Geological Mapping techniques to enhance mineral exploration

L.J.Hutton

AGGSNA Airphoto - S of Cloncurry flown at 3500m (1935)

Commonwealth1:80K RC9 Airphoto – Camooweal area flown at 7500m (25 000’) (mid 1960s)

Improvements in Aerial photography

Composite radiometric and colour-draped TMI image images of the Tommy Creek area showing outline of felsic

rocks

Geology of the Tommy Creek area - based on BMR-GSQ mapping (1969) Hill & others (1992) with modifications by Withnall, 2006)

Milo beds

Mitakoodi Quartzite

Cover

Unnamed granite

Metadolerite

Porphyritic felsic volcanics

Corella Formation

Chumvale Breccia

Overhang Jaspilite

Quartzite conglomerate & sandstone

Marble, calc granofels, minor siltstone & sandstone

Muscovite-garnet schist

Graphitic schist

Mafic to intermediate lavas & clastics

Tommy Creek Microgranite

Argylla Formation

Undivided (graphitic schist, marble & calc granofels)

South-west Georgetown area:

Basement interpretation

Reinterpretation of a ‘cover’ area – Julia Creek 1:250K – magnetic data

1st VD image showing mafic units from the Proterozoic Soldiers Cap Group and probable magnetic units in the newly recognised Millungera Basin

3D model of Quamby area

The 6 blind men and the elephant

Poem by John Godfrey Saxe, cartoon by G. Renee Guzlas

Five Questions

1. What is the geodynamic setting of the system?2. What is the architecture of the system?3. What are the fluids, their sources and

reservoirs?4. What are the fluid flow drivers and pathways?5. What are the metal transport and deposition

processes?

• Geodynamic setting is a first-order constraint on commodity type and mineralisation style and needs to be an important consideration when developing exploration strategies

•Recognition of the range of geodynamic settings expands the range of possible mineralisation styles and opens up new exploration possibilities

• New and innovative mineralisation models based on updated geodynamic interpretations, combined with appropriate exploration strategies, can be primary drivers for greenfields exploration success

Important points

1. Geological maps are a prime requirement for finding new deposits

2. Need to understand what we are looking for3. Need to understand the mineral system4. If we don’t find the deposit – we can find

vectors to the deposit5. For under cover targeting – need geophysics.

Thank you