CREATING FRONTIER OPPORTUNITIES IN NEW SOUTH WALES

John WatkinsAssistant DirectorGeological Survey of New South WalesDepartment of Primary Industries

The Thomson Orogen in NSWAn emerging arc-related mineral province

II - 2008 – 2011 ($16.5 million)

($5.5 per year between Minerals,Petroleum, Information)

•Areas under cover & underexplored

• Acquisition of high quality data & generating new exploration opportunities

Focus:

New Frontiers Initiative

2008 – 2009Highlights:

•Completion of Koonenberry project – 22 new map products

•New gravity data acquired for 3 areas of state

•Completion of Rankin Springs seismic

•Thomson project - new data

Koonenberry Project – 22 new map products

-to be released at BHEI

late September 2009

2009 – Acquisition of high resolution gravity data for 3 areas (> 4km x 4km)

New Gravity Data

1. Broken Hill

2. Broken Hill South

3. Oaklands Basin

Rankin Springs deep crustal seismicCompletion of Line 2 (DPI & GA)

1

2

1

Line 2

Nymagee 1:250 000 sheet

Nymagee

Gilgunnia gold field

Hera

Mt Hope Trough

NSW DPI PDAC 2009

Sydney

Magnetic trends in NSW

Thomson Orogen

Lachlan Orogen

Delamerian Orogen

New England Orogen

Thomson Orogen

Gravity Magnetics

Thomson Orogen - Eastern Australia

TARGET SETTING

1. Porphyry gold-copper Oceanic arc (similar to Macquarie Arc)

2. Gold-base metals E. Devonian rifts (extensions of Cobar Basin)

New Frontiers information: new geophysics, geochemistry, geochronology, seismic, drilling, basement interpretation, regolith map & guide, depth to basement

THOMSON OROGEN IN NSW - NEW TARGETS

NSW DPI AMEC 2009

NSW – Lachlan Orogen – Key Deposits

Cadia(Au-Cu)

Northparkes(Cu-Au)

Cowal(Au)

Tritton (Cu)

The Peak(Au-Cu)

CSA (Cu)

Endeavour(Pb-Zn-Ag)

Cobar

Production from

Lachlan Orogen

•2100T Au

•11.8MT Cu B$A160

Macquarie Arc deposits•1270T Au •7.45MT Cu•Value of production: B$A98.7 (~60%)

(Zn-Ag-Pb)Broken Hill

Hillgrove(Au-Sb)

Cobar deposits •200T Au, 2.2MT Cu•4.91MT Zn, 2.74MT Pb, 5,113T Ag•Value of production: B$36.7 (~23%)

Lachlan Orogen Macquarie Arc

Setting:

• Ordovician to early Silurian Volcanic Province

• Calc-alkaline to shoshonitic

• Subduction-related setting

Thomson Orogen NSW - volcanic units

Warraweena volcanics

Louth volcanics

Drillhole

Interpreted

volcanics

K/Ar:Phyllite (476.6 Ma) – E. OrdovicianMagnetite (362.2 Ma) – L.Dev

Sample Louth A

400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

U-Pb Age (Ma)

Rel

ativ

e Pr

obab

ility

441

468

485 Peaks at485 Ma – E.Odrovician468 Ma – L.Ordovician441 Ma – E. Silurian

Louth volcaniclastics

400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800U_Pb Age (Ma)

Rel

ativ

e Pr

obab

ility

501

578

Warraweena volcanics

Peaks at578 Ma – Neoproterozoic501 Ma – L.CambrianSHRIMP

Lachlan Orogen

Delamerian Orogen

Thomson Orogen

New England Orogen

Thomson Orogen

Warraweena volcanics

Cargo Volcanics

Louth volcanics

Mt Dijou Volcanics

Parkes area

Thomson Orogen

Newcrest Mining

(GS 2006/727 by G Burton)

Warraweena volcanics

Cargo Volcanics

Parkes area

Parkes

Cargo

All multi-element plots show similar depletion in Ti, Nb and Ta (TnT anomaly) characteristic of subduction-related magmatism

Macquarie Arc & Thomson

Warraweena volcanics:

Similar calc-alkaline to shoshonitic arc-related chemistry

Louth Volcanics

Mt Dijou Volcanics(E. Ordovician)

Louth/Mt Dijou• Both mafic volcanic rocks

• Both alkaline

• Similar OIB-like patterns

Comparison of volcanic units

NSW DPI AMEC 2009

NSW – Lachlan Orogen – Key Deposits

Cadia(Au-Cu)

