Written by Laura Glitsos Monday, 09 March 2009 12:10
The 2009 Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) held last month was a massive success with around 200 attendees perusing the presentations and poster displays.
Department of Commerce (DoC) geologist Ned Stolz says the event was not only very successful but incorporated “fantastic industry engagement”.
His presentation, New pre-competitive data for energy exploration in Western Australia, revealed the latest from the Onshore Energy Security Program (OESP).
Among the OESP projects is a new radiometric map of Australia, particularly useful for targeting uranium and mapping hot granites for geothermal energy.
The OESP began in 2006 with nearly $60 million of federal funding to provide high quality exploration data to ensure the nation’s ability to discover and develop mineral and energy resources.
According to Mr Stolz, the presentations on both uranium prospecting and geothermal energy were particular highlights of the day.
The aim of the GSWA is to promote West Australian prospectivity in the mining and resources sector.
“Obviously, from the response of industry to the seminar, GSWA is playing a large role in promoting exploration in WA,” he says.
DoC senior geologist Ameed Ghori presented Geothermal studies in Western Australia.
Mr Ghori’s presentation explained the commercial potential of using thermal or electrical power from the heat contained in the Earth, stored in rocks and geofluids.
“The northern Perth Basin shows the most favourable conditions for developing both hydro-geothermal and petrothermal resources from commercial, infrastructure, and geological points of view,” says Mr Ghori.
He says the GSWA is important because “WA resources are the backbone of our economy”.
“And GSWA is the prime organisation that archives geological data since settlement in the early 19th century when search for water, coal, mineral, and petroleum began, as well as providing interpretative reports and new data required for promoting the resources of WA,” he says.
The GSWA 2009 was held at the Esplanade Hotel Fremantle on February 19.
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