The Australian Government has launched an online data portal which provides free access to around 250 datasets collected as part of the Australian Government’s $225 million Exploring for the Future program.
The portal includes data that have been collected over three million square kilometres of northern Australia in the last four years.
Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, Keith Pitt said to help industry analyse this high-quality data, the portal also includes assessment and analytical tools.
“For example, the Economic Fairways Mapper can help companies assess the economic viability of a mineral resource in remote Australia.”
Minister Pitt said Exploring for the Future data had already been used by mining exploration companies to make new investment decisions, which is valuable right now.
“13 companies have taken up new exploration tenements in areas the program focused on – the first step toward the discovery and development of a resource. 10 of these companies have publicly recognised the role Exploring for the Future data played in their decision.”
Led by Geoscience Australia, the Exploring for the Future program uses cutting-edge techniques to collect new data and information about potential mineral, energy and groundwater resource systems on the surface and deep underground.
A $100 million investment in Exploring for the Future by the Australian Government in 2016 has delivered a detailed picture of potential resources in northern Australia. In June 2020, the Australian Government announced it will invest an additional $125 million over four years to expand the program nationwide.
Information about Exploring for the Future, including the portal, can be found at ga.gov.au/eftf
