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West Australian
Geologist
Bi-monthly newsletter of the Western Australian Division of the Geological Society of Australia Inc
Number 509
October-November 2014
The Capes Region Field Guide
Calendar of Monthly Talks
Wednesday 1 October
Towards a multi-commodity minerals targeting effort in the Halls Creek Orogen using a
Mineral Systems approach - a CET (UWA) and GSWA collaboration
Dr Sandra Occhipinti
University of Western Australia
Wednesday 5 November
A Bizarre Crinoid from a Methane Seep in the Late South Cretaceous of South Dakota, USA
Dr Aaron Hunter
Curtin University
Meetings commence at 17:30, Irish Club of WA, 61 Townshend Road,
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
Contents
Abstract: 1 October Towards a multi-commodity
minerals targeting effort in the Halls Creek
Orogen using a Mineral Systems approach - a CET
(UWA) and GSWA collaboration
3
Abstract: 5 November
A Bizarre Crinoid
from a Methane Seep in the Late South Cretaceous
of South Dakota, USA
4
Tectonics and Metallogeny of Russian Far East
5
Student Field Work Bursaries - apply now
7
A Geological Field Guide to the Capes Region of
Southwest WA – Launched!
8
“Australia goes it alone — the emerging island
continent 100 Ma to present”
9
Australian Earth Science Convention: Student
Bursary Report to WA Division
10
Upcoming Publications in the Australian Journal
of Earth Sciences
11
Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools
12
Brightest Brains Uncover New Mineral Resources
14
Gibb Maitland Medal 2015 Call for Nominations 15
GSWA Publications
Chair
Dr Trevor Beardsmore
Tel: (08) 9266 3707
16
Timing and venue of talks
Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each
month at 17:30 at the Irish Club of WA (Inc.), 61
Townshend Road, Subiaco, between Hay Street
and Churchill Avenue. This is the same venue used
for AIG meetings. See map above.
Content offered for publication in WAG will
appear in the earliest convenient edition. Send
contributions or photos to:
Dr Roger Bateman
Tenth Symphony Geoscience
Email: rogerbateman@optusnet.com.au
WA Division Office Bearers 2014–2015
Vice Chair
Treasurer
Dr Sue Murray
Stephen Wyche
Tel: (08) 6436 9460
Tel: (08) 9222 3606
Secretary
Dr Aaron Hunter
Tel: (08)9266 7332
This newsletter is sent only to members of the Geological Society of Australia based or working in Western Australia.
2
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
Abstract: 1 October
Towards a multi-commodity
minerals targeting effort in the
Halls Creek Orogen using a
Mineral Systems approach - a
CET (UWA) and GSWA
collaboration
Dr Sandra Occhipinti
CET, University of Western Australia
Mineral systems analysis involves understanding the
geodynamic processes that are required to form and
preserve ore deposits at a range of scales (Wyborn
1994). Analysis accomodates large scale aspects
such as the secular evolution of the earth,
controlling factors on lithospheric enrichment (and
how to recognise them), and the relevant
geodynamic drivers in the formation of a mineral
system. The concept of secular evolution
acknowledges that mineral systems resulting in
economic ore deposits were only active during
certain periods of the Earth’s history. Other
elements, for example the requirement of certain
ore deposits to form in carbonate – evaporate
sequences, require understanding of plate
reconstructions to ascertain at what paleolatitudes
one can target for certain styles of ores.
Lithospheric enrichment and geodynamic drivers
are often directly linked to plate tectonics and
therefore the kinematics of plate motion, which
have a subsequent fundamental link to the formation
and breakup of supercontinents.
Here we present a preliminary mineral systems
analysis for the Halls Creek Orogen in the east
Kimberley. We incorporate the tectonic evolution
of the Halls Creek Orogen as it is intrinsically linked
to the mineral systems of the region. We also
consider the formation and preservation of major
structures through time that may act as mineralising
fluid pathways and traps for ore. These structures
are mapped from the upper to lower crust through
analysis of geological and geophysical data. Other
factors that we consider are the depth of
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current day exposure of crust (eg. upper to lower
crustal components that formed through time
exposed at or near to the current day exposure
level), rock types (as hosts, or as chemical
scrubbers/reactive rocks), and structural trap sites.
