Alkaline igneous and related rocks are a highly significant source of critical minerals essential for Australia’s, and the world’s, transition to netzero carbon emissions. However, alkaline igneous rocks occur relatively rarely worldwide and comprise a volumetrically minor component of Australian rocks. To better understand these rocks, and their associated mineral systems and resource potential, Geoscience Australia is undertaking a range of activities as part of the Exploring for the Future program including:

Compilation of the distribution and geology of alkaline and related igneous rocks throughout Australia in the form of a national Alkaline Rocks Atlas
Investigation of the critical mineral systems related to alkaline igneous rocks, with a case study in the DarlingCurnamonaDelamerian deep dive project area
A mineral potential assessment of carbonatiterelated rare earth element mineral systems in Australia using a range of national geological, geophysical and geochemical datasets including the Alkaline Rocks Atlas
​About the Speakers:

Dr Eloise Beyer is a geologist with 25 years of experience in the public and university sectors. Eloise has a long background in mapping of both mantle and crustal geology including fifteen years working as a basement geologist with the Northern Territory Geological Survey, where she contributed to regional mapping programs and used geochemistry and geochronology to understand large scale magmatic systems. Joining Geoscience Australia in 2021, she currently leads the National Geological Mapping team, whose key role is to produce the fundamental continentscale maps that underpin understanding of Australia’s geology and prospectivity. Eloise holds a BSc (Hons) in Geology from La Trobe University and a PhD in Mantle Petrology from Macquarie University.

Dr Arianne Ford is a spatial data analyst whose focus is on the use of spatial statistics and machine learning for evaluating mineral potential using mineral systems based approaches. She joined Geoscience Australia in 2022 as the Activity Leader for Mineral Prospectivity & Prediction and previously worked extensively in both academia and industry, largely focused on mineral potential mapping studies. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science and a PhD in Economic Geology, both from James Cook University.

Dr. Yanbo Cheng is currently leading the mineral potential assessment module of the DelamerianCurnamonaDarling project under the Exploring for the Future program at Geoscience Australia. Prior to GA, Yanbo was a ‘forsker mineralressurser’ (researcher in economic geology) at the Geological Survey of Norway between 2019 and 2022 and he was involved in projects on volcanichosted massive sulphide (VHMS), porphyry and magmatic nickel, copper and platinumgroupelement systems in Norway. As a postdoctoral researcher at the Economic Geology Research Centre, James Cook University, Yanbo worked on tin and tungsten mineral systems in northeast Queensland during 20142017 and magma fertility in the Mary Kathleen ironoxide, copper, gold (IOCG) belt during 20182019. Yanbo temporarily joined the mining industry in 2018 as an exploration geologist on intrusion related gold deposits in Queensland. Yanbo was awarded his PhD in economic geology from James Cook University in 2013.