February 2014 - Australian Institute of Geoscientists
Transcription
February 2014 - Australian Institute of Geoscientists
AIG NEWS Quarterly Newsletter • No 115 • February 2014 What Reporting Portable XRF Data to 2012 JORC Code Guidelines Means By Dr Dennis Arne1, Graham Jeffress2, Nikita Sergeev2 and Andrew Margereson2 1 CSA Global–Vancouver, 2 CSA Global–Perth INSIDE THIS AIG NEWS: JORC and XRF Reporting 1 From Your President 3 Geophysics holding Geology to Account – Chris Wijns 9 Letters11 The use of portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) equipment is now relatively commonplace within the mining and exploration industry. Some companies consider field pXRF results to be sufficiently material to their project to require public release prior to confirmation by laboratory analyses. Yasur Volcano – Vanuatu – Still very Active – Mike Erceg 12 Editor's Desk 18 Usually it is better to wait for laboratory results before public reporting, given the better representativeness of the sample analysed by the lab and the improved analytical and QA/QC methods available compared to field instruments. Obituary – Bill Lacy 19 WA Branch AIG-GSA Christmas Cruise Snaps – Staff 21 The inherent technical limitations of pXRF and the lack of internal QA/QC means that raw pXRF data should be generally treated as semi-quantitative and preliminary. Porphyry Field Mapping Course – Greg Corbett 23 Impressions of the Porphyry Field Mapping Course – Cameron Perks 25 Reporting of stand-alone pXRF data requires rigorous validation of the results including checks on detection limits and matrix effects, review of procedures and QA/QC analysis. The most critical issues using pXRF data are discussed below. Accredited commercial laboratories rely on QA/QC protocols to manage their outputs and users of pXRF need to do the same if they wish to report their data. Portable XRF data should therefore be treated with the same caution as preliminary laboratory results unless ‘lab-standard’ rigour has been applied to the collection of pXRF data. When a company wants to release pXRF results there are a number of issues to consider. “The best way to verify pXRF data is commercial laboratory analysis of the most exciting pXRF results.” Firstly, before reporting any analytical results from a pXRF the Competent Person needs to ensure that they have a good understanding of what elements can actually be reliably measured by this method and at what levels. In particular, they need to be aware of common peak overlaps that could cause false readings for some elements (e.g. Fe-Co and As-Pb). Though manufacturers continue to improve instrument software, it is still common to see on the pXRF screen a broad range of elements, regardless of whether the data are meaningful, in particular if the material being analysed contains elements at abundance levels close to the lower limits of detection (LOD). These include a wide variety of trace elements, but a prime example is gold – many portable XRF instruments report numbers for gold but in most circumstances (aside from directly analysing visible gold) these numbers are below the lower limits of detection for most instruments and are often wildly inaccurate. What’s more, generally expected limits of detection can actually vary widely depending on sample matrix (rock type/mineralogy) and concentration levels of particular elements. A common example is elevated LODs for copper, cobalt and manganese in ferruginous rocks. Cont. Overleaf Tertiary Geoscience Education at Cross Roads – Dr. Trevor Powell 27 Uncover Initiative 30 Education33 Honours Abstract – Genesis of the Central Zone of the Nolans Nore REE Deposit, NT 34 RPGeo Approvals and Applications35 AIG Secretariat Contact: Ron Adams Ph: (08) 9427 0820 Fax: (08) 9427 0821 Email: [email protected] c/- Centre for Association Management 36 Brisbane Street, Perth WA 6000 PO Box 8463, Perth Business Centre, Perth WA 6849 2 Reporting pXRF Results AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 What Reporting Portable XRF Data to 2012 JORC Code Guidelines Means Furthermore, measurements by pXRF can give very different results from the same sample depending on a complex range of interacting factors. Key factors include: • how the sample is prepared; • the individual instrument used; • how the instrument is used – position of samples, duration and number of readings taken; • what measurement mode (e.g. soil vs mining) it is used in; • what temperature (internal & external) the readings are taken at; • how the readings are taken (for how long, at how many points of the sample); • if, how and when the machine is calibrated; • whether the results are “corrected” based on a calibration; and, • how much moisture is present in the sample. The 2012 JORC Code (as explained in Section 2 of JORC Table 1, effective December 1, 2013) provides guidelines on reporting of portable XRF results. “For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments etc., the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibration factors applied and their derivation, etc.” These points should be provided in any public reporting of pXRF results. To this list should be added the analytical mode used (e.g. soil vs. mining), since this will dictate the internal calibration method used by the instrument (i.e. Compton normalisation vs fundamental parameters), and the software version used by the instrument, since updated software on some pXRF models can significantly enhance their performance. Cont. from Page 1 “The QA/QC programme must be designed to deliver data quality that is “fit for purpose.” Additionally, and critically, quality assurance must be considered when reporting pXRF results. The 2012 JORC Code discusses this aspect at length in various sections of Table 1, e.g.: “Nature of quality control procedures adopted (standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established.” The responsibility falls to the Competent Person releasing the data to satisfy the above requirements. This requires them to: • be formally trained in pXRF operation; • to have practical and relevant experience in their use; • understand the collection; and monitoring and interpretation of quality control data. Unless specifically calibrated for the target elements, all pXRF equipment will have analytical biases when using “out-of-the-box” Cont. on Page 4 From your president AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 From Your President - Kaylene Camuti A Happy New Year to all members. This year is shaping up to be a busy and productive year for the AIG. Over the last few years AIG Council has been working towards streamlining our administration procedures, and in the next few months there will be much effort directed towards substantially advancing projects started last year. A major focus has been the development of an integrated management system for processing membership applications, renewals, accounts and events, with the aim of more efficient service delivery, improving communication with members, and reducing the workload on councillors and committee members as the Institute continues to grow. With these objectives in mind, in the next few months we will be: accounts management system, and the ongoing collation of the AIG procedures manual. Her contribution has significantly helped with progress on the program of improving our administration procedures. Planning is also underway for the AGM, where half of the current AIG Councillors will step down and nominations for the positions will be put to a vote. The AGM will be organised in collaboration with the Queensland state branch committee and is scheduled for April in Brisbane. Organisation of the 2014 Strategic Planning meeting is also in progress, and this year it will be held in Victoria. Each year, around the middle of the year, members of AIG Council get together for a face-to-face strategic planning meeting. The - Initiating an online events management system, to streamline meeting is held over a weekend and gives councillors the registration and payment processing for AIG events. opportunity to discuss issues related to the operation and future - Integrating mailing lists to facilitate the directions of the AIG in more depth and detail updating of member contact details - so that we than is possible during the regular teleconference “During a downturn in don’t lost contact with you. This has been a employment, such as the council meetings held throughout the year. The growing problem in the last year as members meeting also provides an opportunity for AIG work conditions change and email addresses one we’re experiencing councillors to meet with local AIG members and become defunct. (You can help by providing a now, it’s important to the state branch committee. personal email address for AIG communications - Launching a new web site with an online facility for membership applications and improved processing of online membership renewals. and by contacting the AIG secretariat when you change address.) - Updating the AIG News, with a subcommittee currently reviewing the options for style, content, and delivery. By the time you receive this issue you should also have had the opportunity to take part in a survey asking about your preferences for the newsletter. maintain connections with your colleagues and to take advantage of opportunities for continuing professional development. ” - Introducing a new AIG logo, as you will see on the front page of this issue. There has been wide-spread discussion about the AIG logo for some time and, with the new web site and upcoming makeover of AIG News, the time seemed appropriate to also update the logo. This process has been greatly assisted by Peter Lewis from the NSW state branch committee, along with Ian Neuss, Michael Edwards and other NSW AIG members. In the last few months the AIG has also benefitted from the support of the new AIG Executive Officer, Lynn Vigar. Lynn is highly skilled in database and accounts management, has experience in the resources industry, and has worked with teams of geoscientists. She is assisting AIG Council and the Registration Board on a part-time basis, and also helping out with some state branch activities. Lynn’s many tasks to date have included a major review and update of the membership database, assisting with development of the new web site and an update of the While AIG Council has been working on improving our procedures to ensure the smooth running of the Institute, there has also been progress with other initiatives that came out of the 2013 Strategic Planning Meeting. At this meeting Council agreed to the formation of a National Graduate Committee of early career geoscientists to focus on the issues and concerns relevant to AIG Graduate Members. While the development of this initiative has been slow, due to other demands on councillors, it is underway and developing momentum with the assistance of the state branches. The state branch committees around Australia have also been busy planning an extensive program of technical events for this year – talks, symposia, workshops, and student nights are all on the list. During a downturn in employment, such as the one we’re experiencing now, it’s important to maintain connections with your colleagues and to take advantage of opportunities for continuing professional development. I would urge you to keep in contact with your local branch, subscribe to the branch e-updates if you haven’t already done so, and come along to the technical and social events your branch is organising. If you have time, perhaps consider joining your state branch committee or assisting with an occasional event. 3 4 Reporting pXRF Results AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 What Reporting Portable XRF Data to 2012 JORC Code Guidelines Means Cont. from Page 2 factory calibrations and will suffer from poor precision for trace elements near the lower limits of detection. These biases and precisions should be documented and reported in much the same way that laboratory data are assessed. It is important to recognise that there is no “boiler plate” solution to the implementation of QA/QC programmes, although various industry-standard approaches exist. In the case of pXRF results for public dissemination, this should involve the use of matrix-suitable standards (based either on certified reference materials or CRMs or project specific standard reference materials or SRMs) for which total analytical results – for the elements of interest – are available (Figure 1). Standards should cover the broad range of expected values and be analysed at a suitable frequency throughout the day. Figure 1. Analyses for arsenic using CRM OREAS 42P generated over a two month period When calibration of the instrument is undertaken, it should be clearly stated whether the reported data are raw or corrected values. Care should be taken to minimize the attenuating effects of various films used in the preparation of sample mounts on x-ray fluorescence from light elements. Counting time should be optimised to provide suitable analytical precision for the elements of interest for the shortest period required to produce acceptable data. This count time must not be changed once the project is underway. The X-ray beam resolution should be recorded daily as this is a good indication of tube performance and the instrument should be allowed to warm up adequately prior to the start of any analyses. Duplicate analyses of the sample material should be undertaken at sufficient frequency to provide enough data to allow estimation of analytical variance over a range of element concentrations (Figure 2). A silica blank sample should also be analysed periodically to monitor dust contamination of the detector window. Where samples are to be analysed while still in the sample bags, analysis of standards through the same thickness of bag material OREAS Certified Reference Materials for Mining and Exploration Raising Standards Since 1988 www ore com au AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Figure 2. Duplicate analyses for zinc of dry unsieved soil samples analysed through the sample bag should be undertaken in order to understand the attenuation of X-rays (Figure 3). This attenuation effect may be significant for the light elements. Reporting pXRF Results 5 Figure 3. Comparison of pXRF data for CRM OREAS 45c obtained testing directly rock (Cu_ppm) and through plastic sample bag material (Cu_plastic) demonstrating the attenuation of X rays caused by analysing samples through sample bags More significantly, the sampling methodology should also be described as this is essential information to accompany the reporting of results. Sampling variance is likely to be the major source of error in many applications. Even a well calibrated pXRF device will fail to match laboratory results if the sampling methodology varies significantly from that used to prepare laboratory samples. For instance, it will be very difficult to obtain a representative analysis of copper in a grab sample containing coarsely disseminated chalcopyrite. While it is unlikely that even a laboratory analysis of a grab sample of coarsely mineralised material will be representative of overall copper grades, the potential to obtain an even less representative result is compounded if single spot analyses from a pXRF are used. In the worst case scenario, the data may be deliberately misleading. For fine-grained rock samples in which the minerals of interest are relatively homogeneously distributed, we would recommend taking multiple readings to calculate an average and coefficient of variation (CoV). The desired coefficient of variation will dictate the number of readings required or indeed the ability of the pXRF to produce sufficiently repeatable results at all. If the latter is in question, then public reporting of the results is not advisable. Figure 4: Comparison of pXRF data for arsenic with aqua regia digestion for arsenic on sieved soil material followed by ICP-MS analysis. The data show a negative bias in the pXRF data. The same approach could be applied to analysis of trench walls or underground workings, the difference being that the readings would be taken in a linear profile over a set distance. Whether the pXRF data are representative or not will depend on the homogeneity of the mineralised rock. A similar approach using multiple readings will apply to the analysis of drill cuttings, with allowance for attenuation of X-rays if they are analysed through sample bags. The use of sieved fines may be appropriate in some circumstances, but this needs to be established by validation against laboratory data. Additional complexity is introduced if the samples are moist at the time of reading – this will significantly reduce the measured concentrations by pXRF. If damp samples are analysed without correction for moisture content, then the data should be treated as semi-quantitative only. If the data are adjusted for moisture content, then this information forms part of the calibration information to be reported. If the samples are all dry at the time of analysis, then it should be clearly stated how this has been achieved. Moisture considerations and data corrections for attenuation by sample bag material also apply to pXRF analyses of soil samples. In Cont. Overleaf 6 Reporting pXRF Results AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 What Reporting Portable XRF Data to 2012 JORC Code Guidelines Means addition, any preparation applied to the sample material prior to analysis should be described. Laboratory check samples should be routinely undertaken and a resulting correlation with pXRF data established (Figure 4). Cont. from Page 5 A more representative approach would be to trap the saw cuttings from the core interval, dry them and analyse them in a sample cup, or to obtain a continuous saw sample using specialised equipment. Again, care must be taken regarding what film is used for mounting purposes if light elements are of interest. In general, it is the relative abundances of various target elements that What is important is that whatever sampling approach is adopted, it are important in soil surveys, in which case the reporting of absolute must be validated against laboratory analyses for that specific numbers may not be relevant. However, where absolute values are project, so that the Competent Person has confidence reported, then the implementation of appropriate QA/ “Effective sampling in the data. QC protocols is necessary. strategies by pXRF There is no reason why pXRF data cannot be reported Representative pXRF analysis of diamond drill core in public releases provided the necessary sampling presents the greatest challenge to the reporting of require orientation and QA/QC protocols have been put in place. pXRF results. If fine-grained mineralisation is homogenously distributed over the interval of core to be sampled, then spot pXRF analysis may be adequate to obtain a representative estimate of grade, with the number of analyses being dictated by the required precision of the data (using CoV as a guide). work to validate the pXRF results against laboratory data.” If the mineralisation varies along the length of the core interval to be sampled or is coarse-grained, then testing the entire core length is required. This may take the form of a careful drag analysis of the sawn core surface along the chosen interval while ensuring that only the relevant X-ray beam is activated on the instrument. These Standard Operating Procedures need to generate data that are reasonable estimates of laboratory results. However, this is not a trivial endeavour and should be approached with the same rigour as the reporting of laboratory assays (i.e. with appropriate sampling methodologies and QA/QC protocols). It is our opinion that the appropriate use of cautionary language, along the lines that the reported pXRF data are preliminary or semiquantitative in nature, does not preclude the Competent Person from meeting the reporting requirements under the 2012 JORC Code. professional development AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Professional DeveloPment training Coal: exploration, evaluation and international Best Practice Brisbane 3-7 March Understanding Public reports and mine Project Valuation techniques Singapore India Perth Sydney 5 March 14 March 6 May 8 April mining for non-miners Singapore Sydney Belo Horizonte Johannesburg Brisbane Perth Vancouver 6 March 10 April 11 April 6 May 8 May 9 May 9 May mining for executives, managers and investors Toronto Hong Kong Perth 6 March 24 March 28 March resource estimation - each delegate will receive a FREE 3 month Supervisor licence Perth Johannesburg Belo Horizonte Korea 10-14 10-14 10-14 24-28 March March March March open Pit mine Planning India Perth 10-11 March 19-20 May Understanding the drill and Blast Process India Perth 12 March 21 May AIG MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS Snowden offers 10% discount off professional development courses for Australian Institute of Geoscientists members Practical Variography Perth Johannesburg Vancouver 17 March 17 March 17 March Practical Variography Using supervisor V8 - each delegate will receive a FREE 3 month Supervisor licence Perth Johannesburg Vancouver 18 March 18 March 18 March Whittle optimisation and strategic Planning Perth 31 March – 2 April reporting resources and reserves Perth Brisbane (Coal Specific) Johannesburg Vancouver Belo Horizonte 3 April 3 April 3 April 3 April 23 May technical report Writing designing & running successful sampling Programmes & Practical guidelines for QaQC of assay data Perth Brisbane Johannesburg Vancouver Jakarta Perth Brisbane Johannesburg mining & sampling theory for mine technicians and Field assistants 18-19 March 12-13 May 12-13 May 12-13 May mine to mine grade Control & mine reconciliation Jakarta Perth Brisbane Johannesburg Vancouver 20-21 March 14-16 May 14-16 May 14-16 May 14-16 May introduction to geostatistics Jakarta Brisbane Johannesburg Vancouver Perth 24 March 19 May 19 May 20 May 22 May Converting Coal resources to effective mineable reserves Brisbane 24-28 March 4 4 4 4 Perth Johannesburg Vancouver April April April April 7 April 7 April 7 April sampling and testing for geometallurgical Programmes Brisbane 7 April geology for non-geologists Sydney Belo Horizonte Johannesburg Brisbane Perth Vancouver 9 April 10 April 5 May 7 May 8 May 8 May Finance for non-Finance Professionals Brisbane Perth 6 May 7 May 10% disCoUnt For ProFessional memBers In recognition of the services offered by the associations and societies that uphold the professionalism within our global mining industry, we have decided to offer the individual members of the following professional associations a 10% discount off our public training course fees. AIE American Institute of Engineers | AIG Australian Institute of Geoscientists | AIME The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers | AIPM Australian Institute of Project Management |AME BC Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia | AMEC The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies Inc | APEG Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC | APGO Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario ASPINDO – IMSA Indonesian Mining Services Association | Austmine Australian mining equipment and services export association | AZMEC Association of Zambian Mineral Exploration Companies| CAMESE Canadian Association of Mining Equipment and Services for Export | CCPE Canadian Council of Professional Engineers | CIM Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum | ECSA Engineering Council of South Africa| IlMP Instituto de Ingenieros de Minas del Perú | Engineers Australia | GAC Geological Association of Canada | GASA Geostatistical Association of Southern Africa | GSA Geological Society of Australia | GSM Geological Society of Malaysia GSSA The Geological Society of South Africa | IAGI Indonesian Association of Geologists | IIMCh Instituro de Ingenieros en Minas de Chile | IMA Indonesia Mining Association | IMSSA Institute of Mine Surveyors of South Africa | MAC Mining Association of Canada | MNMA Mongolian National Mining Association | MSEG Mongolian Society of Economic Geologists | OMA Ontario Mining Association | PDAC Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada | SAIMM Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy | SBG Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia | SEG Society of Economic Geologists | SEG Society of Exploration Geophysicists | SME The Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration |The AusIMM The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy For more details or to register online Visit www.snowdengroup.com or call diana titren on +61 8 9211 8670 or email [email protected] 7 8 Geoscience Services AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Density Estimation AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 9 Geophysics: Holding the Geology to Account Part 1: Resource Density Modelling Chris Wijns - MAIG , Minerals co-chair, ASEG-PESA 2015 Conference and Exhibition A resource density model is a vital part of any mine plan and mining operation. It underpins ore tonnage estimates, which in turn quantify expected mill throughput versus extracted metal, and these have direct consequences for the financial outcome of an operation. In a generalisation of industry practice, a mineral resource model is based on many more assay measurements than density measurements. The same is true throughout the life of the mine – assays for grade control usually far outweigh density measurements in number and spatial distribution. So is there a way to make up for this, or at least to know where to take more density measurements? Gravity data are a direct reflection of the true distribution of subsurface density, and can be used to improve the resource model. The example in Figure 1 is from the Ravensthorpe nickel laterite project in Western Australia, where surface gravity data were collected on a 20 x 20 m grid in order to have a spatial resolution that Above: Figure 1: Gravity response calculated from the resource density model (left) versus actual measured gravity data filtered for the very near surface (centre). Separate colour scales have been used to enhance differences. Big discrepancies highlight areas where the resource density model requires attention. With the same colour scale, the resource model gravity response (right) illustrates the very low range of model density compared to what really exists in the measured data (centre). Figure 2: Oblique view over nickel laterite resource, showing the correspondence between saprolite highs in the wireframe and high gravity (light grey or white), and limonite troughs and low gravity (dark grey or black). would be useful for resource-related work. The resource in question is from surface to approximately 40 m depth. In this case the gravity data are the most useful possible, without signal attenuation at depth decreasing the resolution. Comparing the theoretical gravity signal of the resource density model with the actual measured gravity on the surface, it is immediately obvious what parts of the resource density model are deficient. In the present example (with a resource model dating from three years ago), this reflects a lack of data at the time to constrain the modelling. The caveat with this approach is that the gravity data need to be processed to represent the same depth at which the resource is located, or else the theoretical response of the resource model needs to include the overlying rock. In either case, this carries its own assumptions and errors. With the shallow laterite resource in this example, the easier challenge is to remove any signal from the bedrock below the resource. The measured gravity data can be used to improve the resource model. Areas of significant difference between the measured and modelled