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  • Exploration for Unconventional Hydrocarbons in Australia reached a new milestone when Beach Energy announced the first successful flow test of a shale gas target in the Cooper Basin. Significant exploration activity is being seen in the Amadeus, Pedirka and Georgina basins and Beetaloo Sub-basin, while little is known of the potential of many other Central Australian basins. The globally acknowledged large resource potential of coal seam gas, shale and tight gas on the continent in addition to low sovereign risk has put Australia firmly on the radar of many local and international exploration companies. Over the next 12 months Geoscience Australia in collaboration with its counterparts in the State and Territory resource and energy departments will undertake an initial assessment of Australia's unconventional hydrocarbon resource potential. Capitalising on decades of high quality geological data held by the Commonwealth and the States and Territories, the programme aims to compile these data using nationally consistent assessment methodologies that ultimately provide robust figures in an internationally accepted standard. The immediate goal is to provide a first-pass, high level estimate of the likely resource volumes, which will be reported in the second edition of the Australian Energy Resource Assessment (published by RET). The longer term work program aims to assess Australia's onshore basins in terms of their resource potential and provide pre-competitive data to industry. To achieve this, several geological techniques will be applied including, but not limited to, geochemical screening, mapping of source rock occurrences and their distributions as well as physical rock property studies.

  • 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.

  • The critical success factors which control hydrocarbon prospectivity in the Otway Basin have been investigated using petroleum systems approaches. Greater than 99% of the hydrocarbon inventory within the Victorian Otway Basin has been sourced from Austral 2 (Albian-Aptian) source rocks and these accumulations are typically located either within, or within approximately 3,000 m of source rock kitchens which are at peak thermal maturity at present day. Importantly, the zones of greatest prospectivity are located where these source rocks have been actively generating and expelling hydrocarbons throughout the Late Tertiary, primarily as a result of sediment loading associated with progradation of the Heytesbury shelfal carbonates. This peak generation window occurs at an average depth of approximately 2,500-3,500 m 'sub-mud' across much of the basin, which has allowed prospective hydrocarbon fairways to be mapped out, thereby highlighting areas of greatest prospectivity. It is believed that the spatial proximity of the actively generating source rocks to the accumulations is due to several factors, which includes overall poor fault seal in the basin (success cases occur where charge rate exceeds leakage rate) and relatively complex and tortuous migration fairways (which means that large volumes of hydrocarbons are only focussed and migrate for relatively short distances). etc

  • This record contains the results of a geological framework study of the southern half of the Lord Howe Rise and adjacent areas, including the Tasman Basin and the New Caledonia Basin. The report particularly focuses on the geological evolution and the resource potential.

  • This publication is the sucessor to Oil and Gas Resources 2000 and continues as the definitive reference on exploration, development and production of Australia's petroleum resources. It covers exploration, reserves, undiscovered resources, development, production and supporting information and statistics. It includes a forecast of Australia's crude oil and condensate production from 2001 to 2015, and sustainability indicators for petroleum resources. Information on Australia's petroleum data availability is also included. A revised estimate of Australia's undiscovered resources is included. The Appendices describe wells drilled and seismic surveys carried out in 2001. There is also a chronological listing of offshore and onshore oil and gas discoveries to 2001, 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 2001. OGRA 2001 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.

  • At its 4th meeting in Brisbane on 21st and 22nd August, the Copper and Bauxite Committee arranged a conference with Mr. J. Kruttschnitt, Managing Director of the Mt. Isa Mines, at which officers of the Department of Mines of Queensland were present, to discuss ways and means of quickly exploiting the recently indicated copper ore body situated in the Hanging Wall of the Black Star Lode at Mt. Isa Mine. At the request of the Committee, and following discussion of the details between all parties, Mr. Kruttschnitt made a proposal, which is submitted herewith.

  • The Committee has given consideration to the desire of the Government to put into production any property that can materially add to Australia's copper output within two years. As pointed out in another submission of even date, it seems probable that 5,000 tons of new copper p.a. can be obtained from a recently discovered ore body in the Mt. Isa Mines, production commencing in January, 1942, if the necessary capital loan is made as recommended. In addition, it seems likely that a worth while production could be obtained from other mines in the Cloncurry district. The principle potential sources of increased supply are Hampden Consols, Mt. Oxide and Trekelano, but many other smaller properties can also be looked to, provided some central treatment facilities are available.

  • Presentation made to the Second US Geological Survey Conference on Reserve Growth. Discussed results of reserve growth study undertaken at Geoscience Australia.

  • Ajana is 66 miles north from Geraldton by rail and is the terminus of the branch railway which passes through Northampton mining district. Aspects of regional geology and mineral occurrence are discussed in these notes.

  • Geoscience Australia provides information on the nation's future capacity to produce mineral resources. Australia's Identified Mineral Resources is an annual nation-wide assessment of Australia's ore reserves and mineral resources. All major and a number of minor mineral commodities mined in Australia are assessed. Australia's economic demonstrated resources (EDR) of the following mineral commodities increased during 2005 - bauxite, cobalt, diamond (gem and industrial), iron ore, manganese, nickel, rutile, silver, uranium, zinc and zircon. EDR of black coal, copper, gold and tantalum decreased in the same period. EDR for brown coal, magnesite, molybdenum, niobium, platinum group metals, shale oil, and vanadium remained at levels similar to those reported in 2005. Increases in EDR were due to on-going drilling and evaluation of known deposits resulting in the transfer (re-assessment) of resources from inferred or sub-economic categories into EDR, and discoveries of new deposits or extensions of known deposits. A few mining companies re-estimated ore reserves and mineral resources more conservatively, notably in regard to black coal, to comply with the requirements of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code).