GNS Science

Geological Mapping and Innovative GIS Applications for Identifying Natural Resources Potential: The New Zealand QMAP Experience

Robert Smillie, Simon Cox, David Heron & Mark S Rattenbury

31st STAR Conference. Nadi, Fiji8 June 2016

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Presentation Outline

• New Zealand’s Geological Map QMAP• Importance of geological maps for minerals

exploration and investment • Value-added GIS modelling to mapping • Importance of re-mapping – case study from PNG

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QMAP: Geological Map of New Zealand

• National coverage at 1:250,000

• 20-year period

• 21 separate maps

• Designed and built around ESRI ArcGIS –key project decision

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GNS ScienceEdbrooke 2001

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Edbrooke 2006

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1968

2003

QMAP: Re-mapping

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Future-proofing QMAP GIS data through episodic updates…

QMAP Seamless GIS 2014

And QMAP Seamless GIS 2016 is coming…

21 individual QMAP vector GIS datasets/CDs

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QMAP on -line:http://data.gns.cri.nz/geology

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Regional Geological Map Archive and Datafile (RGMAD) – A Nationally Significant Database

• http://data.gns.cri.nz/metadata

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Geological maps are a primary data resource

Resources

MineralsAggregatePetroleumCoalGroundwaterGeothermal

Hazards

Active faultsSeismic shakingLandslidesErosionDeposition

Geological maps

Environmental

Soil qualityContaminantsNatural toxicityClimate changeCO2 storage

Research and education

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New Zealand: World -Class Gold Deposits

Waihi Gold Mine10 Million Ounces

Combined Annual Production of over 300,000 Ounces

NZ$ 500M

Macraes Gold Mine5 Million Ounces

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NZ EEZ Marine Minerals

Kermadec Arc

Tofua Arc

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SW Pacific: World-Class

Mineral Deposits

Vatukoula Au

Waihi Au

Gold Ridge Au

Macraes Au

Panguna Cu AuLihir Au

Ok Tedi Cu Au

Goro Ni Co

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Area Selection for Investment = Uncertainty

Geologic Maps + Data = Derisking

Exploration: The Life Blood of Mining

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Mineral Discoveries in the Pacific Declining

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Exploration Investment in Pacific Halved in last 20 Years

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Mineral Potential = Key Investment Factor

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A weighted aggregation

process

NZ Gold Mineral Potential Modeling

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Mesothermal Gold

Prospectivity Modelling: Assisting in Area Selection

Epithermal Gold

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Value-Adding to QMAP

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Geologic Re -mapping: Ok Tedi, Papua New Guinea

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1998 Townsville Cu -Au Project, Ok Tedi Papua

New Guinea:Re-mapping

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1998

2014

Townsville Cu -Au Project, Ok Tedi Papua

New Guinea:Re-mapping

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12.1% Cu 10.6 g/t Au 161 g/t Ag

9.7%Cu 6.93 g/t Au 131 g/t Ag

New Copper-Gold Discovery

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Summary

• Geological maps are a primary data resource – hazards , environmental, minerals research

• Geological maps are highly valued by the exploratio n industry and help de-risk investment decisions

• We can increase levels of exploration investment by making quality geologic maps freely available

• Mapping is relatively cheap with a good return on $ $ – NZ QMAP

• Maps underpin “value-added” GIS studies• Mapping is never done – remapping leads to new

discoveries in mature areas

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Vinaka

Kia Ora

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Oceana Geological Maps