The gravity data was collected by Geoscience Australia on behalf of the Geological Survey of South Australia through the SA government’s PACE 2020: Plan for accelerating exploration (2010–2014) exploration initiative.

The survey was carried out over the northern part of the Gawler Craton adjacent to a number of known highly mineralised areas, including the BHP Billiton’s massive Olympic Dam copper-uranium-gold mine, Kingsgate Consolidated’s Challenger gold mine, OZ Minerals’ Prominent Hill copper-gold mine and Arrium’s Peculiar Knob iron ore mine.

Geoscience Australia Minerals and Natural Hazards division chief Dr Andy Barnicoat said preliminary analysis of the data indicated the WPA has significant potential for a range of mineralisation styles including Olympic Dam-type iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) mineral systems.

“This new pre-competitive data over a largely under-explored area will provide important information for mining and exploration companies, researchers and others to determine the mineral potential in the area,” he said.

“The new gravity data for the Woomera region creates fresh opportunities to expand Australia’s resource industry and heightens the opportunity to discover world class mineral resources in this prospective region of Australia.”

The Woomera gravity dataset comprises measurements from 34,541 new gravity stations of which 33,132 stations are spaced 1km apart and 1409 were surveyed on a regular 2km grid, covering an area of approximately 42,500sq.km.

The data can be downloaded via the Geophysical Archive Data Delivery System on the Geoscience Australia website.