gravity, such as in Figure 1, can direct the collection of new data to update the density model, via drilling or more density measurements on existing holes. Knowing the areas of greatest discrepancy translates to the ability to target drilling in areas where it will make the greatest difference to the confidence of the resource model. In a more quantitative way, the measured surface gravity can be inverted for a subsurface density distribution that respects the resource model where it is based on logged data, but modifies the model as needed away from drill holes. This gravity dataset is also useful for qualitative regolith type prediction. The mining program at Ravensthorpe needs to remove an upper limonite layer separately from a lower saprolite layer, as these two material types are treated in separate processing circuits, and mixing leads to metallurgical problems. The interface between the two has a highly variable geometry that requires close-spaced drilling for resource modelling and grade control. In particular, greater limonite resources are often present as limonite troughs, associated with deeper weathering along contacts or fault structures. The limonite is less dense than the saprolite, and thus gravity measurements can pick out limonite troughs, or conversely, saprolite highs. Figure 2 compares the surface gravity with the independently modelled base of limonite. There is good correspondence between low gravity anomalies (equivalent to low density) and deep limonite. Equivalently, high gravity anomalies correspond to saprolite nearer the surface. This information can again be used as a check against an existing resource model, as well as a tool for planning wider-spaced resource drill programs (well ahead of grade control) to confirm areas of deep versus shallow limonite. Since both saprolite and limonite are required at constant rates in order for one circuit not to be idle or underused, it is sensible to understand their gross distribution in advance of mine planning, i.e., the resource model, and gravity data can play a large role. The cost of gravity surveying Cont. on Page 11 10 ASEG-PESA 2015 AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Letters to the Editor AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Geophysics: Holding the Geology Cont. from Page 9 to Account Letters to the Editor is a very small fraction of the cost of drilling, and the ultimate success would be to use gravity data to widen the drill spacing and fill in confidently between holes. Dear Editor, Geological modelling requires a lot of interpretation, from logging to deciding how to interpolate data between drill holes. Geophysics data collected over the surface, assuming no instrument problems, don’t lie about what is beneath. In terms of physical properties attributed to the resource model, the geophysical dataset can be used to hold the geological modelling to account and make sure it can reproduce the geophysical data. From February 14-19, 2015, the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, in partnership with the Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia, is hosting the ASEG-PESA 2015 Conference and Exhibition in Perth, plus associated workshops before and after. I encourage geologists to think of case studies where the geophysics was held to account by geological observations, and submit working titles for their presentations starting March 1 at http://www.conference.aseg.org.au, followed by full abstracts from June 1, for an opportunity to show the geophysicists what reality turned out to be. For the latest in Geoscientist news, views, codes, events, employment and education visit the AIG website: 11 I have been reading the AIG newsletter with interest and generally found the articles well balanced and of technical merit. I am hydrogeologist and AIG member who has been researching the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) for the last five years and would like to comment that the historical comments quoted on page 5 of Issue 114 are purely speculative and represent a minority view of GAB researchers. Professor Gregory advocated the plutonic origin of Great Artesian Basin groundwater. Many researchers, from academia, government and private companies, have collected data in the last 50 years that suggest dominantly meteoric origin of GAB waters. To say in the AIG newsletter that “his (Professor Gregory) research has not been equaled in 100 years” is incorrect and misleading (at least in the way the sentence was originally intended). I would be happy to provide a list of GAB publications on request. I also note that the source of the article is a website of a GAB Protection Council whose listings of scientific publications include only those supporting the plutonic (or not renewable) origin of water. For a more balanced view, I would direct readers to the GABCC website http://www.gabcc.org.au/index.aspx. Gabor Bekesi, Principal Hydrogeologist Australian Water Environments www.aig.org.au Dear Editor, It is a fact that the proportion of exploration budgets of local companies dedicated to WA has declined significantly during the past decade, and we all know how this adversely affects employment and exploration activity in the short term, and the economic strength of the state in the longer term. Many in the industry would agree that part of the reason for the declining expenditure is that the two major political parties in WA do not have optimum policies to promote exploration and development in the state. What many may be surprised to know is that the formulation of policies can be influenced by individuals or small groups who are prepared to make the effort to participate directly in the political process by becoming members of one or other of the major parties, and contributing to policy discussions and development. The typical electoral cycle in WA tells us that the ALP will be eventually be voted back into office, so it is essential that we participate in policy development in both the Liberal and Labor parties. We are establishing a group to promote direct participation in the political process by resources industry people to ensure that our voice and views are heard by policy makers, and hopefully, reflected in the policies of the major parties. Interested members could contact the undersigned for further information. Mike Fewster Energy and Minerals Australia Limited 12 geotourism AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Yasur Volcano, Vanuatu, Australia’s Nearest Continuously Active Volcano Mike Erceg MAIG RPGeo Every now and then in one’s travels one experiences something truly awesome in a geological sense. I had been working on the central islands of Vanuatu and had the opportunity to do the tourist thing by visiting the nearby Yasur volcano on Tanna Island. Vanuatu is about 2.5 hours by aircraft east of Brisbane and Tanna Island is a further short 40 minute flight south of the capital Port Vila. Yasur volcano, in southern Tanna, is Australia’s closest continuously active volcano. Continuously active in the sense that eruptions have been occurring on a daily basis since Captain Cook first recorded activity in 1774. Local folk law certainly pushes that date back perhaps many hundreds of years. Dating suggests it has been active for many thousands of years. The volcano can be experienced by joining any of the volcano safaris that operate out of the resorts located on the truly spectacular coral coastline on Tanna Island. I stayed at the well-appointed, terrifically friendly Whitegrass Resort on the west coast near the airport. The resort runs daily 4WD volcano safaris which includes a 1.5 hour drive across the island through villages, village gardens and rain forest, an hour stop at the “moonscape”, a region devastated by continuous ash and acid rain northeast of the volcano and a final 4WD experience around the southern ash plain to within 150m of the crater. From the “moonscape” one appreciates the awesome nature of the volcano. The black ash cone rises 300m above the plain. Ash and smoke is continuously pumping out, but thankfully due to a northeaster that day, away from us. About every 15 minutes or so an eruption is marked by a billowing cloud of brown ash and black fly rock is observed rising 100s of metres into the air closely followed by a deep throaty roar, and all this from a safe distance of about 1.5km. The safari is timed to experience the volcano and its eruptions at dusk. One does not appreciate the lava display until the sun goes down. Tanna Island Tanna Island, some 100km long and 40km wide, is a remarkable place. Steeped in history, the locals are a truly friendly and immensely proud people. They generally speak 4 languages fluently – place talk, Bislama (local Pidgin English), French and English. They live in villages dotted around the island and the interior. Mainly subsistence farmers, they grow local crops of taro, sweet potato and coffee. The deep blue tropical waters surrounding the island provide a limitless supply of pelagic fish, tuna, wahoo and sailfin. The island is also famous for its exported Tanna Coffee. The following extract from Air Vanuatu’s July-September Island Spirit inflight magazine eloquently describes Tanna as only the French can do and is worth reproducing here. (Air Vanuatu operates daily flights from the capital Port Vila to Tanna on a modern 69 seat ATR-72 aircraft.) Terra Search Pty. Ltd. Mineral Exploration and Data Management Specialists www.terrasearch.com.au Total Exploration Program Management - Australia wide With 25 years of experience, Terra Search has the equipment and technical expertise to manage entire mineral exploration programs on any scale; from ground generation and acquisition, through to resource evaluation and reporting. REMOTE AREA EXPLORATION SPECIALISTS DATA MANAGEMENT SERVICES FIELD PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES With 15 years of experience providing database Our comprehensive services integrate field, equipment services to government and industry, Terra Search and office services, and include: can efficiently and effectively manage your data sets. • Tenement Application and Management Our specialist services include: • Geological target identification, prospecting, mapping and air photo interpretation • Geological data handling and compilation for growing and extensive exploration projects • Open file data compilation • Report management • Database design and implementation with Terra Search’s Explorer 3 Database • Drill program supervision (Auger, RAB, RC, and Diamond) • Surface geochemical and drill hole sampling • Ground magnetic surveys and modelling • Thermo Niton Portable XRF unit • Digital data processing • Gridding and DGPS surveying • GIS support staff • Petrology • Self reliant, fully equiped exploration teams Terra Search Pty. Ltd. Specialists in Mineral Exploration, Geology, and Computing TOWNSVILLE Simon Beams, Travers Davies T: (07) 4728 6851 E: [email protected] PERTH Dave Jenkins T: (08) 9472 8546 E: [email protected] BATHURST Richard Lesh T: (02) 6337 3133 E: [email protected] geotourism AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 13 L’Ile de Tanna Tanna reste l’île mystérieuse del’archipel. Son volcan, le puissant Yasur, offer un spectacle à vous couper le soufflé. A 360 mètres au-dessus du niveau de la mer, celui-ci dimine la region entourée d’une large étendue de cendres sont éjectés hors du cratère. A chaque instant la nature vous saisit. Les natives croient fermement que l’espirit des morts reste vivant dans le Mt Yasur. Les habitants de tanna sont étoitement lies à la coutome: selon eux.,’il faut évoluer avec les traditions’. Le “Nekowiar”, ou dannse du “Toka”, témoigne de cette volonté de vouloir preserver ces coutomes. Etant une des fêtes les plus spectaculaires de l’archipel, cette cérémonie qui imageait autrefois les guerres tribales représente aujourd’hui un signe d’alliance d’unité et d’amitié entre les divers groups ethniques. Le “John Frum” a Sulphur Bay, ou culte du cargo, est celebre au mois du Fevrier, où chaque année beaucoup d’adèpte se réunissent autour de la croix rouge. Au son des chants et danses, chacun espère un jour l’arrivée du Cargo blanc chargé de richesse. Figure 1: (a) Location of the Vanuatu (New Hebrides) arc and New Hebrides Trench in the south western Pacific (b) location of active volcanos along the Vanuatu (New Hebrides) arc. Pour the plaisir des plongeurs, l’épage du figjian, qui a coulé en 1916, repose à 20 mètres de profondeur. Les chevaux sauvages des plateaux de “White Grass” captent l’attention des visit eurs. Plages, sources d’eau, chaude, et cascades sont de nouveauy au rendez vous. Port-Résolution offer quelques unities d’hébergement au bord de som magnifique lagon. The island chain is divided into three main zones based on age and composition of magmatic and tectonic activity; the western belt, the eastern belt and the central chain (figure 1) with the oldest rocks being submarine lavas and volcanoclastics of the western belt of Oligocene-Early Miocene age. Geological Setting The New Hebrides Island Arc is a 1400km long intra-oceanic island chain situated in the southwest Pacific approximately 1800km northeast of Australia. Volcanism in the arc is largely subaerial and predominantly basaltic in composition. A central chain of active volcanoes occur approximately 150km above a steeply east dipping Benioff Zone with convergence rates varying from 103-118mm/yr. In the centre of the arc convergence velocity slows to 42mm/y in the D’Entrecasteaux collision zone where an aseismic ridge of a former island arc is being subducted and accreted, resulting in the shallowing of the trench and an uplift rate of 5.5mm/yr in the Holocene. A number of submarine volcanic edifices occur at the southern end of the island chain, and have been the subject of a recent (2011) QUT thesis by Kelly Thomas “Volcanology and Petrology of Submarine Volcanoes of the New Hebrides Island Arc” (pdf available online