COBRA - Amadeus Basin assessment of resource potential

Abstract

The Central Oz Basins Resource Assessment (COBRA) initiative was a collaboration between CSIRO, the Northern Territory Geological Survey, the Geological Survey of Western Australia, and industry partners Central Petroleum, Globe Mineral Resources and First Quantum Minerals. The project ran for 3 years between 2012 and 2015 and included geophysical, sedimentological, geochemical, hydrogeochemical, spectral, structural and mineralogical investigations that lead to an integrated 3D model of the Amadeus Basin.

This study shows that all criteria are met for hosting potential base metal deposits in the Amadeus Basin. The newly generated 3D basin architecture reveals that the pre-Amadeus rift sequence, exposed along the SW basin margin, is several kilometres thick between magnetic basement and Amadeus Basin fill. The discovery of this sequence is an important potential source for base metals. The interpretation also highlights numerous new anticlines and synclines, which are fundamental for trapping hydrocarbons or metals.