Under the Resourcing the Territory program, NTGS have commenced a number of field-based projects in central Australia and the Pine Creek Orogen.
Delivering on the Resourcing the Territory program commitment to modern data and interpretation of the geological framework and prospectivity of the Territory’s geology, NTGS has been in the field investigating the polymetallic provinces in the Top End and in central Australia.
In the eastern MacDonnell Ranges, central Australia, NTGS is revisiting the geology in the eastern Palaeo-Mesoproterozoic Aileron Province and Neoproterozoic to Palaeozoic Amadeus Basin to improve the understanding of the framework geology of the area and deliver a 2nd ed Limbla 1:100 000 map sheet. There is potential for basement- and basin-hosted base metal systems in this area with several copper prospects already identified from previous exploration ventures. The basement/basin contact between the Aileron Province and Amadeus Basin could be the locus of basinal brines and metal sources potentially developing unrecognised base metal exploration targets (McGloin et al 2018)
In the Top End the Palaeoroterozoic Pine Creek Orogen is regarded as significant district for gold mineralisation, however the potential for base metals and critical minerals is under recognised. To assess areas that need further investigation to improve the knowledge of the stratigraphy, structure and mineral systems of the highly prospective Central Domain of the Pine Creek Orogen, NTGS geologists undertook field checking of type sections of key stratigraphic units and familiarisation of mineral systems with companies such as PNX Metals Ltd and Agnico Eagle Ltd who are actively exploring in the area.
For further information visit our geoscience projects webpage.