Minerals Alert, May 2005

• 1. Seismic surveys, giant ore deposits and exploration - a presentation at PDAC, Toronto, Canada, 2005
• 2. Gold, Nickel and Copper Deposits, Occurrences and Potential Maps, April 2005
• 3. Tanami Seismic Survey
• 4. Stratigraphy and geochronology studies to test Tanami-Arunta-Tennant links
• 5. Measuring the degree of contamination of samples during grinding
• 6. Annual Chief Government Geologists Committee Meeting
• 7. Tasmania's Exploration Extravaganza Week - last chance to register
• 8. About Mineral Alert

1. Seismic surveys, giant ore deposits and exploration - a presentation at PDAC, Toronto, Canada, 2005

This presentation at the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange (PDAC) 4–6 March 2005 in Toronto reviews new insights into some Australian giant ore deposits based on the results of seismic reflection surveys and discusses the implications for exploration.

To view a copy of the full presentation, please go to www.ga.gov.au/minerals/research/pubs/presentations/pdac_2005_jaques.jsp.

For more information, contact Lynton Jaques at Geoscience Australia by phone on +61 (0)2 6249 9745 or by email to lynton.jaques@ga.gov.au.

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2. Gold, Nickel and Copper Deposits, Occurrences and Potential Maps, April 2005

New editions of these maps are now available on the Geosicence Australia website. Each map illustrates the density of distribution of deposits and occurrences and the distribution of potential host rock units. The maps are plotted on Geoscience Australia's georegions base map.

To view PDF copies of these maps, go to www.ga.gov.au/map/#minerals. Note that these files are between 2.4 Mb and 4.8 Mb.

For further information, contact Mike Huleatt at Geoscience Australia by phone on +61 (0)2 6249 9087 or by email to mike.huleatt@ga.gov.au.

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3. Tanami Seismic Survey

A seismic acquisition program in the Tanami region will commence in the second week of May. This program, which is funded by a consortium involving GA, NTGS, GSWA, Newmont Australia and Tanami Gold, will collect in excess of 600 km of seismic reflection data and gravity data. These data will be used to constrain the 3D architecture of this important gold province and provide new concepts for gold exploration.

For further information, contact Dave Huston at Geoscience Australia by phone on +61 (0)2 6249 9577 or by email to david.huston@ga.gov.au

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4. Stratigraphy and geochronology studies to test Tanami-Arunta-Tennant links

A three-week field program has commenced in the Tennant Creek-Davenport region to collect stratigraphic data and geochronology samples to test the proposed correlation of the Warramunga Formation and parts of the Davenport stratigraphy with the Killi Killi Formation in the Tanami and parts of the Lander Rock beds in the Arunta. These data will be key in testing the concept of a ~1840 Ma basin complex in northern Australia that extends from Halls Creek in the west to Mt Isa in the east, and from the Arunta in the south to Pine Creek in the north.

For further information, contact Dave Huston at Geoscience Australia by phone on +61 (0)2 6249 9577 or by email to david.huston@ga.gov.au.

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5. Measuring the degree of contamination of samples during grinding

Geoscience Australia recently conducted a series of tests on ring mills commonly used for sample preparation of geological materials. Ring mills of five different compositions (tungsten carbide, chrome steel, carbon steel, partially-stabilised zirconia and syalon) were tested to determine qualitative and quantitative contamination imparted to samples ground in them. The results were presented at the Australian X-Ray Analytical Association conference in Fremantle held 14–18 February 2005 and are available from /servlet/BigObjFileManager?bigobjid=GA5984.

For further information, contact Elizabeth Webber at Geoscience Australia by phone on +61 (0)2 6249 9088 or by email to liz.webber@ga.gov.au, or John Pyke at Geoscience Australia by phone on +61 (0)2 6249 9288 or by email to john.pyke@ga.gov.au.

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6. Annual Chief Government Geologists Committee Meeting

Queensland will be hosting the 2005 Chief Government Geologists Committee Meeting from 9–13 May 2005. Key items for discussion at this year's meeting are:

• coordinated national geoscience program between Geoscience Australia, the States and NT
• plans for the upgrade of the Geoscience Portal.

Contact Chris Pigram at Geoscience Australia by phone on +61 (0)2 6249 9397 or by email to chris.pigram@ga.gov.au.

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7. Tasmania's Exploration Extravaganza Week - last chance to register

A four-day excursion and one-day seminar on Tasmanian Palaeozoic granites, mineralisation and mineral potential, and an exploration conference will be held between 22–27 May 2005. The program will include:

• Sunday 22 May to Wednesday 25 May: A field excursion visiting some of the most important sites for Devonian granites and granite-related mineralisation in northern Tasmania. Minimum numbers have been reached so the excursion is definitely on, and registrations are still being taken.
• Thursday 26 May: A Tasmanian-based granite metallogenesis seminar will be held at the Rosny Park offices of Mineral Resources Tasmania.
• Friday 27 May: The Tasmanian Minerals Council will host their annual Exploration Conference at the Old Woolstore, Hobart. Attendees will be given an insight into the companies which are actively exploring in Tasmania - greenfields and brownfields.

Further details are available on the brochure at www.mrt.tas.gov.au/pls/portal/url/ITEM/F395F501F1CF08AAE0340003BA76FBA7 (274K PDF)

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8. About Minerals Alert

For more information contact Mike Huleatt on +61 (0)2 6249 9087 or by email to mike.huleatt@ga.gov.au

To view past editions of Geoscience Australia's Minerals Alert, visit http://www.ga.gov.au/minerals/research/pubs/minalert/

To unsubscribe visit www.ga.gov.au/sec-bin/subscribe.pl and follow the instructions.