for further reading). The following description of the geological setting of the Arc is summarised from Kelly Thomas’s thesis. While the oldest rocks are late Oligocene, the New Hebrides Island Arc is thought to have originated during the Eocene as a result of subduction of the Pacific plate along the Vitiaz Trench. From 25-14Ma the islands of Espiritu Santo, Malekula and Torres Islands formed (known as western belt) due to westward subduction of the Pacific Plate. Two major collisions along the Vitiaz Trench occurred in the middle Miocene; the Ontong Java Plateau collided with the Solomon Islands to the northwest of the New Hebrides island chain, followed by the Melanesian Border Plateau with the proto-New Hebrides Island Arc. It is thought the latter collision of the Melanesian Border Plateau caused reversal in the arc polarity with the initiation of subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate beneath the Pacific Plate and the termination of subduction at the Vitiaz Trench. Spreading in the North Fiji back-arc basin initiated approximately 12Ma and accommodated migration and south-westwards rotation of the arc-trench. Volcanism in the eastern belt (Maewo and Pentecost) in the early Pliocene (7-4Ma) took place due to the now east-dipping Cont. on Page 15 McKenzie Mining & Exploration PTY LTD Roderick McKenzie Consultant Geologist MAusIMM, GSA ABN 55 003 562 365 • Due Diligence Studies • Geological Modelling & Orebody Evaluation • Target Generation • Vulcan, MapInfo & acQuire Experience • Specialising in Iron Ore & Gold M: 0403 435 377 • E: [email protected] 12 Wellesley Road, Ringwood North, VIC 3134 14 Professional Development AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 AMC Specialist Technical Workshops January – June 2014, Brisbane AMC Consultants Pty Ltd (AMC) is a leading independent mining consultancy, providing services exclusively to the minerals sector. We are pleased to announce dates for our specialist technical career development workshops. All workshops will be held in Brisbane, and participants on all workshops will receive a bound, full-colour workshop manual. AMC can also run these workshops in-house and tailor them for your specific needs. Discounts are available for participants who attend several workshops in the same week (March and June). JORC 2012–Complying with the Code in the Reporting Environment (half day) 20 January, 20 February, 28 March, 11 April, 16 May, 20, June Presenters: Peter Stoker and Mark Berry This workshop will present the fundamental requirements of the JORC Code, including new and changed provisions adopted in 2012. Examples of compliant and non-compliant reports will be reviewed, including case studies. This workshop is designed for existing and intending Competent Persons and management staff at all levels. Assessment of Geological Uncertainty in Mining and Management of Risk (one day) 26 March, 18 June Presenter: Mark Berry This workshop will identify and assess the sources of geological uncertainty that feed into ore reserve estimates, with implications from pit to port. Case studies and a range of risk management strategies will be presented. This workshop is designed for geologists, engineers, metallurgists, and management staff at all levels. Lessons Learnt from Auditing Mineral Resource Estimates (one day) 27 March, 19 June Presenters: Peter Stoker, Mark Berry, and Mark Sweeney This workshop will present key learnings from AMC’s extensive international audits of mineral resource estimates. It is designed to provide new and senior geological staff with insights into best practice and common problems. Topics covered will include drill program design and drilling, surveying, sample preparation and analytical techniques, logging and related processes, geological interpretation and domaining, geostatistics, estimation, classification, reporting, QA/QC processes, and data management. Practical Application of Isatis for Resource Estimation (two days) 24–25 March, 16–17 June Presenter: Mark Sweeney This workshop will demonstrate Isatis functionality for geostatistical and resource estimation applications, and is based on AMC’s extensive experience in resource estimation using Isatis. The topics covered will include an overview of the main functions of the geostatistical software, data management and data manipulation, statistics and domaining, variography, and implementation of linear resource estimation. Excellence in Mineral Resources Estimation (five days) 7–11 April Presenters: Peter Stoker, Mark Berry, Alex Virisheff, Mark Sweeney, Brian Hall, and other industry specialists This workshop provides geologists with a comprehensive review of all inputs into resource estimation, from data collection to reporting. Case studies are used extensively to illustrate and reinforce concepts. The workshop is presented by AMC principal consultants, supplemented by guest presentations covering topics such as sample preparation and analysis issues. Register online at www.amcconsultants.com/training For more information, contact: Alana Philips: (T) +61 7 3230 9000 (E) [email protected] www.amcconsultants.com AMC - the business of mining geotourism AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Yasur Volcano, Vanuatu, Australia’s Nearest Continuously Active Volcano subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate, while deposition of pelagic material and subsidence occurred within the western belt. Present day volcanism occurs in the Central Chain (initiated 6Ma) particularly at Yasur volcano. The Yasur volcanic complex (extract from A. Peltier, A Finizola, G.A. Doulillet, E. Brothelande, E. Garaebiti “Structure of an active volcano associated with a resurgent block inferred from thermal mapping: The Yasur Yenkahe volcanic complex (Vanuatu). Journal of Volcanology and geothermal Research 243-244 (2012) 59-68) The Yasur (-Yenkahe) volcanic complex is hosted within the Siwi cauldera in the south-eastern part of the island of Tanna, which is part of the central chain of the New Hebrides Island Arc. The Siwi cauldera (9km x 4km) hosting the complex is delimited by the Siwi Ring Fracture on land and extends offshore between Sulphur Bay and Port Resolution. The Yenkahe block (6 x 3km) is a resurgent block elongated N65 in the axis of the Siwi cauldera. It is interpreted to have formed by massive magmatic intrusions within the Siwi cauldera (< 20,000y). Coral reef terraces dated at 1000 years BP are found at more than 150m elevation, thus implying a mean uplift rate of 156mm/y over the last millennium. This uplift is at partially controlled by local catastrophic phenomena such as earthquakes (e.g. the ones reported in 1878 and 1888 and responsible for a raise of shoreline of about 20m). 15 Cont. from Page 13 The 1878 eruption was witnessed by Capt. Jennings in the sailing vessel Luengone (information from Katherine Stirling Kerr Cawsey’s book “The Making of a Rebel: Captain Donald Macleod of the New Hebrides” University of the South Pacific 1998). During the hurricane of early January (1878), Yasur, after throwing up large showers of dust and stones and immense clouds of smoke, “caught fire”. This was followed by a tremendous earthquake and three tidal waves, witnessed by Capt. Jennings who on 9 January 1878, sheltered in Port Resolution with Luengone. Another earthquake soon followed. Lt Horne of HMS Sandfly, sent to investigate and resurvey the area, found Port Resolution so altered that he placed a “Notice to Mariners” in the newspapers. A small bay to the north had been completely filled in “by the falling forward into the sea of upwards of 150 acres of earth and rock…. For 3 square miles to the northward of Port Resolution it is one mass of loose earth and rock with numerous hot springs. When the second shock took place, there was surf from 20 to 30 feet high, raised by the land falling into the sea”. Port Resolution became so shallow that only small vessels could use it. Cont. on Page 16 THE MARJEX CORE ORIENTATION FRAME Made from oak, brass and rubber Accepts all common core diameters and lengths from 10-50 cm. Accepts half core. Core can be viewed from below to ensure accurate positioning of BOH line Core sits proud of support channel for easy observation & measurement of structures Built in compass and clinometer scales Figure 2: (A) Map of the Vanuatu Archipelago and associated tectonic regime (B) Location of the Yasur-Yenhake complex on the south eastern part of Tanna Island (C) Structural map of south-eastern Tanna including the Yasur-Yenkahe complex. Compact and light weight SPECIALISING IN RECRUITING PROFESSIONALS & EXECUTIVES FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY Cost: $750.00 + GST- For more details go to: www.rogermarjoribanks.com Suite 2, 47 Ord Street West Perth WA 6005 Rowley Pennock David Pennock Phone: (08) 9226 1022 Fax: (08) 9226 1040 [email protected] [email protected] 16 geotourism AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Yasur Volcano, Vanuatu, Australia’s Nearest Continuously Active Volcano Cont. from Page 13 Geology of Yasur Volcano (extract from N. Métrich, P. Allard, A. Aiuppa, P. Bani, A. bertagnini, H. Shinohara, F. Parello, A. Di Muro, E. Garaebiti, O. Belhadj and D. Massare 2011 “Volcanism and Block Resurgence in Siwi cauldera (Tanna Island, Vanuatu Arc)” Journal of Petrology Vol 52 Issue 6 pp1077-1105) Siwi caldera, in the Vanuatu arc (Tanna island), is a rare volcanic complex where both persistent eruptive activity (Yasur volcano) and rapid block resurgence (Yenkahe horst) can be investigated simultaneously during a post-caldera stage. Major and trace element analyses of Yasur–Siwi volcanic rocks point to a single magmatic series and possibly long-lived feeding of Tanna volcanism by an homogeneous arc basalt. Olivine-hosted melt inclusions show that the parental basaltic magma, which produces basaltictrachyandesites to trachyandesites by ~50–70% crystal fractionation, is moderately enriched in volatiles (~1 wt % H2O, 0•1 wt % S and 0•055 wt % Cl). The basaltic-trachyandesite magma, emplaced at between 4–5 km depth and the surface, preserves a high temperature (1107 ± 15°C) and constant H2O content (~1 wt %) until very shallow depths, where it degasses extensively and crystallizes. These conditions, maintained over the past 1400 years of Yasur activity, require early water loss during basalt differentiation, prevalent open-system degassing, and a relatively high heat flow (~109 W). Figure 3. Yasur volcano from the northeast looking over the “moonscape” area, the predominant drop zone for ash and acid rain. Yasur volcano releases on average ≥ 13•4 × 103 tons/day of H2O and 680 tons/day of SO2, but moderate amounts of CO2 (840 tons/day), HCl (165 tons/day), and HF (23 tons/day). Combined with melt inclusion data, these gas outputs constrain a bulk magma degassing rate of ~5 × 107 m3/yr, about a half of which is due to degassing of the basaltic-trachyandesite. “The South Australia Mining App will become your go-to guide for resources investment. With real-time data at your fingertips, investing in South Australia has never been so easy.” Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy www.southaustraliamining.sa.gov.au 204430 Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy PACE exploration mining energy global www.minerals.dmitre.sa.gov.au AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 geotourism 17 Volcanic activity observed Mt. Yasur volcano has been increasingly recognized for its highfrequency Strombolian eruptions for the last 300 years. Currently, this activity takes place at three vents with highly varying recurrence rates, denoted as A, B and C from south to north, respectively. The three active craters showed very different styles of activity. Crater A had an eruption recurrence of 4-6 eruptions/hr and was the most violent with occasional lava bombs landing outside the crater rim. Crater B showed continuous ash-venting. Crater C was producing the most frequent eruptions approximately 10-20 eruption2/hr. Eruptions were preceded by a pressure wave readily observed as it passed up through the ash and gas cloud, closely followed by a blast and molten magma discharge from the vent to heights of several hundreds of metres. Most of the molten lava fell back into the crater. The eruptions are violent. Gas and ash rained over the observation post intermittently with wind changes. The gas was blue-white, an intensely acrid, and had a habit of slowly creeping over the edge of the crater rim and enveloping the observation post. Safety The local guides are very experienced at observing the volcano and do a risk assessment at the first observation post about 50m from the crater edge. They check the wind direction, intensity of blasts and location of recent lava-bomb falls before permitting closer approaches Gold Sponsor of the AIG Education Endowment Foundation Figure 4. A 'selfie' of the author beside a lava-bomb that landed outside the Yasur crater within 20m of the observing party to the crater. They also give instruction on how to avoid impact from lava bombs that threaten the observation area. However Yasur is an active volcano and approaching the crater is dangerous at any time. Observers are at risk from projectiles, toxic gas and lava avalanches. In the 2 hours we sat on the crater rim observing the eruptions we only experienced one eruption where ejecta landed outside the crater wall. A lava-bomb landed 20m behind our group causing much excitement. It rolled about 50m down the outer slope of the crater before coming to rest. It measured about 1m in length, more than 0.5m in diameter and probably weight upwards of 1 tonne. We departed soon after! Geotourism articles: AIG encourages members to submit articles on geologically interesting places they have experienced, that may be of interest to people with a passion for earth science. Figure 5. Observation post on the crater of Yasur volcano watching eruptions at sunset For the latest in Geoscientist