About the speaker: Sandra Occhipinti is a
structural geologist who until recently worked with
AngloGold Ashanti in their Global Greenfields
Project Generation team. She completed a BSc
Geology at Monash University in 1992. In 1994 she
received an MSc for her work on Structural
Geology, Metamorphism and Metasomatism in a
low-temperature, high-pressure metamorphic belt
in New Caledonia. Following this she worked for
the Geological Survey of Western Australia in their
Regional Mapping Group, where she was part of a
team that delineated the complex geological history
of the southern Capricorn Orogen, including the
presence of an Island Arc accreted onto the
northwest Yilgarn Craton in the Palaeoproterozoic.
In 2004 she received a PhD from Curtin University
on the tectonothermal development of the Southern
Capricorn Orogen using 40Ar/39Ar geochronology
and structural and metamorphic analysis. Sandra
completed a short post-doc at Curtin University
prior to working for Fugro Airborne surveys from
2005 to 2007 as an Interpretation Geoscientist
concentrating on West Africa.
Sandra’s key research interests are centred on
understanding how disparate mineral systems
develop, and developing systematic techniques in
order to explore for them. This involves the
methodical integration of geological, geophysical,
and geochemical datasets to develop sound 3- and
4-D geological interpretations that may be used to
hypothesise on the geodynamic/tectonic
development of a region through time.
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
Abstract: 5 November
A Bizarre Crinoid from a
Methane Seep in the Late
South Cretaceous of South
Dakota, USA
Dr Aaron Hunter
Curtin University
Despite a rich and varied record, Mesozoic stalked
crinoids are relatively rare in the Western Interior
Seaway of North America compared to those found
in Northern Europe. A unique example of Mesozoic
stalked crinoid is described from cold methane
seeps (hydrocarbon seep mounds also called “tepee
buttes”) from the Upper Cretaceous (upper
Campanian) of the Northern Great Plains of the
United States; the first crinoids to be described
from such an environment. The Late Cretaceous
Western Interior Seaway has never before yielded
any identifiable stalked crinoid remains.
Nevertheless, there have been significant studies on
both free living and stalked crinoids from other
locations in the Upper Cretaceous of North
America that provide a good basis for comparison.
This distinct species is characterized by a tapering
homeomorphic column with through-going tubuli,
lacking any attachment disc. The arms are
unbranched and pinnulate, with muscular and
syzygialarticulations. The unique morphology of the
column justifies the establishment of a separate
family. A new suborder is also proposed as there
exists no corresponding taxon within the Articulata
that can accommodate all the characteristics of this
new genus. This new crinoid shares many features
with other members of the articulates, including
bathycrinids, bourgueticrinids and guillecrinids
within the Order Comatulida, as currently defined
in the revised Treatise of Invertebrate Paleontology.
Reconstructing the entire crinoid using hundreds
of semi-articulated and disarticulated (well
preserved) fossils, reveals a unique paleoecology
and functional morphology specifically adapted to
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living within this hydrocarbon seep environment.
About the speaker: Aaron joined Curtin
University as Senior Lecturer of Palaeontology and
Biostratigraphy in 2013. He was recently a Visiting
Fellow and now Life Member at the Clare Hall,
University of Cambridge, UK, collaborating with
the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences. After
completing his BSc in Geology from Kingston
University, specialising in mineral deposits and
petroleum geology, and his MSc in Palaeobiology
at the University of Bristol, Aaron gained his PhD
in echinoderm taphonomy and palaeoecology from
the University of London (Birkbeck College &
University College London) in 2006. Aaron has
completed Postdoctoral Fellowships at the
University of Burgundy, France (CNRS),
University of Tokyo, Japan (Royal Society JSPS
Fellow and JSPS Bridge Fellow) and University of
Göttingen (DAAD), furthering his research into
both fossil and extant echinoderms including
crinoids (sea lilies) and asterozoans (starfish and
brittle stars). In 2010 Aaron was appointed Senior
Lecturer at the PETRONAS University of
Technology, Malaysia where he established the
Malaysian Centre of Palaeobiodiversity (MCPB) and
was Deputy Director of the South East Asia
Carbonate Research Laboratory (SEACARL),
supervising MSc and PhD students and was course
director for the undergraduate Palaeontology and
Physical Geology courses. During this period he
held a short term fellowship at NESCent, Duke
University USA and was a visiting associate at the
American Museum of Natural History.
