New minerals survey in uncharted corner of Australia

A new 860-kilometre survey extending from Western Australia into South Australia will unearth information about a large uncharted corner of Australia, according to the South Australian Government.

Mineral Resources Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the Eucla-Gawler seismic survey will focus on an area between two of the world’s most prospective geological regions.

“As one of the most comprehensive of its kind in Australia, this PACE survey will provide valuable new insights into the structure between the Yilgarn and Gawler cratons,” he said.

“This survey, extending from the WA border to Tarcoola, will reveal new information about a large area that is one of the last great geological frontiers on the continent.

“We are giving geologists their first glimpse of the geology beneath the Nullarbor Plain.

“This survey is very important because it will provide more information about our State and open the door to new minerals and energy exploration and greater investment opportunities.”

A major initiative of PACE 2020, the Eucla-Gawler survey is designed to link up with existing geological information to provide almost 1800 kilometres of continuous data across Australia.

The Eucla-Gawler Seismic Survey follows last year’s release of two new major packages of geoscientific data for the highly prospective Gawler Craton and Marree regions.

The Gawler Craton Gravity Survey – located primarily in the Woomera Prohibited Area – and the Marree Magnetic and Radiometric Survey cover more than 85,000 square kilometres.

“PACE 2020 has successfully accelerated resource development by providing explorers the information and support they need to guide their investment decisions,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

“The information provided by the Gawler Craton survey is already being used by explorers to target exciting new prospects.”

The world-renowned PACE 2020 enables collaboration between industry, academia and state and federal agencies to gather important geological information.

This cross-border survey is a collaboration between Geological Survey of South Australia, Geological Survey of Western Australia, Geoscience Australia and AuScope Earth Imaging.

The South Australian Government has contributed $1.75 million to the project’s $3.15 million South Australian segment, with its collaborative partners providing the remaining $1.4 million.

For more information about mining and exploration visit: www.dmitre.sa.gov.au/pace2020.