Frome airborne electromagnetic survey, South Australia, workshop 30 November 2011 The Onshore Energy Security Program The Frome AEM Survey, South Australia Ned Stolz Group Leader, Geophysics Minerals and Natural Hazards Division Geoscience Australia

Frome airborne electromagnetic survey, South Australia, workshop 30 November 2011 Geoscience Australia Commonwealth Government –Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism Located in Canberra Quality geoscience to inform government and community decision making about –Resource exploration –Environmental management –Natural hazard assessment

Frome airborne electromagnetic survey, South Australia, workshop 30 November 2011 Onshore Energy Security Program Five year program commenced in 2006 $59.8 million funding Goal to encourage energy exploration in Australia and reduce risk Precompetitive data and value added products National and regional scale projects Fugro Airborne Surveys

Frome airborne electromagnetic survey, South Australia, workshop 30 November 2011 Onshore Seismic Program 5800 km of deep reflection seismic acquired and processed Funding from OESP, state geological surveys and AuScope Interpreted for geodynamic framework and energy implications Regional magnetic and gravity inversions and 3D modeling Energy prospectivity assessments Industry workshops Publications

Frome airborne electromagnetic survey, South Australia, workshop 30 November 2011 Radiometric Map of Australia Merged over 550 separate airborne surveys (28 million km) acquired over 40 years Data levelled using the Australia Wide Geophysical Survey (AWAGS) flown in 2007 Released in 2009 and updated every 2 years –Uranium exploration –Geothermal exploration –Geological mapping –Regolith and soil assessment –Environmental applications

Frome airborne electromagnetic survey, South Australia, workshop 30 November 2011 National Geochemical Survey of Australia Consistent catchment outlet sediment sampling across Australia 1186 catchments New continental and regional scale targeting tool

Frome airborne electromagnetic survey, South Australia, workshop 30 November 2011 OESP AEM Program: 3 % of Australia Paterson: Area: 47,600 km 2 Line km: 28,200 Line spacing: 200 m to 6 km Paterson: Area: 47,600 km 2 Line km: 28,200 Line spacing: 200 m to 6 km Pine Creek: Area: 73,700 km 2 Line km: 29,900 Line spacing: 200 m to 5 km Pine Creek: Area: 73,700 km 2 Line km: 29,900 Line spacing: 200 m to 5 km Frome: 2010 Area: 95,450 km 2 Line km: 32,317 Line spacing: 2.5 km & 5 km Frome: 2010 Area: 95,450 km 2 Line km: 32,317 Line spacing: 2.5 km & 5 km AEM conductance images

Frome airborne electromagnetic survey, South Australia, workshop 30 November 2011 Why regional airborne EM? Effective penetration to explorable depths (< 400 m) Maps thickness of cover units over basement Distinguishes between sedimentary packages that are indistinct in gravity and magnetic data –Reactive graphitic rocks (conductive) –Porous and permeable sandstones (resistive) Mapping alteration –Clays, micas, sericite –Sulfides –Zones of leaching or increased porosity Indicate effectiveness of AEM for detailed exploration Demonstration of AEM as precompetitive regional data

Frome airborne electromagnetic survey, South Australia, workshop 30 November 2011 Stakeholder engagement and feedback for AEM project Pine Creek Paterson Frome

Frome airborne electromagnetic survey, South Australia, workshop 30 November 2011 Conclusions High quality precompetitive data publicly released Excellent regional mapping products and interpretations Industry and state surveys recognise the value of AEM as pre-competitive data Strong industry engagement –20+ companies invested > $3 million of infill prior to surveys commencing –National Water commission partner in Pine Creek Survey –DMITRE a significant partner in Frome AEM survey Measurable exploration investment –Drilling programs have been announced based on GA’s survey data –Numerous companies have made additional investments in detailed AEM infill surveys