MRIWA unearths new frontiers for mineral exploration

New research released this week into ancient sedimentation, deformation and mineralisation could support renewed exploration interest in under-explored areas of WA.

The ancient sediments of the Yeneena Basin in WA’s north host proven mineral resources including the Telfer (gold-copper), Nifty (copper) and recently discovered Winu (copper-gold) deposits.

However, the wider mineral potential of much of this region, remains largely unknown, with the deformed basin fill and its rich endowment of gold, copper, uranium and other metals largely obscured by generations of later sedimentary rocks and deep weathering.

In a new study supported by the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) at the University of Western Australia, researchers have combined detailed studies of the rocks of this region with innovative computer simulations to build a more detailed understanding of its history of mineralisation.

MRIWA report 521 provides new insights into the dynamic interactions between basin sediments and generations of mineral-bearing fluids which have built the rich endowment of the region.

MRIWA chief executive Nicole Roocke says this research provides a fresh understanding of how ancient earth processes combined to generate the mineral wealth of this under-explored region of WA.

“In releasing this report, MRIWA aims to provide a framework to help better understand the significance of precompetitive and exploration data pointing the way to resources remaining undiscovered beneath the ground in this frontier mineral province,” she said.

“By supporting work like this, the WA Government is delivering tools to help reduce the risk and cost of mineral exploration, encouraging investment in the work to locate the next generation of ore bodies in the state.”