<div>A multi-disciplinary program of geological and geophysical data collection and integration, focussed on the Delamerian Orogen, was undertaken as part of Geoscience Australia’s Exploring for the Future (EFTF) program and the Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centres (MinEx CRC) National Drilling Initiative (NDI).&nbsp;In this study, we integrate learnings from these data with existing geological and geophysical data to refine the basement geology of the Loch Lilly-Kars Belt, Lake Wintlow Belt and Wilcannia High. Our interpretation provides a revised geological framework for a frontier exploration region in the Delamerian Orogen.&nbsp;This product includes ESRI shape files and layer files, accompanying notes, and several appendices containing new detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology data from the map area as well as the broader Delamerian Orogen.</div>

The Upper Darling Floodplain AEM Survey is part of the Exploring for the Future Program. This scientific research is being carried out to obtain data that will enhance understanding of the groundwater resources of the upper Darling River region. This information will support future water resource management decision-making in the region.

Geoscience Australia, in collaboration with state governments, will be carrying out airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys in eastern South Australia and western NSW and Victoria during 2022. The Australian Government’s Exploring for the Future program, led by Geoscience Australia, is committed to supporting a strong economy, resilient society and sustainable environment for the benefit of Australians. At its heart, the program is about contributing to a sustainable, long-term future for Australia through an improved understanding of the nation’s mineral, energy and groundwater resource potential <p>

As part of the program, the Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian project is investigating the groundwater potential of the upper Darling River floodplain, as well as the mineral and groundwater potential of parts of eastern South Australia, western New South Wales, western Victoria and western Tasmania. Communities, industries and the environment in the upper Darling River region have been impacted by recent droughts. During periods of low flow in the Darling River, groundwater has the potential to be an alternative water source for towns, agriculture and mining. The aim of the Upper Darling River Floodplain Groundwater study is to identify and better understand groundwater supplies beneath the floodplain and its surrounds. When combined with innovative water storage options, these groundwater resources could provide enhanced drought security and promote regional development. The study area covers ~31,000 km2 and includes a 450 km stretch of the Darling River floodplain from Wilcannia upstream to Bourke and Brewarrina.

<div>A keynote talk talk given at Uncover Curnamona 2022 by Angela O'Rourke outlining the rationale, work program and new data acquisition for Geoscience Australia's Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian Project within Exploring for the Future</div> This presentation was given to the 2022 Uncover Curnamona 2022 Conference 31 May - 2 June:<br>(https://www.gsa.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/Events/Uncover%20Curnamona%202021/UC2022_short_program_A4_web%20(003).pdf)

<div>The Curnamona Province and overlying basins (herein referred to as the Broken Hill region) contain many discrete groundwater systems. These include sedimentary aquifers of the Lake Eyre Basin, Eromanga Basin, Darling Basin and Arrowie Basin, as well as fractured rock aquifers of the Adelaide Superbasin and Curnamona Province. However, there is little known about the hydrogeology or hydrogeochemistry of these aquifers in the Broken Hill region. Given the semi-arid climate in this region, understanding these groundwater systems can better support sustainable use of the groundwater for agriculture, mining and potable water supplies.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Aquifer attribution provides a fundamental starting point for any hydrogeological study. We will present recently released hydrogeochemical data for the Broken Hill region, and our subsequent process for assessing and attributing hydrostratigraphy to the samples. </div><div>The Broken Hill Groundwater Geochemistry dataset (BHGG) was recently released in its entirety (Caritat et al. 2022 http://dx.doi.org/10.11636/Record.2022.020). It contains a compilation of archival CRC LEME hydrochemistry data that was collected as part of several projects from 1999 to 2005. This high-quality dataset contains 275 groundwater samples and includes a comprehensive suite of majors, minors, trace elements and stable isotopes (δ34S, δ18O, δ2H, δ13C, 87Sr/86Sr, 208/207/206Pb/204Pb). </div><div> At the time of collection, some key bore metadata (e.g. bore depths, screen and aquifer information) were missing from the original data compilations and these metadata are crucial for any hydrogeological analysis and interpretation. Therefore, as part of the new BHGG data release we have developed a robust and consistent approach to add bore information and aquifer attribution, value-adding to the original BHGG chemical and isotopic data. This workflow utilises a combination of State databases, reports, field notes, drillhole compilations and geological maps, but still relied on local hydrological expertise to make decisions when encountering incomplete or conflicting information (which is reflected by a confidence rating on the attribution). </div><div> The resulting BHGG product has supported re-assessment of the key hydrogeological and geochemical knowledge gaps in each groundwater system. An overview of knowledge gaps and the new sampling program being undertaken will be included in the presentation. &nbsp;</div><div><br></div>This Abstract was submitted/presented to the 2022 Australasian Groundwater Conference 21-23 November (https://agc2022.com.au/)

