Geoscience foundations for smart exploration and new investment.
The Geological Survey of South Australia (GSSA) 2021 Discovery Day program showcased the technical expertise we have in South Australia and reinforced that the state is a vibrant place for earth sciences, exploration know-how and the right technology to support mineral discovery.
The technical program was loaded with content from GSSA, other Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) major projects, CSIRO, University of Adelaide and Geoscience Australia. With over 190 in-person registrations and a hybrid program with 171 registering to watch online, the day was full of geoscientific exchange.
The in-person event at the Adelaide Convention Centre was very well received. Captivating images from DEM work programs and student technical posters graced the event space providing a focal point for lively discussions. A highlight was a fantastic display from MinEx CRC and University of South Australia partners demonstrating the augmented-reality and virtual-reality tools they are developing to better visualise and interact with drill core.
An example of the augmented-reality and virtual-reality tools in development by MinEx CRC and the University of South Australia to better visualise and interact with drill core. (Photo 418467)
The day started with Paul Heithersay, DEM Chief Executive, setting the scene for South Australia’s Energy and Mining Strategy. Mai Ly then spoke on the Accelerated Discovery Initiative to showcase the breadth of support being offered to the minerals industry including, but also beyond the envelope of, co-funded drilling. Commodities were a focus for Peta Abbot’s talk on how the South Australian minerals sector is taking up the challenge of discovery across a range of commodities, including the critical minerals that will help us develop premium export opportunities and a greener, hi-tech world.
Chief Executive Paul Heithersay provided the opening address on the Energy and Mining Strategy and the release of the first annual report to show the progress we’ve made, and geoscience’s role in stimulating exploration and ultimately contributing to economic growth. (Photo 418463)
Copper was the key commodity theme for the next series of presentations with discussion on the potential for central African copper-belt style deposits in the Stuart Shelf and new geophysical methods to better understand sedimentary thickness across the Stuart Shelf. A 3D view of the mineralogy of Olympic Dam provided a mineralogical template for exploration in the region.
The third session of the day focused on the GSSA and MinEx CRC drilling program in the Delamerian Orogen, part of MinEx CRC’s National Drilling Initiative. Talks delved into the timing of magmatic intrusion and orogenesis. Details of the drilling program were provided including a first look at new core from the coiled tubing drill rig and first-pass geological interpretations of the drill core. In addition, new research from MinEx CRC researcher at the University of Adelaide, Dr Wei Hong, demonstrated the copper–gold–molybdenum porphyry potential of post-subduction granitoids in the Delamerian Orogen.
The day wrapped up with a series of presentations on current and future projects in the big data space. New mapping of crystalline basement geology is underway using traditional magnetic interpretations coupled with computer-based analysis techniques to help define linear features. In the geochemical space, new data on the soils and vegetation across the central Gawler Craton is being researched as part of a CSIRO collaboration. The continuing digital transformation of GSSA projects and databases was highlighted with talks on the Gawler Phase 2 (GP2) project and new developments in the South Australian Resources Information Gateway (SARIG) fuelled by GSSA’s new Digital Strategy (PDF 3.2 MB). These projects aim to make exploration data totally integrated with machine learning capabilities and demonstrate our endeavours to foster the ingenuity to adapt machine learning to mineral systems in South Australia.
An example of our continuing digital transformation on display – the new South Australian Drilling Atlas on SARIG showing the latest results from the Delamerian Orogen National Drilling Initiative. (Photo 418465)
Alex Blood, Executive Director, Mineral Resources Division, closed the day, reinforcing the GSSA’s leadership in delivering world-class geoscience and insights that will support mineral discovery and its emerging leadership in evolving how geoscience is delivered, collected and collaborated on – leaning into this data science and technology age.
Presentations are available on the Energy and Mining SA YouTube channel.
– Anthony Reid and Louise Baida, December 2021
