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AusGeo News  September 2009  Issue No. 95

Welcome to AusGeo News 95

This issue of AusGeo News features several articles based on presentations by our scientists at the recent International Uranium Conference in Darwin hosted by the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. I am pleased to report that Geoscience Australia's presentations, which included a review of uranium mineral systems modelling, new maps of uranium igneous rocks and 3D models of uranium systems, drew positive comments and significant interest from industry.

One of these articles outlines how the recently released Radiometric Map of Australia is facilitating rapid assessment of uranium prospectivity from the national scale through to the local scale. It can also be enhanced and integrated with other datasets for targeting areas of potential uranium mineralisation. Another article describes the revised conceptual framework for a fresh assessment of Australia's uranium mineral potential as well as key exploration criteria of practical value.

There is also an update on Geoscience Australia's Offshore and Onshore Energy Security Programs which provide pre-competitive information to support mineral and energy resource exploration. Geoscience Australia has recently received the first batch of processed data from the Southern Margins 2D seismic survey (see AusGeo News 94). It is anticipated that a data package covering the region, which includes new and reprocessed data, should be available by the end of 2009. The update also reports on the release of data from the recently completed Pine Creek Orogen airborne electromagnetic survey and the deep crustal seismic traverse across the south-western Georgina Basin. Both these surveys were done in collaboration with the Northern Territory Geological Survey.

This issue also reports on the latest version of the Bathymetry and Topography Grid of Australia which draws together the most recent bathymetric datasets for the Australian region. The grid includes data from the Southwest Margin and the Remote Eastern Frontiers surveys which revealed a number of new seafloor features including small volcanic mountains and canyons.

In this issue you will also read about our contribution to research into nutrient cycling processes and their possible impact on water quality in Darwin Harbour. The Harbour is a largely unmodified estuary in the wet tropics of northern Australia.

Brief reports on the Broken Hill Managed Aquifer Recharge Project and the contribution by a Geoscience Australia scientist to a field exercise conducted in Kazakhstan by the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation are also included. The former will map and characterise the groundwater aquifer systems near Menindee Lakes in western New South Wales and identify suitable targets to develop a managed aquifer recharge borefield.

In product news, recent releases include updated digital gridded radiometric datasets, which are part of the Radiometric Map of Australia, and new maps covering the spectacular MacDonnell Ranges, west of Alice Springs, in Australia's Red Centre.

As usual we always appreciate your feedback and encourage you to use the online rating mechanism with each article.

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Dr Neil Williams

CEO Geoscience Australia

Unless otherwise noted, all Geoscience Australia material on this website is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence.