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Geology in Practice. Presidential Address Section 3, Geology, ANZAAS Meeting

Exploration is being actively carried on throughout the continent. By mid-1969 mineral exploration holdings covered 20 per cent. of the continent including a very large proportion of the 45 per cent occupied by igneous and metamorphic rocks which offer the best prospects for metallic minerals. The sedimentary basins are mostly covered by petroleum exploration and development titles, on which are superimposed mineral exploration holdings in regions favourable for the occurrence of coal, phosphate and other non-metallic minerals.

Until recently mineral exploration in many parts of Australia was inhibited by remoteness, severe climate, difficult terrain, lack of roads and absence of development, in various combinations. But as the map of the exploration holdings shows, these factors have practically disappeared as deterrents to exploration, although they still remain as formidable obstacles in the way of the development of discoveries. At the exploration stage the effects of these physical barriers have been minimized or overcome by the use of versatile land vehicles, light aircraft and especially helicopters for access and transport, by radio communication and by a steadily rising level in the standard of field accommodation and amenities. These facilities have opened the way into previously inaccessible regions which now may even have a special attractiveness on account of the lightness or absence of previous exploration.

They have not, however, diminished the high demands that working in these areas makes of the exploration geologist for personal qualities of resourceful leadership, self reliance and determination.

Rights to large holdings, with areas suitable for the application of modern prospecting methods, are issued by the Mines Departments of all States and by the Administrations of the Territories, except Western Australia. This State until recently also did so, but now has placed an embargo on them. The areas of individual holdings cover a wide range but are commonly hundreds of square miles in extent. The rights to them are issued subject to conditions which generally commit the holder to carry out defined exploration programs involving specified minimum levels of expenditure, and require him to provide reports periodically giving the factual results of the exploration work. These holdings are for short terms of years and usually the holder is required periodically to relinquish a large part of his area. As a result ground is being continually released but naturally this consists of the less attractive parts. Even with relinquishment a shortage of exploration areas is developing, and this will become more severe.

A great deal of this expansion in exploration has come about through the entry of foreign-based companies into Australia.

Details for this article:

Geology in Practice

X

Author: Moye, D.G. (1970)

Article Title: Geology in Practice. Presidential Address Section 3, Geology, ANZAAS Meeting

From: Australian Journal of Science 32(12)

Other Available Articles

Engineering geology for the Snowy Mountains Scheme

Moye, D.G. (1955)

Engineering geology for the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

J.I.E.Aust., Vol. 27 No.10 pp287–298

Rock Mechanics in the Investigation and Construction of T.1 Underground Power Station, Snowy Mountains, Australia

Moye, D.G. (1958)

Rock Mechanics in the Investigation and Construction of T.1 Underground Power Station, Snowy Mountains, Australia

In Engineering Geology Case Histories No.3 123–54 Geological Society of America 69 (12) p.1617

Existence of high horizontal rock stresses in rock masses.

Moye, D.G. (1962)

Existence of high horizontal rock stresses in rock masses.

Proc. Third Australia-New Zealand Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. pp 19–22

Seismic Activity in the Snowy Mountains Region and its Relationship to Geological Structures

J. R. Cleary, H. A. Doyle, D. G. Moye (1964)

SEISMIC ACTIVITY IN THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS REGION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURES

Journal of the Geological Society of Australia

Unstable rock and its treatment in the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

Moye, D.G. (1965)

Unstable rock and its treatment in the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

Proc. 8th Commonwealth Mining and Metallurgical Congress, Australia & New Zealand. Vol. 6, p. 423–441.

Diamond drilling for foundation exploration

Moye, D.G. (1967)

Diamond drilling for foundation exploration.

Paper 2150 presented at I.E.Aust. Site Investigation Symposium, September 1966. In Civil Engineering Transactions, with Discussion, April 1967.

Geology in Practice

Moye, D.G. (1970)

Geology in Practice. Presidential Address Section 3, Geology, ANZAAS Meeting.

Australian Journal of Science, 32 (12) June, p454–461.

* This paper was presented when Dan had been Director of Exploration of BHP for 3 years.

Field and Laboratory Tests in Rock Mechanics

Alexander, L. G (1960)

Field and Laboratory Tests in Rock Mechanics

Proceedings, 3rd Australian-New Zealand Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Sydney Australia, 1960, pp. 161–168.

Discussion at Technical Session No. 9—Rock Mechanics

Alexander, L. G. Moye, D. G. (1960)

Discussion at Technical Session No. 9—Rock Mechanics

Proceedings, 3rd Australian-New Zealand Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Sydney Australia, 1960, pp. 254–250