AGES_past events

Past events

Abstract volumes for AGES events held from 2000 to 2025 are available for download from the GEMIS website.

The Northern Territory Government’s flagship exploration event the Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES). AGES was held at the Alice Springs Convention Centre on 8 to 9 April 2025, attracting nearly 300 delegates with a record 44 booths at the Mining Expo.

AGES 2025 resources:

AGES 2025 highlights:

A wealth of fresh exploration ideas and geoscientific data from across the Territory were showcased at the well-attended annual AGES 2025 conference in April.

Dr Ian Scrimgeour delivered the annual overview of exploration and development across the NT, setting the stage for a technical program packed with industry updates and exploration results. Company presenters include Kingsland Minerals, Encounter Resources, Prodigy Gold, Empire Energy, Maverick Geo Pty Ltd, URO Corporation, Plutonic Limited, Alligator Energy, King River Resources, Tennant Mining, Eastern Metals, Litchfield Minerals and Core Lithium.

Collaborative research highlights included:

  • Geoscience Australia’s Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity program, with ongoing work in the Birrindudu Basin;
  • CSIRO’s research into regolith-hosted rare earth element deposits;
  • The University of Adelaide’s new findings on the timing and mineralisation of the Bynoe pegmatite field;
  • The University of Tasmania’s updated age constraints on mineralisation in the Tennant Creek mineral field, including a late-stage mineralisation event in the Warrego deposit, suggesting potential in younger stratigraphy.

NTGS also presented its latest work in the Pine Creek Orogen, including results from the Pine Creek ground gravity survey and plans for a West Arnhem gravity survey. The Basement Geoscience team is re-evaluating historic type sections and refining age data for igneous rocks in the Central Domain—a study expected to significantly revise regional stratigraphy and tectonics, with implications for the timing and location of polymetallic mineralisation.

Download the AGES2025 program PDF (306.6 KB).

AGES 2025 video presentations:

Watch NTGS AGES 2025 presentations or use the direct links below.

The following presentations are given by the Northern Territory Geological Survey:

  • Ian Scrimgeour, Senior Executive Director at the Northern Territory Geological Survey, provides an annual overview on the exploration & development activity across the NT in 2024 - https://youtu.be/xruC2KopnVw
  • Dorothy Close, Director Regional Geoscience, gives a presentation on the pre-competitive geoscience being undertaken by NTGS and our collaborators to support the exploration industry - https://youtu.be/VPCoeRbz9I4
  • Tracey Rogers, Director Geoscience Information, provides an update on recent upgrades and additions to online systems STRIKE and GEMIS - https://youtu.be/fduoojkN6-o
  • Tania Dhu, Manager Geophysics and Remote Sensing, gives a presentation on the NTGS geophysical acquisition programs and the the latest open-file geophysics available from round 16 Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations program - https://youtu.be/QOMNd0bOVrY
  • Marianne Harvey, presents on the enhancements to the NT-wide geochemical and drilling data delivered through NTGS Digital Information Package 001 (DIP001) - https://youtu.be/ekbnm3ZaPHs
  • Presentations by the NTGS Basement Geoscience team highlight a re-evaluation of igneous ages, tectonic setting, and the geological framework of the Central Domain within the Pine Creek Orogen. Watch presentations by Senior Geologists Barry Reno https://youtu.be/5RMRdQw_mkQ and Alex Burton-Johnson https://youtu.be/bw0tVOHf8wo.
  • NTGS Basin Geoscience Senior Geologist Charlie Verdel presents insights linking Proterozoic successions in the South Nicholson region with correlatives in the greater McArthur Basin. This work draws on recently submitted drill core from relinquished Teck Resources Ltd tenements and co-funded Resolution Minerals Benmarra drillholes. The core is available for viewing and sampling at the Darwin Core Facility - https://youtu.be/GokACEROykE

The following presentations are by industry and our collaborators:

