Experimental constraints on Platinum-Group Element geochemistry: developing lithogeochemical exploration tools for nickel-sulfides in mafic and ultramafic systems. Nickel contributes approximately $2 billion per year to Australia's export income. Currently 80% of that is coming from sulfide deposits, which are expected to be exhausted within thirty years barring significant new discoveries. Discovery rates have been declining for two decades, as the 'easy' targets have been found, despite a broa ....Experimental constraints on Platinum-Group Element geochemistry: developing lithogeochemical exploration tools for nickel-sulfides in mafic and ultramafic systems. Nickel contributes approximately $2 billion per year to Australia's export income. Currently 80% of that is coming from sulfide deposits, which are expected to be exhausted within thirty years barring significant new discoveries. Discovery rates have been declining for two decades, as the 'easy' targets have been found, despite a broad increase in nickel exploration expenditure to current levels of around $50 million per year. There is a pressing need for new data sets and techniques to allow industry to target new discoveries based on limited drill sampling of potential host rocks. This project forms part of a broader program to harness the igneous geochemistry of the platinum group elements as a powerful pathfinder in nickel exploration.Read moreRead less
Advancing diamond exploration - novel techniques for the interpretation of indicator minerals. Diamond production is an important industry in Australia, with a total export value in 2004-05 of $650 million. Most of this production comes from the Argyle Mine in Western Australia, which may be nearing the end of its productivity. Therefore, there is a need to reinvigorate exploration for diamond in Australia, in order for new and significant deposits to be discovered. The outcomes of this proposal ....Advancing diamond exploration - novel techniques for the interpretation of indicator minerals. Diamond production is an important industry in Australia, with a total export value in 2004-05 of $650 million. Most of this production comes from the Argyle Mine in Western Australia, which may be nearing the end of its productivity. Therefore, there is a need to reinvigorate exploration for diamond in Australia, in order for new and significant deposits to be discovered. The outcomes of this proposal will provide diamond exploration companies with improved mineralogical tools to assess the likely diamond grade of parts of the lithosphere sampled by kimberlite or lamproite magmas, thus better directing exploration strategies.Read moreRead less