The Exploring for the Future program is an initiative by the Australian Government dedicated to boosting investment in resource exploration in Australia. As part of the Exploring for the Future program, this study aims to improve our understanding of the petroleum resource potential of northern Australia. This data release presents new field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) of broad ion beam- polished samples (BIB-SEM) to visualise mineral and organic matter (OM) porosity on 15 Proterozoic aged shales. Samples were selected from the Velkerri and Barney Creek formations in the McArthur Basin and the Mullera Formation, Riversleigh Siltstone, Lawn Hill and Termite Range formations in the South Nicholson region. Qualitative maceral analysis of the 15 samples are described in addition to bitumen reflectance measurements. These samples were analysed at the Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria in June 2020. The results of this study can be used to improve our understanding of porosity, microstructures, seal capacity and hydrocarbon prospectivity of Proterozoic aged sedimentary basins in northern Australia.

At the invitation of Newercrest Mines Limited I visited the Telfer Gold Mine from Tuesday July 12, returning on Thursday morning July 13th. Whilst at the site, I visited the open pit accompanied by Don Thompson, and with Don, Nick Langsford and Campbell Mackey visited sites of the Mount Crofton Granite at Mount Crofton, Minyari Granite at Minyari Hills, and the Wilkie Granite some 15 kms east of the Telfer mine. I also examined granite core in holes ORC 1-6. These notes describe my thoughts on the sites that I visited, and also give some recommendations for some potential future work. I have prepared these notes at the request of Nick Langsford and they contain information that is essentially off the top of my head. Please note that they are not meant to be comprehensive and that I have not had time to validate anything that is within them. I prepared these at the Newcrest Office in Perth on Thursday afternoon of July l3th and that I did some minor refinements to them back at AGSO on July 17th.

This report records the findings of a consultancy undertaken by the Minerals and Land Use Division of the Australian Geological Survey Organisation on behalf of North Flinders Mines. The two general objectives of this consultancy were (1) to form an opinion of the prospectivity of the Tanami region (particularly NFM tenements) for unconformity-associated Au-Pt-Pd±U mineralisation (2) to advise on exploration indicators of such mineralisation to be expected in the Tanami Region.

The mica used in modern aircraft sparking plugs, of which the attached section is representative, serves a triple purpose, viz: (a) Insulation of the electric current; (b) Protection of the insulating layers from heat; (c) As an effective seal against gas leakage. The use of mica in the construction and manufacture of aero engine sparking plugs is decribed herein.

Australia's Identified Mineral Resources is an annual national assessment that takes a long-term view of Australian mineral resources likely to be available for mining. The assessment also includes evaluations of long-term trends in mineral resources, world rankings, summaries of significant exploration results and brief reviews of mining industry developments.

Two samples of diatomite were recently received from Broken Hill Pty. Co. Limited for microscopic examination. They were from Nettle Creek, 9 miles north-east of Mt. Garnet and near Innot Hot Springs. The results of the microscopic examination are given in this report.

This report is written primarily to present the determination of the permeability and porosity of a number of rocks and minerals, but it has also been considered advisable to give a brief description of the different kinds of apparatus designed and used in making the determinations. The materials on which the tests were carried out included a suite of specimens from No. 10 bore, Lakes Entrance, two specimens of sandstone from one of the bores at Roma, Queensland, and a number of Australian diatomites. The method of presentation adopted in this report is, firstly to describe the apparatuses used in making the determinations and the technique adopted in preparing the specimens for testing and secondly to discuss the results obtained for each set of specimens. In addition to the permeability and porosity tests already mentioned, a number of tests of compressive strength were made on wet and dry samples of glauconitic sandstone from Lakes Entrance.

The mineral resources and mining industry of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea are the subject of this report. Mining operations, production, and geological conditions are discussed. Tables showing the estimated gold and silver production figures for the period 1926-41 are appended.

Notes on granite and structural features following an examination of the granite outcrop at Balladonia Station. A sketch plan of the outcrop is included this report.

An earlier reconnaissance survey indicated that monazite is the only likely source of thorium in Australia and further, that the beach sands on the eastern coast for approximately 170 miles on either side of the Queensland-New South Wales border contain by far the largest reserves of monazite. For this reason a special investigation of these sands was conducted. An inspection was made during September, 1944, of the beach sand deposits and of the various plants engaged in the production of concentrates from the sands. Samples were taken, where necessary, to supplement the known information about the composition of the sands and of the different mill products, mainly with a view to ascertaining the distribution and disposal of monazite in the concentrates. The production procedures, disposal practices, and total production of monazite are discussed in this report. An accompanying locality map is included.