Explorers now have access to the latest 3D models and data to help find new economy minerals in Queensland’s Far North with the new North East Queensland Mineral Deposit Atlas.
Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the atlas brings together information from multiple sources, collected over decades, into one easy-to-use data compilation.
“Data is key to exploration and exploration is key to making new discoveries which creates new opportunities in the resources industry.
“Importantly, the data has also been used to generate three-dimensional earth models, using free software.
“The models make it easier for explorers to understand the geological nature of the deposits we already know about, so they can identify the most prospective areas to target for new projects, saving significant time and money.”
The atlas is the latest free resource made available as part of the State Government’s five-year $23 million New Economy Minerals Initiative which aims to develop, promote and understand the state’s new economy mineral wealth and potential through a broad corridor from Mt Isa to Townsville.
The initiative encourages new exploration, re-investigates old mines and probes the geological information government already holds to foster new discoveries, projects and jobs.
The north-east atlas follows the release of the north-west atlas just over a year ago.
Mr Stewart said the two atlases provide detailed free data for areas between Mount Isa and Cairns, with world-class deposits of the new economy minerals the world needed for renewable and advanced technologies.
“The Government’s investment is about fostering new discoveries, new projects and, most importantly, new jobs,” he said.
The state’s exploration and resources industry continues to perform strongly with the latest figures showing exploration expenditure reached $706 million in Queensland during the 12 months to June 2021, up by 10.3 per cent compared to the 12 months before.
