News & Events

Exploring for the Future takes a deeper look at northern Australia

28 October 2021

A new electrical conductivity model released by Geoscience Australia’s Exploring for the Future program offers a deeper look at the geology in northern Australia with promising results.

First major release from expanded Exploring for the Future program

15 September 2021

New airborne electromagnetic data from the Exploring for the Future program will provide an unprecedented snapshot of the geology of south-eastern Australia.

First data released from National Drilling Initiative’s South Nicholson campaign

20 April 2021

The first data from one of the most promising exploration frontiers in Australia is now available from Geoscience Australia.

New Exploring for the Future projects announced

4 March 2021

Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, Keith Pitt today announced eight new projects will unlock the potential of Australia’s groundwater, energy and mineral resources during the next four years of the Australian Government’s $225 million Exploring for the Future program.

Exploring for the Future Stakeholder Industry Workshops

21 October 2020

Geoscience Australia will be hosting two virtual workshops for Industry Stakeholders, with the aim of engaging with resources and water-related organisations, to share information and seek feedback.

Exploring for the Future expands across Australia

11 August 2020

Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt today announced that two new resource potential corridors stretching the length of mainland Australia will be the focus of the $125 million expansion of the Exploring for the Future program.

Mineral deposits near Tennant Creek estimated to be worth billions

5 August 2020

Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt today issued a joint media release with Senator for the Northern Territory Dr Sam McMahon about the economic potential of natural resources in underexplored areas of the Northern Territory.

Virtual Roadshow 2020

4 August 2020

The Exploring for the Future Virtual Roadshow was a series of lunchtime webinar events held in July 2020, to mark the significant achievements of the Exploring for the Future program.

Exploring for the Future program update released

23 July 2020

Geoscience Australia has released the Exploring for the Future Program Update 2016-2020, which provides an overview of the program’s activities in northern Australia and what they have delivered so far.

New online data portal for resources sector

7 July 2020

Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, Keith Pitt today announced the launch of an online data portal that provides explorers with free access to around 250 datasets collected as part of the Australian Government’s $225 million Exploring for the Future program.

Government moves to strengthen resources exploration

23 June 2020

The future of the nation’s resources sector has been bolstered, with the Government investing a further $125 million in a world-leading exploration-stimulation program that will expand its reach to cover the whole of Australia.

Exploring for the Future online Roadshows

19 June 2020

Please join us to mark the significant achievements of the Exploring for the Future program at a series of online Roadshow events in July.

Message from Chief Executive Officer on COVID-19

1 May 2020

As we see on a daily basis, COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is changing the way organisations around the world are carrying out their business.

Resources and energy exports expected to surge to a new record

18 March 2020

Australia’s resource and energy export earnings are forecast to set a record of $299 billion in 2019-20, an increase of $18 billion from 2018-19.

Technology Delivers Results for the North

27 November 2019

Geoscientific data and technology is supporting water infrastructure, investment and innovation in the north, as explained by Dr James Johnson, CEO Geoscience Australia.

New data to bridge gap in frontier oil and gas regions

4 November 2019

Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Matt Canavan, and the Northern Territory Minister for Primary Industry and Resources, Paul Kirby, today announced a new seismic survey in the Northern Territory’s Barkly region will wrap up this week.

Further resource potential of the Pilbara marked through new stratigraphic well

14 October 2019

A new stratigraphic well in Western Australia’s Canning Basin will help scope out new resources in the region, paving the way for new investment and jobs, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan said today.

Old rocks, new ages: data release of SHRIMP geochronology of the South Nicholson region, NT and QLD

3 September 2019

Two comprehensive geochronology reports from the South Nicholson region have been published. The reports outline over 40 new SHRIMP zircon ages, which will greatly improve understanding of the geological evolution across the region, and enhance regional mineral and hydrocarbon resource potential.

Workshop to outline new pre-competitive geoscience and mineral potential in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory

15 August 2019

Geoscience Australia, in collaboration with the Northern Territory Geological Survey, is hosting a workshop outlining new mineral exploration opportunities in the East Tennant area, which lies beneath the Barkly Tableland and extends approximately 250 km east of Tennant Creek. This free event will be held on 3 September in the Centrepoint Building in Darwin.

World's largest airborne electromagnetic survey reveals more mineral potential in the north

19 March 2019

Potential new mineral and groundwater resources in the Northern Territory and Queensland have been revealed by the world’s largest airborne electromagnetic survey, released today at the Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar in Alice Springs.

Groundwater shines a light on hidden mineralisation 20 December 2018

20 December 2018

Geoscience Australia released today new data from remote groundwater bores, which give hints of hidden mineralisation.

New airborne electromagnetic survey data released

12 December 2018

All airborne electromagnetic data acquired over NT and QLD area during 2017 and 2018 field season is now available to download.

Expressions of Interest to subscribe to a regional airborne electromagnetic survey in northern Australia

22 November 2018

Geoscience Australia will conduct a regional airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey from the Hamersley Ranges WA to the Lake Mackay region in NT, starting in February 2019.

Innovative government geoscience to drive new discoveries

16 October 2018

Exploring for the Future significantly increasing the exploration potential of northern Australia.

SHRIMP time machine uncovers mineral potential

28 August 2018

On its 10 year anniversary, Geoscience Australia's world-renowned Sensitive High Resolution Ion Micro Probe (SHRIMP) mass spectrometer has uncovered a new age for gold bearing rocks near Tennant Creek.

World's largest airborne electromagnetic survey reveals potential new areas for natural resources in Northern Australia

13 June 2018

Data collected from the world's largest airborne electromagnetic survey (AusAEM) released by Geoscience Australia at the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies conference in Perth. The large-scale airborne survey was undertaken over an area between Mount Isa and Tennant Creek, on the border of Northern Territory and Queensland.

New data reveals potential copper "hot spots" in Northern Australia

10 May 2018

Potential copper "hot-spots" in an area on the Queensland-Northern Territory border are revealed in new data released by Exploring for the Future.

Exploring for the Future delivering results for Northern Australia

20 March 2018

New data collected between the world-class mineral-endowed regions of Mount Isa and Tennant Creek shows the South Nicholson Basin is three times larger than previously thought. Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Matt Canavan announced the release of the new seismic data from the Exploring for the Future program. The data and information provides valuable insight for exploration companies to identify new prospects for petroleum and mineral exploration.

Exploring for the future program delivers first results

20 October 2017

The first dataset has been released from a range of surveys looking at the potential energy, mineral and groundwater resources in a relatively-unexplored region spanning the Northern Territory – Queensland border.

Unearthing local talent in Alice Springs

07 September 2017

Ten new laboratory-based roles designed to upskill Alice Springs job seekers have been created by Geoscience Australia in partnership with local Aboriginal not-for-profit company, the Centre for Appropriate Technology. The establishment of the laboratory and training roles are part of the four-year $100.5 million Exploring for the Future programme.

Exploring for the Future - a new phase of resource investment in northern Australia

08 December 2016

Planning is underway on the new $100.5 million Exploring for the Future programme. This four-year programme aims to boost Australia's attractiveness as a destination for investment in resource exploration and management.

Exploring for the Future

04 May 2016

The Australian Government's 2016-17 Budget brings a boost for Geoscience Australia through funding of a new programme Exploring for the Future.