news, views, codes, events, employment and education visit the AIG website: www.aig.org.au 18 editor's desk From The Editor AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Louis Hissink AIG News 115 has started with a visual makeover using the new AIG Logo and colour scheme - we hope you'll like it. It's part of the transition to electronic publishing scheduled for later this year, and will enable AIG News to be read on mobile devices as well as your PC or Mac. AIG News 114 raised some interesting feedback, including a letter pointing to further information on the Great Artesian Basin. Some cognitive dissonance also occurred over "dowsing" but as one Mario Varvoglis, Ph.D. noted, dowsing, like it or not, is actually used in industry. For example, Ontario Hydro, the world's third largest water company, disclosed that they regularly employ dowsers in conjunction with their engineering techniques. Often huge problems arise from uncharted cables or pipelines, as during the construction of the Pickering nuclear power plant in Ontario, when Caterpillar operators were almost electrocuted by striking 4,000-volt power lines which they were unable to locate precisely. After delays entailing considerable costs, the chief engineer at Hydro called in a dowser who traced out the cable path with a rod, enabling them to excavate it. Dowsing or remote viewing might be dismissed as crank science but one suspects that view has more to do with an inability to explain it than anything else; happens when a science becomes too specialised and is limited by the number of ideas it uses Finally AIG News 116 will be focussing on Impediments to exploration as flagged by Mike Fewster in the letters page. Members are urged to forward their ideas on how exploration can be untied from the regulatory tape that seems to have strangled it. AIG MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS Snowden offer 10% discount off professional development courses for Australian Institute of Geoscientists members To encourage new membership and in recognition of the services offered by the associations and societies that uphold the professionalism within our global mining industry – Snowden will be offering the individual members of these associations a 10% discount off our public training course registration fees during 2014. Mineral Exploration GIS Glenn Coianiz, RPGeo P: 02 6621 7453 M: 0412 409 760 [email protected] For all exploration data and 2D/3D mapping requirements Micromine 3D sections plans wireframes MapInfo 2D presentation graphics DataShed existing databases obituary AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 19 Obituary - BILL LACY Bill Lacy passed away in Tuscon, Arizona in early December. He had not been in ill health and died peacefully, after a full and very productive life, at age 95. He will be remembered in particular as a bridge-builder between academic geology and industry, through his foundation work in the 1970’s in framing and teaching post-graduate geology programs tailored to the needs of industry professionals. Bill was the foundation Professor of Geology at James Cook University, appointed in 1972. Geology had been unsuccessfully attempting to find a discipline leader for some time and had been through two rounds of advertisement, short listing and interviews without an outcome. Bill had just spent a sabbatical leave from the University of Arizona at the University of Queensland and had become attracted to the opportunities offered in his discipline in Australia. What a fortunate coincidence. On the third round of advertisement, Bill entered the lists, and JCU was indeed fortunate to take the opportunity offered. As the inaugural Professor of Geology at JCU, Bill brought many attributes. Firstly, he brought his reputation as a world class economic geologist, with particular expertise in porphyry mineral systems resulting from his seminal research in ore deposits in the Andes. This reputation, cemented by his previous sabbatical period in Australia, immediately put economic geology "on the map" at James Cook University. Within two years of appointment, Bill's expertise and profile with the minerals industry, translated into the first coursework/research MSc in Economic Geology offered by an Australian institution. The success of this enterprise can be measured by the many JCU graduates spread across the minerals industry in Australia and worldwide, collectively with a massive contribution to the discovery of new resources and the effective development of those to hand. In due course this initiative was expanded by collaborative participation of the University of Tasmania and the University of Western Australia, morphing into the Minerals Geoscience Masters coordinated by the Australian Minerals Council which continues to this day. This program, and Bill's standing with the minerals industry, laid the foundation for the later establishment of the Economic Geology Research Unit at James Cook University shortly after his retirement in 1979. EGRU's establishment, and subsequent contribution in fostering an academic-industry engagement in economic geology at James Cook University, rests firmly on Bill's shoulders. Bill's contribution did not stop there. At his appointment, the then department was at a fledgling stage. It was still located on the original Pimlico campus. Bill oversaw the planning for the geology component of the then geologymaths-physics building on the Douglas campus, home to the Geology Department and the School of Earth Science for many years. Not a simple task with Basil Rennie (Mathematics - famously oblique) and Jim Ward (Physics opposed to air conditioning) as collaborators. Work pressures contributed to a heart attack in 1975 - typical of Bill, recuperation involved regular running of the university ring road, summer included. Another challenge squarely met. Most importantly, Bill made several astute academic appointments at James Cook University and in particular fostered a nurturing environment for School staff, with encouragement to build quality in both the teaching and research spheres. He was tireless in fostered links with industry through targeted education and applied research. These settings continue: ethos is hard to build but it is long-lasting. Shortly after retirement in 1979 Bill and his wife Jo returned to Arizona. Bill maintained his links to Australia mainly through interaction with former students and academic and industry colleagues, reinforced by occasional visits including ongoing support for the exploration and mining MSc. He was a valued speaker at several conferences in Australia and beyond, contributed to the management training of senior geologists through the Australian Minerals Foundation, and was the driving force and editor of books on exploration and mining geology published in the early 1980’s. He also framed and presented a successful television series “Out of the Fiery Furnace” which covered the history of mining and metallurgy. In 1998 his contribution to economic geology was celebrated by the W.C. Lacy symposium, a centre-piece of the 14th Australian Geological Convention held in Townsville. Professor Bob Henderson, Adjunct Professorial Fellow, JCU Ross Logan and Associates AIG, GSA, SEG Geological Consultants ABN 87 082254457 • Hands-on project management and evaluation from grass roots to feasibility • Target generation, brown and greenfields exploration • Extensive exposure to Carpentarian Sedex lead-zinc • Copper and gold experience throughout Australia • 30 years in the resource sector, Australia and Argentina P.O. Box 1277 Coorparoo DC Qld 4151 Phone +61 7 3891 7075 Email: [email protected] www.users.bigpond.com/rsquared 20 Professional Development AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Volcano, White Island, New Zealand CONTACT Julian Vearncombe Mobile +61 437 477 220 Phone +61-8 9364 7098 PO Box 1093 Canning Bridge 6153 Western Australia Unit 1, 11 Ogilvie Rd, (above Clancy’s Fish Pub) Mount Pleasant 6153 [email protected] www.sjsresource.com.au AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 events 21 WA AIG Christmas Cruise - Dec 2013 Another successful AIG-GSA Christmas cruise in Perth sponsored by Southern Geoscience. New faces and some old including Simon Attwell featuring in the top left-hand photo (without identification!), Anne Tomlinson of AIG Council and Richard Mazzuchelli, Richard Haines of WA Committee and Steve Sugden, AIG Treasurer in the bottom right-hand photo. QLD AIG Christmas Party, Brisbane - Dec 2013 Friedrich von Gnielinski (GSA Queensland Division Committee), Luke Sorby, Rob Murdoch, Darcy Milburn and Bill Hayes, Angus McIntyre, Robin Chant and Faye Jones, Ralph McIver and AIG Queensland Branch Secretary Christine Brown who organised this highly successful event again this year, David Splatt, Rick Nelson and Doug Brewster, Andrew Gilles and John Horton, Neil McLean, John Cameron and Mark Dugmore and Tim Millis and Doug Corley. 22 Professional Development AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Gold14@Kalgoorlie INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM Wed 8th to Fri 10th October 2014 WMC Conference Centre Curtin University, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia Symposium Themes Past, present and future of gold exploration and mining New gold provinces and opportunities The timing of gold mineralisation Gold exploration methods and technologies Programme Keynote Speakers: Bob Foster (Stratex International PLC, London) Science and the City - the status of our gold industry David Groves (Consultant, Western Australia) Province-scale Commonalities and Contrasts Between Orogenic, Intrusion-related, Carlin-type and Iron Oxide Systems Richard Sillitoe (Consultant, UK) Gold Exploration Opportunities Pre-symposium mine visits: 4th to 6th October 2014 (Start and finish Kalgoorlie) The pre-conference field trip and mine visits will focus around and to the south of Kalgoorlie and will examine Eastern Goldfields outcrop lithostratigraphy and gold mineralisation. Leader: Stephen Wyche and GSWA colleagues. Short course: 7th October 2014 (Kalgoorlie) Orogenic gold deposits: nature and geological targeting by David Groves. Symposium: 8th to 10th October 2014 (Kalgoorlie) Technical sessions, keynote speakers, poster session and networking events, including sundowner and symposium dinner. Post symposium mine visits: 11th to 13th October 2014 (Start and finish Kalgoorlie) The post-symposium trip will focus on the north Kalgoorlie and Leonora areas. The excursion will visit several mines and focus on mine- to regional-scale structural controls on gold mineralisation. Leader: Stephen Wyche and GSWA colleagues. Short course: 14th October 2014 (Perth) For Further Information: Julian: +61 437477220 [email protected] Porphyry copper-gold and related epithermal deposits by Richard Sillitoe. Visit: aig.org.au or geosymposia.com.au Email: [email protected] Professional Development AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 23 Porphyry Field Mapping Course – Orange, NSW November 2013 Greg Corbett This course was intended to aid in the development of young geologist’s careers, perhaps even to help gain that difficult first job, by the provision of the necessary field mapping and core logging skills to begin porphyry exploration. The model here is that training should be a more cost effective manner and friendly to the unemployed than the courses run by now defunct AMF. The inaugural porphyry field mapping course run by Doug Menzies with help from Greg Corbett was held in the Orange district 15-21 November 2013. This course was oversubscribed and required a bigger bus and additional helpers to accommodate the 26 participants. Day 1: We assembled about mid-day and collected equipment including the short-course manual, mapping jacket, aluminium clip board, colour pencils etc. Doug gave a lecture on his porphyry mapping technique using different colour pencils as a simplified and more user-friendly version of the old Anaconda mapping method. Greg gave an explanation of porphyry geology focusing on the staged model for alteration and mineralisation using rock photos from the deposits we were about to visit, already reviewed by Doug and Greg. Next time we hope to have actual rocks related to poster scale copies of the Corbett and Leach geological models. Copper Hill core inspection Day 2: We learned to compass and tape map studying porphyry rock types, alteration and vein styles at the Cargo road side quarry. Some rain did not dampen enthusiasm, but rather improved the quality of the exposures. That night John Holliday, one of the most experienced practitioners in the art, provided a talk on ‘Geophysics in porphyry exploration’. Days 3 and 4 were spent at the Golden Cross Coppervale operation where we mapped the old open pit and leached cap environs and logged drill core from Copper Hill and Cargo, including material in the wall rocks to understand the use of alteration and vein types as vectors towards porphyry mineralisation. On those evenings Mark Arundell talked on the Goonumbla (North Parks) porphyry Cu-Au deposits and Doug Menzies on footprints of porphyry Cu-Mo-Au systems including the Wafi, Golpu case study. Day 5 was devoted to logging an impressive array of Cadia Valley drill core provided by Newcrest including the Ridgeway discovery hole, still with lumps of excitement lying in the bottoms of some trays, and also Cadia East, Big Cadia etc. That night Mel Quigley, ex-CSIRO, provided a talk on infrared mineral spectroscopy related to porphyry deposits. Mel also brought a portable spectrometer along and demonstrated its use during day time drill core inspections. Day 6: At Goonumbla (North Parks) several geologists talked the group through a selection of drill core focusing on types of veins, Mapping Cargo quarry Ridgeway core Cont. Overleaf Copper Hill hyperspectral core logging measurements collected with a oreXpress spectrometer. 