New mapping technology to help mineral explorers

Queensland explorers searching for mineral deposits will benefit from new developments in mapping technology, Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson said today.

Minister Wilson said industry was already assessing the first reports and maps from an infra-red mapping project between the Department of Mines and Energy’s Geological Survey of Queensland and CSIRO.

“It’s a new mapping technique that uses infra-red technology to measure minerals, soil, and vegetation and geoscientists can survey much larger areas than that covered by conventional mapping,” Mr Wilson said.

“Geoscientists will now be able to identify minerals directly from airborne surveys,” he said.

The Minister said the State Government provided funds for the new mapping technology out of its Smart Exploration program and was working in collaboration with CSIRO, Hyvista Corporation, Geoscience Australia, the Predictive Mineral Discovery CRC and James Cook University.

The data includes ten satellite maps that cover 150,000 square kilometres around the Mount Isa region and more than 20 mineral maps over an area of more than 8,000 square kilometres.

“The maps reveal extensive areas of mineral patterns not previously mapped before in Queensland,” Mr Wilson said.

Member for Mount Isa, Betty Kiernan said results from the new infra-red mapping technology would be eagerly sought out by potential explorers.

“Today’s exploration will yield tomorrow’s jobs. We live and work in such a resource-rich region and this new technology has the potential to bring about even more exciting mineral discoveries,” Mrs Kiernan said.

“It’s a great boost for mineral exploration in the region and that’s good for the local economy and the local community,” she said.

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