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
Tectonics and Metallogeny
of Russian Far East
Joint GSA – AIG Lecture by Nikolai A.
Goryachev
The talk will be given at the Irish Club (Subiaco) on
6 October at 6pm. Sponsored drinks are available
from 5:30pm.
Northeast Asia consists of four major tectonic
blocks, according to analysis of different modern
tectonic models of the Northeast Asia and the
author’s personal investigations in different parts of
this huge territory. The tectonic blocks are:
deformed passive margin of the Northeast Asia
craton with Omolon and Okhotsk microcontinents
which have been separated from the craton in
Neoproterozoic times; deformed margin of the
Arctic continental block; collage of island arc
terranes of the Kolyma Loop – Indigirka-Kolyma
accretion belt; and a collage of terranes of the
Anadyr-Koryak and Okhotsk Sea tectonic blocks.
These tectonic blocks form the basement for the
Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous Yana-Kolyma and
Okhotsk-Koryak orogenic belts, Early Cretaceous
Arctic orogenic belt and Cenozoic KoryakKamchatka orogenic belt.
The Late Mesozoic orogenic fold belt of
different geodynamic settings have been formed as
a result of the Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous
(160-135 Ma) and Cretaceous (130-100 Ma)
orogenic events. These belts are the collisional
Yana-Kolyma belt with S-type granite plutons;
accretion-collision Arctic belt; and accretion –
“uncompleted” orogenic Indigirka-Kolyma belt. We
believe that Kolyma Loop structures may compare
with the modern Philippine and Indonesia
archipelago. Both these structures consist of
collages of island arcs, back arcs, oceanic basins, and
other structures. Such structures (collages) lie
between continental blocks and represent of
5
special accretion structures as a product of
continental collision and interaction. Areas of
interaction between different orogenic belts of the
same age have specific tectonic interference
structures. Different deformation structures and
magmatic assemblages with complicated
metallogeny occur in such interference areas.
Ore deposits in East Russia formed
throughout geological history from the Precambrian
to the Cenozoic. Except for the Omolon AR-PR
microcontinent, the gold metallogeny of this vast
region from the Precambrian to the Paleozoic was
of little economic significance. By contrast, the
development of gold metallogeny in the Late
Mesozoic and the Cenozoic reached a maximum,
with several world-class deposits being formed.
This is largely because of the intense and widespread
tectono-thermal activity in East Russia in the Late
Mesozoic - Cenozoic. Gold deposits of orogenic
and intrusion-related types are widespread in all
orogenic belts. About 6,000 t Au were recovered
from these deposits and many placers, which
determined the overall shape of these metallogenic
areas. Gold ore deposits are associated with
different types of Sn, W, Sb and base metal deposits
in the Yana-Kolyma orogenic belt, and W, Cu, Mo,
epithermal Au and Sb-Hg deposits in the Arctic,
and Okhotsk-Koryak orogenic belts.
The Yana-Kolyma orogenic belt formed in
two stages: (1) the Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous
(U-Pb, Ar-Ar 154-134 Ma and (2) Early Cretaceous
(Ar-Ar 125-115 Ma). Orogenic (Ar-Ar 140-135
Ma) and granitoid-related (K-Ar, Ar-Ar 149-141
Ma) Au deposits are characteristic of the early
stages. They are associated with Sn-W skarn
deposits (Ar-Ar 146 Ma) and greisen – quartz vein
types, and small deposits of Pb-Zn and Mo. Late
stage orogenic Au deposits (K-Ar, Ar-Ar 126-124
Ma) are closely associated with world class Au-Sb
deposits (K-Ar 124-115 Ma). Pre-orogenic
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
deposits are represented by small island-arc
related Kuroko type deposits, Hg and Au-Ag
epithermal, and Carlin-like type deposits of the
Uyandina-Yasachny volcanogenic belt.
The Okhotsk-Koryak orogenic belt is
characterized by an eastward change in the age of
orogenic events from 140-135 to 115-103 Ma.
Orogenic (Ar-Ar 120-119 Ma) and granitoid related
(Ar-Ar 124 Ma) Au deposits are associated with
Cu-Mo, Sn-Nb-Li and Co-As (K-Ar 134-103 Ma).
