Lithospheric resistivity structures and mineral prospectivity from AusLAMP data in northern Australia

Authors / CoAuthors

Duan, J. | Kyi, D. | Jiang, W.

Abstract

Magnetotelluric (MT) data allow geoscientists to investigate the link between mineralisation and lithospheric-scale features and processes. In particular, the highly conductive structures imaged by MT data appear to map the pathways of large-scale palaeo-fluid migration, which is an important element of several mineral systems. New data were collected as part of the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP) under Geoscience Australia Exploring for the Future (EFTF) program in northern Australian. We use this dataset to demonstrate that the MT method is a valuable tool for mapping lithospheric-scale features and for selecting prospective areas for mineral exploration. Our results image a number of major conductive structures at depths up to ~200 km or deeper in the survey region, for example, the Carpentaria Conductivity Anomaly in east of Mount Isa; and the Tanami Conductive Anomaly along the Willowra Suture Zone. These significant anomalies are lithospheric- scale highly conductive structures, and show spatial correlations with major suture zones and known mineral deposits. These results provide important first-order information for lithospheric architecture and possible large footprint of mineral systems. Large-scale crustal/mantle conductivity anomalies mapping fluid pathways associated with major sutures/faults may have implications for mineral potential. These results provide evidence that some mineralisation occurs at the gradient of or over highly conductive structures at lower crustal and lithospheric mantle depths. These observations provide a powerful means of highlighting greenfields for mineral exploration in under-explored and covered regions.

Product Type

document

eCat Id

146312

Contact for the resource

Point of contact

Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)
Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia

Point of contact

Contact instructions: MEG

Resource provider

Digital Object Identifier

https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/146312

Keywords

theme.ANZRC Fields of Research.rdf

EARTH SCIENCES

( {1} )

AusLAMP

( {1} )

Magnetotellurics

( {1} )

Conductivity

( {1} )

Lithosphere

( {1} )

Mineral potential

( {1} )

Published_External

( Project )

EFTF – Exploring for the Future

Publication Date

2022-02-17T01:23:49

Creation Date

Security Constraints

Australian Government Security ClassificationSystem

Classification - unclassified

Legal Constraints

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

Access - license

Use - license

Status

completed

Purpose

Abstract, presentation and data release at the Australian Exploration Geoscience Conference, 2021

Maintenance Information

asNeeded

Topic Category

geoscientificInformation

Series Information

Lineage

Under Geoscience Australia’s the Exploring for the Future (EFTF) program, long-period magnetotelluric data were acquired as part of the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP) throughout the Northern Territory and western Queensland.

Parent Information

Extents

[-26.00, -15.00, 129.00, 142.00]

Reference System

Spatial Resolution

Service Information

Associations

Electrical resistivity structures and mineral prospectivity from Exploring for the Future AusLAMP data (2016-2019) in northern Australia