Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations

⁠⁠⁠Overview

The Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations (GDC) program is a competetive grants program funded by the Resourcing the Territory program. The GDC program aims to advance geological understanding and resource development in the Northern Territory.

• $200,000 for a single, deep diamond hole program
• $150,000 for multi-hole diamond drilling program
• $100,000 for non-diamond drilling program (RC, aircore, sonic, RAB).

• $150,000 for diamond drilling programs testing new concepts below or adjacent to a known deposit.

• $150,000 for regional-scale geophysical acquisition resulting in a significant improvement in the resolution and quality of existing data (contiguous survey area greater than 350km2 or the complete contiguous tenement package when less than 350km²; or 25 km traverse length), or reflection seismic surveys of any size.

• $100,000 for camp- or prospect-scale acquisition of geophysics and/or geochemistry where technique and/or approach is Innovative in the area of interest. Multiple complementary datasets (geophysical/geochemical) to improve targeting will be viewed favourably.
• $100,000 for seismic re-processing to assist in visualizing sub-surface geology and undercover targeting.

• $50,000 for re-analysis of existing sample sets and/or mine waste to include previously untested minerals, particularly critical minerals.
• $100,000 for early-stage metallurgical test work and/or ore characterisation to assess potential recoverability of minerals from mineralised material, particularly critical minerals.

• programs are located away from known deposits, and
• it is demonstrated by the applicant there is no previous diamond drilling in the area of interest or the proposed drilling is to a significantly greater depth than existing drilling, and
• non-diamond pre-collars account for less than half of the proposed drill metreage.

• it is demonstrated by the applicant that no previous drilling of any method has been conducted in the area of interest, or
• any previous drilling in the area was shallow RAB or aircore drilling that did not effectively test bedrock.

• it is demonstrated by the applicant that no previous drilling of any method has been conducted in the area of interest (e.g. first pass drilling of an area).

• it is demonstrated by the applicant that the proposed program is drilling an untested conceptual target significantly deeper than existing drilling and/or target has not been adequately tested by drilling; and
• target must be outside of an existing Identified Resource; and
• non-diamond pre-collars account for less than half of the proposed drill metreage.

• drilling shallow holes into known mineralisation; undertaking resource definition or development drilling; or utilising RC, RAB, aircore or sonic drilling (except pre-collars).

• acquiring regional-scale geophysics that results in a significant improvement in the resolution and quality of existing data; where
• airborne surveys (eg magnetics, radiometrics, electromagnetics, gravity gradiometry) and ground gravity surveys cover a contiguous area greater than 350km2 ; or the complete contiguous
• tenement package when less than 350km²;or
• passive seismic, reflection seismic or MT traverses are greater than 25km length.

• it is demonstrated by the applicant that the technique and / or approach has not been tested in the Project Area, or
• it is demonstrated by the applicant that no seismic re-processing has been undertaken or previous seismic re-processing was not adequate or to modern standards.

• it is demonstrated there is insufficient existing analysis to determine whether the mineral/s of interest may be present in economically significant quantities in the identified prospect/deposit or mine waste; particularly for critical minerals, or
• it is demonstrated the mineralisation or ore deposit to be tested contains potentially economic accumulations of critical minerals and has had no substantial early stage metallurgical or ore characterisation test work undertaken, or
• it is demonstrated that it is a non-standard or novel approach to early-stage metallurgical testwork or ore characterization for gold, and/or uranium (eg non-cyanide leaching for gold, bioleaching for refractory gold, insitu leaching for uranium).

• drilling shallow holes into known mineralisation; undertaking resource definition or development drilling; or utilising RC, RAB, aircore or sonic drilling (except pre-collars).

• project development stage for metallurgical test work or ore characterisation is considered pre-feasibility and above, unless new critical minerals are being assessed.