Geoscience Australia uncovers extensive copper and gold belts in SE Australia
A Geoscience Australia study has identified large copper and gold deposits across a 300,000-square-kilometre area of southeastern Australia, boosting prospects for future mining.
Under a 35-year national initiative, Geoscience Australia completed the Delamerian Project, a comprehensive survey of 300,000 square kilometres spanning South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. By integrating millions of geochemical readings, aerial and ground surveys, and more than five kilometres of drilling, scientists mapped several distinct metallogenic belts rich in copper, gold and other critical minerals.
The research does not provide exact volume estimates, but it narrows down promising zones for future exploration. Project director Chris Lewis said the work clarifies a previously hidden geological province, while chief executive Melissa Harris praised the results as evidence of the value of sustained geoscientific investment. Similar deep-dive studies are underway in Queensland’s Georgetown-Julia Creek and the Northern Territory’s Birrindudu regions under the Prosperity program.
Why it matters
The discovery could fuel new mining projects that support the global shift to renewable energy and boost Australia's economy.
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