This web service provides access to datasets produced by the mineral potential assement of iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) mineral systems in the Tennant Creek – Mt Isa region. The mineral potential assessment uses a 2D, GIS-based workflow to qualitatively map four key mineral system components: (1) Sources of metals, fluids and ligands, (2) Energy to drive fluid flow, (3) Fluid flow pathways and architecture, and (4) Deposition mechanisms, such as redox or chemical gradients. For each of these key mineral system components theoretical criteria, representing important ore-forming processes, were identified and translated into mappable proxies using a wide range of input datasets. Each of these criteria are weighted and combined using an established workflow to produce the final map of IOCG potential.

<div>Maps showing the potential for iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) mineral systems in Australia. Each of the mineral potential maps is a synthesis of four component layers (source of metals, fluids and ligands; energy sources and fluid flow drivers; fluid flow pathways and architecture; and ore depositional gradients). The model uses a hybrid data-driven and knowledge driven methodology to produce the final mineral potential map for the mineral system. An uncertainty map is provided in conjunction with the mineral potential maps that represents the availability of data coverage over Australia for the selected combination of input maps. Uncertainty values range between 0 and 1, with higher uncertainty values being located in areas where more input maps are missing data or have unknown values. The input maps and mineral deposits and occurrences used to generate the mineral potential map are provided along with an assessment criteria table which contains information on the map creation.</div>

<p>Iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposits are consequences of lithospheric- to deposit-scale earth processes, and form where there was a coincidence of ore-forming processes in space and time. Building on previous conceptualisations we view a ‘mineral system’ as an ore-forming geological system in which four components are required to have operated efficiently and coincidentally, namely: (1) available sources of ore metals (i.e., copper, gold, uranium, rareearth elements) and hydrothermal fluids; (2) energy sources to drive fluids in the ore-forming system; (3) active crustal and mantle lithospheric architecture, representing hydrothermal fluid and/or magma flow pathways; and (4) physico-chemical gradients along which ore metals were deposited to form ore bodies. <p>This holistic multi-scale mineral systems framework has been used to develop a practical, knowledge-based yet data-rich, prospectivity mapping method applicable at regional to continental scales for hydrothermal and orthomagmatic ore-forming systems. We demonstrate how the mineral system components can be translated into mappable criteria and show how maps of mineral potential are generated by integrating diverse and rich input data sets. The method enables prediction of mineral potential not only in brownfields areas but also in greenfields and covered terranes with no previously known mineralisation. Here we report the application of this methodology in regional-scale mapping of the potential for iron oxide Cu-Au (IOCG) deposits in Australia, using examples from five studies over the last decade in northern Queensland, eastern South Australia, and southern and central-eastern Northern Territory. Uncertainties in the results arising from assignment of weightings to input data layers were investigated by the application of Monte Carlo-type probabilistic simulations. The results of 500 iterations using randomly assigned weightings overall support the deterministic results but also show that modelled prospectivity is controlled mainly by variations in intrinsic values of the input geoscientific data sets (e.g. highs and lows of gravity values) rather than by the weightings. <p>The results of the knowledge-driven data-rich analyses of IOCG potential have been validated against known IOCG deposits (not used directly in the analysis). We find in all five studies (Queensland, South Australia and Northern Territory) a good spatial correspondence, with few exceptions. Statistical analysis of prospectivity mapping results from the Tennant Creek – Mt Isa study area demonstrate that 15 of 16 IOCG deposits occur in the highest modelled prospectivity areas within 4.2% of the study area, representing an area reduction of 95.8%. Moreover, several new discoveries of Cu-Au mineralisation have been made within areas previously highlighted as highly prospective. This success and validation support the utility of Geoscience Australia’s approach as a decision-support tool to assist exploration companies and governments in cratonto regional-scale area selection for discovery of IOCG and other mineral systems.

