b'AEGC 2023Short abstractsTotal organic carbon (TOC) content and pyrolysis data indicateand how it can de-risk exploration projects. One of the key that the Log Creek Formation, Bury Limestone and shale unitsquestions to be answered in the quest for economic metal of the Buckabie Formation have the most potential as sourceconcentrations is concerning the existence and effectiveness rocks. The Log Creek Formation and the Bury Limestone are theof the flow and/or deposit systems. The Silvermines Deposit most likely targets for unconventional gas exploration. in Ireland is interpreted to have formed as a result of mixing between ascending, metal bearing, hydrothermal fluids Model construction used geological information from welland descending meteoric, seawater fluids and is strongly completion reports to assign formation tops and stratigraphicbound to a set of en-chelon normal faults. We present the ages to forward-model the evolution of geophysical parameters.key rate limiting factors of the mineral system and analyse Rock parameters, including facies, temperature, organicthe geological features required to explain where and when geochemistry/petrology, were used to investigate sourcemineralisations occurred. Calibrated to the known deposits, rock quality, maturity and kerogen type. Suitable boundarythis exercise allows us to support, de-risk and optimise conditions were assigned for palaeo-heatflow, surfaceexploration programmes.temperature and water depth. The resulting models were calibrated using bottom hole temperature and measured vitrinite reflectance data. Quantifying subterranean fauna habitats and Results correspond relatively well with expected heat flowgeological features interconnections.predictions published by FrogTech (2018), with a few wells showing possible localised heat effects that differ from theMaria Clara Lopes Paula 1 Mark Jessell1, Edward Cripps1, Mark overall basin average. Models indicate full maturation of theLindsay2,1, Guillaume Pirot1 and Lesley Gibson3Devonian source rocks with generation occurring during the1 University of Western Australia Carboniferous and again during the Cretaceous. Potential2 CSIRO accumulations may be trapped in Devonian sandstone,3 WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractionslimestone and mudstone units, as well as overlying younger sediments of the Mesozoic Eromanga Basin. AccumulationsIn the mid-1990s, the Western Australian Environmental could be trapped by localised deposits of the CooladdiProtection Authority first treated subterranean fauna as a Dolomite and other marine, terrestrial clastic and evaporitepotential factor to be considered in environmental impact units around the basin. Migration of the expelled hydrocarbonsassessments. This decision highlighted the absence of may be restricted by overlying regional seals, such as theinformation available for this fauna to make informed Wallumbilla Formation of the Eromanga Basin. Unconventionaldecisions in relation to the potential impacts of resource hydrocarbons are a likely target for the Adavale Basin withdevelopments.potential for tight or shale gas in favourable areas from the Log Creek Formation and Bury Limestone. These invertebrate faunas include species living in air spaces within geological strata above the water table (troglofauna) and aquatic species living within the groundwater (stygofauna), Mineral systems modelingopportunities andoften tens of meters below ground. In Western Australia, a solutions to de-risk green- and brownfield exploration. particularly rich subterranean fauna occurrence coincides with intensive natural resource exploration and extraction Daniel Palmowski, Thomas Hantschel and Adrian Kleine operations, particularly in the Pilbara region and the Northern Terranta GmbH Territory. Under these conditions, the knowledge gaps in the distribution of subterranean fauna and their habitat have Mineral systems analysis has become an establishedimplications for mining.methodology in both, greenfield and brownfield exploration. Understanding the mineral system enables us to de-riskPrevious studies suggested that this subterranean exploration investment decisions and to better predict thefauna may be related to the presence or absence of economic potential of an area under exploration. Only whencertain physical and chemical properties underground. we consider and quantify the processes over geological time,In this study, fauna occurrence data is tested against a complete description and validation of your mineral systemshypothetical relevant environmental features to understand hypothesis is possible. Additionally, it allows us to define the keyquantitatively their association within a spatial context. For risk factors for an effective resource assessment. this, different types of geological and geophysical data are used as input to classification algorithms and statistical data Most mineralisation events have occurred within a relativelyanalysis.small time frame but yet require a working mineral system over a specific time period to enable economicThe relationship between borehole water nitrogen and metal concentrations. We combine basin modeling, thephosphorus content, salinity, conductivity, dissolved oxygen quantification of the thermal, pressure and stress evolutionlevels (amongst others), and fauna abundance was examined. within the subsurface through geological time, with reactiveDifferent covariates with varied sampling and statistical transport modeling. Modeling the fluid flow and the rock-fluiddistributions were contemplated to select the appropriate interactions allows us to define and simulate mineral systemsmethodology. Subsets of covariates or samples were used to in order to quantitatively assess their limiting factors, theavoid problems with incomplete samples. Likewise, missing impact of key uncertainties and the effectiveness of the metaldata was imputed according to the appropriate method. concentration processes. Visualisation and comparative analysis of feature classification accuracy are presented along with results and a discussion of We present 2D and 3D case studies, illustrating how Mineralpossible interconnections between fauna and subterranean Systems Modeling quantifies the mineral systems elementsfeatures.127 PREVIEW FEBRUARY 2023'