b'AEGC 2023Short abstractsinterdistributary bay and lagoonal facies and are commonlybreak down spectroscopy [LIBS] and Raman spectroscopy terminated by autocycling distributary channel systems. Theyhave added new capabilities related to the in-field analysis have high perhydrous detrovitrinite:telovitrinite; very highof geologic materials to identify, measure and characterise proportions of fluorescing liptinite (14-26%) including resins,critical element and material composition. All analytical fluorinite, alginite, sporinite; and together with the back barriertechniques and technologies have both strengths and lagoon mudstones form very good source rocks. weaknesses and understanding these is necessary to design fit for purpose application of one or more of these analytical Rapid play evaluation through AI interpretation. capabilities to best effect. Through detailed discussion of each individual technique with specific examples of their Jacob Smith use in a practical setting a better understanding of the relevance and best practice use can be gained. Given the The last few years have brought an explosion in the applicationconstantly changing landscape of available analytical options of advanced AI techniques to the imaging and interpretationan historical, current and future perspective is provided to of petroleum reservoirs. The ability of these techniques tobest equip geoscientists to fully utilise the analytical options image features in unprecedented detail, and within very shortavailable to them and also to understand potential limitations timeframes, has provided the opportunity for the industry toinherent to these techniques or simply limited by current gain a more complete understanding of hydrocarbon reservoirstechnology.than ever before. The rapid evolution of these technologies has brought challenges however, as new workflows must be developed to gain the most value from these advancements.Assessing future exploration potential of the Cobar In this paper we look at the impact of these technologies onDistrict using integrated 3D geological modelling and imaging, interpretation and modelling. This is done through an analysis of datasets spanning compressional and extensionalgeophysical inversion.systems, looking at both onshore and offshore data. A particularGiovanni Spampinato 1 Andreas Bjork2 and James, R. Austin1focus is given to recent acreage release areas. Through this analysis we find significant opportunities to revolutionise G&G1 CSIRO workflows, but also unexpected challenges in understanding2 Geoscience Australiaand integrating this newfound complexity.The late Silurian to early Devonian Cobar Supergroup hosts The given case studies show that the interpreter is no longera variety of polymetallic mineral systems, forming the most working with the artificial simplicity of manually interpretedmineralised sedimentary sequence within the Palaeozoic structures, but rather with a web of localised planes of slippage.Lachlan Orogen. However, several areas undercover are still Rather than the challenge of accurately identifying faults, weunmapped, posing a serious impediment to the discovery of must focus on how to transfer this complexity into a usefulnew resources.interpretation and then into our static model. In these examples we can see that, through a reduction in manual processes, the3D geological modelling has become a fundamental tool for interpreter can focus more of their energy on the iterative processunderstanding the architecture and unravelling the mineral of proposing and refining structural models, and that this processpotential of buried terranes. 3D modelling and geophysical proves crucial to working effectively with these new methods. inversion was undertaken in key areas of the central Cobar Basin (CSA, Hera and Peak Gold mines) in order to identify connections between the broad scale architecture and the Field portable analytical options for critical minerals:localisation of mineral deposits and provide an updated Current capabilities, future directions. framework for future exploration.Andrew Somers Datasets used in the construction of 3D geological and structural models include surface geological mapping, SciAps Inc. geological cross-sections, well data, digital elevation models, airborne electromagnetic surveys, gravity and The upswing in demand for critical materials is rapidlymagnetic data.gaining momentum as is the importance of the discovery and development of projects focused on the extractionGeophysical inversion was performed using the VOXI magnetic of these materials. Critical elements include Li, Ta, Nb, Co,vector inversion (MVI), which solves the 3D inverse problem REE and other technologically important materials such asusing unconstrained magnetisation vectors (attempting to graphite but also include conventional base metals suchaccount for induced magnetisation, remanence, anisotropy as Cu, Ni, and Mn. The analysis of geological samples forand self- demagnetisation mathematically). The unconstrained these elements and the minerals and materials that containMVI not only highlighted the CSA, Hera and Peak Gold them has gained increasing relevance in recent years due todeposits, but also identified prospective rocks within the demand in high growth markets such as renewable energyCobar mineral system that are underexplored. Regional scale and rechargeable batteries. Technological advances in fieldmagnetics shows that the Cobar-type deposits are controlled portable analytical devices have assisted exploration andby major N-S-trending faults at the regional scale, whereas exploitation of many mineral commodities in the past 25 years3D EM inversions suggest that mineralisation is localised by and also have applications for critical material analysis. MostNE- trending lateral faults at the camp scale. MVI and forward notably portable X-Ray fluorescence [pXRF] for geochemistrymodelling also show that remanent magnetisation accounts and portable reflectance spectrometers [UV-Vis-NIR] forfor a component of the magnetic signature of these deposits mineralogy. More recent developments in these existingand ignoring remanent magnetisation could prove a costly techniques and portable capabilities related to laser-inducedmistake in targeting Cobar type systems.141 PREVIEW FEBRUARY 2023'