North Australia Project: Tanami seismic research

• Partners
• Aims
• Objectives
• Methodology
• Timetable
• Status
• Related links

Partners

The Tanami Seismic Research Project involves Geoscience Australia, the Geological Survey of Western Australia, the Northern Territory Geological Survey, Newmont Exploration Pty Ltd and Tanami Gold NL.

Aims

The project aims to understand both the crustal architecture and mineral systems of the Tanami region by using deep seismic reflection techniques.

Objectives

The objectives of the seismic survey are to:

• image the geometry of the main faults;
• determine a deformation sequence to these fault structures;
• identify any through-going crustal structures;
• determine stratigraphic thicknesses of the Tanami Group and granite body geometries;
• determine relationships of the various stratigraphic packages to controlling structures;
• investigate the relationship of mineralised domains to crustal scale structures, and
• identify Archaean basement and its relationship to the overlying Tanami Group stratigraphy.

The survey will consist of four regional seismic traverses; the location of these traverses is shown below. The four traverses are 05GA-T1 through 05GA-T4. Traverse 05GA-T1 is a northwest-southeast regional transect. Traverses 05GA-T2, 05GA-T3 and 05GA-T4 provide orthogonal three-dimensional control on the geometry of the region's main fault systems.

In addition, the project is collecting 400 m gravity data along the seismic traverses as well as wide-angle velocity data along the regional traverse 05GA-T1.

The seismic data will assist mineral explorers find new mineral discoveries.

Methodology

The Tanami Seismic Research Project commenced in April 2004, in Western Australia, with acquisition progressing from west to east. By late May, the seismic crew were working in the Northern Territory. The survey will finish in early July 2005, southeast of The Granites mine. The seismic traverse runs close to the Coyote, Tanami, Groundrush and Callie mine sites and will provide information on the deeper structures in these areas.

Processing will commence June 2005, with final processing anticipated early 2006. GA, GSWA, NTGS, Tanami Gold NL and Newmont Exploration will commence interpretation late 2005 and hope to have final interpreted sections mid-2006.

Proposed draft timetable

The Tanami Seismic Collaborative Research Project: current status

Seismic acquisition

Gravity

Wide-angle recording

05GA-T1 – Wide-angle all stations operational and recording seismic energy source. Currently crew downloading recent data from instruments.

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Related links

• NAP minerals promotion
• Science overview
• Current results and products
• Commodity information
• Tanami seismic research
• Early Proterozoic foundations
• Marginal mobile belts
• Historical products
• Tanami 3D model