Seismic line shows Victorian mining potential

The Victorian government has released new Victorian seismic data that for the....

  The Victorian government has released new Victorian seismic data that for the first time allows geologists and explorers to see deep into the earth’s crust.Victorian Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor said the new state-of-the-art geophysical information confirmed a major fault line under central Victoria that was believed to be the 400-million-year-old subterranean ‘artery’ that carried gold to the Bendigo/Stawell region.“These deep fault structures are thought to be conduits for gold-rich fluids that created the original gold deposits of Victoria some 400 million years ago,” Mr Batchelor said.The data release comes as part of the 19th Victorian Initiative for Minerals and Petroleum (VIMP) – a tool that helps the resources and petroleum industry make its exploration and prospecting decisions.The 380km seismic line and its interpretation is one of the outcomes of a partnership with Geoscience Australia, GeoScience Victoria, the CSIRO and researchers at Melbourne universities.The survey was funded by the Commonwealth Government, the Bracks Government and industry partners.This year’s budget allocated another $5m under the Rediscover Victoria Initiative to encourage further exploration over the next four years.The funding will support the development of a 3D geological map of Victoria and will provide targeted support for industry drilling.The new modelling will include the offshore Gippsland area, which is significant to gas and oil explorers and for carbon dioxide storage.“The 3D geological model will enable explorers to carry out predictive modelling using rapidly evolving computer techniques to better inform explorers of the presence of potential mineral and hydrocarbon traps and create new targets,” Mr Batchelor said.