24 Professional Development Porphyry Field Mapping Course – Orange, NSW November 2013 intrusions and alteration, to show a relationship to mineralisation and mineral paragenesis. That evening a wrap up session focused upon ‘what have we learned’ and commented on how the next field course might differ. The interesting mix of new graduates and older geoscientists who wanted to learn about porphyry exploration, and including those with none or reasonable porphyry exploration experience, contributed towards a great outcome and positive interaction. The favourable feedback has prompted a future provision of an updated porphyry field course. This course could not have been possible without the help and moral support from the management of Golden Cross who also provided access to exposures and drill core for Cargo and Copper Hill; Newcrest Limited for drill core from a variety of Cadia Valley ore systems, North Parks Limited for facilitation of the core Goonumbla core inspection, while Strength Mining aided with equipment, and John Holliday, Mark Arundell and Mel Quigley gave talks. Doug and I will run this course again in late 2014. Anyone may register an interest at www.cmcgeos.com to be sent the details when they become available. Cameron's attendance at the course was supported by an AIG NSW branch award for early career geoscientists attending field-based training courses. AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Cont. from Page 23 Left: Copper Hill pit mapping Below: New graduate Cameron Perks at Copper Hill (closest to camera) with other attendees Professional Development AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 25 AIG Funds Young Geoscientist to Attend Field Trip Cameron Perks I recently had the opportunity to attend ‘an introduction to porphyry Cu-Au exploration’ field training course with Corbett and Menzies Consulting thanks to the AIG’s field trip grant for young geoscientists. Having only just graduated (with honours) I have had very little time and opportunity to gain practical field experience. This six day short course, ran from the 15th-21st of November and held in Orange, provided me with an intensive field-based learning experience focusing on porphyry Cu-Au exploration techniques and procedures. Theory and lectures were provided throughout the first day and every night into the trip. The days were spent in the field with Greg Corbett and Doug Menzies identifying porphyry related minerals, veins and alteration zones as well as logging core, mapping, and learning efficient surveying skills. Mapping was conducted at the Cargo Cu prospect at a scale of 1:500 on the second day of the trip, followed by logging Cargo core on the third day. The third day also served as an opportunity for participants to see the Copper Hill core before mapping Copper Hill prospect on day four. Day four was a combination of Copper Hill core logging and mapping at a scale of around 1:500 depending on how good you were at fitting all the survey points on an A4 mapping sheet. On day five we arrived at the Newcrest core sheds to log Ridgeway and Cadia porphyry Cu-Au deposit core. By now the techniques and theory were coming together and we were all almost able to successfully identify minerals, exploration vectors and alteration. By the sixth day (a trip to North Parkes to log a mystery hole) we were Above: Cameron Perks and Claire Hardgrove (another attendee). Right: Logging Cadia core. well and truly masters of porphyry Cu-Au exploration. Well, not quite. One important thing that was taken away on this field trip was that porphyry Cu-Au exploration takes a long time to become acquainted with. A lot of research and fieldwork has gone into preparing this field trip and I believe it did a fantastic job of covering such a huge topic in such a small amount of days. Without this trip my knowledge of porphyrys would, in hindsight, be quite limited. In addition to this; as a fledgling geologist this trip has not only improved my knowledge of porphyrys but has also taught me field mapping skills, core-logging skills, and surveying techniques. Finally, the trip has given me an opportunity to make contacts and friends that I will keep throughout my career; geologists who have come from across the world to learn as I did but also ended up imparting a bit of their knowledge onto me. Logging Copper Hill and Cargo core For all of this I would like to thank the AIG for giving me this opportunity; without the generous grant I would not have had the opportunity to attend the trip. 26 Professional Development AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 education AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 27 Tertiary Geoscience Education at the Crossroads? Dr Trevor Powell FTSE, STIR Sciences Services – former President Australian Geoscience Council Introduction With its latest survey (Powell, 2013), the Australian Geoscience Council has accumulated 10 years worth of data to the end of 2012 on teaching, enrolment and staffing levels in geoscience at Australian universities. The status of geoscience and geoscience education in universities has continued the improvement recorded in 2010 with further growth in enrolled students, reversing the decade-long decline prior to 2007. However, the minerals industry downturn represents a potential cloud on the horizon for Tertiary geoscience education. Results Eighteen universities (Table 1) have the capacity to teach geoscience as a major in their undergraduate programs, with an additional university offering an earth science major as part of an environment degree. Of these, six maintain distinct geoscience schools, but one of these is about to undergo a merger with non-geoscience schools. In the remainder, the geoscience discipline is variously amalgamated into schools of ‘earth, geography, environmental and biological science’ or schools of ‘physical sciences’. The consequence for the structure of the undergraduate majors on offer varies. Some schools have created ‘geoscience degrees’ from a blend of physical geography or environment courses and traditional ‘solid earth science’ courses. Others have maintained a clear distinction between degree types. These changes in university structures and degrees started a decade ago at a time of static or declining enrolments in geoscience and reflect the economic realities of current university funding. Government funds for teaching are provided on a per-student basis with additional funds being paid by full fee paying students, with the salaries of staff (academic, support and administrative), infrastructure and expendables (including field teaching) being paid from those funds. There has therefore been enormous pressure to improve the economics of teaching. Fortunately and in contrast to the period prior to 2005, the resources boom has progressively attracted additional numbers of students into geoscience, improving the economics of geoscience teaching and easing the concerns expressed prior to 2007 as to the viability of geoscience in universities. Nationally student enrolments, as measured by Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL), have increased 14% since 2010 continuing the growth recorded in the 2010 survey (Fig 1). This growth is not universal with six universities static or showing declines. Contrary to the growth in the period 2007-2010, Honours enrolments have stabilized or declined slightly in most universities, although a few are still growing. This has led to an overall slight decline in total Honours enrolments from 2010. The data show that universities vary widely in their viability as geoscience teaching institutions. There has been a general strengthening of ‘geoscience schools’ as student numbers have increased and courses re-organised to improve the efficiency of teaching. From 2007, there has been a systematic increase in the EFTSL per teaching staff member with now 6 universities above 20, 5 between 15 and 20 and only 1 below 10 – in 2007 there was only 3 universities above 15. This indicates improving financial viability for many schools. The growth in Masters degrees involving significant coursework also impacts on teaching loads and contributes to financial viability for those departments where this is occurring. Two universities (Adelaide and Curtin) account for 27 percent of the national student load with EFTSL values of 300 or more. Four universities have values between 200 and 250. The balance have values below 180, of which six are below 100 (Table 1). The output of Bachelor (BSc) degrees with a major in geoscience has continued to grow to approximately 690 in 2012 (Fig 2), but Honours enrolments and the output of BSc Honours degrees have declined slightly from around 251 in 2010 to around 241 in 2012. The output of Masters (MSc) degrees by coursework and dissertation, have continued to grow strongly reflecting the change in emphasis to postgraduate coursework at several universities and accounts in part for the leveling off in Honours enrolments and degrees awarded. These coursework degrees are often specifically aimed at training candidates in the knowledge and techniques required for employment in industry, but are also offered as pre-research training. Three universities (James Cook, Tasmania and Western Australia) co-operate in the Minerals Tertiary Education Council (MTEC) Mineral Masters program. Melbourne and Macquarie universities now offer a 2-year Masters by coursework and dissertation in lieu of an Honours Degree, with Adelaide introducing this option in 2014. Western Australia has this option predominantly for overseas students and retains the Honours and 1-year Masters courses for domestic students. Cont. Overleaf Vector Research Pty Ltd ABN 80 086 727 273 Stephen T. Mudge BSc (Hons), Dip Comp Sc, FAusIMM, FAIG Consulting Geophysicist • • • • • Magnetics,gravity,radiometrics,EM,resistivity,IP Surveydesign,projectmanagement,datainterpretation Geophysicaldataprocessingforexplorationtargeting TM TargetMap targetslinears,patternsandtextures TM TargetTEM targetsconductorsinairborneTEMdata POBox1133,NedlandsWA6909,Australia Web:www.vecresearch.com.au Phone/Fax:+61(0)893868894 Email:[email protected] 28 Education AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Tertiary Geoscience Education at the Crossroads? Cont. from Page 27 In addition to normal curriculum reviews, several universities continue to take specific steps to meet the needs of potential employers by addressing the core skills requirements of graduates: for the petroleum industry through its School of Petroleum, whilst Curtin University provides specifically for geophysics through its Department of Exploration Geophysics. • nine universities participate in the MTEC Honours Minerals Short course Program. The decline in output of Masters degrees through research has continued and is now only about 10 per annum compared output of Masters degrees based on coursework and a dissertation which is now around 100. The latter has more than doubled since 2010 following an increase by 250 percent in 2010 compared with 2007 (Fig 2). The output of PhD degrees recorded a drop of 20 percent to about 66 in 2011 before rebounding to 95 in 2012 (Fig 2). • they have made (or are in the process of making) specific teaching appointments in resource geoscience. • they have remodeled courses to meet core skills requirements and strengthened some disciplines including geophysics, field geology, digital geology, minerals geoscience and petroleum geoscience. • some have placements in industry as part of a course of study. • some provide specific options and specializations in majors and MSc degrees. Universities in Victoria and Sydney cooperate in the delivery of electives in the Honours year in their respective locations. The National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training is based at Flinders University with eleven university partners. It seeks ‘to improve our understanding of Australia’s Groundwater Systems, and by training the next generation of expert researchers and groundwater professionals. It does not produce graduates in its own right but strengthens the capacity of the university partners in this regard. Similarly the ARC Centres of Excellence in ‘Ore Deposits’ and ‘Core to Crust Fluid Systems’ centred at the Universities of Tasmania and Macquarie respectively strengthens their capacity and of that of their university partners. The University of Adelaide provides specifically Figure 1 National trends in undergraduate enrollment in the geosciences expressed in Equivalent Full Time Student Load. A. All Levels; B. National Totals by Level. In 2012, 200 academic staff were engaged in some level of teaching of geoscience in Australian universities whilst there are a further 270 staff engaged in research with no formal teaching commitments. Nationally since 2010 the number of teaching position has declined slightly whilst the number of research positions has increased by 35 - 22 % compared with 13% between 2007 and 2010. The combination of teaching and research positions shows a wide range in capability between the ‘geoscience’ universities (Table 1) with a variation in the size and profile of schools with differing levels of undergraduate and postgraduate output and differing emphasis on teaching versus research. It is now clear that the resources boom attracted large numbers of students into geoscience. With the current drawback from the very high levels of activity in the exploration and development industry and the increasing uncertainty as to geoscience employment levels Figure 2. National trends in geoscience degrees awarded: A. Bachelor Degrees; B. Higher Degrees. Note data on BSc degrees is only available from 2007 Education AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 (Australian Institute of Geoscientists, 2013) it becomes a question as to whether current levels of enrolment will be sustained. Indeed, could we be about to repeat the boom–bust cycle that led to concerns about geoscience education at the turn of the 21st century? If student enrolments fall it is conceivable that some schools could become financially unviable again. The question asked at the time of the 2007 survey remains highly pertinent: “What is the minimum economic department size that is sustainable in the longer run?” This has to have consideration of government funded student load, fee paying students, academic staff numbers, service teaching to other degrees, external funding for teaching and research funding. As this survey once again demonstrates, these considerations vary from institution to institution and are not 29 easily compared. However, the current survey has shown again that some larger schools with wide capability are growing from strength to strength, whilst others with lesser capability are static or reducing. In general the position has improved again since 2010, but it remains clear that a critical mass of teaching and research capability that creates a vibrant and attractive educational experience is fundamental to sustaining Tertiary geoscience educational opportunities in Australia. References Australian Institute of Geoscientists (2013) Australian Institute of Geoscientists Employment Survey http://www.aig.