Shows operating mineral mines, deposits where development has commenced or where a decision to mine has occurred. Closed mines or mines not currently operating are generally not shown

Intrusion Related Gold Deposits (IRGD) represents a new class of mineral deposit, although still regarded as controversial (Sillitoe, 1991; Thompson et al., 1999). The consistent association of IRGDs with certain magma types, their consistent polymetallic metal associations (Au, Bi, W, As, Mo, Te and/or Sb; Lang et al., 2000), metal zonation patterns, and the presence of Au in high temperature melt inclusions associated with intrusion proximal examples indicate that a magmatic origin for IRGD can be regarded with confidence (Mustard et al., 2004). The importance of the geochemical inheritance of anomalous Au in felsic magmas (eg. Tomkins and Mavrogenes, 2003) is unclear but is probably not required, and does not explain the consistent associations between IRGD and certain granite types. Gold must be preserved in the melt fraction of crystallizing plutons and be available to the fluid phase during exsolution. Low S magmas of intermediate to felsic compositions with intermediate oxidation states favour neither early sulfide or magnetite precipitation, or early SO2 formation. The absence of these conditions should be conducive to the preservation of Au in the melt fraction of granite magmas (Blevin, 2004). Related information <a href="https://www.ga.gov.au/products/servlet/controller?event=GEOCAT_DETAILS&amp;catno=36591">AGSO Journal vol.17 no. 4 - mineral deposits</a><br /> <br />

The maps show Australian manganese resources by regions and deposit types

A review of the geochemical processes controlling the distribution of thorium in the Earth's crust and Australia's thorium resources can be downloaded from Geoscience Australia's website. The review is one of the outputs from Geoscience Australia's Onshore Energy Security Program (OESP). It will provide an enhanced understanding for government policy and industry investment decisions of the status and distribution of Australia's thorium resources and their potential as an alternative nuclear fuel source for overseas markets.

This Record is the draft copy of Section B of Chapter 5 - Australian Sources - of the Bureau of Mineral Resources Summary Report - COAL, which is to be published soon. The information in this record is liable to slight modifications at a future date after further discussion with the Geological Survey of N.S.W. and the Joint Coal Board from whose published and unpublished reports much of the information has been obtained and whose assistance is gratefully acknowledged.

This report is based on field work at Jervis Bay and in the surrounding area during the period 4th to 30th June, 1952. The purpose of the investigation was primarily economic, though no further attention was given to the deposit of firebrick clay previously described (Smith et al., 1948). Outcrops in the Commonwealth Territory at Jervis Bay consist almost entirely of sandstone of Permian age. The name Jervis Bay Sandstone is proposed for these rocks, which have been found to underlie the Wandrawandian Siltstone, and are tentatively correlated with the Conjola beds - all units of the Shoalhaven Group, which includes part of the former Upper Marine Series. Marine fossils having affinity with those found in the former Upper Marine Series have been found in the Jervis Bay rocks. The sandstones have been invaded in a few places by basic intrusive rocks, probably during the Tertiary Period. The only materials of economic significance found in the Territory are firebrick clay, and ferruginous gravel useful for surfacing roads. Additional supplies of the ferruginous gravel may occur in the areas delineated on the map as suitable for further prospecting.

Eleven scout drill holes entailing 1290 feet of drilling were sunk to find suitable open-cut prospecting areas for the Young Wallsend Seam of the "Upper" Coal Measures within an area of one square mile in Portion 10, Parish of Hexham, Newcastle Region, N.S.W. Several drill holes intersected the Dudley (?) and Yard Seams overlying the Young Wallsend Seam. The scout drilling defined the following inferred reserves of coal: [see record for table data]. These figures do not take into account weathering and possible worked-out areas which may reduce the reserves by as much as 30%. The seams are banded and the quality of the coal could probably be improved considerably by washing. The scout drilling did not define accurately the overburden ratios; however, it is likely that overburden to coal ratio for the Dudley (?) Seam will average very roughly 5:1 and for Young Wallsend about 9:1 if the Dudley is mined beforehand where it overlies the Young Wallsend. These results did not justify commencing a "testing and defining" drilling programme. The Yard Seam was not investigated in detail; its thinness precludes it from having any importance for open-cut mining.

The barite deposits are about three miles northeast of Bredbo, which is nearly 50 miles south of Canberra. This report provides a description of the deposits.

The Everton molybdenite-bearing area was examined by N.H. Fisher and H.B. Owen on June 16th-19th and June 23rd, and again by N.H. Fisher on August 17th. All accessible underground workings and the surface in the immediate vicinity of the mines were mapped. The history, general geology, and economic geology of the area are described in this report. A resume of the ore reserves is given, together with recommendations for the future production of molybdenite at Everton.

Australian mineral exploration spending in 2006-07 rose by 38% to a record $1,714.6 million of which 36% was spent on the search for new deposits. Spending rose in all States and the Northern Territory with South Australia up by 78% to $260.7 million while Western Australia dominated with 49% of Australian mineral exploration spending. The base metal group was the dominant target accounting for 32% of exploration spending overtaking gold (27%) for the first time since 1983. Exploration results were announced for a wide range of commodities from across the country with the most significant being the announcement of a 38% increase in contained copper in the Olympic Dam deposit, South Australia, and of an initial 4 Moz resource in the Tropicana gold deposit, Western Australia.