Completed 2024 National Drilling Initiative Delamerian Margins campaign
Geoscience Australia, MinEx CRC and the Geological Survey of New South Wales collaborated on a scientific drilling campaign between Broken Hill and Wentworth to help improve geological knowledge of the Delamerian Orogen region of western New South Wales. The campaign ran from March to June 2023.
The Delamerian Margins drilling campaign was designed to answer fundamental science questions about the geology of the region. It was part of the Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian project, which aimed to improve our understanding of the evolution of the Australian continent and the nature of the cover overlying the basement rocks in the adjoining areas of New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.
Results from the drilling campaign were combined with other new and legacy data, including from existing boreholes, geological, geochemical, airborne electromagnetic (AEM), magnetotelluric (MT) and deep crustal reflection seismic data. All these data inform the Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian project regional geological framework and mineral potential assessments.
The Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian project assessed the resource potential of this region, including for minerals, groundwater and natural hydrogen. An improved understanding of the area's resource potential supports future mineral exploration, including the search for minerals essential for our transition to net zero, such as copper and gold, and critical minerals, such as rare earth elements (REEs).
Watch an animation on how stratigraphic drilling works (2:22 min)
Exploration leases and drillhole locations from the Delamerian Margins campaign
Through the National Drilling Initiative, Geoscience Australia partnered with MinEx CRC to road-test the capabilities of conventional and coiled tubing drilling technology, which has the potential to be a low-cost, rapid and safe option for minimising the environmental footprint of drilling projects.
Similar drilling initiatives were undertaken, in collaboration with MinEx CRC, in the East Tennant and South Nicholson regions of the Northern Territory as part of the Exploring for the Future program.
Data and insights from the previous drilling work generated investment and exploration interest in these 'greenfield' regions from around 10 companies across more than 70,000 km2, stimulating local economies.
We thank our project partners for their assistance in scoping drillhole locations and sharing their knowledge of the broader Delamerian Margin.
All data produced by Geoscience Australia, including the data from this project, is publicly available from Geoscience Australia's publication catalogue and the Exploring for the Future Data Discovery Portal after quality control and assurance has been performed.
Geoscience Australia and MinEx CRC staff and contractors had contacted landholders and other stakeholders individually prior to drilling to discuss land access, biosecurity measures and environmental concerns, cultural heritage assessments and issues.
All Geoscience Australia staff and contractors complied with Geoscience Australia's COVID-19 protocols, available upon request.
The Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian project delivered new data and knowledge to assess mineral and groundwater potential and support water management across western New South Wales and Victoria, eastern South Australia and northwest Tasmania.
The Tennant Creek to Mount Isa region hosts known mineral deposits in exposed Proterozoic rocks, most notably iron oxide copper-gold mineral systems in the Tennant Creek area, and basin-hosted base metals (zinc, lead) and uranium in the McArthur Basin.
The South Nicholson Basin region has the potential to host major petroleum and base metal mineral resources.
