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5 February 1998 |
Ref 98/28 |
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Major new mineral deposits wealth are likely to be found beneath vast unexplored areas of Australia thanks to a developing array of novel exploration technologies, says a leading mineral exploration scientist.
Speaking at the 1998 Outlook Conference in Canberra, Dr Charles Butt from CSIRO said the increasing capability of new mineral exploration techniques will make it likely that more mineral discoveries will be made.
Dr Butt is also Deputy Director of the CRC for Landscape Evolution and Mineral Exploration in Perth, where much of the pioneering research is taking place.
"Most traditional exploration techniques can’t detect ore deposits concealed by Australia’s very weathered surface," explained Dr Butt.
However, over the past decade, a better understanding of the nature and origin of surface materials has led to the development of more effective techniques for mineral detection.
"New and improved instruments on satellites and in aircraft are becoming widely used for mapping weathered areas to help define exploration procedures," said Dr Butt.
"The greatest potential lies in the detection of widely dispersed geochemical signatures in groundwaters and the weathered rocks and sediments concealing the ore deposits, and in refinements to electromagnetic and other geophysical procedures that can penetrate this cover," Dr Butt said.
Dr Butt and his team were instrumental in developing the techniques used in the recent discovery of a major new gold province vast gold deposits in the Gawler Craton area of South Australia.
He stresses that gold is not the only mineral waiting to be discovered in most poorly explored, sediment-covered and the weathered regions.
"The very processes of weathering also lead to the formation of many important secondary deposits such as iron and manganese ores, nickel laterites and industrial materials," says Dr Butt.
"These form a significant proportion of Australia’s mineral inventory and there is considerable scope and opportunity for further discoveries."
More information from:
- Dr Charles Butt, CSIRO Exploration and Mining, tel 08-9333 6750,
email: c.butt@per.dem.csiro.au
(Note: contact on 4-5 February via tel 02-6201 2031 (Canberra office of the CRC)
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