic sediments of the McArthur Basin. The northern and southern ends of the McArthur basin share many geologic attributes including correlative stratigraphic rock types, which suggests that there is potential for unconformity-related uranium deposits in the southern McArthur basin and adjacent Westmoreland region. In fact, over fifty occurrences of uranium (some with minor gold) and copper mineralisation have been recorded in the Westmoreland region. Fluid inclusion studies have been carried out on selected uranium and copper prospects on the Northern Territory side of the Westmoreland region. Four types of inclusions have been observed, (Type A) Vapour-rich inclusions containing 30 100 vol.% vapour. Varying amounts of CO2 ± N2 ± CH4 have been detected in these inclusions, (Type B) Liquid-rich inclusions with up to 30 vol.% vapour, (Type C) Liquid-only inclusions, and (Type D) Three-phase (vapour + liquid + solid) liquid-rich inclusions containing a small daughter crystal. Type A, vapour-rich inclusions and some Type B, liquid-rich inclusions homogenised over the range 171 to 385 °C and are thought to be related to early metamorphic events. Other Type B and Type D inclusions typically homogenised between 100 and 240 °C with a mode around 120 °C, while the presence of liquid-only inclusions suggests trapping at temperatures below 50 °C. Eutectic melting temperatures indicate the presence of CaCl2 in the fluids but final melting temperatures show the presence of both high and low salinity brines. This suggests mixing between saline basinal fluids and low salinity meteoric fluids that continued down to temperatures below 50 °C.

Exploring for the Future (EFTF) is an Australian Government program led by Geoscience Australia (GA), in partnership with state and Northern Territory governments. The EFTF program (2016-2024) aims to drive industry investment in resource exploration in frontier regions of onshore Australia by providing new precompetitive data and information about their energy, mineral and groundwater resource potential. Under the EFTF program, GA’s National Hydrogen Project and in collaboration with Minerals Resources Tasmania (MRT) undertook a study of hydrogen and helium potential of south-east Tasmania with the sampling of cores from Glenorchy 1 in the surrounds of Hobart. This well was selected based on the availability of core and historic reports of hydrogen-rich natural gases from petroleum exploration wells in the region. Sampling of cores was done at MRT’s Core Repository in Hobart. Geoscience Australia commissioned a fluid inclusion stratigraphy (FIS) study on the downhole samples. Here, volatile components ostensibly trapped with fluid inclusions are released and analysed revealing the level of exposure of the well section to migrating fluids. Integration of thin section (TS) preparations reveal the extent of gas and fluid trapping within fluid inclusions while microthemometry (MT) gives an estimation of fluid inclusion trapping temperature. For Glenorchy 1, FIS analysis was performed on 173 cores between 6 m and 613.9 m base depth, together with 8 samples prepared for TS and 1 sample for MT. To support this study, lithostratigraphic tops were compiled by MRT. The results of the study are found in the accompanying documents.

The Maldon gold deposit in central Victoria lies within the contact aureole of the Harcourt Granite and associated granitic dykes. The ore-bearing fluids are characterised by the presence of CH4-rich fluids, which exhibit complex freezing and heating behaviour, as well as mixed CO2-low-salinity aqueous fluids. Raman analysis indicates that the CH4-rich inclusions from Maldon contain 30 to >70 mol.% CH4 (and <40 mol.% N2) and have highly variable ratios of CH4/CO2, ranging from 0.12 to 15.6. The presence of graphite in the CH4-rich inclusions indicates either accidental trapping of the solid phase at high temperature or post-trapping changes (i.e. incomplete reactions). Higher-salinity brine inclusions only occur locally. The Harcourt Granite is a moderately reduced, I-type granite and the reduced fluids are believed to have formed within (or in close proximity to) thermal aureoles of the dykes or granites during contact metamorphism. We conclude that the Maldon deposit is an 'orogenic' gold deposit that was metamorphosed and/or remobilised during the emplacement of post-orogenic intrusions/dykes. The late-stage magmatic fluids and retrograde metamorphic fluids have produced many of the features associated with other well documented reduced intrusion-related gold systems. This suggests that some 'orogenic' gold deposits may have been completely overprinted by later magmatic/metamorphic events and are now only evident as reduced intrusion-related gold systems.

Exploring for the Future (EFTF) is an Australian Government program led by Geoscience Australia, in partnership with state and Northern Territory governments. The first phase of the EFTF program (2016-2020) aimed to drive industry investment in resource exploration in frontier regions of northern Australia by providing new precompetitive data and information about their energy, mineral and groundwater resource potential. One key discovery was the identification of a large sedimentary depocentre concealed beneath the Cambrian Georgina Basin. This depocentre, up to 8 km deep, was termed the ‘Carrara Sub-basin’ by Geoscience Australia. It is interpreted to contain thick sequences of Proterozoic rocks, broadly equivalent to rocks of the greater McArthur Basin (Northern Territory) and northern Lawn Hill Platform and Mount Isa Province (Queensland), known to be highly prospective for sediment-hosted base metals and unconventional hydrocarbons. In order to test geological interpretations in the Carrara Sub-basin, the South Nicholson National Drilling Initiative (NDI) Carrara 1 stratigraphic drill hole was completed in late 2020, as a collaboration between Geoscience Australia, the Northern Territory Geological Survey (NTGS) and the MinEx CRC managing of the drilling operation. NDI Carrara 1 is the first drill hole to intersect Proterozoic rocks of the Carrara Sub-basin. It reached a total depth of 1751 m, intersecting ca. 630 m of Cambrian Georgina Basin overlying ca. 1100 m of Proterozoic carbonates, black shales and minor siliciclastics. Geoscience Australia has undertaken a range of investigations on the lithology, stratigraphy and geotechnical properties of NDI Carrara 1. These analyses include geochronology, isotopic studies, mineralogy, inorganic and organic geochemistry, petrophysics, geomechanics, thermal maturity, and petroleum systems investigations. To increase the understanding of the petroleum potential, molecular hydrogen and helium potential of sedimentary and basement rocks, Geoscience Australia commissioned a fluid inclusion stratigraphy (FIS) study on the downhole samples. Here, volatile components ostensibly trapped with fluid inclusions are released and analysed revealing the level of exposure of the well section to migrating fluids. Integration of thin section (TS) preparations reveal to extent of oil trapping within fluid inclusions while microthemometry (MT) gives an estimation of fluid inclusion trapping temperature. For NDI Carrara 1, FIS analysis was performed on 86 cuttings between 18 m and 282 m base depth and 342 cores between 283.9 m and 1750.45 m base depth, together with 27 samples prepared for TS and 4 samples for MT. To support this study, lithostratigraphic tops were interpreted and compiled by Geoscience Australia. The results of the study are found in the accompanying documents.