Pre-orogenic epithermal Au-Ag (Ar-Ar 136 Ma)
and manto-like base metal ores are associated with
the formation of Uda-Murgal continental-margin
magmatic belt.
Arctic (or Oloy-Chukotka) orogenic belt has
sublatitudinal orientation different from the other
Mesozoic belts and located along the Arctic Ocean
coast from the lower reaches of the Yana River in
the west to Alaska in the east. Orogenic granitoids
within this belt dated at 125-103 Ma (Ar-Ar,
U-Pb). Orogenic and granitoid-related Au deposits
are dated by Ar-Ar (125 Ma) and K-Ar (121-115
Ma) and are associated with small deposits of Mo
and Sn. Pre-accretionary Cu-porphyry deposit
(U-Pb 141 Ma) and epithermal Au-Ag
mineralization was formed in island arc settings
within Oloy and South Anyui tectonic zones.
The Koryak orogenic belt is characterized by the
association of minor orogenic Au deposits with
pre-accretionary chromite-PGE deposits in
ultramafic rocks and volcanogenic sulfide ores into
Talovsky and Maynitsky terranes, as well as small
pre-accretionary Mn ore deposits in chert beds of
the Yanranay terrane.
Metallogeny of the Okhotsk-Chukotka
volcanogenic belt is characterized mainly by the
association of epithermal Au-Ag mineralization with
Mo-Cu- porphyry, Ag – base metal, W and Sn-Ag
ore deposits. Chromite-PGE ore deposits are
known in the southern flank of Okhotsk-Chukotka
volcanogenic belt, but their geodynamic setting is
unclear.
For this region, the combination of two
trends of tectonic structures and metallogenic belts
was typical: (1) the Arctic, and (2) Pacific. The first
were dominant in Jurassic – Early Cretaceous
6
times. The Pacific trend dominated in Late
Cretaceous times. Different combinations of ore
deposits are characteristic of Mesozoic metallogeny
of the northern part of Russian Far East. In some
cases, they mainly reflect the crustal character of
the metallogeny (Yana-Kolyma and OkhotskKoryak orogenic belts), in other cases (Koryak
orogenic belt) the mantle. The mineral
compositions, and isotopic characteristics of the ore
deposits (S, Pb) and vein (O, C, Sr), suggests that
mineralization in orogenic structures was formed
with a noticeable influence of mantle-crust
interaction.
About the speaker: Nikolay Goryachev
completed a PhD in Mineralogy (Moscow State
University) and Doctor of Science in Geology of
ore deposits (Far East Geological Institute,
Vladivostok). He is Corresponding member of
Russian Academy of Sciences, and Professor of
Geology in North-East State University in Magadan.
His principal experience is in geology and
metallogeny of lode gold deposits. Field experience
is related to research in Russia, USA (Alaska),
Canada (Yukon), Finland, Mongolia. He is SEG
Fellow and member of Russian Geological and
Mineralogical Societies, Geological Society of
Australia, Society of Applied Geology and
Mineralogy. He was SEG Regional Vice President
Lecturer 2007, and SEG Regional Vice President
on Northern Eurasia 2009-2012.
This is a talk sponsored jointly by the Australian
Institute of Geoscientists and the Geological Society
of Australia.
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
Student Field Work Bursaries - apply now
7
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
A Geological Field Guide to
the Capes Region of Southwest
WA – Launched!
Jo Watkins
ESWA
general geology, a detailed map with featured
geological units and stops marked in, and step-bystep descriptions of each unit/feature with diagrams
and photos. This is all supported by introductory
notes and maps and a comprehensive glossary.
The second field guide produced by Earth Science
Western Australia (ESWA) and John Bunting was
officially launched on Thursday the 7th of May at the
Balmoral Hotel, Victoria Park.
This launch event was well attended with guests
including; Rick Rogerson (Executive Director of
the Department of Mines and Petroleum of WA),
John Bunting and family, members of ESWA’s
Board and of the Geological Society of Australia,
sponsors of ESWA, representatives of various
educational authorities, teachers and interested
parties.
All attendees were keen to see the exciting new
guide and to hear about the successes of the preview
field trip for Earth and Environmental Science
teachers hosted in December last year.