<div>Poster for the Specialist Group in Geochemistry, Mineralogy & Petrology (SGGMP) conference in Yallingup WA in November 2022.</div><div><br></div>This Poster was presented to the 2022 Specialist Group in Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology (SGGMP) Conference 7-11 November (https://gsasggmp.wixsite.com/home/biennial-conference-2021)

Geoscience Australia, in collaboration with state government agencies, has been collecting magnetotelluric (MT) data as part of the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP) for several years. This program aims to map the electrical resistivity of the rock layers, at depths from ten kilometres to hundreds of kilometres, across the entire continent. AusLAMP sites are each about 55 km apart from each other. Locations are chosen in consultation with landholders and other stakeholders to minimise impacts and avoid disturbance.MT data is collected using sensors that record naturally occurring variations of the Earth’s magnetic and electric fields. The equipment does not produce or transmit and signals. After four to six weeks the equipment is retrieved and the site restored to its original condition.

<div>As part of the Australia's Resources Framework Project, in the Exploring for the Future Program, Geoscience Australia and CSIRO have undertaken a magnetic source depth study across four areas. These are: 1) the western part of Tasmania that is the southernmost extension of the Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian (DCD) project area; 2) northeastern Queensland; 3) the Officer Basin area of western South Australia and southeastern West Australia; and 4) the 'Eastern Resources Corridor' (ERC) covering eastern South Australia, southwest Queensland, western New South Wales and western Victoria. This study has produced 2005 magnetic estimates of depth to the top of magnetization. The solutions are derived by a consistent methodology (targeted magnetic inversion modelling, or TMIM; also known as ‘sweet-spot’ modelling). </div><div><br></div><div>The magnetic depth estimates produced as part of this study provide depth constraints in data-poor areas. They help to construct a better understanding of the 3D geometry of the Australian continent, and aid cover thickness modelling activities. </div><div><br></div><div>A supplementary interpretation data release is also available through Geoscience Australia's enterprise catalogue (ecat) at https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/149499.</div><div><br></div><div>Geoscience Australia’s Exploring for the Future program provides precompetitive information to inform decision-making by government, community and industry on the sustainable development of Australia's mineral, energy and groundwater resources. By gathering, analysing and interpreting new and existing precompetitive geoscience data and knowledge, we are building a national picture of Australia’s geology and resource potential. This leads to a strong economy, resilient society and sustainable environment for the benefit of all Australians. This includes supporting Australia’s transition to net zero emissions, strong, sustainable resources and agriculture sectors, and economic opportunities and social benefits for Australia’s regional and remote communities. The Exploring for the Future program, which commenced in 2016, is an eight year, $225m investment by the Australian Government. This work contributes to building a better understanding of the Australian continent, whilst giving the Australian public the tools they need to help them make informed decisions in their areas of interest.</div>

The AusArray program aims to install small temporary passive seismic stations every 200 km across Australia. The seismic stations will passively measure small natural vibrations that travel through the Earth to help scientists understand the distribution and composition of rocks beneath the ground. Seismometers are sensitive instruments used to measure small natural vibrations that travel through the Earth caused by earthquakes, waves breaking on the shore and even wind. The data collected are analysed to create a three-dimensional model of the Earth’s subsurface. Passive seismic data can be used to model the Earth‘s structure, which is used to infer the geological history and assess the resource potential and natural hazards of the region.