Conodont Biostratigraphy of the upper Devonian reef complexes of the Canning Basin, Western Australia

We collected 38 groundwater and two surface water samples in the semi-arid Lake Woods region of the Northern Territory to better understand the hydrogeochemistry of this system, which straddles the Wiso, Tennant Creek and Georgina geological regions. Lake Woods is presently a losing waterbody feeding the underlying groundwater system. The main aquifers comprise mainly carbonate (limestone and dolostone), siliciclastic (sandstone and siltstone) and evaporitic units. The water composition was determined in terms of bulk properties (pH, electrical conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, redox potential), 40 major, minor and trace elements as well as six isotopes (δ18Owater, δ2Hwater, δ13CDIC, δ34SSO4=, δ18OSO4=, 87Sr/86Sr). The groundwater is recharged through infiltration in the catchment from monsoonal rainfall (annual average rainfall ~600 mm) and runoff. It evolves geochemically mainly through evapotranspiration and water–mineral interaction (dissolution of carbonates, silicates, and to a lesser extent sulfates). The two surface waters (one from the main creek feeding the lake, the other from the lake itself) are extraordinarily enriched in 18O and 2H isotopes (δ18O of +10.9 and +16.4 ‰ VSMOW, and δ2H of +41 and +93 ‰ VSMOW, respectively), which is interpreted to reflect evaporation during the dry season (annual average evaporation ~3000 mm) under low humidity conditions (annual average relative humidity ~40 %). This interpretation is supported by modelling results. The potassium (K) relative enrichment (K/Cl mass ratio over 50 times that of sea water) is similar to that observed in salt-lake systems worldwide that are prospective for potash resources. Potassium enrichment is believed to derive partly from dust during atmospheric transport/deposition, but mostly from weathering of K-silicates in the aquifer materials (and possibly underlying formations). Further studies of Australian salt-lake systems are required to reach evidence-based conclusions on their mineral potential for potash, lithium, boron and other low-temperature mineral system commodities such as uranium. <b>Citation:</b> P. de Caritat, E. N. Bastrakov, S. Jaireth, P. M. English, J. D. A. Clarke, T. P. Mernagh, A. S. Wygralak, H. E. Dulfer & J. Trafford (2019) Groundwater geochemistry, hydrogeology and potash mineral potential of the Lake Woods region, Northern Territory, Australia, <i>Australian Journal of Earth Sciences</i>, 66:3, 411-430, DOI: 10.1080/08120099.2018.1543208

The Proterozoic Warramunga Group, as previously mapped around Tennant Creek, is shown to consist of two sequences separated by a major angular unconformity. The older sequence, which is tightly folded and cleaved, hosts the gold-copper-ironstone lodes near Tennant Creek. The younger sequence, exposed north of Tennant Creek, is correlated with the lower Hatches Creek Group south of Tennant Creek. It is overlain conformably by the Tomkinson Creek beds, which are correlated with the middle and upper Hatches Creek Group. The Rising Sun Conglomerate, southeast of Tennant Creek, is a composite unit, consisting of Hatches Creek Group equivalents and unconformably overlying Cambrian rocks.

Geochemical surveys deliver fundamental data, information and knowledge about the concentration and spatial distribution of chemical elements, isotopes and compounds in the natural environment. Typically near-surface sampling media, such as soil, sediment, outcropping rocks and stream or groundwater, are used. The application of such datasets to fields such as mineral exploration, environmental management, and geomedicine has been widely documented. In this presentation I reflect on a sabbatical experience with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in 2017-2018 that allowed me to extend the interpretation of geochemical survey data beyond these established applications. In particular, with my collaborators we explore ways in which geochemical survey data and maps can be used to indicate the provenance of an evidentiary sample collected at a crime scene or obtained for instance from items belonging to a suspect intercepted at border entry. Because soils are extremely diverse mineralogically, geochemically and biologically, it should theoretically be possible to exclude very large swathes of territory (>90%) from further provenancing investigation using soil data. In a collaboration between Geoscience Australia (GA), the AFP and the University of Canberra (UC), a recent geochemical survey of the urban/suburban Canberra region in southeastern Australia is being used as a testbed for developing different approaches to forensic applications of geochemical surveys. A predictive soil provenancing method at the national scale was also developed and tested for application where no actual detailed, fit-for-purpose geochemical survey data exist. Over the next few years, GA, AFP and UC are collaborating with Flinders University to add biome data from soil and soil-derived dust to further improve the provenancing technique. This Abstract was presented at the 2021 Goldschmidt Conference (https://conf.goldschmidt.info/goldschmidt/2021/meetingapp.cgi)

