Controls on the orderly distribution of giant deposits in self-organised mineral systems: new predictive criteria and analytical tools

The Challenge

As Australia and the world work towards a net zero emissions future, the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy will require an extraordinary amount of critical minerals. Unfortunately, in recent times, mineral exploration has produced relatively disappointing results. Discovery rates are declining and discovery costs are increasing. Since most wealth is associated with Tier 1 and 2 deposits, these represent the most desirable exploration targets. 

This research considers the question of predicting giant ore deposit distribution; is the distribution of giant ore deposits more ordered and hence, more predictable than that of small deposits? The research will consider a variety of deposit styles, containing commodities such as copper, nickel, gold, lead, zinc and lithium. In answering this question, by combining data-driven analyses with hypothesis testing, the project is aimed at delivering new tools which will assist explorers and help increase discovery rates. 

Proposed Solution

The research aims to test the hypothesis that the distribution of giant ore deposits is more ordered than for small deposits and therefore, inherently more predictable. As part of this research other questions to be answered include: 

• Do higher degrees of ordering result from greater mineral system self-organisation?
• Do almost periodic spatial distribution patternsemergeonly for large deposits or do they emerge proportionally for a range of deposit size classes as expected in a multi-fractal system? 
• Why do some well-endowed and well-explored mineral beltsexhibitalmost periodic spatial distribution patterns while others do not? 
• Isapparentspatial periodicity an emergent or inherited system pattern? 
• Do controls onapparentspatial periodicity differ for different types of mineral systems? 
• Canapparentspatial periodicity in immature belts be predicted from other map proxies?  
• Can spatial analytical techniques find useful map proxies for endowment patterns, system organisationorderand entropy? 

Proposed Benefits to WA

While the research will be using advanced mineral systems thinking and the results of this work should be widely applicable, there will be the opportunity to take a closer look at particular mineral systems, such as Greenstone gold, Komatiite nickel and LCT pegmatite, all of which are significant in the Western Australian mineral sector. Any tools developed from the research have the potential to improve the probability of discovery success in Western Australia and provide associated economic benefit.

DOI

10.71342/444520570104

Supervisors

Professor Nicolas Thébaud, Dr Nick Hayward, Dr Alison Ord, Dr Bruce Hobbs