Geoscience Australia has been acquiring deep crustal reflection seismic transects throughout Australia since the 1960s. The results of these surveys have motivated major interpretations of important geological regions, contributed to the development of continental-scale geodynamic models, and improved understanding about large-scale controls on mineral systems. Over the past five years, Geoscience Australia has acquired over 6000 km of deep crustal seismic reflection data under the auspices of the Predictive Mineral Discovery Cooperative Research Centre (pmd*CRC), Onshore Energy Security Program (OESP), AuScope Earth Imaging (part of the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy), and all mainland State and Territory governments. These seismic datasets continue to underpin fundamental research into the geodynamics of the Australian continent and provide the third dimension for pre-competitive geoscience information related to mineral and energy resources in selected provinces and basins. Regional seismic reflection surveys currently utilise three Hemi 50 or 60 vibrators at 80 m VP with 40 m group interval, resulting in 75 fold data to 20 s TWT. In-house processing is aimed at providing a whole of crust image, without sacrificing shallow detail. Gravity readings are also collected along the lines at 400 m intervals to assist integrated regional interpretations based on the seismic traverses. Magnetotelluric (MT) soundings, including both broad-band and long period, have been acquired along most traverses. MT provides an image of the conductivity of the crust which is complementary to the structural information obtained from reflection seismic. Geoscience Australia is currently developing an in-house MT processing and modelling capability.

Large areas of prospective North and North-East Queensland have been surveyed by airborne hyperspectral sensor, HyMap, and airborne geophysics as part of the 'Smart' exploration initiative by the Geological Survey of Queensland. In particular, 25000 km2 of hyperspectral mineral and compositional map products, at 4.5 m spatial resolution, have been generated and made available via the internet. In addition, more than 130 ASTER scenes were processed and merged to produce broad scale mapping of mineral groups (Thomas et al, 2008). Province-scale, accurate maps of mineral abundances and minerals chemistries were generated for North Queensland as a result of a 2 year project starting in July 2006 which involved CSIRO Exploration and Mining, the Geological Survey of Queensland (GSQ), Geoscience Australia, James Cook University, and Curtin University. Airborne radiometric data acquired over the same North Queensland Mt Isa - Cloncurry areas as the hyperspectral surveys, had been acquired at flight line spacing of 200 metre. Such geophysical radiometric data provides a useful opportunity to compare the mineral mapping potential of both techniques, for a wide range of geological and vegetated environments. In this study, examples are described of soil mapping within the Tick Hill area, and geological / exploration mapping within the Mt Henry and Suicide Ridge prospects of North Queensland.

Extended abstract version of short abstract accepted for conference presentation GEOCAT# 73701

Australia's Identified Mineral Resources is an annual nation-wide assessment of Australia's ore reserves and mineral resources.

Australia's Identified Mineral Resources is an annual nation-wide assessment of Australia's ore reserves and mineral resources.

Australia's Identified Mineral Resources is an annual nation-wide assessment of Australia's ore reserves and mineral resources.

Initial lead isotope ratios from Archean volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) and lode gold deposits and neodymium isotope model ages from igneous rocks from the geological provinces that host these deposits identify systematic spatial and temporal patterns, both within and between the provinces. The Abitibi-Wawa Subprovince of the Superior Province is characterized by highly juvenile lead and neodymium. Most other Archean provinces, however, are characterized by more evolved isotopes, although domains within them can be characterized by juvenile isotope ratios. Metal endowment (measured as the quantity of metal contained in geological resources per unit surface area) of VHMS and komatiite-associated nickel sulfide (KANS) deposits is related to the isotopic character, and therefore the tectonic history, of provinces that host these deposits. Provinces with extensive juvenile crust have significantly higher endowment of VHMS deposits, possibly as a consequence of higher heat flow and extension-related faults. Provinces with evolved crust have higher endowment of KANS deposits, possibly because such crust provided either a source of sulfur or a stable substrate for komatiite emplacement. In any case, initial radiogenic isotope ratios can be useful in predicting the endowment of Archean terranes for VHMS and KANS deposits. Limited data suggest similar relationships may hold in younger terranes.

Extended review of mineralexploration in Australia in 2010.

This publication is the successor to Oil and Gas Resources of Australia 2002 and continues as the definitive reference on exploration, development and production of Australia's petroleum resources. It covers exploration, reserves, opportunity for growth of oil and gas resources, development, coalbed methane resources, production, crude oil and shale oil and supporting information and statistics. It includes a forecast of Australia's crude oil and condensate production from 2004 to 2025, and sustainability indicators for petroleum resources. Information on Australia's petroleum data availability is also included and an estimate of Australia's undiscovered oil and gas potential and a review of developments in geological sequestration of carbon dioxide. The Appendices describe wells drilled and seismic surveys carried out in 2003. There is also a chronological listing of offshore and onshore oil and gas discoveries to 2003 listings of all petroleum platforms and pipelines, and a map showing all Australian petroleum exploration and development titles, with a key of title holders and interests as at March 2004. OGRA 2003 provides the background for much of the advice on petroleum resources given to the Australian government and is a key source for petroleum exploration, production and service companies, petroleum engineers and geologists, energy analysts, stockbrokers and share investors.

The biological data used in this study was collected by Museum Victoria in an extensive survey of the fauna of Bass Strait between 1979 and 1983. Additional sediment sampling and swath mapping of parts of Bass Strait were undertaken on GA Survey 226 and Australian Hydrographic Office Survey HI339, in which Geoscience Australia personnel participated (GA Survey 233). Survey HI339 also collected underwater video footage. Biological material from a range of taxonomic groups was identified as a basis for identification and analysis of biological communities. The results indicate that Bass Strait supports a particularly diverse fauna. A high degree of small-scale variation occurs, with even adjacent samples having low similarity. Video footage from sites to the east of Bass Strait corroborates the high degree of faunal diversity over small spatial scales. Analysis of physical variables, derived from data collected on the original survey and supplemented by more recent data, show that longitude and depth are important factors in explaining the biological diversity. Despite this, overall correlation of faunal composition with physical factors is poor, indicating that other environmental variables influence the composition of benthic assemblages, and that different groups of species react to different environmental variables. It is likely that the biota reflect a series of intergrading assemblages rather than a group of discrete and repeatable species associations. Sediment facies identified can be correlated with facies from the Otway margin (Boreen et al., 1993) and those mapped previously in Bass Strait (Jones and Davies, 1983). Analysis of sediments taken from sites previously targeted by Jones and Davies (1983) indicate that sampling technique has had little impact on retention of fines. Rather, the lack of fines is a reflection of the high energy environment of much of Bass Strait. Examination of the composition of sand and gravel fractions indicates that extensive bioerosion acts in concert with physical processes to produce carbonate mud. Biogenic content in sediments shows little correlation with living communities, due in part to the abundance of soft-bodied organisms in the biota, as well as the strong imprint of post-depositional processes on sediments. The biological patterns identified in this study broadly support the divisions of the current Interim Marine and Coastal Regionalisation of Australia (IMCRA Technical Group, 1998) for Bass Strait. However, the biological assemblages are not consistent enough to be mapped. The lack of relationships between biota and sediments over the scale of the study area may reflect the scale of the study area and limitations of the statistical analyses used.