Rapid, efficient, and accurate prediction of mineral occurrence that takes uncertainty into 20 account is essential to optimise defining exploration targets. Traditional approaches to mineral 21 potential mapping often fail to fully appreciate spatial uncertainties of input predictors and their 22 spatial cross-correlation. In this study a stochastic technique based on multivariate 23 geostatistical simulations and ensemble tree-based learners is introduced for predicting and 24 uncertainty quantification of mineral exploration targets. The technique is tested on a synthetic 25 case inspired by the characteristics of a hydrothermal mineral system model and a real-world 26 dataset from the Yilgarn Craton in Western Australia. Results from the two cases proved the 27 superior performance and robustness of the proposed stochastic technique, especially when 28 dealing with high dimensional and large data sets. <b>Citation:</b> Talebi, H., Mueller, U., Peeters, L.J.M. et al. Stochastic Modelling of Mineral Exploration Targets. <i>Math Geosci </i>54, 593–621 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11004-021-09989-z

<div><strong>Output type:</strong> Exploring for the Future Extended Abstract</div><div><br></div><div><strong>Short abstract: </strong>Iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposits are a significant source of copper and gold and can also contain critical minerals that are required for the transition to a low carbon economy and to increase Australia’s security of mineral supply. Given their strategic importance, a national-scale assessment of the mineral potential for IOCG mineral systems in Australia has been undertaken using a hybrid data- and knowledge-driven approach. The national-scale assessment includes the evaluation of the statistical importance of mappable criteria used in previously published regional-scale IOCG models, resulting in the removal of five criteria and the inclusion of four new or revised criteria derived from datasets developed through the Exploring for the Future program. The new mineral potential model successfully predicts the location of 91.7% of known IOCG deposits and occurrences in 8.3% of the area, reducing the exploration search space by 91.7% and highlighting new areas of elevated prospectivity in under-explored regions of Australia. When compared to existing regional-scale mineral potential assessments for IOCG mineral systems published by Geoscience Australia, the new national-scale model demonstrates higher prospectivity in areas with known IOCG deposits and occurrences, while also highlighting new prospective areas for IOCG mineral systems. Areas with assessed high prospectivity but lacking known IOCG mineralisation include parts of the Curnamona, Etheridge and Musgrave provinces, and the Delamerian, Halls Creek and Tanami orogens.</div> <div><strong>Citation</strong>: Cloutier J., et al., 2024. First national mineral system assessment of Australia's iron oxide copper-gold potential. In: Czarnota, K. (ed.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, https://doi.org/10.26186/149357</div>

<div>The mineral potential toolkit (aka minpot-toolkit) provides tools to facilitate mineral potential analysis, from spatial associations to feature engineering and fully integrated mineral potential mapping.</div>

This web service delivers data from an aggregation of sources, including several Geoscience Australia databases (provinces (PROVS), mineral resources (OZMIN), energy systems (AERA, ENERGY_SYSTEMS) and water (HYDROGEOLOGY). Information is grouped based on a modified version of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2021 Indigenous Regions (IREG). Data covers population centres, top industries, a regional summary, groundwater resources and uses, energy production and potential across six sources and two energy storage options. Mineral production and potential covers 36 commodities that are grouped into 13 groups.

<div>Magmatic arcs represent a critical source of modern civilisation’s mineral wealth, with their importance only enhanced by the ongoing global transition to a low-carbon society. The ~830-495 Ma Delamerian Orogen, formed at Australia’s eastern cratonic margin, represents rocks ascribed to rift/passive-margin, convergent margin arc, orogenic, and post-orogenic settings. However, poor exposure has limited exploration activity across much of the orogen, despite demonstrated potential for numerous mineral systems. To address this issue, an orogen-wide zircon Hf-O isotope and trace element survey was performed on 55 magmatic samples to constrain the crustal architecture, evolution, and fertility of the Delamerian Orogen, and in turn map parameters that can be used as a guide to mineral potential. These new data define two broad magmatic episodes at: (1) ~585-480 Ma, related to rift/passive margin, convergent arc, orogenic, and post-orogenic activity (Delamerian Cycle); and (2) magmatism associated with the ~490-320 Ma Lachlan Orogen, with peaks at ~420 Ma (onshore, Tabberabberan Cycle) and ~370 Ma (western Tasmania). Isotopic and geochemical mapping of these events show that the ~585-480 Ma Delamerian Cycle has significant orogen-wide variation in magmatic Hf-O isotopes and oxidation-state, suggesting a spatial variation in the occurrence and type of potential mineral systems. The ~420 Ma magmatic event involved predominantly mantle-like Hf-O and oxidised magmatism, whilst the ~370 Ma magmatism shows opposing features. In general, The potential to host Cu-Au porphyry and VMS mineralisation (e.g., Stavely, Koonenberry) is present, but restricted, whereas signatures favourable for Sn-W granite-hosted systems (e.g., Tasmania), are more common. These new data constrain time-space variations in magma composition that provide a valuable geological framework for mineral system fertility assessments across the Delamerian Orogen. Furthermore, these data and associated maps can used to assess time-space mineral potential and facilitate more effective exploration targeting in this covered region.</div> <b>Citation:</b> Mole, D., Bodorkos, S., Gilmore, P.J., Fraser, G., Jagodzinski, E.A., Cheng, Y., Clark, A.D., Doublier, M., Waltenberg, K., Stern, R.A., Evans, N.J., 2023. Architecture, evolution and fertility of the Delamerian Orogen: Insights from zircon. In: Czarnota, K. (ed.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, <a href+"https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/148981">https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/148981</a>

