Workshops

The workshop was held on Thursday 10 September 2015 at the Hyatt Hotel, East Perth and included presentations from the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA), Curtin University and First Drilling.

Topics included:

• drilling techniques and core acquisition
• lithological and structural features
• sulfides, veins and alteration
• implications for geophysical data interpretations
• geochronology
• geochemistry, isotopes and crustal evolution
• tectonic settings and implications for geodynamics and prospectivity
• geology of the cover sequences

The schedule of presentations is available to view. Extended abstracts are also available.

Access geochemistry table on this link: Whole rock major and trace element geochemistry on diamond drill core samples from the Madura Province and Forrest Zone.

During 2013 and 2014 eight diamond holes were successfully drilled, providing 1560 m of high-quality, oriented HQ basement core, and PQ diamond and RC chips of cover rocks from selected holes. The site locations were chosen to investigate and map geophysical domains interpreted in magnetic and gravity data, rather than as specific targets, and to investigate potential host rocks to known mafic intrusions (i.e. Loongana, Haig and Serpent).

Given the large variation in lithologies and structures, both within individual cores and between cores, this drilling program is on track to greatly increase our knowledge of the basement provinces that are missing links in understanding Proterozoic Australian geology. Combined with work on existing EIS co-funded and donated company cores, the new drillcores also provide insight into the prospectivity of the vast region that lies beneath the Nullarbor Plain.

The stratigraphic drilling program has also provided valuable experience and knowledge of the challenging ground conditions associated with drilling in the Nullarbor region. Both RC and mud-rotary techniques have been trialled and assessed as alternative techniques for getting through the cover to basement.

Presentations