A hybrid way to dive deep to ignite exploration interest.
A major geoscientific workshop on new insights into Mesoproterozoic magmatism in southern Australia was held by the Geological Survey of South Australia (GSSA) in early June. With a view to finding economic deposits, the workshop was a great way for mineral exploration industry and academic researchers to stay on top of the latest factors that formed one of Australia’s great large igneous provinces extending 180,000 km2 across South Australia.
As part of the GSSA’s remit to deliver new geological insights that facilitate smarter and more successful mineral exploration, the workshop provided technical talks and a drill core and rock sample display. Over 50 people watched the event livestreamed and the maximum capacity of 40 people attended in person at our world-famous South Australia Drill Core Reference Library.
An extended presentation by Dr Claire Wade provided industry peers with a tour de force of her PhD research into the formation and mineral potential of the igneous rocks associated with South Australia’s major copper–gold–uranium mineral deposits.
Extended presentation by Dr Claire Wade (GSSA) giving insights from her PhD research. (Photo 418365)
Other talks covered all aspects of the Hiltaba Suite – Gawler Range Volcanics event including:
- A revised framework for the timing of the formation of the Gawler Range Volcanics and Hiltaba Suite based on high precision U–Pb geochronology by Dr Liz Jagodzinski (GSSA)
- Volcanic textures and alteration, with a focus on the southern Gawler Range volcanics region by Dr Mario Werner (GSSA)
- A review of the diversity of Hiltaba Suite granite textures and compositions by Dr Megan Williams (GSSA)
- An overview of the key alteration minerals of mineral systems identified in HyloggerTM scanning associated with the Gawler Range Volcanics, including for iron oxide – copper–gold (IOCG) deposits, base metals and epithermal gold systems by Georgina Gordon (GSSA)
- A review of the metamorphic evolution of the Gawler Craton and Curnamona Province at around the time of the formation of the Gawler Range Volcanics, providing insights into the tectonic setting of the event by Dr Laura Morrissey (University of South Australia).
The final presentation was by John Anderson (Austrike Resources) who gave a review of key ingredients for formation of IOCG deposits, a revised exploration model for localisation of these major deposits and an overview of a new geochemical vectoring tool using zirconia and hafnium in whole rock geochemical assays.
Presentation playlist on the Energy and Mining YouTube channel
Presentation PDFs on the DEM website
Attendees were able to examine a selection of Gawler Range Volcanics and Hiltaba Suite core. (Photo 418364)
Two interviews with international experts on igneous geology were released ahead of the workshop to provide background information to the topics and specific information on South Australian geology:
- ‘Everything you ever wanted to know about large igneous provinces’ with Prof Richard Ernst (Carleton University, Canada & Tomsk State University, Russia)
- ‘Geology of silica-rich volcanism: connecting crystal mushes and volcanic lavas' with Dr Katy Chamberlain (University of Derby, UK)
These interviews add to the growing body of work the GSSA is releasing on the Energy and Mining YouTube channel as it continues to expand its delivery of geoscience knowledge in innovative ways.
– Anthony Reid, June 2021
