Data & Publications
Organic petrological analysis of shales and carbonates in the Isa Superbasin, northern Australia
11 March 2020
Geoscience Australia contracted CSIRO Energy to conduct a thorough organic petrological analysis of 22 shale samples from two drill cores; Amoco DDH 83-4 and Desert Creek 1 from the Fickling and McNamara groups of the Isa Superbasin. Geoscience Australia recently conducted a full suite of organic geochemistry on these wells. The statistically significant results of this study provide a more robust calibration dataset for use in petroleum systems models in the Isa Superbasin.
Source rock geochemistry of Northern Australia Data Release 2: Total organic carbon (TOC) and Rock-Eval pyrolysis of samples from the McArthur Basin, South Nicholson Basin and Isa Superbasin, Northern Territory
23 December 2019
This data release contains the total organic carbon (TOC) content and Rock-Eval pyrolysis data of 314 samples selected from nine drill cores from the McArthur Basin, South Nicholson Basin and Isa Superbasin that are housed in the Northern Territory Geological Survey’s Darwin core repository.
X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) data release of sedimentary rocks in the South Nicholson Basin and Isa Superbasin, Northern Australia
23 December 2019
This data release contains X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) data of 600 samples selected from 12 drill cores from the South Nicholson Basin and Isa Superbasin that are housed in GSQ’s Brisbane core repository and NTGS’s Darwin core repository. 23 different minerals were identified in the entire region.
Exploring for the Future: South Nicholson Basin Geological summary and seismic data interpretation
17 December 2019
This release contains new deep crustal seismic reflection data acquired over the McArthur Basin, Mount Isa western succession and South Nicholson Basin, identifying many areas of future exploration activity. A new basin, the Carrara Sub-basin, has been discovered, and the extent of the South Nicholson Basin increased.
AEM data release
13 November 2019
This release contains Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) data, laterally constrained inversions and other associated products from the “SkyTEM® helicopter EM Southern Stuart, Northern Territory” survey which was flown over the Northern Territory, Australia during July – August 2017. The survey comprises 9665.6 line km of transient EM and magnetic data, with dense line spacing (200 m) over the Alice Springs area.
Kidson Sub-basin seismic interpretation
22 October 2019
This paper presents the preliminary geological interpretation of the sedimentary succession imaged by the Kidson Sub-basin seismic line.
Iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) mineral potential assessment for the Tennant Creek – Mt Isa region: geospatial data
2 September 2019
A predictive mineral potential assessment has been undertaken using a knowledge-based, mineral systems approach to assist in understanding of the potential for IOCG mineral systems beneath cover in the Tennant Creek to Mount Isa region.
Source rock geochemistry of Northern Australia: Total organic carbon and Rock-Eval pyrolysis of samples from the South Nicholson Basin and Isa Superbasin, Queensland
22 August 2019
This report contains the total organic carbon content and Rock-Eval pyrolysis data of 674 new samples selected from twelve drill cores from the Geological Survey of Queensland’s Brisbane core repository. The results from this data release provide important insights into the hydrocarbon prospectivity of northern Australian basins.
Source rock geochemistry of the Isa Superbasin and South Nicholson Basin, Northern Australia
19 August 2019
This report provides a baseline assessment of the organic richness, quality and thermal maturity of source rocks of the South Nicholson Basin and the Isa Superbasin.
New SHRIMP U–Pb zircon ages from the South Nicholson Basin, Mount Isa Province and Georgina Basin, Northern Territory and Queensland
9 August 2019
The report presents nine new Sensitive High Resolution Ion Micro Probe (SHRIMP) U–Pb zircon results from the Mount Isa Province, South Nicholson Basin and Georgina Basin.
Journal article: Mapping iron oxide Cu-Au (IOCG) mineral potential in Australia using a knowledge-driven mineral systems-based approach
16 July 2019
A holistic multi-scale mineral systems framework has been used to develop a practical, knowledge-based prospectivity mapping method applicable at regional to continental scales for hydrothermal and orthomagmatic ore-forming systems and how maps of mineral potential are generated by integrating diverse and rich input data sets.