This web service provides access to datasets produced by the mineral potential assement of iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) mineral systems in the Tennant Creek – Mt Isa region. The mineral potential assessment uses a 2D, GIS-based workflow to qualitatively map four key mineral system components: (1) Sources of metals, fluids and ligands, (2) Energy to drive fluid flow, (3) Fluid flow pathways and architecture, and (4) Deposition mechanisms, such as redox or chemical gradients. For each of these key mineral system components theoretical criteria, representing important ore-forming processes, were identified and translated into mappable proxies using a wide range of input datasets. Each of these criteria are weighted and combined using an established workflow to produce the final map of IOCG potential.

The Exploring for the Future program Showcase 2024 was held on 13-16 August 2024. Day 3 - 15th August talks included: <b>Session 1 – Hydrogen opportunities across Australia</b> <a href="https://youtu.be/pA9ft3-7BtU?si=V0-ccAmHHIYJIZAo">Hydrogen storage opportunities and the role of depleted gas fields</a> - Dr Eric Tenthorey <a href="https://youtu.be/MJFhP57nnd0?si=ECO7OFTCak78Gn1M">The Green Steel Economic Fairways Mapper</a> - Dr Marcus Haynes <a href="https://youtu.be/M95FOQMRC7o?si=FyP7CuDEL0HEdzPw">Natural hydrogen: The Australian context</a> - Chris Boreham <b>Session 2 – Sedimentary basin resource potential – source rocks, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and groundwater</b> <a href="https://youtu.be/44qPlV7h3os?si=wfQqxQ81Obhc_ThE">Australian Source Rock and Fluid Atlas - Accessible visions built on historical data archives</a> - Dr Dianne Edwards <a href="https://youtu.be/WcJdSzsADV8?si=aH5aYbpnjaz3Qwj9">CO2: Where can we put it and how much will it cost?</a> - Claire Patterson <a href="https://youtu.be/Y8sA-iR86c8?si=CUsERoEkNDvIwMtc">National aquifer framework: Putting the geology into hydrogeology</a> - Dr Nadege Rollet <b>Session 3 – Towards a national inventory of resource potential and sustainable development</b> <a href="https://youtu.be/K5xGpwaIWgg?si=2s0AKuNpu30sV1Pu">Towards a national inventory of mineral potential</a> - Dr Arianne Ford <a href="https://youtu.be/XKmEXwQzbZ0?si=yAMQMjsNCGkAQUMh">Towards an inventory of mine waste potential</a> - Dr Anita Parbhakar-Fox <a href="https://youtu.be/0AleUvr2F78?si=zS4xEsUYtARywB1j">ESG mapping of the Australian mining sector: A critical review of spatial datasets for decision making</a> - Dr Eleonore Lebre View or download the <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/149800">Exploring for the Future - An overview of Australia’s transformational geoscience program</a> publication. View or download the <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/149743">Exploring for the Future - Australia's transformational geoscience program</a> publication. You can access full session and Q&A recordings from YouTube here: 2024 Showcase Day 3 - Session 1 - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho6QFMIleuE">Hydrogen opportunities across Australia</a> 2024 Showcase Day 3 - Session 2 - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePZfgEwo0m4">Sedimentary basin resource potential – source rocks, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and groundwater</a> 2024 Showcase Day 3 - Session 3 - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjsZVK4h6Dk">Towards a national inventory of resource potential and sustainable development</a>