  • Damian Braize, University of Tasmania, gives new insights into the timing of Au-Cu-Bi mineralisation in the Tennant Creek Province with new dating from the Warrego deposit highlighting a mineralisation age different from any reported U-Pb age in the Tennant Creek mineral field.  Find out more - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EE7RvlU8Hc
  • Hendrik Pretorius presents on how the Tennant Mining team brought new life to the historic Nobles Nob gold mine in roughly 4 years. Watch the presentation -  https://youtu.be/6l_1edHczqU
  • Taylor Ogden, URO Corporation, presents on western Arunta exploration programs at the the copper, tungsten and base metal Wilson's Find project . Watch the presentation-  https://youtu.be/xTUz0GtD1Xk
  • Nathan Reid, CSIRO, presents the initial phases of a multidisciplinary project, with CSIRO's contribution focused on enhancing deposit-scale understanding of clay-hosted rare earth element (REE) mineral systems in Australia, beginning with the Splinter Rock REE project area. Find out more - https://youtu.be/OefhQSvHHOI
  • Paul Henson, Geoscience Australia,  provides an update on the Birrindudu deep dive project. Watch the presentation - https://youtu.be/Bk1ArGsLmf8
  • Chris Reed, Maverick Geo Ltd, presents a follow up to his popular AGES 2024 talk re-evaluating the stratigraphic and structural controls on mineralisation at the Teena Zinc-Lead deposit. In his AGES 2025 talk he describes his model for a synsedimentary origin of the HYC Zn-Pb deposit and other related deposits in the region, and its implications for widespread extensions undercover. Watch the presentation - https://youtu.be/2msvQUFvhJo
  • Kris Butera, Plutonic Ltd, presents on the exploration being undertaken to assess for large-scale epithermal systems in the underexplored southern margin of the Georgina Basin and underlying Aileron Province (or could it be an extension of the Macquarie Arc?) Recent work from the Champion prospect shows indications of a possible porphyry–epithermal system (recent sericite alteration ages ~512Ma and ~400Ma); and structural features inconsistent with the N-S shortening of the Alice Springs Orogeny. Find out more - https://youtu.be/1cSELyZ3XwU
  • Mark Edwards, Prodigy Gold NL, presents the latest results from work being undertaken to understand the geology of one of Prodigy Gold's key gold deposits, Hyperion.  Watch the presentation - https://youtu.be/OlO2cwfZzmA
  • Carl Spandler, Adelaide University, presents the latest results from his work constraining the timing of the lithium bearing pegmatites in the Bynoe Lithium field. Check it out  – https://youtu.be/q3aO3pxjlTw

AGES 2024 was held at the Alice Springs Convention Centre from 16 to 17 April 2024, marking the 25th anniversary of the event. A record 330 participants attended the event

AGES 2024 resources:

AGES 2024 highlights

  • Two presentations by Newmont on the geology and discovery history of the Oberon gold deposit in the Tanami.
  • New discoveries of regolith-hosted rare earths
  • Innovative targeting for copper-gold in the Barkly,
  • Updates on uranium geology in the Pine Creek region,
  • News of the discovery of the Territory's first graphite resource
  • Workshop and presentations on a major new GA-NTGS seismic survey to unlock the minerals and energy potential of the Birrindudu Basin.

AGES 2024 video presentations

Watch NTGS AGES 2024 presentations or use the direct links below.

AGES 2023 was held on 18 to 19 April 2023 with a record 310 attendees.

AGES 2023 resources:

AGES 2023 Conference Highlights

  • Latest results from the Territory Government’s expanded $9.5 million Resourcing the Territory program
  • Presentations on the Territory’s potential for critical minerals including lithium and rare earths
  • Emerging insights into for sediment-hosted copper and iron-oxide copper-gold potential across the Territory
  • Updates on the stratigraphy and minerals and energy potential of the Birrindudu Basin
  • The latest on shale gas exploration and appraisal in the Beetaloo Sub-basin
  • Multiple networking events over two days including the AGES Official Dinner

AGES 2023 video presentations

Watch Ian Scrimgeour's (NTGS) presentation on highlights from minerals and energy exploration in 2022. For more video presentations visit AGES 2023 page.

Watch Tania Dhu's (NTGS) presentation on Recent geophysical acquisition under Resourcing the Territory.

Watch Dorothy Close's (NTGS) presentation on Resourcing the Territory's future priorities.

Watch Jo Whelan's (NTGS) presentation on Demystifying the Arthurs Pope Rare Earth Element prospect.