New SHRIMP U-Pb zircon ages from the South Nicholson and Carrara Range regions, Northern Territory
15 July 2019
The report presents the results of 26 new zircon U-Pb isotopic analyses, conducted on Geoscience Australia's Sensitive High Resolution Ion Micro Probe (SHRIMP2e). The sedimentary and volcanic rocks were collected from across the South Nicholson region, located in the north-eastern Northern Territory.
Producing Magnetite and Hematite Alteration Proxies using 3D Gravity and Magnetic Inversion: Method and results for the Tennant Creek—Mount Isa Project, northern Australia
2 May 2019
This study investigated the presence of hydrothermal alteration systems associated with iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) deposits throughout the Tennant Creek -– Mt Isa Project area of northern Australia. These zones are of economic interest due to their potential to host copper, gold, uranium and rare earth element mineralisation.
Preliminary national-scale lead isotope maps of Australia
15 March 2019
New dataset presents preliminary national-scale maps of Australia derived from lead isotope data showing mineral occurrences, prospects and deposits. The maps will be updated as more data become available.
Northern Australia Geochemical Survey: Data Release 2
15 March 2019
New data release from the North Australian Geochemical Survey which sampled catchment outlet sediments at 780 sites in Tennant Creek and Mount Isa. The samples were analysed for over 50 chemical elements present in the soil. The report includes additional new analysis on the distribution of gold, platinum and palladium over the survey area.
Source rock geochemistry of the McArthur Basin, Northern Australia
20 February 2019
This study aims to improve our understanding of the petroleum resource potential of Northern Australia. This report characterises the organic richness, kerogen type and thermal maturity of source rocks in the Velkerri, Barney Creek, Wollogorang and McDermott formations of the McArthur Basin based on Rock-Eval pyrolysis data analysed at Geoscience Australia.
Geochronology Compilation for Northern Australia: Version 2, 2018
20 December 2018
This report presents a compilation of publicly-available U-Pb geochronology from Queensland (QLD), Northern Territory (NT), Western Australia (WA) and the most northerly parts of South Australia (SA) and New South Wales (NSW). It represents a step towards a comprehensive U-Pb geochronology compilation for all of Australia.
Northern Australia Hydrogeochemical Survey: Data Release, Preliminary Interpretation and Atlas – Tennant Creek, McArthur River and Lake Woods Regions
17 December 2018
In this study the chemistry of groundwater matches regional geological trends, demonstrating the capacity of hydrogeochemistry to reveal the chemistry of buried rocks. By addressing the underlying chemical processes, the results of this survey allow an interpretation of groundwater processes that can inform decision making with respect to groundwater use, mineralisation and hydrocarbons.
Identification of a new gold event at Tennant Creek expands search space for more discoveries
29 August 2018
New result widens the exploration 'search space' for gold into rock formations in Tennant Creek previously regarded as too young to host this style of mineralisation.
AusAEM: Data release 1, NT and QLD
13 June
New data is available from the world's largest airborne electromagnetic (AusAEM) survey, covering an area between the prospective region between Tennant Creek and Mount Isa.
Northern Australia Geochemical Survey: Data release 1 - Total (fine fraction) and MMI element contents
10 May
An extensive soil sampling survey has been undertaken over an area between Tennant Creek and Mount Isa. The surface soil samples were analysed for their metal content.
Solid Geology of the Tennant Creek to Mount Isa area
19 March 2018
The first release of Geoscience Australia's national time based solid geology mapping program focuses on Tennant Creek to Mount Isa area. The geological data comprises four layers: Mesozoic, Paleozoic, Neoproterozoic and Pre-Neoproterozoic.
South Nicholson deep crustal seismic reflection survey, NT and QLD
16 March 2018
A seismic reflection survey was undertaken over the South Nicholson Basin region straddling the NT and QLD border. The project aquired five seismic lines, totalling 1100 line kilometres.
Australian Geological Provinces 2018 edition
16 March 2018
The Australian Geological Provinces Database contains descriptions and spatial extents of the fundamental geological elements of the Australian continent and offshore surrounds. The data includes the new outline of the South Nicholson Basin.
South Nicholson gravity data, NT - Geophysical Archive Data Delivery System
20 October 2017
The gravity survey was carried out in July 2017 over the South Nicholson Basin, to determine the geological structure of the basin and to assist with identifying the resource potential of the area.