Authors / CoAuthors
Schofield, A.
Abstract
Known magmatic-related uranium mineralisation is rare in Australia, despite the widespread occurrence of uranium-rich igneous rocks. Known intrusive-related mineralisation is almost entirely restricted to South Australia, while uranium mineralisation related to volcanic rocks is mostly known from northern Queensland. This apparent discrepancy suggests that Australia is under-represented in this category of uranium mineral system, and as such, the potential for future discoveries is inferred to be high. Recent work by Geoscience Australia has sought to enhance the prospectivity for a range of uranium mineral system types in Australia, including those related to magmatic rocks, by undertaking regional scale assessments of the potential for these systems. Using a similar approach, an assessment for the potential for magmatic-related uranium mineral systems has been undertaken in a systematic manner on a national scale. This has been done in a GIS environment using the fuzzy logic method, which allows for uncertainty to be captured while being relatively easy to implement. Two subcategories of magmatic-related uranium systems have been assessed: intrusive- and volcanic-related. Rather than attempting to identify specific sites of mineralisation, this investigation has focused on delineating those igneous units and events which have the highest potential for a magmatic-related uranium mineral system to operate. This allows for potentially prospective tracts to be readily identified, in which the mineral potential and uranium depositional sites may be refined using detailed local knowledge and datasets. Potentially prospective igneous rocks have been identified in all States and Territories where uranium exploration is currently permitted, including regions already known for magmatic-related uranium occurrences. Significantly, this study has identified high potential in regions which are currently not well known for magmatic-related uranium mineralisation.
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nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
71473
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- External Publication
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Earth Sciences
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- Published_Internal
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2011-01-31T00:00:00
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