The gravity survey, which measures the density contrast of rocks, covered over 83,000 square kilometres and collected data at 5000 stations in a 4km by 4km grid pattern.

The Bowen and Surat basins, in central and south Queensland respectively, are major energy provinces in the state, with abundant reserves of coal and coal seam gas.

Expansion of coal production is planned for many existing mines and there is likely to be accelerated development of new mines in these provinces to meet growing world demand for coal.

Palaszczuk said the results were the first to be released under the Queensland Government's $20 million Smart Exploration initiative, which commenced in 2005 and will run through to 2009.

He said the initiative would target areas across Queensland that had the highest potential for the discovery of additional mineral and energy resources.

Detailed geological mapping is required to complement existing geophysical data to enable the identification of these exploration targets.

“The Bowen and Surat basins have been targeted as part of Smart Exploration because they are major energy provinces with abundant reserves of coal and coal seam gas but have the potential for additional discoveries," Palaszczuk said.

"The results from the survey can be used with other information such as magnetic, seismic and radiometric data, along with previous drillhole information to enable exploration companies to target prospective areas in the Bowen and Surat basins."

The Bowen and Surat basins cover a large area and information from the gravity survey will help narrow down the more prospective regions for coal and coal seam gas. This is expected to reduce the cost, risk and uncertainty involved in exploration.

The survey looked at the underlying geology of the area and the data will now be used to complement and refine what is already known about the structure and geology of the basins.