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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-26 Daily Xml
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MINERAL EXPLORATION

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:11): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Mineral Resources Development a question about innovations in mapping.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: Will the minister provide details of any innovations in mapping that can assist prospectors in exploration for minerals and possibly indicate areas that have the potential to generate geothermal energy in this state?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:12): I thank the honourable member for his question. Recently, I attended the launch in Adelaide by my federal colleague Martin Ferguson, the federal resources minister, of a new radiometric map produced by Geoscience Australia. Geoscience Australia produced this important map in collaboration with the states and the Northern Territory to provide yet another tool for prospecting as they look to unearth this country's mineral wealth.

The radiometric map of Australia uses gamma ray technology to show the surface distribution of potassium, uranium and thorium across 80 per cent of the continent. That is 80 per cent to date; eventually, it will cover 100 per cent. Almost all the gamma rays detected near the earth's surface result from the natural radioactive decay of these three elements—that is, potassium, uranium and thorium.

Their distribution indicates a lot about the relative age, stability and composition of the land surface materials, as well as the processes that have helped to create the Australian landscape. The result is a very colourful representation of the country. The new radiometric map has been produced by combining into a single compilation more than 450 individual surveys collected during the past 40 years.

Low-flying aircraft and helicopters were used to measure the gamma radiation emitted from the rocks and soils below. Interpreters can use the new radiometric map to make comparisons between radiometric signatures at different locations around Australia. They can also recognise and appreciate the significance of broad scale and local features in the data. This radiometric map is particularly useful in South Australia, where we are a world leader in investment in hot rock geothermal energy projects.

Hot rocks have an enormous potential to generate baseload power using the renewable and emissions-free geothermal energy on offer in the state. South Australia has attracted about 97 per cent of the investment in geothermal projects in Australia to date, with more than $870 million of the expected $1.5 billion to be invested in geothermal licensed work programs in the term 2002 to 2013.

Geodynamics is currently working on the most advanced hot rock engineered geothermal system project in the world. That is, of course, in the Cooper Basin in the state's Far North. Origin Energy and Tata Power are cornerstone shareholders in Geodynamics, and Origin is also a joint venture partner in Geodynamics' Cooper Basin project.

AGL is also a cornerstone investor and a joint venture partner with Torrens Energy, which is working towards deep drilling and proof-of-concept projects in South Australia. Likewise, TruEnergy has joined Beach Petroleum as partners in Petratherm's Paralana project in South Australia. The Petratherm/Beach Petroleum joint venture hopes to supply power to Heathgate Resources' Beverley uranium mine in the second half of 2010.

South Australia is richly endowed with hot rocks, and this radiometric map provides a valuable tool in determining the level of radioactivity throughout the state, which no doubt will assist explorers to identify areas to tap for deep drilling for their geothermal projects. We hope the release of this map by the federal government will further enhance the exploration and, ultimately, the exploitation of our very important hot rock reserves.

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