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view =article&id=312&Itemid=339 Powell T G, 2013. Australian Geoscience Tertiary Education Profile 2012, Australian Geoscience Council Report, 64p <http://www.agc.org.au/reports> . Table 1. Universities offering Earth Science Degrees in 2012 showing total geoscience staffing, Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL) and degrees awarded in 2012 University – School or Structural Unit Geoscience Staff Total EFTSL Total BSc Major BSc Hons MSc PhD 33 533 76 43 7 5 Australian National - Research School of Earth Sciences 69 81 4 18 2 16 Ballarat - Science, Information Technology & Engineering 5.5 78 14 3 - - Canberra - Education, Science Technology & Mathematics 3 65 6 2 - - Adelaide - Earth & Environmental Science - Petroleum Curtin - Applied Geology - Exploration Geophysics 50 300 94 15 16 2 Flinders* - Environment 22 99 9 9 2 4 James Cook - Earth & Environmental Sciences 17 159 24 10 11 3 Macquarie - Earth & Planetary Sciences 23 227 22 10 17 3 Melbourne - Earth Sciences (includes ocean, atmospheric sciences) 20 115 32 9 13 6 21.4 238 115 27 1 5 Monash - Geoscience New England** - Rural & Environmental Science 3.5 77 11 3 - - Newcastle* - Environmental & Life Sciences 8.6 155 27 3 - 2 New South Wales - Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences 22 209 18 16 2 6 27.2 228 52 8 5 11 17 93 22 3 2 2 Queensland - Earth Sciences Queensland University of Technology - Earth, Environmental & Biological Sciences Sydney* - Geosciences (includes geography, environmental sciences) 19 137 14 8 2 3 31.3 81 53 19 5 6 Western Australia - Earth & Environment 33 161 55 22 19 6 Wollongong - Earth & Environmental Sciences 19 181 36 10 6 7 Tasmania - Earth Sciences Notes: Flinders offers geoscience major in BSc Environment Degree; * denotes enrollments and degrees are from 2010 survey; ** denotes degrees estimated by author from enrolment data 30 exploration AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 UNCOVER Initiative - Ushering in a New Era of Exploration in Australia Dean Collett and Phil McFadden On behalf of the UNCOVER Executive Committee, Australian Academy of Science, Canberra. The UNCOVER initiative is now moving into an implementation phase. The upcoming open Summit in Adelaide will begin to chart the necessary journey for exploration geoscience in Australia. This is an initiative owned by industry, geological surveys and researchers alike. Introduction to UNCOVER It is well-recognised that Australia has benefited enormously from its rich endowment of mineral resources. It is also widely believed that most of Australia’s easily-found economically viable mineral deposits have already been discovered and, to a large extent, exploited. Most of our future mineral discoveries will have to occur in the approximately 80% of Australia that is covered by regolith. While there is every reason to believe that the prospectivity of these covered areas is similar to that of those areas where Australia has already proven to be richly endowed, exploring undercover presents a new set of difficult challenges and so the success rate of mineral exploration has dropped dramatically. Simply put – our traditional approaches are falling way short of being as effective as they were in the outcrop. This is a global problem, but affects Australia more than most due to the amount of and in parts, the depth of cover. CSA Global Resource Industry Consultants AIG_News_Jan_2014.indd 1 What we need in reality is a technical and economically attractive value proposition for mining companies so that they are compelled to invest a greater proportion of their exploration and mining development budgets in Australia compared to the alternatives. Real investment levels, especially in the non-ferrous metals arena, have failed to significantly improve despite efforts by industry, state and federal surveys and researchers to provide the technical solutions. There is little doubt that Australia possesses the intellectual capability to meet these challenges and to develop the knowledge necessary to usher in a new era of successful exploration in covered areas. UNCOVER was developed from the recognition of the real issue being the development of an effective national collaboration to bring together players from industry, government and academia to define the important questions and then work together to answer those questions in an effective manner. The goal of the UNCOVER initiative is to develop that collaboration and, through consultation across the sector, identify and define the important questions and datasets. This will then inform a strategic approach that will identify, develop, and deliver the science to create the knowledge and technologies that will improve the success rate of mineral exploration in the covered areas of Australia. A strategic focus on the questions that are important to industry will facilitate the development by geoscience researchers, leveraging off the work done by geological surveys and industry, of knowledge that will have a much greater direct impact than is currently the case. For expertise and services from project generation through to mine production, CSA Global cover all stages of the exploration and mining cycle. Our broad experience and integrated approach result in high quality solutions for our clients in areas such as: • Exploration & Evaluation • Data Management & Mapping • Resources & Mine Geology • Mining & Projects Perth • Brisbane • Darwin • Adelaide • Horsham • Jakarta • Johannesburg • Vancouver • Moscow Head Office Level 2, 3 Ord Street, West Perth Western Australia 6005 T +61 8 9355 1677 E [email protected] 12/02/2014 3:52:48 PM Exploration AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Between the industry ($500M), the geological surveys ($150M) and R&D ($200M) there is close to $1 billion a year in funding on an infrastructure base of around $3 billion. The issue for UNCOVER is to make more effective use of that investment in order to unlock the future mineral potential before the current mining industry exhausts the known reserves base. It should be noted here that the initiative is not, in and of itself, about science and scientific research. It is, instead, fundamentally about resources for the nation; science is the tool. It should also be noted that there is no suggestion here of a quick-fix solution. This is a strategic approach intended to position Australia well for the future when it becomes apparent to international mining companies that most of the world’s easily-found economically viable mineral deposits have already been discovered and that Australia is providing the technical and economically attractive solutions to attract exploration investment. UNCOVER History, Success so Far and Immediate Future The Australian Academy of Science (the Academy) dedicated its 2010 Theo Murphy High Flyers Think Tank to the important national issue of the decline in exploration success. Participants proposed an ambitious and integrated research programme to enable Australia to uncover more of its mineral wealth. A group of science leaders convened under the aegis of the Academy All Your GEOPHYSICAL Needs 31 to address, through implementation of the think tank’s recommendations, this decline in the success of Australian mineral exploration. This has now become the UNCOVER Initiative. After broad consultation, UNCOVER released the document Searching The Deep Earth: A vision for exploration geoscience in Australia. That vision has now been broadly accepted and forms the core of the National Mineral Exploration Strategy recently released by the Government’s Standing Council on Energy and Resources. For the first time, each of the state geological surveys, Geoscience Australia, CSIRO geoscience programs and State and Commonwealth governments are working to the same vision and strategic plan. UNCOVER was used to frame the arguments leading to Geoscience Australia receiving $11 million per annum (from 2013-14 onwards) for onshore pre-competitive data acquisition. This funding was announced on 11 November 2012. The work, which will be undertaken in collaboration with state and territory geological surveys and the research community, will involve a systematic drilling program to test geological models and to identify key indicators that point to mineral resource potential in the subsurface. Each of the state geological surveys now has regional drilling initiatives firmly in their sights and, as noted above, Geoscience Australia has been funded for a systematic drilling program. These drilling initiatives will feed into many of the UNCOVER programs. Companies are well-aware of these initiatives and may participate via co-funding. The Deep Exploration Technologies CRC is undertaking research and development to deliver the technology to enable these programs (drilling through the cover and real-time sampling analysis). Important ARC geoscience Centres of Excellence (such as the Core to Crust Fluid Systems centre) have aligned their goals to the UNCOVER vision. UNCOVER members, the CSIRO, the Centre for Exploration Targeting (the University of Western Australia and Curtin University) and the Geological Survey of Western Australia, have recently been awarded a 4-year $4 million grant “The Distal Footprints of Giant Ore Systems: UNCOVER Australia” as a specific UNCOVER research program. Geophysical Instrumentation Manufacturer & Distributor Total Field Magnetics Time Domain Electro-magnetics Magnetic Susceptibility Meter Borehole Logging Radiometrics Seismic Refraction / Reflection Ground Penetrating Radar Resistivity Imaging Ground Conductivity Mapping Geophysical Interpretation Software Critical to the success of UNCOVER is that it is, and has been seen to be, neutral and independent; it is not controlled by any of the big players such as the geological surveys, the CSIRO, a university consortium, or an industry consortium. Likewise, it is important that the UNCOVER initiative is not a funding provider. UNCOVER has a clear and simple agenda: to identify, develop, and deliver the science necessary to improve the success rate of mineral exploration in Australia under covered areas and influence the effectiveness of that science investment to industry. Rental Instrumentation Equipment Repairs Ground Geophysical Surveying (large and small projects) Mineral Exploration Mine Development Environmental Civil Engineering Archaeological Surveys As an initial step in the implementation phase, UNCOVER has recently undertaken a comprehensive face-to-face and web-based survey of industry, the geological surveys and academia. One of the strong messages from this survey is that there is a strong appetite for greater collaboration in order to strengthen the outcomes as envisaged by UNCOVER. Geophysical Consulting Data Interpretation Reporting The UNCOVER Summit Phone: 02 9584 7500 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.alpha-geo.com As a vital step in this implementation we will be holding an UNCOVER Summit in Adelaide from 31 March through to Cont. Overleaf 32 Exploration SPONSORS of the AIG GEOSCIENCE BURSARIES The AIG wishes to thank the following individuals and organisations for their support of the Geoscience Student Bursary Program Diamond Sponsors Chris Bonwick sponsoring the Bonwick–AIG Geoscience Student Bursaries Geoff Davis sponsoring the Davis–AIG Geoscience Student Bursaries Platinum Sponsors AIG STATE BRANCHES ALEXANDER RESEARCH – JONATHAN BELL sponsoring the Alexander Research-AIG Geoscience Student Bursary GEOCONFERENCES (WA) INC sponsoring the Geoconferences–AIG Geoscience Student Bursary Macquarie Arc Conference – GSNSW sponsoring the Macquarie Arc Conference–AIG Geoscience Student Bursary SA Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy sponsoring the DMITRE–AIG Geoscience Student Bursary (formerly PIRSA – AIG bursary) SYMPOSIUM sponsoring the Symposium–AIG Geoscience Student Bursary TERRA SEARCH PTY LTD sponsoring the Terra Search-AIG Geoscience Student Bursary Gold Sponsors Cryptodome Pty Ltd GNOMIC EXPLORATION SERVICES PTY LTD AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 UNCOVER Initiative - Ushering in a New Era of Exploration in Australia Cont. from Page 31 2 April, 2014. This Summit will bring together key members of the exploration industry, academia, and government agencies such as Geoscience Australia, the state geological surveys and the CSIRO. It is the intent of the UNCOVER Executive that this Summit will inform a significant report identifying the important scientific questions that need to be answered and the critical datasets that need to be gathered in order to improve the success rate of mineral exploration in the covered areas of Australia. Reflecting the views of the Summit, the report will also identify an appropriate strategy