More land open for exploration

“Exploration in western Victoria has had promising results and lifting the temporary holds on licence applications now will bring vital jobs and revenue to the region. Minerals are a key part of our everyday essentials like technology, building materials and medical supplies and are also needed for renewable energy infrastructure” – Jaala Pulford

Mineral exploration across the Wimmera is set to ramp up again with the State Government announcing a search-area expansion of Victoria’s Stavely Arc geological zone.

Stavely Arc, which geologists have identified for its potential for valuable metals such as copper and gold as well as mineral sands and gypsum, runs north-south from Mildura to Terang.

The government announcement means a further 11,000 square kilometres of the state’s west, including parts of the Wimmera and Western District, will soon be available for exploration.

Resources Minister and Labor upper-house Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said the move was in response to a need to find more minerals essential for developing clean-energy technology.

She said minerals exploration was booming across Victoria with spending growing sevenfold during the past six years.

“Exploration is different to mining. An exploration licence gives the holder exclusive rights to search for evidence of minerals within an area using mostly low-impact methods such as mapping, surveying, soil sampling and drilling,” she said.

“Mineral explorers in Victoria have a history of being environmentally and socially responsible. It is expected that exploration companies work closely with traditional and local landowners, as well as the broader community, in addition to the strict regulatory conditions these companies must adhere to.

“In coming months, community briefings will be held to ensure positive relationships are developed between future exploration licencees, landholders and locals.”

The government is opening more land for exploration following the success of a Stavely Ground Release in 2018.

The first release made 11 blocks of land available to the market and resulted in licencing of six of them.

Ms Pulford said discovery of new resources was essential in supporting Victoria’s move to renewable energy, with copper a cornerstone for renewable technologies due to its ‘excellent’ thermal and electrical conductivity.

Geologists have identified the potential of parts of western Victoria, as a result of millions of years of continental shift and changing environments as part of the super-continent Gondwana, to be the home of precious metals and minerals.

They believe the area might mirror circumstances of the copper-rich Andes in South America.

Apart from its use in renewable energy, copper has a specific atomic make-up that has powerful anti-microbial properties.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, discussion arose regarding its potential for use in public ‘touch’ environments such as traffic-light or lift buttons and hand railings.

Ms Pulford said mining exploration also brought a boost to the regional economy.

“Exploration in western Victoria has had promising results and lifting the temporary holds on licence applications now will bring vital jobs and revenue to the region,” she said.

“Minerals are a key part of our everyday essentials like technology, building materials and medical supplies and are also needed for renewable energy infrastructure.”

More details about exploration licences are available online at earthresources.vic.gov.au.