Northparkes(Cu-Au)

Cowal(Au)

Tritton (Cu)

The Peak(Au-Cu)

CSA (Cu)

Endeavour(Pb-Zn-Ag)

Cobar

Production from

Lachlan Orogen

•2100T Au

•11.8MT Cu B$A160

Macquarie Arc deposits•1270T Au •7.45MT Cu•Value of production: B$A98.7 (~60%)

(Zn-Ag-Pb)Broken Hill

Hillgrove(Au-Sb)

Cobar deposits •200T Au, 2.2MT Cu•4.91MT Zn, 2.74MT Pb, 5,113T Ag•Value of production: B$36.7 (~23%)

The Peak(Au-Cu)

CSA (Cu)

Endeavour(Pb-Zn-Ag)

Cobar deposits

Melrose Melrose Melrose Melrose Melrose Melrose Melrose Melrose Melrose TroughTroughTroughTroughTroughTroughTroughTroughTrough

Rast Rast Rast Rast Rast Rast Rast Rast Rast TroughTroughTroughTroughTroughTroughTroughTroughTrough

Canbelego - Mineral Canbelego - Mineral Canbelego - Mineral Canbelego - Mineral Canbelego - Mineral Canbelego - Mineral Canbelego - Mineral Canbelego - Mineral Canbelego - Mineral Hill Rift Zone Hill Rift Zone Hill Rift Zone Hill Rift Zone Hill Rift Zone Hill Rift Zone Hill Rift Zone Hill Rift Zone Hill Rift Zone

Mount Hope Mount Hope Mount Hope Mount Hope Mount Hope Mount Hope Mount Hope Mount Hope Mount Hope Trough Trough Trough Trough Trough Trough Trough Trough Trough

Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf

Walters Walters Walters Walters Walters Walters Walters Walters Walters Range Range Range Range Range Range Range Range Range Shelf Shelf Shelf Shelf Shelf Shelf Shelf Shelf Shelf

Wiiltagoona Shelf Wiiltagoona Shelf Wiiltagoona Shelf Wiiltagoona Shelf Wiiltagoona Shelf Wiiltagoona Shelf Wiiltagoona Shelf Wiiltagoona Shelf Wiiltagoona Shelf Kopyje Shelf Kopyje Shelf Kopyje Shelf Kopyje Shelf Kopyje Shelf Kopyje Shelf Kopyje Shelf Kopyje Shelf Kopyje Shelf

Winduck ShelfWinduck ShelfWinduck ShelfWinduck ShelfWinduck ShelfWinduck ShelfWinduck ShelfWinduck ShelfWinduck Shelf

Cobar Trough Cobar Trough Cobar Trough Cobar Trough Cobar Trough Cobar Trough Cobar Trough Cobar Trough Cobar Trough

Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf Winduck Shelf

Beloura Tank

Boomerang Tank

Kilparney

Mountain dam

White Tank

Rookery

Booth

Blue Mountain

Stoney Tank

Elura

Lerrida

McKinnons Tank

Kirry

Wiralong

Lillvale

Mineral HillMineral HillMineral HillMineral HillMineral HillMineral HillMineral HillMineral HillMineral Hill

Tallebung MineTallebung MineTallebung MineTallebung MineTallebung MineTallebung MineTallebung MineTallebung MineTallebung Mine

Girilambone MineGirilambone MineGirilambone MineGirilambone MineGirilambone MineGirilambone MineGirilambone MineGirilambone MineGirilambone Mine

TrittonTrittonTrittonTrittonTrittonTrittonTrittonTrittonTritton

Pipeline RidgePipeline RidgePipeline RidgePipeline RidgePipeline RidgePipeline RidgePipeline RidgePipeline RidgePipeline Ridge

Nymagee Copper MineNymagee Copper MineNymagee Copper MineNymagee Copper MineNymagee Copper MineNymagee Copper MineNymagee Copper MineNymagee Copper MineNymagee Copper Mine

Mt Boppy MineMt Boppy MineMt Boppy MineMt Boppy MineMt Boppy MineMt Boppy MineMt Boppy MineMt Boppy MineMt Boppy Mine

Nymagee - HeraNymagee - HeraNymagee - HeraNymagee - HeraNymagee - HeraNymagee - HeraNymagee - HeraNymagee - HeraNymagee - Hera

