Norseman-Wiluna Synthesis Project

This project concluded 30 June 2004.

Project description

The Norseman-Wiluna Synthesis (NWS) project conducted research into the geological and metallogenic framework of the eastern Yilgarn Craton in Western Australia. The Yilgarn Craton is Australia's premier mineral province. It attracts more than half of Australia's minerals exploration expenditure and produces two thirds of all gold and most of the nickel mined in Australia. World-class deposits in the eastern Yilgarn Craton include the Golden Mile (Superpit), Bronzewing, Jundee, Kanowna Belle, Mount Charlotte, Norseman, Sunrise Dam, Sons of Gwalia, St Ives-Kambalda, Tarmoola, Wallaby and Wiluna. World-class nickel deposits include Mount Keith, Kambalda and Murrin Murrin lateritic nickel. Other commodities extracted from the craton include aluminium, copper, iron and vanadium.

The NWS project was a National Geoscience Agreement (NGA) project which is an umbrella for a series of bilateral work programs between Geoscience Australia and the State and Northern Territory Geological Surveys. The NWS project was a cooperative venture involving the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) with Geoscience Australia providing specialist expertise.

The NWS project included an Australian Minerals Industry Research Association (AMIRA) International project P624 - "Geological and Metallogenic Framework for the Eastern Yilgarn Craton". Other collaborators in P624 are the Centre for Global Metallogeny (University of Western Australia) and the Volcanology Research Group (Monash University).

Project outcome

Enhanced mineral exploration strategies and the promotion of the eastern Yilgarn Craton through the provision of an improved geological framework of the region.