Watch Carl Spandler's (University of Adelaide) presentation on Rare earth element mineral systems of significance to the NT.

Watch Kam Bhowany's (Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland) presentation on Secondary prospectivity of mine waste in the Pine Creek region: The search for critical metals.

Watch Barry Reno's (NTGS) presentation Unravelling overprinting tectonothermal cycles at the southern margin of the North Australian Craton.

Watch Jeff Steadman's (CODES) presentation Securing the future of copper, gold, and bismuth resources in northern Australia: A proposal for systematic mineral chemistry and event chronology of the Tennant Creek iron oxide–copper–gold district, Northern Territory.

Watch Steve Micklethwaite's (SMI UQ) presentation Folds, gold and critical metals: An Industry– Government–Academia reassessment of the Pine Creek Orogen in 3D.

Watch AGES 2023 - Vincent Crombez - Understanding sedimentary basins in the NT - YouTube

Watch AGES2023 - Amber Jarrett - Source rock potential and petroleum systems of the Pedirka Basin - YouTube

Watch AGES2023 - Charles Verdel - Stratigraphic and tectonic framework of the western - YouTube

Watch AGES2023 - Tim Munson - Late Palaeoproterozoic Glyde package - YouTube.

AGES 2022 was held on 5 and 6 April 2022 and was attended by around 280 delegates from across Australia.

AGES 2022 resources:

Some program highlights included:

  • Updates on major geoscience programs planned across the Territory under the expanded $9.5 million per annum ongoing Resourcing the Territory program.
  • Discussion of the results of the Carrara 1 drilling program.
  • Latest information on liquids-rich gas discoveries in the Beetaloo Sub-basin.
  • Updates on recen.t exploration from Emmerson Resources, Empire Energy, Encounter Resources, Resolution Minerals, KGL Resources, PNX Metals, Castile Resources, Greenvale Mining, Territory Sands, and Vista Gold.
  • Latest insights into the polymetallic mineral potential of the Aileron and Irindina Province.
  • CSIRO workshop - Introduction to the NDI Carrara 1 Hylogger Dataset.

AGES 2021 was held at the Alice Springs Convention Centre on 20 and 21 April and was attended by over 260 participants from across Australia. This event was delivered in line with an approved COVID-19 event safety plan for the conference and workshop venues, taking into account the latest health guidelines at the time.

AGES 2021 resources:

Program highlights included:

  • Discussion of the results of the East Tennant drilling program, which has already generated excitement around the emergence of a new undercover copper-gold exploration province.
  • Release of interpretation of the GA-NTGS Barkly seismic survey, providing the first view of basin architecture and structure beneath the Barkly Tableland.
  • Latest information on liquids-rich gas discoveries in the Beetaloo Sub-basin.
  • New insights into copper, gold and lead-zinc potential of the undercover Rover mineral field.
  • Updates on recent exploration from Encounter Resources, Empire Energy, KGL Resources, Origin Energy, PNX Metals, Prodigy Gold, Core Lithium and Castile Resources.
  • Latest insights into the polymetallic mineral potential of the Aileron Province.
  • Announcement of the expansion and ongoing extension of the Resourcing the Territory initiative.
  • Updates on major geoscience programs underway across the Territory under the $26 million Resourcing the Territory initiative.
  • MinEx CRC East Tennant NDI core viewing workshop.

While AGES 2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, the following AGES 2020 resources were released:

AGES 2019 was held on March 19 and 20.

The event was attended by 251 delegates, including representatives from 57 exploration companies, as well as government and Indigenous organisations.

AGES 2019 resources:

AGES 2018 was held on March 20 and 21.

The event was attended by 208 delegates, including representatives from 50 exploration companies, as well as government and Indigenous organisations.

For a AGES 2018 resources:

AGES 2017 was held on March 28 and 29.

The event was attended by 194 delegates, including representatives from 55 exploration companies, as well as government and Indigenous organisations.

AGES 2017 resources:

The Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar 2016 was held on March 15 and 16.

The event was attended by 191 delegates, including representatives from 55 exploration companies, as well as government and Indigenous organisations.

AGES 2016 resources:

Last updated:
05 March 2026

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