New minerals and energy survey data to boost exploration and create jobs

Data from two new geophysical surveys will help stimulate mineral and energy exploration activity across Queensland and ultimately lead to more jobs in the industry,Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said today.

Mr Wilson said his department had conducted a Croydon airborne magnetic and radiometric survey, which covered an area of 35,000 square kilometres near Normanton in North West Queensland.

Mr Wilson said the survey was within the North West Queensland Mineral Province, which was well known for its current mining operations and promise of undiscovered mineral potential.

“The new data will assist mineral and energy explorers with better targeting of prospects that could lead to potential new mines and gas fields,” Mr Wilson said.

Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan welcomed the announcement.

“Encouraging exploration in the North West and Gulf will undoubtedly lead to more mines and more jobs for the region, which will further boost our role as the powerhouse of the State economy,” Mrs Kiernan said.

Mr Wilson said the other survey data released was the Cooper Basin South gravity survey, covering an area of 146,000 square kilometres surrounding Jackson in South West Queensland.

“This survey was designed predominantly to encourage energy-related exploration within the Cooper Basin, which is renowned for its petroleum and gas resources and is considered to have a high potential for the delivery of geothermal energy resources.”

Mr Wilson said the Cooper Basin South survey was the first gravity survey to be released under the department’s new Smart Mining – Future Prosperity program.

“Explorers can use data from these surveys with other information such as seismic data, geological maps, and drill hole information to better target prospective mineral and energy areas,” he said.

This latest survey data has been acquired under the $39 million geoscience data acquisition phases of the Queensland Government’s $49 million Smart Exploration and Smart Mining – Future Prosperity programs running from 2005 to 2010. Both programs are aimed at increasing exploration activity in the state.

Mr Wilson said the Department of Mines and Energy had also acquired data for the Westmoreland airborne magnetic and radiometric survey, which would be released to industry soon.

“The Croydon and Westmoreland surveys will mark the completion of the department’s airborne geophysical acquisition program under the Smart Exploration program in the highly prospective North West Queensland Mineral Province,” Mr Wilson said.

All geophysical survey data acquired for Queensland is released online at Geoscience Australia www.geoscience.gov.au/gadds as they become available or on DVD from sales@dme.qld.gov.au

Media inquiries: Caroline Kaurila 3224 7332.