Authors / CoAuthors
de Caritat, P. | Bastrakov, E. | Walker, A.T. | McInnes, B.I.A
Abstract
<div>The National Geochemical Survey of Australia (NGSA) is Australia’s only internally consistent, continental-scale geochemical atlas and dataset. The present dataset contains additional mineralogical data obtained on NGSA samples selected from the Barkly-Isa-Georgetown (BIG) region of northeastern Australia for the second partial data release of the Heavy Mineral Map of Australia (HMMA) project. The HMMA project, a collaborative project between Geoscience Australia and Curtin University underpinned by a pilot project establishing its feasibility, is part of the Australian Government-funded Exploring for the Future (EFTF) program.</div><div>One-hundred and eighty eight NGSA sediment samples were selected from the HMMA project within the EFTF’s BIG polygon plus an approximately one-degree buffer. The samples were taken on average from 60 to 80 cm depth in floodplain landforms, dried and sieved to a 75-430 µm grainsize fraction, and the contained heavy minerals (HMs; i.e., those with a specific gravity > 2.9 g/cm3) were separated by dense fluids and mounted on cylindrical epoxy mounts. After polishing and carbon-coating, the mounts were subjected to automated mineralogical analysis on a TESCAN® Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA). Using scanning electron microscopy and backscatter electron imaging integrated with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, the TIMA identified 151 different HMs in the BIG area. The dataset, consisting of over 18 million individual mineral grains, was quality controlled and validated by an expert team. The data released here can be visualised, explored and downloaded using an online, bespoke mineral network analysis (MNA) tool built on a cloud-based platform. Preliminary analysis suggests that copper minerals cuprite and chalcopyrite may be indicative of base-metal/copper mineralisation in the area. Accompanying this report are two data files of TIMA results, and a minerals vocabulary file. </div><div>When completed in 2023, it is hoped the HMMA project will positively impact mineral exploration and prospectivity modelling around Australia, as well as have other applications in earth and environmental sciences.</div>
Product Type
document
eCat Id
147438
Contact for the resource
Resource provider
Point of contact
Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia
Point of contact
- Contact instructions
- MEG
Digital Object Identifier
Keywords
- ( Project )
-
- EFTF – Exploring for the Future
- ( Project )
-
- EFTF
- ( Project )
-
- Barkly-Isa-Georgetown
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- Mineralogy
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- Mineral exploration
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- Precompetitive Data
- theme.ANZRC Fields of Research.rdf
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- Mineralogy and crystallographyResource geoscience
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- Published_External
Publication Date
2022-12-06T22:21:56
Creation Date
2022-11-22T20:00:00
Security Constraints
Legal Constraints
Status
completed
Purpose
Deliver the second tranche of HMMA to EFTF Stakeholders
Maintenance Information
asNeeded
Topic Category
geoscientificInformation
Series Information
Record RECORD 2022/043
Lineage
<div>National Geochemical Survey of Australia: The Geochemical Atlas of Australia http://dx.doi.org/10.11636/Record.2011.020</div><div>Heavy Mineral Map of Australia: Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian Data Release https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/146921 </div>
Parent Information
Extents
[-44.00, -9.00, 112.00, 154.00]
Reference System
GDA94 / geographic 2D (EPSG: 4283)
Spatial Resolution
Service Information
Associations
Association Type - informed
The Heavy Mineral Map of Australia Project -- Data Release 1: The Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian Region
eCat Identifier - 146921,
UUID - a9449585-1eac-4dac-8cb7-7893fb8f0a26
Association Type - operatedOnBy
eCat Identifier - 147399,
UUID - 6cb231b7-61ea-4992-88a7-0b29d94585cf
Association Type - operatedOnBy
eCat Identifier - 147400,
UUID - 5db95ed9-9c31-452c-8483-024efca4ce74
Association Type - operatedOnBy
eCat Identifier - 147403,
UUID - 782d63ca-95fb-4f20-9c64-ff937d50d716
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Source Information