Gravity datasets released

Tuesday, 4 May, 1999 - 22:00
A SERIES of six gravity datasets, which covers areas containing some of the oldest rocks in Australia, has been released by Mines Minister Norman Moore.

The gravity datasets highlight variations in the strength of gravitational attraction at a particular point in the surface of the earth.

Mr Moore said release of the datasets would help increase the prospectivity of the Yilgarn Craton, which lies within the Goldfields region.

The Yilgarn area lies between 50 and 800 kilometres east of Perth and is already known to contain a vast array of mineral wealth. About 70 per cent of Australia’s gold deposits come from WA and most of them come from the Yilgarn.

Around 65 per cent of Australia’s bauxite production is derived from the area which also hosts about 90 per cent of Australia’s nickel production.

“The datasets release covers an area rich in bauxite, nickel and gold,” Mr Moore said.