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<div>Geoscience Australia’s Exploring for the Future (EFTF) program provides precompetitive information to inform decision-making by government, community and industry on the sustainable development of Australia's mineral, energy and groundwater resources. By gathering, analysing and interpreting new and existing precompetitive geoscience data and knowledge, we are building a national picture of Australia’s geology and resource potential. This leads to a strong economy, resilient society and sustainable environment for the benefit of all Australians. This includes supporting Australia’s transition to net zero emissions, strong, sustainable resources and agriculture sectors, and economic opportunities and social benefits for Australia’s regional and remote communities. The EFTF program, which commenced in 2016, is an eight year, $225m investment by the Australian Government.</div><div>The onshore Canning Basin in Western Australia was the focus of a regional hydrocarbon prospectivity assessment undertaken by the EFTF program dedicated to increasing investment in resource exploration in northern Australia, with the objective being to acquire new data and information about the potential mineral, energy and groundwater resources concealed beneath the surface. As part of this program, significant work has been carried out to deliver pre-competitive data in the region including new seismic acquisition, drilling of a stratigraphic well, and geochemical analysis from historic exploration wells.</div><div>As part of this program, a compilation of the compound-specific isotopic compositions of crude oils from 30 petroleum wells in the Canning Basin have been completed. The samples were analysed in Geoscience Australia’s Isotope and Organic Geochemistry Laboratory and the collated results are released in this report. This report provides additional stable carbon and hydrogen isotopic data to build on the oil-oil correlations previously established by Edwards and Zumberge (2005) and Edwards et al. (2013). This information can be used in future geological programs to determine the origin of the crude oils, and hence increase our understanding of the Larapintine Petroleum Supersystem, as established by Bradshaw (1993) and Bradshaw et al. (1994).</div><div><br></div>

<div>Magmatic arcs represent a critical source of modern civilisation’s mineral wealth, with their importance only enhanced by the ongoing global transition to a low-carbon society. The ~830-495 Ma Delamerian Orogen, formed at Australia’s eastern cratonic margin, represents rocks ascribed to rift/passive-margin, convergent margin arc, orogenic, and post-orogenic settings. However, poor exposure has limited exploration activity across much of the orogen, despite demonstrated potential for numerous mineral systems. To address this issue, an orogen-wide zircon Hf-O isotope and trace element survey was performed on 55 magmatic samples to constrain the crustal architecture, evolution, and fertility of the Delamerian Orogen, and in turn map parameters that can be used as a guide to mineral potential. These new data define two broad magmatic episodes at: (1) ~585-480 Ma, related to rift/passive margin, convergent arc, orogenic, and post-orogenic activity (Delamerian Cycle); and (2) magmatism associated with the ~490-320 Ma Lachlan Orogen, with peaks at ~420 Ma (onshore, Tabberabberan Cycle) and ~370 Ma (western Tasmania). Isotopic and geochemical mapping of these events show that the ~585-480 Ma Delamerian Cycle has significant orogen-wide variation in magmatic Hf-O isotopes and oxidation-state, suggesting a spatial variation in the occurrence and type of potential mineral systems. The ~420 Ma magmatic event involved predominantly mantle-like Hf-O and oxidised magmatism, whilst the ~370 Ma magmatism shows opposing features. In general, The potential to host Cu-Au porphyry and VMS mineralisation (e.g., Stavely, Koonenberry) is present, but restricted, whereas signatures favourable for Sn-W granite-hosted systems (e.g., Tasmania), are more common. These new data constrain time-space variations in magma composition that provide a valuable geological framework for mineral system fertility assessments across the Delamerian Orogen. Furthermore, these data and associated maps can used to assess time-space mineral potential and facilitate more effective exploration targeting in this covered region.</div> <b>Citation:</b> Mole, D., Bodorkos, S., Gilmore, P.J., Fraser, G., Jagodzinski, E.A., Cheng, Y., Clark, A.D., Doublier, M., Waltenberg, K., Stern, R.A., Evans, N.J., 2023. Architecture, evolution and fertility of the Delamerian Orogen: Insights from zircon. In: Czarnota, K. (ed.) Exploring for the Future: Extended Abstracts, Geoscience Australia, Canberra, <a href+"https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/148981">https://dx.doi.org/10.26186/148981</a>

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The Stairway Sandstone was studied in the field in 1962 and 1963 during the reconnaissance geological mapping of the Amadeus Basin. In 1964 rather more detailed work was carried out: sections were measured and cross-bedding determined throughout the Amadeus Basin, and the phosphorites were examined in some detail because of their possible economic significance. In 1965 and 1966 surface and subsurface material was studied in detail to determine the provenance, environment of deposition, and palaeography of the formation. This work was done partly in the laboratories of the Bureau of Mineral Resources, and partly in the Department of Geology of the Australian National University, Canberra (under the sponsorship of the Bureau of Mineral Resources).

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