Mineral systems and data integration as part of the foundation for the future of mineral exploration

As exploration focuses on defining new resources under large Phanerozoic basins and thick unconsolidated cover generic exploration models, following a mineral systems approach will be vital to future exploration programs. Specific ore deposit models may not be that helpful in the early stages of exploration in these regions, as distinct geological signatures usually sought, like those in soil geochemistry, will be challenging to attain. Sampling material at particular regolith interfaces or unconformities will be necessary to map geochemical dispersion. Understanding landscape evolution and paleoenvironments will be beneficial when determining the length scales of dispersion and their direction. Geophysical signatures mostly mapped and understood in 2D planar surfaces will have to be inverted in 3D, with an understanding of uncertainty to estimate aspects such as the extent of cover, regolith, sedimentary or volcanic interfaces, the 3D architecture of prospective basins as well as linking known geological `piercing points' observed in a 1D drill hole (and data collected from it) into a vast 3D volume. A mineral systems approach to exploration uses known critical elements that contribute to ore deposit formation through mapping their geological proxies. Geophysical data is abounding in Australia and can link what is understood from drill core together with mapped geology. However, its resolution or pixel size is not comparable to the detail of petrophysics measured in a drill log. This inhibits data-driven mineral systems analysis and the development of machine learning techniques for the analysis in covered regions.