to achieve a national focus on addressing these important questions and acquiring the critical data. The report will be provided to the relevant Federal, State and Territory Ministers, the Chief Scientist’s office, the Australian Research Council, the state geological surveys, Geoscience Australia, universities, relevant scientific agencies such as the CSIRO, and geoscience societies. This is not a conference – the UNCOVER summit is a facilitated cross sector collaboration meeting, driven by industry’s need to do things differently. Come prepared to work and participate in discussions about the future of exploration geoscience in Australia. Each of the four UNCOVER themes will be discussed around the table: - The Cover: Characterising Australia’s cover - new knowledge to confidently explore beneath it. Depth, definition, and how we see through it and sample it for maximum benefit. -The Lithosphere: Investigating Australia’s lithospheric architecture – a whole lithosphere architectural framework for mineral systems exploration. Expanding knowledge to understand continental assembly and evolution of the deep crust and its influence on the cover. - 4D metallogenesis: Resolving the 4D geodynamic and metallogenic evolution of Australia – understanding ore deposit origins for better prediction. - Footprints (& fingerprints): Characterising and detecting distal footprints of ore deposits – towards a toolkit for minerals exploration. Determining camp to regional to continental scale background and signatures of deposits to improve vectoring to ore bodies. At the summit we will also be identifying appropriate individuals to populate the UNCOVER action committees: science and network/ communications. Immediately following the 2½ day Summit, Richard Blewitt of Geoscience Australia will be hosting an UNCOVER technical workshop to examine possible improvements to the many geophysical tools for use in determining depth of cover in Australian terrains. As many have done already during the vision roadshows and the engagement surveys, members are encouraged to have their say on the UNCOVER vision and influence it’s future direction at the Summit. If members are not able to attend the summit, you should bring up the topic of UNCOVER as opportunity arises in conversation with surveys and researchers about what you see as vitally important science to exploration in Australia. Further information Further information on UNCOVER and a link to the Summit registration can be found at http://science.org.au/policy/uncover.html Education AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 33 Education Report Kaylene Camuti (Chair, AIG Education Committee) Bursary Program Last year the response to the AIG Bursary Program was excellent and 18 AIG bursaries were awarded to third year, honours and postgraduate geoscience students. In this issue of AIG News we include an abstract from LOUISE SCHONEVELD from JCU, who was awarded an AIG Honours Bursary in 2013. Bursary presentations have been held in Brisbane and Townsville for Queensland students, and other state branches are organising presentations for early this year. This year’s AIG Bursary Program will soon be underway and the 2014 application form will be sent to students and geoscience academics. If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor of the Bursary Program please contact us - we would be very happy to hear from you. 2013 AIG Bursary winners from JCU, Caitlin Morris (left) and Louise Schoneveld (right), with AIG president Kaylene Camuti. Photo courtesy of Judy Botting, EGRU - JCU Interesting Publications primarily for geologists. Further information is available from the ASEG web site at https://aseg.org.au/aseg-books. Our colleagues at the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (ASEG) recently released a new publication that may be of interest to some AIG members. The e-book, Geological Interpretation of Aeromagnetic Data by Dave Isles and Leigh Rankin, is designed to be a practical manual and has been written The Geology of Queensland, a major publication compiled and released by the Geological Survey of Queensland last year, is now available as a pdf file. The hard copy and digital versions of the book can be ordered from the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines. 34 education AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 Genesis of the Central Zone of the Nolans Bore Rare Earth Element Deposit, Northern Territory Honours Abstract: Louise Schoneveld, James Cook University 2013 AIG Honours Bursary Winner Nolans Bore is a rare-earth-element (REE) deposit located 135 km northwest of Alice Springs and has an identified mineral resource of 1.2 Mt rare-earth-oxide (REO). The deposit can be segmented into three sections; northern, central and southeast zones. The northern zone has been extensively drilled and mapped. It is hosted in orthogneiss and the mineralisation is constrained to north-east trending, steeply dipping fluorapatite veins. The central zone was defined in 2011 and is the focus of this thesis as it is markedly different from the remainder of the deposit. It is a highly brecciated zone with a high allanite content, enveloped by epidote dominated alteration. This study involved detailed logging of seven drill holes that intersect the central zone along with microscale observations and geochemical analysis to determine paragenesis. The central zone is hosted in schistose metasediments that lies below the gneiss that hosts the northern zone. The apatite breccias were categorised into four types; type BX1 is similar to the fluorapatite veins found in the northern zone, while BX2-4 are almost exclusive to the central zone and are distinguished by obvious brecciation and some amount of allanite. The textures in the BX2-BX4 type breccias include large (up to 2mm) allanite inclusions within apatite clasts. Geochemical analysis reveals that the apatite in the central zone has been re-crystallised from the BX1 type apatite breccia with the REE partitioned into allanite and REE-poor apatite. The evidence to support this includes no europium anomaly within the BX1 type apatite and a large negative europium anomaly in the apatite and allanite in the BX2 and BX3 types. This deficit is taken up as a large positive europium anomaly in the epidote alteration zones. Where allanite and apatite are both present, the apatite shows a relative depletion in LREE while allanite is relatively LREE enriched, suggesting co-crystallisation. Furthermore, the phosphorus to REE ratio does not change between breccia types which suggests that the REEs and phosphorus are locally recycled and distributed into the newly forming minerals. U-Pb dating of thorianite (ThO2) in the BX1 type apatite yields an estimated age of ~1450 Ma and titanite yields an age of ~450 Ma. This supports the alteration and recrystallization of the central zone at a much later time than the deposition of the original fluorapatite veins. Furthermore, these dates correlate with shear activation events of the Redbank Shear Zone (1500-1400 Ma) and the Alice Springs Orogeny (450-300 Ma). The dissolution of apatite suggests that the fluids were highly acidic. Geochemical analysis of the alteration minerals suggests that the alteration fluid was OH rich and reducing, with a probable formation temperature between 450-800°C, which correlates to the Alice Springs Orogeny formation temperature of 525°C. Membership news AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 35 Registered Professional Geoscientist Approvals and Applications Queensland Branch Bursary Presentation: Sarah McGill and Sarah Gallagher from QUT with Mark Berry, AIG Queensland Branch Chairman. Photo courtesy of Judy Botting, EGRU - JCU CANDIDATES APPROVED BY AIG COUNCIL IN NOVEMBER 2013 Mr. Andrew Barclay of Ainslie, ACT, in Geotech and Engineering Mr. Scott Bilben of Bull Creek, WA, in Mineral Exploration Dr. Peter Crowhurst of Corinda, Qld, in Mineral Exploration Dr. Bert de Waele of West Perth, WA, in Regional Geology and in Mineral Exploration NEW CANDIDATES PUBLISHED FOR PEER REVIEW BY THE MEMBERS OF THE AIG Mr Adrian Jesus Diaz Petit of North Lakes QLD is seeking registration in Coal and Mineral Exploration Mr Mark George of West Chatswood NSW is seeking registration in Geotechnical and Engineering Mr Joel Georgiou of Kent Town, SA, is seeking registration in Hydrogeology. Mr Leigh Rankin of Porepunkah, Victoria, is seeking registration in Mineral Exploration, Regional Geology and Geophysics Mr Simon McCracken of Swindon, United Kingdom, is seeking registration in Mining. For the latest in Geoscientist news, views, codes, events, employment and education visit the AIG website: www.aig.org.au Membership Update Fellows TURNERGreg WILLS KevinJohn BOXER GrantLeslie Members ANDERSENHans BAKHSHI MohammadReza BOYSTOVAlexander CONOR ColinHugh DUBIENIECKIClinton FARMER ChristopherBen FORGAN HamishHenderson GAMONDaniel HIBBIRD ShaneAndrew HYDERichard IVANOVIlya KUSNANDARKusnandar LEIGHTONMelanie MARRIOTSusan MATURANA FranciscoJose MCDWYER DanielJoseph MCLATCHIEGrant OCCHIPINTI SandraAnne RITCHIE MeghanAlaina ROSKOWSKI Jennifer Ann SHARP BenjaminAlfred THOMASGrant THOMSON AmandaBeverley TYRRELL JamesAndrew UZAKBAYEVYerzhan VERMAAKJan Johannes WILLIAMSBen WILLIAMSJodiElizabeth Graduates BROWNING Frank Mclean CHANMALAJack GOODWINStacey LANGBEIN CraigAndrew LEEMelanie PERKSCameron SHARPJenna SOULMATIS Byron TRESTRAIL JoshuaLeigh New Members and Upgrades at the November Council Meeting 2013 EVANS Lee David GILMORE SeanKevin GODFREYData HUSODO Danny JONES SandyTodd KANEAlysia LIEW TienRui LINKERTAmy NEVILL Nicole PHOON JaiWei REICHELT LeviSebastian ROBERT AnneteDenise SHINKAWANobuta WILKINSONBrett Martin WOOD RachaelLouise YONG TeryneSuk YUANBenjamin Students ALLPIKE Richard BOYCE GlennAnthony CHAMBERLAINSarah Jean CHIA AaronBenjamin COMBS MatthewScott DAVIES MelissaCharlotte DESAIAniket DUIC ChristinaLouise EADESNicholas We welcome all new members to the AIG. 36 AIG AIG NEWS No 115, February 2014 AIG FEDERAL COUNCIL FOR 2013 – 14 President Kaylene Camuti (QLD, Education) Vice president Wayne Spilsbury (WA) (07) 4772 5296 [email protected] 0418 957 089 [email protected] Past president Andrew Waltho (QLD, External Relations) 0412 426 764 [email protected] Treasurer Steve Sugden (WA) 0419 490 527 [email protected] Secretary Ron Adams (08) 9427 0820 Executive assistant Lynn Vigar (QLD) COrrespondent Grace Cumming (TAS) 0417 143 369 COUNCILLORS Jon Bell (WA) Heather Carey (WA) Mike Erceg (QLD, Publicity, External Relations) Mike Edwards (NSW) Ian Neuss (NSW) Martin Robinson (VIC) Graham Teale (SA) Anne Tomlinson (WA, Membership) Doug Young (QLD) Contribution deadlines [email protected] [email protected] 0427 621 322 [email protected] 0400 576 563 [email protected] 0458 051 400 [email protected] 0419 997 778 [email protected] (02) 9660 5849 [email protected] (03) 9248 3365 [email protected] (08) 8269 7188 [email protected] (08) [email protected] (07) 3236 4188 [email protected] AIG NEWS AIG News is published ISSUE DATE Contribution deadline quarterly as per the February January 31st following table. May April 30th Avoid disappointment by August July 31st contacting the Editor November October 31st at least several days beforehand to advise submission of items for the newsletter. AIG News is published by the Australian Institute of Geoscientists to provide information for its members and a forum for the expression of their professional interests and opinions. Observations, interpretations and opinions published in AIG News are the responsibility of the contributors and are not necessarily supported by the Australian Institute of Geoscientists or the Editor of AIG News. While the Editor and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists have taken all reasonable precautions and made all reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy of material contained in this newsletter, they make no warranties, express or implied, with respect to any of the material published in AIG News. The business address of AIG News is: PO Box 8463, Perth Business Centre, Perth WA 6849 Tel: (08) 9427 0820 Fax: (08) 9427 0821 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.aig.org.au Please use these contacts for all matters relating to advertising accounts, changes of address, AIG News distribution, or membership. The editorial address is: Editor: Louis Hissink Email: [email protected] Tel: (08) 9427 0820 Please submit all articles, letters and advertisements to the above email address. [email protected] SUBMISSION FORMATS Text: Word Files (Please DO NOT EMBED pictures in Word, supply as separate files.) Pictures, Logos, Maps, Diagrams: Resolution 300dpi. Photoshop EPS, Tiff, Jpeg or press-optimized PDF files in Grayscale/Bitmap. Please provide images of all pictures separate to text. Please EMBED ALL FONTS in EPS and PDF files. ADVERTISEMENTS AIG News provides an ideal opportunity to advertise your company and services to the AIG membership throughout Australia (and some overseas). There are over 2,800 members who receive the newsletter four times per year. Please contact the Editor for further details or to book advertising. Note: All advertisements are mono, no bleed or trim marks. Prices are inclusive of GST Per Issue Full page - 264 mm (h) x 188 mm (w) $545 Three quarter page - 200 mm (h) x 188 mm (w) $458 Half page - 130 mm (h) x 188 mm (w) or 264 mm (h) x 90 mm (w) $372 Third page - (90 mm (h) x 188 mm (w) $273 Quarter page - 75 mm (h) x 188 mm (w) or 130 mm (h) x 90 mm (h) $198 Business card – Members (90 mm x 55 mm) $25 Business card – Non Members (90 mm x 55 mm) $125 Inserts - Pre-printed (1 page) $453 Pre-printed (2 pages) $495 Pre-printed (3 or more pages) By negotiation and weight Including printing By negotiation The AIG Website in currently undergoing a major update. Comments on content suggestions or new features should be directed to Andrew Waltho: [email protected]
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