Overview

Under the Australian Government's Onshore Energy Security Program, Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) data are being acquired in areas considered to have potential for uranium or thorium mineralisation.

The surveys, which are part of the Airborne Electromagnetic Acquisition and Interpretation project, are designed to reveal new information about regions by acquiring the AEM data at line spacings of one to six kilometres over relatively large areas. The improved understanding of the regional geology resulting from the surveys will be of considerable benefit to mining and mineral exploration companies, who can obtain more detailed data over a specific area of interest by contributing additional funds to the acquisition cost.

As a result of reviews of AEM system capabilities and relevance to energy commodities, acquisition is directed principally at providing geophysical and inferred geological insights in areas considered to be prospective for unconformity related and palaeochannel hosted uranium.

As well as enhancing the search for uranium and other energy sources, the survey results will be relevant in exploration for a variety of commodities and other resources, including groundwater. The program is aimed at reducing exploration risk and promoting exploration activity. Three priority projects emerged from mineral systems analysis and discussions with the State and Northern Territory Geological Surveys. They are:

1. Paterson Province (Western Australia)
2. Pine Creek (Northern Territory)
3. Frome Embayment - Murray Basin (South Australia)

Status

The objectives and status of the three priority projects are:

Project 1 - Paterson Province, Western Australia

The Paterson project is centred on the Kintyre uranium deposit and covers much of the surrounding exposed and near surface Paleoproterozoic Era Rudall Complex which in the surrounding area is unconformably overlain by Neoproterozoic Era sediments of the Yeneena Basin.

Data availability

• Regional data for Paterson South TEMPEST AEM Survey consisting of one kilometre (west) and two kilometre (east) line spacings are available as a free data download or from the Geoscience Australia Sales Centre.
• Regional data for Paterson North TEMPEST AEM Survey consisting of one kilometre, two kilometre and six kilometre line spacings are available as a free data download or from the Geoscience Australia Sales Centre.
• Regional data for Paterson South (Western Areas infill) TEMPEST AEM Survey consisting of area S2 with 333 metre line spacing, and area S3 with 400 metre and 286 metre line spacings are available as a free data download or from the Geoscience Australia Sales Centre.
• Drill hole database with explanatory notes for the Paterson TEMPEST AEM survey area consisting of 6500 drill hole locations and 4300 associated down hole geological logs within the survey area. The database is supplied as CSV files suitable for import into GIS, drill hole management or mine planning software. Available as a free data download.

Objectives

• To provide context to or map unconformity, palaeochannel and calcrete uranium host rocks
• To map alteration or mineralisation involving other commodities including Gold (Au) Copper (Cu) and Managanese (Mn)


Paterson project, WA
© Geoscience Australia

• Acquire data coverage of Rudall Complex and Yeneena Basin sediments from outcrop to areas with less than 500 metres of cover

Progress as at 10 July 2009

• 29 000 line kilometres acquired (TEMPEST)
• Geoscience Australia acquisition - one, two and six kilometre spaced lines
• Local infill by company subscription. This data is confidential for 12 months
• Compilation of approximately 6500 drill drillholes from exploration reports
• Conductivity logging of 19 industry holes
• Compilation of a multi-layered solid geology of the region

Actions remaining for 2009-10

• Interpret Paterson AEM results
• Compile a Geoscience Australia Record on Paterson geology, AEM results and implications for uranium exploration

Project 2 - Pine Creek, Northern Territory

The Pine Creek project is directed at AEM characterisation of Paleoproterozoic rocks, particularly graphitic units adjacent to Archean Eon granite domes, and tracing these in regions of cover such as the Woolner Granite area. The project will attempt also to map key sub-surface unconformities and structures which may have influenced mineralising fluids.

Data availability

• Regional data for the Pine Creek - Woolner Granite Area TEMPEST AEM Survey consisting of 5 kilometre and 1.66 kilometre line spacings, including infill lines with spacing of 555 metres funded by the National Water Commission, are available as a free download or from the Geoscience Australia Sales Centre.
• Regional data for the Pine Creek - Rum Jungle Area TEMPEST Survey consisting of consisting of 5 kilometre and 1.66 kilometre line spacings are available as a free download or from the Geoscience Australia Sales Centre.
• Regional data for the Pine Creek - Kombolgie VTEM AEM Survey (east of Kakadu), consisting of 5 kilometre and 1.66 kilometre lines spacings are available as a free download or from the Geoscience Australia Sales Centre.

Objectives

• To provide context to or map unconformity and palaeochannel uranium host rocks
• To map the thickness of Kombolgie Subgroup rocks (depth to prospective interface)
• To map basement graphitic conductors
• To map the thickness of regolith cover

Progress as at 30 November 2009

• 21 000 line kilometres of TEMPEST AEM data acquired
• 9000 line kilometres of VTEM AEM data acquired
• Geoscience Australia line spacings - 1.66 kilometres and 5 kilometres
• Local infill by company subscription. This data is confidential for 12 months
• Compilation of selected drillholes from exploration reports
• Conductivity logging of 25 water/exploration holes
• Release of Woolner Granite area TEMPEST AEM data
• Release of Rum Jungle area TEMPEST AEM data
• Release Kombolgie (east of Kakadu) VTEM AEM data

Actions remaining for 2009-10

• Compile a multi-layered solid geology of the region

Project 3 - Frome Embayment/Murray Basin, South Australia

The Frome Embayment/Murray Basin project will provide regional AEM data over 80 000 square kilometres, including known Palaeochannel-type uranium at the Beverley, Four Mile and Honeymoon deposits.

Objectives

• To provide context to or map palaeochannel uranium host rocks
• Map Beverley Sands/Alpha Mudstone
• Map channels of Eyre Formation
• Map faults and fault blocks
• Map Murray Basin strand lines
• To determine the basin's characteristics and depth to basement
• To map alteration or mineralisation involving other commodities including Gold (au), Copper (Cu) and Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn)

Progress as at 30 September 2009

• Approximate survey outline defined
• Industry interest to infill has been sought
• Project is on hold and is subject to clarification of the forward budget

Publications and Presentations

• Airborne Electromagnetic acquisition in uranium mineral provinces presented by Alan Whitaker at the AusIMM International Uranium Conference 10-11 June 2009, Darwin.