Uncovering the buried mineral wealth of the SW Yilgarn

Western Australia’s Yilgarn Terrane is among the most richly endowed mineral provinces in the world, hosting rich reserves of gold, nickel, and other valuable resources. In the southwest of this province however, much of the prospective geology lies beneath deep weathering and younger sediments, masking potential mineralisation from traditional exploration methods.

By defining subtle landform features and chemical characteristics associated with different types of rock buried beneath the surface, the CSIRO-led research team will map out the underlying geology of this region and define clues that could point the way to hidden mineralisation.

These new insights will help reduce the risk of mineral exploration, paving the way for investment that could drive discovery of new of ore bodies.