This A5, 208 page, spiral bound, full colour volume
was authored by John Bunting, co-ordinated and
published by Earth Science Western Australia
(ESWA) and supported by the Geological Society
of Australia.
Each of the seven locations in the guide provide an
access map, safety notes, an overview of the
8
Although this follow up to the popular A Field
Guide to Perth and Surrounds volume has been
designed to be used by teachers in support of their
Earth and Environmental Science field work, it is
also well suited to professionals, hobbyists and
tourists alike.
Copies of the guide can be purchased from ESWA
for $38 + postage (www.earthsciencewa.com.au),
or for nominated prices from the Geological Society
of Australia (www.gsa.org.au), the publications
counter of the Department of Mines and Petroleum
of WA, the Science Teacher’s Association of WA
(www.stawa.net) and Boffins Technical & Specialist
Books (88 William Street, Perth WA).
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
“Australia goes it alone — the emerging island continent 100
Ma to present”
Now available from GSWA by Tony Cockbain. This is the second book in this series, following “The
birth of supercontinents and the Proterozoic assembly of Western Australia” by Simon Johnson.
For a copy of this book for review, or to buy either volume, contact Jean Johnston at
Department of Mines and Petroleum Tel: 9222 3670 jean.johnston@dmp.wa.gov.au
9
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
Australian Earth Science
Convention: Student Bursary
Report to WA Division
Sadie Belica
School of Earth and Environment
University of Western Australia
As a new international PhD student at the
University of Western Australia, it was important
for me to attend the Australian Earth Sciences
Convention in order to become familiar with
Australian geology and make connections with
relevant researchers in my field. The focus of my
PhD is on the magnetostratigraphy of PermoTriassic Gondwanan basins and the implications for
Pangaea reconstructions. In particular, I will be
exploring the viability of magnetostratigraphy in
the Sydney Basin with the hope of providing a
magnetic barcode across the Permian-Triassic
boundary. The majority of Permian-Triassic
boundaries represented in the literature come from
marine sections, so it is important to incorporate
terrestrial sections like the Sydney Basin for
comparison with the end-Permian mass extinction
event. Attending the conference allowed me to
participate in the Sydney Basin Symposium, a series
of lectures focused on new work in the basin, and
the information I gathered and the people I
connected with were invaluable to advancing my
project. I also had the opportunity to participate in
a conference field trip that explored the geologic
history of the lower Hunter Valley, where I was
able to familiarize myself with the geology of the
Newcastle coalfield and discover new coastal
sections for a reconnaissance field trip I took the
week postponing the conference.
During the conference I presented the recently
published work from my Master’s degree from the
University of Florida. This research focused on the
paleomagnetism of four separate Paleoproterozoic
mafic dyke swarms within peninsular India and the
resulting tectonic reconstructions for each time
interval. The most significant results of this project
allowed us to provide a paleomagnetic test of the
Columbia supercontinent, which has a
10
proposed geologic assembly from 2.1-1.8 Ga. Our
best-fit results to the geologic model at 1.88 Ga
show little similarity to the archetypal construction,
and suggest that if there was a supercontinent
during this time, it probably looked a lot different,
and that many of our earlier supercontinental
reconstructions are laden with some type of
Pangean bias. More information can be found at:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2013.12
.005
Sadie Belica at Nobbys Head, Newcastle, during the
Australian Earth Science Convention in Newcastle, NSW.
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
Upcoming Publications in
the Australian Journal of
Earth Sciences
AJES Vol 61/7
Upcoming papers
S. Jones: Contrasting structural styles of gold
deposits in the Leonora Domain: Evidence for early
gold deposition, Eastern Goldfields, Western
Australia.
M. F. Gazley, J. K. Vry & M. A. Pearce: Further
evidence for ~8 kbar amphibolite facies
metamorphism in the Marymia Inlier, Western
Australia.
M. C. Bruce & I. G. Percival: Geochemical
evidence for provenance of Ordovician cherts in
southeastern Australia.
J. D. Clemens, D. Frei & F. Finger: A New Precise
Date for the Tolmie Igneous Complex in
northeastern Victoria.
B. Jago, C. J. Bentley, Lin Tian-rui & K. D.
Corbett: A middle Cambrian shallow water trilobite
fauna from the J. Comstock Formation, near
Queenstown, western Tasmania.
