Laterite geochemistry in the CSIRO-AGE Database - Legacy data

CSIRO-AGE Database: Geochemical analyses from systematic collection of lateritic materials for mineral exploration over parts of the Yilgarn Craton and Alban-Fraser Province. Some 8000 samples were collected, 1980-1986, and samples analysed for up to 31 major, minor and trace elements. Focus was on systemic sampling of surface and near surface lateritic materials with 3 km spacing for first pass, with 1 km follow-up of anomalies. Lateritic residua included lateritic gravels, pisoliths, nodules, duricrust, and ferricrete.\nLineage: The project commenced in 1980 as a collaboration between CSIRO and Greenbushes Tin Ltd as an applications trial in mineral exploration, also referred to as Project B. Collaboration expanded to include St Joe Minerals and Sons of Gwalia NL in 1983 resulting in the CSIRO-AGE joint venture, also referred as Project C, which ran through to the end of 1986.\nNew exploration procedures were developed (Smith, Birrell and Brigden, 1989), some significant ore deposits were discovered (e.g. the Johnston Range Au deposits) and experiences transferred initially to the three sponsoring companies. Upon expiry of the confidentially agreements, findings were transferred widely through collaborative research (particularly through AMIRA), workshops, lectures, field trips and published journal articles. The data and supporting reports were also released to 30 sponsors of the CSIRO-AMIRA Laterite Geochemistry Project over the period 1988 to 1991. \nComplete public access to the data was achieved in 1998 by agreement between CSIRO and the Geological Survey of WA for publication as the GSWA Record 1998/8 “Laterite geochemistry of the Yilgarn Craton and Albany-Fraser Orogen: Digital Data from CSIRO-AGE”. \n