Mineral and energy resources contributed 13.9% of GDP in 2022-2023. The future of this contribution is at risk due to the trend of declining discovery of major, new mineral deposits. The challenge lies in exploring for deposits buried under the overlying sand, soil and sediment that covers much of Australia.
The future of this contribution is at risk due to the trend of the declining discovery of major, new mineral deposits. Australia’s attractiveness as an exploration destination has been diminished by a range of factors including;
• perceptions of Australia as a mature exploration destination where there are fewer opportunities for new discoveries;
• challenges in exploring for deposits buried under the overlying sand, soil and sediment that covers much of Australia.
To reverse this trend, we require a new set of exploration tools and new ways to deploy those tools, which recognise the fundamental importance of collecting quantity and quality data from the subsurface. Collecting these data requires drilling.
MinEx CRC’s research will include:
• Developing more productive, safer and environmentally friendly drilling methods to discover and drill out deposits, including coiled tubing drilling technology.
• Developing new technologies for collecting data while drilling, bringing forward mine production.
• Implementation of a National Drilling Initiative (NDI) - a world-first collaboration of Geological Surveys, researchers and industry that will undertake drilling.