Authors / CoAuthors
Kucka, C. | Senior, A. | Britt, A.
Abstract
Demand for critical minerals, vital for advanced technologies, is increasing. This study shows that Australia’s richly endowed geological provinces contain numerous undeveloped or abandoned mineral occurrences that could potentially lead to new economic resources. Three study areas were assessed for critical mineral occurrences through database interrogation and literature review, namely the Barkly-Isa-Georgetown (BIG), Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian (DCD) and Officer-Musgrave (OM) project areas. The study found approximately 20,000 mineral occurrences across the three areas, with just over half occurring in the DCD region. Critical minerals were recognised in ~10% of all occurrences in BIG, ~10% in DCD and 70% in OM. Gold and base metal occurrences comprise 48% (OM), 81% (DCD) and 82% (BIG) of all occurrences in the study areas, with these metals in the DCD and BIG historically and presently important. This large-scale analysis and literature review of Australia’s forgotten mineral discoveries identifies potential new sources of critical minerals and, with the addition of mineralisation style to the data, contributes to predictive exploration methodology that will further unlock the nation’s critical mineral potential. These data are available through the Exploring for the Future portal (https://portal.ga.gov.au/persona/eftf). <b>Citation:</b> Kucka C., Senior A. & Britt A., 2022. Mineral Occurences: Forgotten discoveries providing new leads for mineral supply. In: Czarnota, K. (ed.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/146983
Product Type
document
eCat Id
146983
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Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia
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- Contact instructions
- MEG
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Keywords
- theme.ANZRC Fields of Research.rdf
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- EARTH SCIENCES
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- EFTF
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- Exploring For The Future
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- Australia's Resources Framework
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- Published_External
Publication Date
2022-08-07T23:01:42
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completed
Purpose
Abstract for EFTF extended abstract release
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notPlanned
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geoscientificInformation
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This publication was produced as part of Geoscience Australia's Exploring for the Future Program. It was presented at the Exploring for the Future 2022 Showcase.
Parent Information
Extents
[-44.00, -15.00, 121.00, 148.00]
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Spatial Resolution
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Associations
Association Type - wasInformedBy
Mineral Occurrences in the Officer-Musgrave Deep Dive Area
eCat Identifier - 146526,
UUID - 7c67d916-b41b-4ff0-9529-a80cde912d71
Association Type - wasInformedBy
Mineral Occurrences in Barkly-Isa-Georgetown Deep Dive Area
eCat Identifier - 146528,
UUID - b580bc6e-be98-4131-9c80-88960e7e3c21
Association Type - wasInformedBy
Mineral Occurrences in Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian Deep Dive Area
eCat Identifier - 146529,
UUID - 0ced660a-7df3-49a5-8a2d-6d68fec3cb4d
Source Information