Deep Mining Queensland

The Deep Mining Queensland (DMQ) Project comprised a two-year multi-disciplinary research effort aimed at reducing the risk of deep exploration for Cu-Au deposits in the Cloncurry metallogenic province.

The DMQ project was staged as follows:

Review of characteristics of Iron-Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) provinces and deposits, globally
Evaluation and updating of the 2D and 3D geology of the Cloncurry Project area
Analysis of the geological controls on deposit location and formation in the context of the new geological model
Development of a 3D prospectivity analysis utilising the interpreted controls on deposit-formation
Development of an evaluation tool for explorers to assess the potential relative value (future viability) of prospects and targets.

IOCG deposits are characteristically enigmatic, however, at a global-scale, common characteristics are recognized at the camp-scale and deposit-scale; despite different host-rocks and structural history. Synchronicity with voluminous felsic magmatism, regional-scale alteration systems, and localization in sites of late, brittle reactivation of earlier deformation features; are some of the key observations which then focussed analysis of the Cloncurry district.

New insights into the litho-structural development of the Cloncurry mineral-field have been made which lace existing deposits into broader geological context, finds commonality between the diverse deposit forms and host-rocks, and have been used to guide 3D prospectivity workflows.

Within the DMQ project area, there is a spectrum of deposit styles and forms; which has previously proved difficult to collate into a cohesive, district-scale understanding of the Cu-Au district. Analysis of existing mines and deposits has revealed the key controls on deposit location, geometry, and tenor; and the unifying essential ‘ingredients’ have been determined and integrated into the broader litho-structural context.

Innovative modelling of the subsurface granitic intrusions, interpreted to have a specific role in localising deposit formation, has enabled construction of a 3D model of intrusives which differs significantly from previous work. This model provides a common link between camp-scale Cu-Au occurrences and is utilized as a key input into the 3D prospectivity assessment of the mineral field along with the spatial coincidence of structural permeability and reactive host-rocks.

The 3D prospectivity exercise yields domains and tracts of enhanced potential to host Cu-Au mineralization. Parameters for three deposit-types are used, and these broadly correlate with specific mining-related constraints, based on orebody characteristics including geometry, orientation, depth below surface, metal endowment, and both unit and total contained value.

Further to provision of 3D target domains, an interactive spreadsheet tool for rapid relative value assessment has been developed. This is intended to be used by geologists, to apply engineering and minerals-processing criteria to a drilled prospect or conceptual target, as a pre-scoping study level of assessment. The results of the assessments provide understanding of drivers of value, and potential viability; with the aim of enabling ranking of targets within an exploration portfolio and as a stage-gating tool to determine if further investment is warranted on a given prospect.

In summary, the DMQ Project has provided a holistic approach to prospectivity for deeper deposits within the Cloncurry district through enhanced understanding of IOCG systems, improvement to the geological knowledge, provision of tangible geoscience products, and complemented with an assessment tool. The knowledge contained herein, and digital packages which accompany this report; are considered to have a material impact on future exploration of the Cloncurry district, particularly in the deeper search space.

Deep Mining Queensland- Prospectivity Analysis in the Southern Cloncurry Belt.

The report and data packages resulting from the two-year Deep Mining Queensland Project are now available for download from the GSQ-QDEX system. A lower-resolution report can be downloaded here:

https://qdexguest.dnrm.qld.gov.au/portal/site/qdex/search?REPORT_ID=102015&COLLECTION_ID=999

and to access the higher resolution report and data packages, click on the following button that you will see on that page:

Products

The Prospect Early-stage Evaluation Tool for Underground (PEET-UG) is now available for release.

PEET-UG has been designed within the context and framework of the DMQ project, and is therefore aimed at assessment of Cloncurry-style Cu-Au deposits, but can be used for other provinces/deposit styles. This spread-sheet based tool provides a quick and straightforward means to assess potential viability of a deposit to sustain an underground mining operation. The intent of development of this tool was to produce a means to rank targets and/or prospects in terms of relative viability, and potential economic outcome. This would therefore inform exploration strategy development and, potentially, influence area-selection and target commodity/deposit-style.

An introduction to PEET-UG can be found in the ‘Presentations Archive’ below, as presented at Digging Deeper (2016).

Please contact Mark Hinman (m.hinman@uq.edu.au) for your free copy of PEET-UG.

Deep Mining Queensland

Deep Mining Queensland- Prospectivity Analysis in the Southern Cloncurry Belt.

The report and data packages resulting from the two-year Deep Mining Queensland Project are now available for download from the GSQ-QDEX system. A lower-resolution report can be downloaded here:

https://qdexguest.dnrm.qld.gov.au/portal/site/qdex/search?REPORT_ID=102015&COLLECTION_ID=999

and to access the higher resolution report and data packages, click on the following button that you will see on that page:

Products

The Prospect Early-stage Evaluation Tool for Underground (PEET-UG) is now available for release.

Posters Archive

Presentations Archive

2017_BRC_DMQ Project Completion Forum presentations

2016-2017 DMQ Project Presentations

Parent Programme

Related projects