Curtin Springs gravity survey Geophysics collaboration between NT Government and Quasar Resources for EL 26246 Curtin Springs East

Abstract

This report describes the 2009 Curtin Springs gravity survey conducted under the Drilling and Geophysics Collaboration program Year 2, a component of the NTGS's 'Bringing Forward Discovery' initiative. A precision Gravity/GPS survey was carried out by Daishsat Geodetic Surveyors over EL 26246 Curtin Springs East exploration licence held 100% by Quasar Resources Pty Ltd (QSR). A total of 1,233 gravity stations were collected at a nominal spacing of 1km. The survey was carried out between 3 and 7 of July 2009. Significant improvement in the gravity coverage of the area has been achieved from this survey. The existing sub-standard data from 1993 along tracks at 1,000m intervals only covered the southern part of the tenement. Other data from 1962 are wide spaced at approximately 9km. The new data shows greater detail of the folded and faulted Palaeozoic clastic succession of the Larapinta and Pertnjara group. A large gradient in the gravity data locates an intra-basinal thrust trending in a WNW - ESE orientation through the centre of the tenement. The detail of structures shown in this data is not seen in other gravity datasets. Future exploration will focus on these features tracked from their outcropping positions under cover using the new gravity data and existing magnetic data. Combined magnetic and gravity inversion of the data will aid in understanding the 3D nature of these structural features.