New tool for explorers

Desk jockeys on the search for next Mount Isa

A NEW digital tool is on its way to discovering the next Mount Isa without anyone setting foot in the field, almost 100 years after the mining town was founded.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart has revealed a joint project between the state government and the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute has found almost 600 potential deposits of highly sought-after new economy minerals in the state.

The project created a free digital tool for explorers to identify priority areas for new economy minerals like cobalt used in renewable and advanced technologies.

“Queensland is rich in new economy minerals, but there’s a lot of time, effort and money that goes into exploration and proving-up resources before new projects and jobs ever result,” Mr Stewart said. “The state government’s $23 million New Economy Minerals Initiative is simplifying and supporting this initial legwork to help get more projects and jobs off the ground.”

The project is part of the government’s five-year New Economy Minerals Initiative that aims to develop, promote and understand the state’s new economy mineral wealth and potential through a broad corridor from Mount Isa to Townsville.

In 1923 prospector John Campbell Miles came across one of the world’s richest deposits of copper, silver and zinc in North West Queensland. The site later became Mount Isa.

Now, the North West Minerals Province, of which

Mount Isa is the centre, is a new economy minerals powerhouse, with multiple mines operating in the region.

The Department of Resources and the institute have been working together to compile, analyse and pull together data for the new digital tool over an 18-month period.

Explorers will be able to tap into and find out where minerals like tin, tungsten, silica, rare earths and cobalt are more likely to be discovered.

In the 12 months to June 30 this year, more than $706 million was invested in exploration in Queensland.

Previously, exploration would have required drilling at the site to determine the quality and or level of metal ore.

“That’s 10 per cent up on the previous year and an even more impressive 60 per cent up on the same period three years ago,” Mr Stewart said.