New OccidentalNew OccidentalNew OccidentalNew OccidentalNew OccidentalNew OccidentalNew OccidentalNew OccidentalNew Occidental

Peak Mine Peak Mine Peak Mine Peak Mine Peak Mine Peak Mine Peak Mine Peak Mine Peak Mine PerseverancePerseverancePerseverancePerseverancePerseverancePerseverancePerseverancePerseverancePerseverance

WonawintaWonawintaWonawintaWonawintaWonawintaWonawintaWonawintaWonawintaWonawinta

Gilgunnia Gilgunnia Gilgunnia Gilgunnia Gilgunnia Gilgunnia Gilgunnia Gilgunnia Gilgunnia GoldfieldsGoldfieldsGoldfieldsGoldfieldsGoldfieldsGoldfieldsGoldfieldsGoldfieldsGoldfields

ShutteltonShutteltonShutteltonShutteltonShutteltonShutteltonShutteltonShutteltonShuttelton

May DayMay DayMay DayMay DayMay DayMay DayMay DayMay DayMay Day

Great CobarGreat CobarGreat CobarGreat CobarGreat CobarGreat CobarGreat CobarGreat CobarGreat Cobar

CSA MineCSA MineCSA MineCSA MineCSA MineCSA MineCSA MineCSA MineCSA Mine

CnesneyCnesneyCnesneyCnesneyCnesneyCnesneyCnesneyCnesneyCnesney

New CobarNew CobarNew CobarNew CobarNew CobarNew CobarNew CobarNew CobarNew Cobar

Mt HopeMt HopeMt HopeMt HopeMt HopeMt HopeMt HopeMt HopeMt Hope

Mt Allen MineMt Allen MineMt Allen MineMt Allen MineMt Allen MineMt Allen MineMt Allen MineMt Allen MineMt Allen MineWagga TankWagga TankWagga TankWagga TankWagga TankWagga TankWagga TankWagga TankWagga Tank

EluraEluraEluraEluraEluraEluraEluraEluraElura

Mc Kinnons Mc Kinnons Mc Kinnons Mc Kinnons Mc Kinnons Mc Kinnons Mc Kinnons Mc Kinnons Mc Kinnons TankTankTankTankTankTankTankTankTank

COBARCOBARCOBARCOBARCOBARCOBARCOBARCOBARCOBAR

0km 50km

Rookery Fault

Nymage Fault

Sandy Creek Fault

Gilm

or e linamentW

agga

- Nym

agee

Stru

cture

Woonarra Fault

Ro ok er y Fa u lt

Plug Tank F

Amphitheatre Fault

Jackermaroo F

ault

Buck

war

oon

Faul

t

Coonara Fault

COBAR SUPERBASIN

Simplified Geology and Mineral Deposits

•Sediment hosted massive sulphides & gold in a high strain zone•Early Devonian Cobar Supergroup, pyrrhotite common

Cobar Basin

COBAR BASIN

Deep crustal seismic lines

CobarCobar BasinBasin

Bouguer gravity

Cobar Deposits

Thomson Orogen

Line TL1 Interpreted Cobar Supergroup

Endeavour(Pb-Zn-Ag)

CSA (Cu)

The Peak(Au-Cu)

EL’s Jan 2009

Thomson Orogen NSW

Exploration company intersections of ‘CobarSupergroup’ with low grade sulphide and pyrrhotite - 2,400ppm Zn, 690ppm Cu, 657ppm Pb

Deep crustal seismic lines completed 2006

Endeavour(Pb-Zn-Ag)

CSA (Cu)

The Peak(Au-Cu)

Exploration company intersections of ‘CobarSupergroup’ with low grade sulphide and Pyrrhotite - 2,400ppm Zn, 690ppm Cu, 657ppm Pb

Cobar Supergroup

Cobar Supergroup from seismic

Cobar Supergroup from drilling

High strain zone

?High strain zone

Thomson Orogen NSW

? ?

Thomson NSW – new targets

TARGET SETTING

1. Porphyry gold-copper Ord-Sil oceanic arc (similar to Macquarie Arc)

2. Gold-base metals E. Devonian rifts (extensions of Cobar Basin)

Thomson area – new data

The Peak(Au-Cu)

CSA (Cu)

New basement interpretation

New regolith map and explorers

guide

New depth to basement map

30% of area <300m to basement

Now available on DVD

CREATING FRONTIER OPPORTUNITIES IN NEW SOUTH WALES

Thank you