AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
A New Radiometric Map and Data Set for Australia: Implications for
Uranium Exploration
Dr Neil Williams PSMCEO
Geoscience Australia
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Australian Uranium Exploration
12East
0
50
100
150
200
25019
70
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
Ura
nium
Exp
lora
tion
Spe
ndin
g (A
$ m
illio
ns)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Uran
ium
Pri
ce (U
S$/lb
U3O
8)
Uranium Exploration (A$ million) Uranium Price (US$/lb U3O8)
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Australia’s new 1:1 m digital geological map
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Old Radiometrics Map of Australia
• Radiometrics data have been collected by Australian Governments for over 40 years
• More than 550 separate surveys (28million line km)
• Different flying heights, spectrometer types, and other variables
• Data cannot be levelled to a common datum• Impossible to merge surveys into a
consistent national image
Red = potassiumBlue = uraniumGreen = thorium
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
• Australia Wide Airborne Geophysical Tie-line Survey (AWAGS)
• 140,000km - $2.6million• Largest airborne survey
ever flown (by area)• Only survey to cover an
entire continent• Radiometrics and
magnetics data• Established a datum for
levelling all existing and future surveys
New Radiometrics Map of Australia
AWAGS Flight PathsLine Spacing N-S: 75km
E-W: 400kmFlying Height 80m
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Old Radiometrics Map of Australia
Red = potassiumBlue = uraniumGreen = thorium
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
New Radiometrics Map of Australia
Red = potassiumBlue = uraniumGreen = thorium
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Old Radiometrics Map of Australia
Red = potassiumBlue = uraniumGreen = thorium
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
New Radiometrics Map of Australia
Red = potassiumBlue = uraniumGreen = thorium
PINE CREEK
NORTHERN YILGARN
BANGEMALL BASIN
NORTHERN FLINDERS RANGESRed = potassiumBlue = uraniumGreen = thorium
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Pine Creek Region
Red = potassiumBlue = uraniumGreen = thorium
PINE CREEK
Red = potassiumBlue = uraniumGreen = thorium
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Pine Creek Region
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Coronation Hill U deposit
Rock Hole U deposit
1.7 – 2.5 ppm> 2.5 ppm
Uranium
Pine Creek Region
0 10 km
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
10 - 20> 20
U2/Th
Coronation Hill U deposit
Rock Hole U deposit
Pine Creek Region
0 10 km
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Northern Yilgarn Region
Red = potassiumBlue = uraniumGreen = thorium
NORTHERN YILGARN
Red = potassiumBlue = uraniumGreen = thorium
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Yeelirrie U deposit
Northern Yilgarn Region
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Yeelirrie region: U channel over the hillshaded SRTM DEM
1.7 – 2.5 ppm> 2.5 ppm
Uranium
0 30km
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
U channel and mapped granite outcrop (shown in yellow) over the SRTM DEM
1.7 – 2.5 ppm> 2.5 ppm
Uranium
Granites
0 30km
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
U2/Th with palaeochannels highlighted in blue
Yeelirrie U deposit
Lake Way U deposit
Lake Maitland U deposit
10 - 20> 20
U2/Th
Granites
0 30km
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Bangemall Basin Region
Red = potassiumBlue = uraniumGreen = thorium
BANGEMALL BASIN
Red = potassiumBlue = uraniumGreen = thorium
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Ashburton Ashburton
Bangemall BasinBangemall BasinGascoyneGascoyne
Bangemall Basin Region
0 100km
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Ashburton Ashburton
Bangemall BasinBangemall BasinGascoyneGascoyne
1.7 – 2.5 ppm> 2.5 ppm
Uranium
Bangemall Basin
0 100km
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Ashburton
Bangemall Basin
10 - 20> 20
U2/Th
Bangemall Basin: U2/Th over the SRTM DEM
0 50km
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
10 - 20> 20
U2/Th
Bangemall Basin: U2/Th over the SRTM DEM
0 20km
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
10 - 20> 20
U2/Th
Meso-Proterozoic argillaceous detrital sediment
(Msdb)
Bangemall Basin: U2/Th over the SRTM DEM
0 20km
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Northern Flinders Ranges
Red = potassiumBlue = uraniumGreen = thorium
NORTHERN FLINDERS RANGESRed = potassiumBlue = uraniumGreen = thorium
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Northern Flinders Ranges
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Uranium content in igneous rocks maps: WR geochem + 1:1m surface geology & solid geology
(Anthony Schofield)
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Onshore Energy Security Program: New data and concepts for uranium exploration
• Release of 3 maps and report on Uranium content of igneous rocks of Australia
• Release of report on Uranium ore- forming systems
Visit Geoscience Australia booth for more information
Uranium ore-forming systems: Processes, deposit continuum scheme, and exploration criteria
Uranium content of igneous rocksof Australia 1:5m scale maps:Explanatory notes and discussion
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
Summary
• Australia is under-explored for uranium
• New precompetitive data sets like those underpinning the 1:1m digital geology map of Australia, and the radiometrics map will be invaluable of uranium-exploration project generation
AusIMM Uranium Conference June 2009
THANK YOU