The paper discusses the results from the GA-302 2D seismic survey and GA-2436 (RV Tangaroa) marine reconnaissance survey over the Capel and Faust basins, northern Tasman Sea. The integration of seismic, potential field and bathymetric data sets in 3D space at an early stage in the project workflow has assisted in the visualisation of the basin architecture, the interpolation of data between the seismic lines, and the iterative refinement of interpretations. The data sets confirm the presence of multiple depocentres, as previously interpreted from satellite gravity data, with a maximum sediment thickness of 5-7 km. Preliminary interpretation of the seismic data has identified two predominantly Cretaceous syn-rift and two Upper Cretaceous to Neogene sag megasequences overlying a heterogeneous pre-rift basement. The comparison of seismic facies and tectonostratigraphic history with offshore New Zealand and eastern Australian basins suggests the presence of possible Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous coaly and lacustrine source rocks in the pre- and syn-rift, and fluvio-deltaic to shallow marine reservoir rocks in the syn-rift to early post-rift successions. Preliminary 1D basin modelling suggests that the deeper depocentres of the Capel and Faust basins are within the oil and gas windows. Large potential stratigraphic and structural traps are also present.

Phosphate deposits in the vicinity of Canowindra, Molong, Wellington and Borenore were examined in company with members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Rural Industries on the 27th and 28th February, 1943. Two slightly different types of deposit occur in these localities. These deposits are described herein.

Report on the activities of the administrative and technical sections in the Katherine-Darwin area, to August, 1954. A brief account is given of geological and geophysical operations. The results of prospecting and development work are summarised.

Sediments of the Brock's Creek Group and of the Phillips Creek Formation, and volcanics of the Edith River Formation were prospected with carborne radiometric equipment. A comparatively high background count was recorded in the Edith River Volcanics, but no significant radiometric anomaly was found. A geological party prospected ten shear zones south east of the Edith Siding, including a cupriferous one, and a strongly fractured belt near the granite contact. No radiometric anomaly was found. Future prospecting should be directed towards major faults within the sediments.

White's South prospect is situated on the southern bank of the Finniss River (East branch) about 400 feet south southwest of White's Deposit (Ward 1953). Rocks do not outcrop in the area, but low radioactive anomalies were located in this area by the Geophysical Section 1951 suggesting that the western continuation of White's Deposit after faulting might be beneath the soil cover. Low grade ore intersections were obtained in five diamond drill holes put down in the area in 1952. A plan of the area on a scale of 40 feet to 1 inch accompanies this report (Plate 1).

Three new, national-scale geoscience initiatives are under way in Australia with the aim to provide energy and mineral explorers with state-of-the-art pre-competitive data and information about the continent's potential resources. (1) A digital geological map provides a seamless and consistent coverage of geological units at 1:1,000,000 scale. It is underpinned by a national stratigraphic index database to ensure uniform and consistent unit description and classification and nomenclature usage. (2) An Australia-wide airborne geophysical survey that has been used to level all of Australia's public-domain radioelement data to a common datum. This enables interpreters to make accurate comparisons between radiometric signatures in different parts of the continent. (3) A low-density geochemical survey aims to provide a national geochemical data layer using consistent sampling medium and sampling, preparation and analytical methods. Large-scale geochemical patterns thus revealed are hoped to point to new areas of exploration potential. The two latter projects are funded under the Australian Government's Onshore Energy Security Program. Together, these three national geoscience datasets will help make Australia a more attractive destination for energy and mineral exploration investments.

High Geiger readings in the vicinity of the Number 1 prospect were first obtained by Sidney Fabian (a prospector for Northern Uranium Development) who drew my attention to this fact and showed me the area on Sunday 14th November, 1954. No detailed work was done. The area was re-visited by the author on Tuesday, 23rd November, 1954. It was on this date that the region of radio-activity and the rock responsible for it were established. The Number 2 prospect was discovered independently by the author on Tuesday 23rd November, 1954, while prospecting along the line of the South Alligator Fault Zone.

The area described in this report extends for 6.5 miles south of the southern boundary of the Hundred of Goyder, and for approximately 8.5 miles west of the Stuart Highway. The North Australian Railway runs approximately through the centre of the area. No uranium-bearing minerals have yet been discovered in the Waterhouse Area, but copper mineralization, associated with some radioactivity is known to occur. A slate formation, which is partly graphic, carries the main signs of copper and uranium mineralization noted to date, and is underlain by a quartzite breccia. Those beds are similar to, and are possibly identical with, those carrying the uranium and copper ore at Rum Jungle, where surface showings were not impressive. The mineralized slate at Waterhouse warrants prospecting and at least one known deposit warrants drilling. Other parts of the area, in which radiometric anomalies have been found by the airborne scintillometer, need further ground investigation.

A recent Geoscience Australia geological sampling survey in the Great Australian Bight has provided new evidence for the presence of potential oil-prone source rocks in the Bight Basin. Exploratory drilling in the Bight Basin has historically concentrated on the inboard margins of the basin. Apart from Woodside's Gnarlyknots-1A well, which was drilled in the Ceduna Sub-basin in 2003, only the more proximal parts of the Cretaceous depositional systems of the basin have ever been sampled by drilling. Previous Geoscience Australia work in the Bight Basin predicted the presence of potential source rock intervals at different stratigraphic levels, including mid-Cretaceous marine or marine-influenced sediments whose source rock character was predicted to improve farther basinward. The sampling survey targeted an area at the seaward edge of the Eyre Terrace where canyon formation, slumping and faulting has exposed this Albian-Santonian section. Samples recovered from this area include a suite of carbonaceous marine siltstones and mudstones. Preliminary organic geochemical analysis has shown that some samples of Late Cenomanian-Early Turonian age recovered from the Eyre Terrace have excellent source rock potential, with high organic carbon contents (2.1-6.2% TOC) and the potential to generate liquid hydrocarbons (HI values ranging from 274 to 479 mg hydrocarbons/gTOC). These are the best source rock results yet from the Bight Basin, and demonstrate that targeting the right part of the depositional system is vital for understanding hydrocarbon source potential. 2D petroleum systems modelling of two transects from the Ceduna Sub-basin using source-specific multi-component kinetic parameters, suggests that generation and expulsion from the Late Cenomanian-Early Turonian potential source rock occurred during the mid-Campanian to Recent, resulting in potentially significant accumulations of both liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons within overlying sandstones of the Turonian-Santonian Tiger and/or latest Santonian-Maastrichtian Hammerhead supersequences.

The Australian nickel industry in 2007 is experiencing a `boom phase' with spiralling metal prices to record levels of US$54,200 per tonne (16th of May 2007) surpassing the previous highest price of $US23,900/t reached in 1988. As a consequence exploration expenditures and activities related to mafic-ultramafic rocks are near all-time highs. To assist explorers, Geoscience Australia (GA) has compiled a fact sheet (2007) of products produced by GA related to those commodities (nickel, copper, cobalt, chromium, platinum-group elements, titanium, vanadium) associated with Precambrian mafic-ultramafic rocks in Australia. These products include national review publications (e.g., Nickel sulphide deposits in Australia), reports of metallogenic province studies (Kimberleys, Pilbara, Arunta, Gawler), and various maps, PowerPoint presentations, and digital datasets. Most products can be downloaded free through the www links provided on the fact sheet.