P. Wang, X. Chen, X. Pang, J. Li, HaijunYang, F.
Jiang, J. Guo, F. Guo, W. Peng & J. Xu: Gas
generation and expulsion characteristics of Middle–
Upper Triassic source rocks, Eastern Kuqa
Depression, Tarim Basin, China: Implications for
shale gas resource potential.
Y. Wang, Y. Wang, W. Du & X. Wang: The
correlation between macroscopic algae and
metazoans in the Ediacaran: a case study on the
Wenghui biota in northeastern Guizhou, South
China.
C M Aruffo, A. Rodriguez-Herrera, E. Tenthorey,
F. Krzikalla, J. Minton & A. Henk: Geomechanical
modelling to assess fault integrity at the CO2CRC
Otway Project, Australia.
S. K. Hamilton, J. S. Esterle & R. Sliwa:
Stratigraphic and depositional framework of
the Walloon Subgroup, eastern Surat Basin,
Queensland.
O. O. Sonibare, O. B. Agbaje, D. E. Jacob, J.
Faithfull, T. Hoffmann & S. F. Foley: Terpenoid
composition and origin of amber from the Cape
York Peninsula, Australia.
D. T. Flannery, M. J. Van Kranendonk, R.
Mazumder & M R. Walter: The ca 2.74 Ga Mopoke
Member, Kylena Formation: a marine incursion
into the northern Fortescue Group?
S. Schmid & M. Quigley: Fluvial architecture and
diagenesis of the Mt Eclipse Sandstone at the Bigrlyi
uranium deposit, Ngalia Basin, Australia.
R. A. Henderson & M.A.P. Nind: Pliocene aridity
and Neogene landscape evolution recorded by a
fluvial sediment system (Campaspe Formation) in
northeast Queensland.
D. H. Moore, P. G. Betts & M. Hall: Fragmented
Tasmania: the transition from Rodinia to
Gondwana.
I. D. Lindley: Suckling Dome and the Australian–
Woodlark plate boundary in eastern Papua: The
geology of the Keveri and Ada’u Valleys.
M. Lipar & J. A. Webb: Middle–late Pleistocene
and Holocene chronostratigraphy and climate
history of the Tamala Limestone, Cooloongup and
Safety Bay Sands, Nambung National Park,
southwestern Western Australia.
11
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools
Share your love of science and maths by volunteering for Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools.
12
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
Letters and correspondence
Letters and photographs to the WAG
editor are welcome at any time. The
content, focus, and direction of your
newsletter ultimately depends on what
you put in it. Comment and an
opportunity to reply to comments is
one valuable way to determine this.
Please bear in mind that submitted
content should address issues in
geoscience, particularly topics likely
to be of interest or relevance to WA
readership, and contributions should
avoid overt political campaigning.
Articles that address policy should do
so from a rigorous scientific basis, and
may be sent for peer review.
13
Serve as a committee member
There are frequent vacancies for a range of
executive and non-executive positions on
the GSA-WA divisional committee. Serving
as a Committee member or office bearer of
the Society is not a particularly onerous or
time-consuming task, and one that can be
very rewarding. It gives the opportunity to
participate in the running of the Division
and a voice in the overall direction of the
Society. Vacancies are filled by ballot at
divisional meetings. Please contact the
Secretary for more information.
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
Brightest Brains Uncover
New Mineral Resources
In a move that could revolutionise the way we
search for resources in Australia, a team of the
nation’s best scientists have been charged with
improving the diminishing success rates of minerals
exploration. Focusing on the potentially lucrative
Capricorn region of Western Australia, a $16
million project underway with CSIRO, Curtin
University and The University of Western Australia
seeks to develop a new way of discovering mineral
deposits in the area.
“The Distal Footprints project is about addressing
the fundamental limitations to mineral discovery,”
said Graeme Hunt, Managing Director and Chief
Executive
Officer
of
Transfield Services and Chair
of the National Resource
Sciences Precinct. “Although
there are potentially huge
mineral deposits under its
thick surface, the Capricorn
region is a poorly explored
and poorly understood area.
By bringing together some of
the best scientists in Australia, the project will
tackle some of the technical risks and help industry
to unlock this vast potential resource.”
Searching for underground resources is complex
and expensive. Australia in particular has a unique
geological make-up with a blanket of cover built up
over millions of years making it difficult to detect
deposits and therefore develop new mine sites.
