Exploring for the Future

Prosperity

Program quick links

Alice Springs

Growing economic prosperity and social wellbeing

From 2016, the Exploring for the Future program worked across Australia, building a picture of our continent's deep geological structures and improving our understanding of potential resources in unexplored and underexplored areas.

The program demonstrated benefits, especially in regional Australia, including:

  • supported more than 900 jobs for contractors and small businesses across Australia
  • provided vital information to inform agricultural developments and increased the knowledge and understanding of natural resources
  • new and increased investment, particularly in regional economies.

Learn more about the benefits of the program.

Our work supports

  • Growing economic prosperity and social well-being through resource development.
  • Investment in resource exploration, development and responsible agricultural planning.
  • Economic stability for regional communities through new job creation and royalties.

Featured work

A map showing the locations of the magnetotelluric stations across Australia

Exploring for the Future takes a deeper look at northern Australia

A new electrical conductivity model released by Geoscience Australia's Exploring for the Future program offers a deeper look at the geology in northern Australia with promising results.

Exploring for the Future takes a deeper look at northern Australia Read the news story
Isotopic maps

An Isotopic Atlas of Australia: a window into the geological evolution of the Australian continent

Australia as it exists today is a product of geological processes that have occurred over its 4.5 billion year history. Isotopic studies are one approach to understanding the history and evolution of the Australian continent.

An Isotopic Atlas of Australia: a window into the geological evolution of the Australian continent Watch the video
Julimar

AuScope underpins Julimar polymetallic minerals discovery

In November 2021, Chalice Mining Limited released a maiden resource statement for the Julimar polymetallic mineral deposit on Wadjuk Country in Western Australia. This is an exciting milestone for Chalice on the path to delivering palladium, nickel, copper and platinum for clean energy technologies.

AuScope underpins Julimar polymetallic minerals discovery Read the case study
geoscience data discovery portal diagram

Geological setting, age and endowment of major Australian mineral deposits

Results of a national compilation of mineral deposits (available in Excel or CSV format) for Australia. The deposits were selected as they have substantial endowment (ie pre-mining mineral resource) and/or detailed geological information is available.

Geological setting, age and endowment of major Australian mineral deposits Access the data
city view from above

Case studies

Our case studies showcase our work, community stories, and emerging benefits and impacts of the Exploring for the Future program.

Case studies Read case studies

Other impact areas

Electric vehicle

Sustainability

Increased sustainability unperpinned by thriving low emissions energy and critical minerals sectors.

Sustainability Learn more
Water security

Water security

Improved intergenerational water security and community resilience.

Water security Learn more
Installing solar panels

Informed decisions

Better evidence-based decision-making between landholders, traditional owners, public, government and industry.

Informed decisions Learn more
Outback rural landscape with red earth, dry rivers and green trees, Australia, aerial view

Understanding what lies beneath

The Australian Government's Exploring for the Future program, led by Geoscience Australia, was dedicated to supporting a strong economy, resilient society and sustainable environment for the benefit of all Australians through an integrated geoscientific understanding of our mineral, energy and groundwater resource potential.

Launched in 2016, the first 4 years of the program (2016-20) initially focused on northern Australia. Based on the program's success it was extended (2020-24) and expanded across the whole of Australia.

Drawing together data, science and innovative techniques and technology, the program enabled us to map undercover and underexplored areas. This in turn encouraged new investment in 'greenfield' areas by providing security and certainty to our minerals, energy and agriculture sectors as we transition towards a sustainable, low-emissions future.

The evidence gathered through the program is already translating into real impacts, providing industry and communities with vital information they need to confidently plan, make better informed decisions and invest in new developments.

The Exploring for the Future impact pathway summarises how the program has realised its vision.