Program Objective

The National Drilling Initiative (NDI) will manage and deliver 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.  A range of drilling methods may be used however it is intended that the NDI will take advantage of new low-cost Coiled Tubing (CT) drilling technology and associated sensing, in order to maximise the number of drill holes and the volume of data collected.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Campaigns

NDI CAMPAIGN 5: PATERSON REGION

 

General Information:

The Paterson Region WA National Drilling Initiative (NDI) Campaign will involve drilling up to 10 stratigraphic boreholes in the Paterson area to acquire physical samples and on-site geological, petrophysical and geochemical data.

The Paterson Region NDI Campaign seeks to provide physical samples and pre-competitive data that improves the understanding of the geology of the Paterson region. The outcomes of the Campaign will support better-informed planning decisions by the government and exploration decisions by industry and support better outcomes for the region, Western Australia and Australia.

Physical samples and data acquired during stratigraphic drilling will be analysed to develop models and interpretations of under-cover mineral systems by obtaining new geological, geochemical, petrophysical and geochronological data in areas with identified data gaps.

NEW SOUTH WALES Campaign

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.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA Campaigns

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.

Northern Territory Campaigns

NDI CAMPAIGN 2: SOUTH NICHOLSON

NDI CAMPAIGN 1: EAST TENNANT

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