“The project will deliver new data, interpretations,
understanding and technologies to help discover
mineral wealth in regions that until now have been
difficult to explore” said Mr Hunt.
This ground-breaking approach to exploration aims
to expand the search area used to identify the
markers that point to large mineral deposits.
“We will be able to arm industry with the
information they need to discover if resources are
nearby, and in what direction and how deep they
are.
14
“Distal Footprints are signatures we might expect
to find around an ore deposit from distances of up
to several tens of kilometres” said Mr Hunt.
The new capability will increase exploration
certainty in Australia making it an attractive
destination for investment, ensuring that the
resources sector remains globally competitive.
The project is supported by funding awarded under
the Federal Government’s Science and Industry
Endowment Fund (SIEF), as well as contributions
from the WA Government’s Minerals Research
Institute of Western Australia, industry, the
Geological Survey of Western Australia and the
National Resource Sciences Precinct (NRSP)
foundation research partners.
The project is one of the first to be conducted under
the auspices of the NRSP, a partnership between
CSIRO, Curtin University and The University of
Western Australia. The NRSP is connecting the
world’s best researchers with industry and
government to tackle some of the most complex
challenges facing the resources industry.
A $4 million grant has been provided by the Science
and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF) which
provides grants to science and scientists for the
purposes of assisting Australian industry, furthering
the interests of the Australian community and
contributing to the achievement of Australian
national objectives. A $2.6 million grant has been
provided by the WA Government’s Minerals
Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA),
a statutory body established to encourage
development of the minerals industry within the
state.
The remainder of the funding for the Distal
Footprints project has been provided through a
combination of industry, the Geological Survey of
Western Australia and the National Resource
Sciences Precinct (NRSP) foundation research
partners (CSIRO, Curtin University and The
University of Western Australia).
For enquiries or an interview, please contact Nikki
Galovic: 04 7773 3351 nikki.galovic@csiro.au.
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
Gibb Maitland Medal 2015
Call for Nominations
names automatically remain on the list for annual
consideration for five years, although sponsors may
wish to update the nomination.
Recent recipients of the Medal include
2003 Dr Kath Grey
GSWA
2004 Mr Mal Kneeshaw
BHP B Iron Ore
2005 Dr Jon Hronsky
WMC Resources
2007 Dr Peter Eadington
CSIRO
2009 Mr Philip Commander Department of
Water
2010 Dr Tim Griffin
GSWA
2011 Dr Stephen Barnes
CSIRO
2012 Dr Scott Halley
Mineral Mapping
Pty. Ltd.
2013 Prof Cam McCuaig
Centre
for
Exploration Targeting, UWA
CSIRO
The Gibb Maitland Medal was established by the 2014 Dr Ravi Anand
Western Australia Division of the Geological
Society of Australia in order to recognize individuals No awards were made in 2006 or 2008
who have made substantial contributions to
geoscience in Western Australia. It is named for
Nominations should be in writing, with sufficient
Andrew Gibb Maitland, Government Geologist
details of the nominee to allow evaluation by the
from 1896 to 1926, who established the Geological
Awards Subcommittee. Guidelines for nomination
Survey of Western Australia. The Medal is usually
are available on the GSA-WA website at
awarded each year and nominations are now sought
http://wa.gsa.org.au/Gibb_Maitland_Medal.html
for the 2014 Award.
or from the Convener, Awards Subcommittee:
In assessing nominations, the primary consideration
will be the significance of individuals’ contributions
to geoscience and the quality of their scientific Dr. Charles Butt
work. To reflect the importance of resources to CSIRO Mineral Resources Flagship
Western Australia, particular consideration is given Box 1130
to contributions that relate in some way to Bentley, Western Australia 6102
discovery or documentation of mineral and
(08) 6436 8674
petroleum resources in the state, but this is not a
necessity. Geoscientists from industry and from Charles.Butt@csiro.au
academic, government or other institutions are all
eligible for the award, but especially those who are Nominations will be strictly confidential and should
actively engaged in their careers, whether in be sent to the Convener no later than Monday 1st
Western Australia or not. Unsuccessful nominees December 2014.
do not have to be renominated because their
15
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
GSWA Publications
16
Western Australian Geologist 509 October - November 2014
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