2026 Q1 technical highlight

This quarter’s episode highlights outcomes from the Northern Gawler National Drilling Initiative (NDI), including insights from the recent workshop held at the South Australia Drill Core Library. It features contributions from the Geological Survey of South Australia, showcasing new datasets, integrated geological interpretations, and the implications for future mineral exploration in the Northern Gawler region.

NORTHERN GAWLER NATIONAL DRILLING INITIATIVE (NDI) WORKSHOP: FROM DRILLING TO DISCOVERY

Contact our Program Leader: Anthony Budd (Geoscience Australia)

In December 2025, around 70 geologists, explorers, researchers and industry representatives came together at the South Australia Drill Core Library for the Northern Gawler National Drilling Initiative (NDI) Workshop.

The full-day event showcased the latest results from the Northern Gawler NDI, as well as new insights derived from legacy drillholes and region-wide geological studies produced by the Geological Survey of South Australia and research collaborators. Participants heard directly from the project team, explored newly released datasets, and examined drill core in the library’s dedicated viewing space.

The workshop included new geological interpretations of the Northern Gawler Craton, which largely drew upon results from the MinEx CRC Northern Gawler NDI, together with new data from legacy drillholes. These data have provided regional context to the 1^st edition South Australia geology mapping in the Northern Gawler Craton which has provided a new perspective on the geological evolution of the Northern Gawler Craton.

This workshop also created a great space to hold valuable discussions around the geology and prospectivity of this key region of South Australia, including how the new NDI data highlights strong potential for copper, gold and other commodities. The recent release of exploration areas in the project area based on these data now creates new opportunities for mineral exploration in the northern South Australia, where past innovations in exploration have resulted in great new mineral prospects.