Authors / CoAuthors
Bastrakov, E.N. | Main, P.T.
Abstract
Soil geochemistry has been used to discover many mineral deposits in Australia. Further, it places first-order controls on soil fertility in agriculture and can be used to monitor the environment. With this utility in mind, an extensive soil sampling survey was undertaken as part of the Exploring for the Future program across the vast prospective exploration frontier between Tennant Creek and Mount Isa, dubbed the Northern Australia Geochemical Survey (NAGS). In all, 776 stream sediment outlet samples were collected at a depth of 0–10 cm, improving the density of the National Geochemical Survey of Australia by an order of magnitude, to one sample per ~500 km2. Two size fractions from each sample were analysed for a comprehensive suite of chemical elements after total digestion, Mobile Metal Ion™ (MMI) and aqua regia extractions, and fire assay. Here, we highlight the applicability of these results to base metal exploration, evaluation of soil fertility for agriculture and establishment of geochemical baselines. Our results reveal an association between elevated concentrations of commodity or pathfinder elements in the same or downstream catchments as known mineral deposits. Similar features elsewhere suggest new areas with potential for base metal discovery. <b>Citation:</b> Bastrakov, E.N. and Main, P.T., 2020. Northern Australia Geochemical Survey: a review of regional soil geochemical patterns. In: Czarnota, K., Roach, I., Abbott, S., Haynes, M., Kositcin, N., Ray, A. and Slatter, E. (eds.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, 1–4.
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document
eCat Id
134367
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
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- theme.ANZRC Fields of Research.rdf
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- GEOCHEMISTRYEARTH SCIENCES
- ( Project )
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- Exploring for the Future
- ( Project )
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- EFTF
- ( Discipline )
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- Geochemistry
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- Geochemical Survey
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- Surface Geochemistry
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- NAGS
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- Published_External
Publication Date
2020-06-22T06:52:21
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completed
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EFTF Extended Abstract
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asNeeded
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geoscientificInformation
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This study was completed under the Exploring for the Future initiative, as part of the Northern Australia Geochemical Survey Data component. Samples collected during fieldwork in May to June 2017. This study highlights the applicability of the survey results to base metal exploration, evaluation of soil fertility for agriculture and establishment of geochemical baselines.
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[-22.00, -14.00, 132.00, 142.00]
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