Looking for clues to our mineral wealth
Further Reading
September 2006, pages 24-27
In the wake of the boom (by Geoffrey Maslen)
Covers the House of Representatives Economics Committee investigation into what happens when Australia’s resources boom ends.
February 2009, pages 5-9
Can we meet the world’s minerals challenges (by Peter Lilly)
Describes the challenges facing the Australian minerals industry and research and development to address them.
February 2009, pages 15-18
Finding and optimising the ore deposits (by Ross Large)
Explains the increasing need for an understanding of ore deposits. Australian research into finding and recovering ore body minerals is also described.
Issue 82, June 2006
Mineral mapping with ASTER (by Simon Oliver and Simon van der Wielen)
Describes a new remote sensing tool that will help explorers discover Australia’s future mineral wealth.
Issue 81, March 2006
A time machine for Geoscience Australia
Describes a new SHRIMP ion microprobe to improve mineral exploration.
Issue 80, December 2005
Australian mineral exploration update (by Mike Huleatt and Lynton Jaques)
Summarises efforts to locate new mineral reserves in Australia and overseas.
Issue 79, September 2005
- New resource assessment for Dampier and Rankin (by Andrew Barrett)
Updates forecasts for the discovery of hydrocarbons in the Carnarvon Basin. - Nickel sulphide metallogenic provinces of Australia: resources and potential (by Subhash Jaireth, Dean Hoatson, Lynton Jaques, Mike Huleatt, Mitch Ratajkoski)
Describes a web-based information and mapping system to help find nickel sulphide resources. - Going for gold beneath the Tanami (by Bruce Goleby)
Describes a project to find mineral deposits in the Tanami.
Issue 77, March 2005
Hydrogeochemistry – clues to hidden mineralization (by Patrice de Caritat and Dirk Kirste)
Suggests that analysis of groundwater can help locate mineral deposits.
July 2004, pages 23-24
Microbial gold prospectors (by Frank Reith)
Describes the role of microorganisms in the transport of gold in the soil and the formation of gold nuggets.
March 2001, pages 37-38
Hammering into the ocean floor (by Peter Pockley)
A report on the JOIDES Resolution, a floating laboratory for the basic Earth sciences, which is drilling into the ocean floor seeking minerals and new life forms.
No 133, 2006, pages 12-13
WA's mining boom: where does it leave the environment? (by Tim Nicol)
Asks what will be the legacy of the mining boom on Western Australia's environment?
No. 114, March 2003, page 8
Mining tool retrained to seek acids and salts (by Wendy Pyper)
Explains how a tool developed for minerals exploration and mining may soon be used against acid mine drainage and salinity.
December 2006, pages 22-26
Uranium exploration in Australia (by Yanis Miezitis and Aden McKay)
Summarises the latest exploration for uranium in Australia.
December 2006, pages 45-48
Uranium mining, processing and nuclear energy: opportunities for Australia? (by Ziggy Switkowski)
Argues that nuclear power generation will take some time to be established Australia and will not be cost-competitive with coal and gas unless these are forced to pay for their greenhouse emissions.
26 May 2007, pages 34-41
Earth’s natural wealth: an audit (by David Cohen)
Looks at the world’s consumption of rare minerals.
12 August 2006, pages 54-57
Digging deep for the future (by Emma Young)
Looks at new technologies used in Australia to discover and extract minerals.
Inside Science (No. 145), 10 November 2001
Seeing with seismics (by Sue Bowler)
Describes how geologists use the detection of seismic vibrations to help them find oil and minerals.
Inside Science (No. 107), 17 January 1998
Recycling the Earth (by Sue Bowler)
Inside Science (No. 96), 14 December 1996
Formation of Earth (by Sue Bowler)
Inside Science (No. 81), 20 May 1995
The geological timescale (by Jeff Hecht)
February 2009, pages 42-47
The origin of the land under the sea (by Peter B. Kelemen)
Explains how submarine volcanoes form mid-ocean ridges.
Page updated January 2010.