Deep-dive projects Barkly–Isa–Georgetown
The Barkly–Isa–Georgetown project focused on the undercover regions between Tennant Creek, Mount Isa and Georgetown, delivering new data and knowledge on the mineral and energy potential in these areas and maximising opportunities for resource sector investment in the region.
Projects undertaken in the first 4 years of the Exploring for the Future program (2016 – 20) indicated promising areas of prospectivity for both minerals and hydrocarbons across the Tennant–Mount Isa region (TISA).
From 2020-22 the Barkly–Isa–Georgetown project built on this previous work with one of Australia’s most comprehensive regional precompetitive geoscience campaigns.
Combining geophysical surveying, stratigraphic drilling and extensive analysis, the Barkly–Isa–Georgetown project tested geological interpretations and inferred mineral and energy potential in the areas between Tennant Creek, Mount Isa and Georgetown, successfully delivering new data and knowledge.
The results are underpinning more targeted exploration opportunities across these areas and have been linked to extensive tenement uptake in the East Tennant and South Nicholson regions.
A major focus for the Barkly–Isa–Georgetown project was the stratigraphic drilling campaigns and their analyses. Drilling campaigns were conducted in collaboration with MinEx CRC as part of the National Drilling Initiative (NDI) in the East Tennant and South Nicholson regions.
In addition to the drilling campaigns and associated work in the East Tennant and South Nicholson regions, the Barkly–Isa–Georgetown project included an expansion of magnetotelluric coverage in western Queensland as part of the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP). This includes coverage of the richly mineralised Mount Isa Province and covered extensions. The results are being integrated into precompetitive geoscientific coverages to facilitate the progression from stimulating exploration to supporting discovery.
A further focus area for the project was assessing opportunities for secondary prospectivity through the analysis of mine waste in Queensland’s Northwest Minerals Province, identifying potential sites for retreatment and recovery of critical minerals. This work has been expanded and continues as part of the National Mine Waste Assessment activity under the Australia’s Resources Framework project.
Tenement uptake by commodity across the Barkly–Isa–Georgetown project area, as of March 2023. ASX releases indicate positive results from exploration for copper, gold, lead, zinc and rare earth elements (REE)
What we have done
The project incorporated several activities:
Collaboration
Geoscience Australia acknowledges all landholders and communities who have supported our work in rural, regional and remote Australia.
Related information
South Nicholson National Drilling Initiative
The South Nicholson National Drilling Initiative (NDI) Carrara 1 stratigraphic drill hole was completed in late 2020, as a collaboration between Geoscience Australia, the Northern Territory Geological Survey (NTGS) and the MinEx CRC. NDI Carrara 1 is the first drill hole to intersect the as yet undifferentiated Proterozoic rocks of the newly discovered Carrara Sub-basin.
East Tennant National Drilling Initiative
The Tennant Creek to Mount Isa region hosts known mineral deposits in exposed Proterozoic rocks, most notably iron oxide copper-gold mineral systems in the Tennant Creek area, and basin-hosted base metals (zinc, lead) and uranium in the McArthur Basin.
Solid Geology Mapping
Our understanding of the geological history and resource potential of Australia has been underpinned by over half a century of surface geological mapping.
Important community information
Geoscience Australia is committed to land, air and marine access best practice and to protecting cultural heritage and the environment.
We thank the people and communities who collaborate with us to ensure the success of the Exploring for the Future program.
Geoscience Australia activities are not undertaken on behalf of any exploration company; we work for the benefit of all Australians.
All data produced by Geoscience Australia, including the data from this project, will be made publicly available after quality assurance has been performed.
For more information or general enquiries, please email clientservices@ga.gov.au
Current program
The current Exploring for the Future program (2020–24) focuses on 8 interrelated projects, united in growing our understanding of Australia's geology.
Deep-dive
Three deep-dive projects in potentially resource-rich corridors identified in the east and west of Australia: Darling–Curnamona–Delamerian, Officer–Musgrave–Birrindudu and Barkly–Isa–Georgetown projects.
National
Three national projects with a focus on southern Australia: Australia’s Resources Framework, National Groundwater Systems and Australia’s Future Energy Resources projects.
Program support
Two program support projects: Enhanced Data Delivery and Geoscience Knowledge Sharing projects.