What is the National Drilling initiative (NDI)?

The National Drilling Initiative (NDI) manages and delivers drilling programs in multiple case study areas proposed by MinEx CRC’s partner geological survey organisations. The NDI vision is to drill multiple holes in a region to map the regional geology and architecture and define the potential for mineral systems in 3D.

In addition to conventional drilling methods, the NDI is utilising new low-cost Coiled Tubing (CT) drilling technology and associated sensing developed by MinEx CRC. This technology minimises the environmental footprint and maximises the number of drill holes and the volume of data collected.

The National Drilling Initiative is not an exploration program itself, rather it seeks to provide new evidence about the existence of mineralising systems for exploration companies to then come in and take up the search and lower the risk for companies to explore previously poorly understood areas.

NDI CAMPAIGN 8: COBAR

General Information:

The purpose of the Cobar NDI Project is to undertake a scientific drilling program to improve geological knowledge in the Cobar Basin area of NSW. This work is part of a long-running precompetitive geoscience program which will improve understanding of the mineral, energy and groundwater potential of the region. MinEx CRC, with the Geological Survey of New South Wales (GSNSW), seeks to obtain Physical Samples (diamond drill core) and downhole Data (wireline geophysical data) from a series of stratigraphic Boreholes between 1000 and 2000 m deep into the Siluro-Devonian rocks of the Cobar Basin region.

NDI CAMPAIGN 7: NORTHERN GAWLER CRATON

General Information:

The purpose of the Northern Gawler Craton NDI Project is to undertake a scientific drilling program to improve geological knowledge in this area of South Australia. This work will contribute to an existing precompetitive geoscience program which seeks to improves our understanding of the mineral, energy, and groundwater potential of the region.

The MinEx CRC Northern Gawler National Drilling Initiative concluded in 2025, with seven drillholes completed from three regions north of Coober Pedy, South Australia. Drilling targeted basement geology concealed by the overlying Eromanga and Arckaringa basins. Due to the extensive cover in the northern Gawler Craton, geophysical data were heavily relied upon for selecting drilling targets, which was undertaken in conjunction with detailed solid geology mapping to help inform interpretation and targeting. Seven holes were drilled using the DIG CT RoXplorer coil tube (CT) drilling technology, retrieving a minimum of 3 m core tails from basement rocks.

NDI CAMPAIGN 6: MOONERA

General Information:

The Eucla NDI campaign aims to improve knowledge of the geology in the Eucla region near the Eyre Highway and to test coiled tubing (CT) drilling technology in areas with thick sedimentary cover. The campaign drilled four holes near the Moonera homestead, targeting geophysical anomalies in the Madura Province. This work filled in gaps in earlier drilling by the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA), most of which was done about 100 kilometres north of the Trans-Australian Railway in 2013–14.

The drillholes intersected the sediments of the Eucla Basin to evaluate how best to reach the buried Madura Province below. These areas are known to be challenging for drilling, so testing the CT drilling method here provided valuable insights into how well it works for similar regions. The holes will also collect rock samples and downhole data to better understand the region’s geology and resource potential.

This project is part of a larger program designed to build up knowledge about Western Australia’s geology and encourage resource exploration. Research will now be undertaken on the unique samples of the Eucla Basin retrieved through the application of CT drillings.

NDI CAMPAIGN 5: NIFTY

General Information:

Drilling conducted by MinEx CRC in collaboration with the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) has now concluded.

Drilling was conducted at and around the Nifty Copper Mine on behalf of the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) on ground held by Cyprium Metals. This drilling was designed as part of a MinEx CRC Research Project 7.1: Understanding a Mineral System Inside Out. Holes were sited in order to characterise physical, isotopic and chemical gradients from background to altered to mineralised through the cover in order to understand distal to proximal footprints to mineralising systems.

Knowledge gained from the drilling and subsequent research will improve the understanding of the geological framework of the Paterson region and thereby the mineral, energy and groundwater potential of the region. This will be widely of benefit to other explorers in the Paterson region. We are grateful to Cyprium for the opportunity to access the State Agreement area.

NDI CAMPAIGN 4: DELAMERIAN MARGINS

General Information:

Drilling conducted by MinEx CRC and the Geoscience Australia has now concluded.

The purpose of the Delamerian Margins NSW National Drilling Initiative (NDI) project was to undertake a pre-competitive geoscience research program and answer fundamental science questions to promote future mineral exploration and discovery in the Delamerian arc area of western New South Wales.

The new data will be considered with existing datasets derived from the Geoscience Australia (GA) Stavely Project, the MinEx CRC-Geological Survey of South Australia (GSSA) Delamerian NDI, geological survey of New South Wales (GSNSW) mapping and industry legacy data as part of the Exploring for the Future (EFTF) Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian (DCD) project.

The combined data will provide a broader overview of the tectonostratigraphic evolution and mineral potential of the Cambrian Delamerian arc rocks, and younger intrusive rocks.

NDI CAMPAIGN 3: DELAMERIAN OROGEN

General Information:

Drilling conducted by MinEx CRC and the Geological Survey of South Australia has now concluded.

Further information on the Delamerian Orogen NDI Campaign can be found via the Geological Survey of South Australia webpage here.

NDI CAMPAIGN 2: SOUTH NICHOLSON

NDI CAMPAIGN 1: EAST TENNANT