November 2018

A monthly online newsletter with product news, data releases and project highlights relating to the minerals and energy exploration industries.

1. New geochronology reports and data published
2. New AusGIN Geoscience Portal due for release in November
3. Update on geophysical data release
4. About Minerals Alert

1. New geochronology reports and data published

• Northern Territory Geological Record 2018-009 by Kositcin, McGloin, Reno, Weisheit and Beyer reports SHRIMP U-Pb age results from six samples locally associated with skarn alteration and/or base metal or tungsten-molybdenum mineralisation in the Aileron Province of the Northern Territory.
• Northern Territory Geological Record 2018-010 by Kositcin, Normington and Edgoose presents SHRIMP U-Pb ages from detrital zircons from six samples of the central Amadeus Basin in the Northern Territory. The results provide constraints on the relative contributions of different sedimentary source regions, and on changes in palaeogeography and sedimentary dynamics in the basin system.

The work presented in both these Records was conducted under a National Collaborative Framework agreement between Geoscience Australia and the Northern Territory Geological Survey. Geoscience Australia's part in this work forms part of the Exploring for the Future program. Data presented and discussed in this Record is also available via Geoscience Australia's Geochron Delivery system.

A new paper by Cross, Purdy, Champion Brown, Siegel & Armstrong has been published online in the Australian Journal of Earth Sciences (AJES). This paper presents new SHRIMP U-Pb zircon ages, and complementary oxygen and Lu-Hf isotopic data from magmatic rocks of the southern Thomson Orogen, in NSW and Qld. The data provide further insights into the evolution of the poorly-understood and largely buried Thomson Orogen, a major component of the Tasmanides of eastern Australia. The paper forms part of an upcoming Special Issue of AJES focussing on the southern Thomson Orogen, and is a product of a collaborative project between Geoscience Australia, the Geological Survey of New South Wales and the Geological Survey of Queensland. Key aspects of this work were also recently presented at the Australian Geoscience Council Convention (AGCC) in Adelaide.

For further information, email clientservices@ga.gov.au or phone 1800 800 173.

2. New AusGIN Geoscience Portal due for release in November

A new and improved Australian Geoscience Information  Network (AusGIN) Geoscience Portal, with a fresh new look, is due for release during November. With improved access to geological data and services from all of Australia's government geological surveys, the new Portal will deliver more functions, a more user-friendly experience, and full support for mobile devices and touch screens.

The data available through the Portal includes mineral tenements, mineral occurrences and resources, borehole locations, geological maps, and many other supporting datasets from geoscience and environmental agencies across Australia.

Further developments in the coming months will incorporate more analytical tools and short instructional videos for users to get the best out of the Portal.

For further information, email clientservices@ga.gov.au or phone 1800 800 173.

3. Update on geophysical data release

Geoscience Australia is managing the geophysical data acquisition programs in Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory on behalf of the state/territory geological surveys.

The current status of Geoscience Australia's geophysical survey data acquisition is available in a comprehensive table.

For further information, email clientservices@ga.gov.au or phone 1800 800 173.

4. About Minerals Alert

For more information, please email clientservices@ga.gov.au; or phone 1800 800 173.