No abstract available

In 2008-2009 Geoscience Australia, contracted Fugro Airborne Surveys and Geotech Airborne, to respectively acquire TEMPEST and VTEM airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data with broad line spacings covering more than 71 000 km² in the Pine Creek region, Northern Territory. The Pine Creek survey (Figure 1) is the second regional AEM survey funded by the Onshore Energy Security Program (OESP) at Geoscience Australia. Geoscience Australia funded the flying of 19 500 line km, subscriber companies funded 10 400 line km. The 5 000 m line spacing provide regional information with 1 666 m, 555 m and closer line spacing providing detail for mineral systems analysis and deposit scale mapping. One of the main survey objectives was to reduce exploration risk and encourage exploration in the region by mapping, under cover, in areas where gravity and magnetics are quiet. Geological targets included detecting: conductive unites within the Pine Creek Orogen (PCO) sequence; Kombolgie Sandstone / PCO unconformity; Tolmer Group/ Finniss River Group unconformity. Geoscience Australia undertook conductivity logging (Figure 2) in the Pine Creek region. Conductivity logs were processed and as input into forward models, ground truth AEM results and for geological interpretations. To facilitate interpretation, subsurface electrical conductivity predictions using a layered earth inversion (sample by sample) algorithm developed by Geoscience Australia (GA-LEI) were derived from the AEM survey data. Conductivity characterisation of large regional units using the AEM data show: the Rum Jungle Complex is a consistently resistive area with an average conductivity value of less than 2 m/S; the Mt Partridge Group has a conductivity value up to 100 m/S; the Kombolgie Sandstone has a conductivity range of less than 2 m/S in more areas. Detecting conductivity contrasts in areas with known uranium prospectivity aids in a mineral systems analysis and geological interpretation of uranium deposits.

Under the Community Stream Sampling and Salinity Mapping Project, the Australian Government through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Department of Environment and Heritage, acting through Bureau of Rural Sciences, funded an airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey to provide information in relation to land use questions in selected areas along the River Murray Corridor (RMC). The proposed study areas and major land use issues were identified by the RMC Reference Group at its inception meeting on 26th July, 2006. This report has been prepared to facilitate recommendations on the Nangiloc - Colignan study area. The work was developed in consultation with the RMC Technical Working Group (TWG) to provide a basis for the RMC Reference Group and other stake holders to understand the value and application of AEM data to the study area. This understanding, combined with the Reference Group's assessment of the final results and taking in account policy and land management issues, will enable the Reference Group to make recommendations to the Australian Government.

To be added later

Under the Community Stream Sampling and Salinity Mapping Project, the Australian Government through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Department of Environment and Heritage, acting through Bureau of Rural Sciences, funded an airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey to provide information in relation to land use questions in selected areas along the River Murray Corridor (RMC). The proposed study areas and major land use issues were identified by the RMC Reference Group at its inception meeting on 26th July, 2006. This report has been prepared to facilitate recommendations on the Liparoo - Robinvale study area. The work was developed in consultation with the RMC Technical Working Group (TWG) to provide a basis for the RMC Reference Group and other stake holders to understand the value and application of AEM data to the study area. This understanding, combined with the Reference Groups assessment of the final results and taking in account policy and land management issues, will enable the Reference Group to make recommendations to the Australian Government.

Geoscience Australia (GA) has initiated a program of Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) acquisition under the Australian Government's Energy Security Initiative (2007 - 2011), to provide new data in geological provinces relevant for uranium exploration. The focus of this acquisition is directed at geologic architecture indicative of unconformity-related and paleochannel-hosted uranium potential. Three regional-scale projects have been established, Paterson, Pine Creek, and Frome Embayment-northwest Murray Basin. The Paterson project is centred on the Kintyre uranium deposit, and covers much of the surrounding exposed and near surface Proterozoic. Kintyre is hosted by Paleoproterozoic Rudall Complex which is unconformably overlain by Neoproterozoic sediments of the Yeneena Basin. Approximately 28 000 line km of TEMPEST data were acquired at line spacings of between 200 and 6000 m. Preliminary interpretation indicates contrasts in AEM response between outcropping Rudall Complex and formations of the Yeneena Basin. Interpretation of inverted AEM data will seek to map the unconformity in the sub surface. Gamma ray data indicate that the Rudall Complex and regionally extensive ferruginous duricrust contain above background uranium (>7 ppm U). Erosion and weathering of these sources has possibly moved substantial uranium into younger paleovalleys, some of which are evident in the acquired AEM data. These valleys have potential to host sandstone uranium and calcrete uranium deposits. The Pine Creek project is directed at AEM characterisation of Paleoproterozoic rocks, particularly graphitic units adjacent to Archean granite domes, and tracing these in regions of cover (e.g., the Woolner Granite area). The project will also attempt to map key sub-surface unconformities, and structures that may have controlled mineralisation. Acquisition for Geoscience Australia in the project area is at line spacings of 1.66 km and 5 km. VTEM acquisition in the east over the Pine Creek Orogen and overlying Kombolgie Subgroup has been completed. Acquisition of TEMPEST data farther west should be completed by mid June 09. The Frome Embayment - Murray Basin project will provide regional AEM data over a large area (80 000 km2) including known paleochannel-type uranium at the Beverley, Four Mile and Honeymoon deposits. Proposed infill flying at 1.66 km will be undertaken over the NW Murray Basin to test whether similar channel settings occur south of high-uranium granites and uranium occurrences in the Olary Province. The infill area also plans to map strand lines of the Murray Basin which may be prospective for thorium rich heavy mineral sands.

Under the Community Stream Sampling and Salinity Mapping Project, the Australian Government through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Department of Environment and Heritage, acting through Bureau of Rural Sciences, funded an airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey to provide information in relation to land use questions in selected areas along the River Murray Corridor (RMC). The proposed study areas and major land use issues were identified by the RMC Reference Group at its inception meeting on 26th July, 2006. This report has been prepared to facilitate recommendations on the Lindsay-Wallpolla study area. The work was developed in consultation with the RMC Technical Working Group (TWG) to provide a basis for the RMC Reference Group and other stake holders to understand the value and application of AEM data to the study area. This understanding, combined with the Reference Group's assessment of the final results and taking in account policy and land management issues, will enable the Reference Group to make recommendations to the Australian Government.

This report summarises the result of a study into seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers in the Northern territory coastal plain using AEM data, down hole geophysics, and bore hole geology carried out by Geoscience Australia on behalf of the National Water Commission and in partnership with NRETAS. The study showed that ground-validated AEM is able to map areas of saline aquifers in the area and differentiate them from bedrock conductors.

Phase 3a of the Broken Hill Managed Aquifer Recharge (BHMAR) project is tasked with assessing whether a sustainable ground water extraction approach, including MAR, is a feasible option for securing Broken Hill's water supply in times of drought. More specifically, the project is charged with determining, with a defined level of confidence, whether at least 3 years water supply (~30 GL), at a similar salinity to that already available for Broken Hill would be available at all times through these new arrangements. This interim report documents the preliminary findings of the Phase 3a study, which is focussed on a priority target immediately south of Menindee.

Short article describing detection of interpreted unconformity between Coolbro Sandstone and Rudall Complex rocks near the Kintyre uranium deposit, Western Australia