Australia's premier mineral province covers 10% of the Australian continent, attracts more than half the nation's mineral exploration expenditure and produces two thirds of the gold and most of the nickel mined in the country.

Known as the Yilgarn Craton, this geological region covers about 2.5 million hectares in Western Australia (see image above), and is Australia's oldest, largest and most productive mineral province. For this reason, Geoscience Australia has developed an online GIS which can either display all deposits in the region or just a single mineral, such as gold or nickel deposits.

The Yilgarn online GIS displays a wide range of data including geological datasets, topographical data, geophysical images and seismic traverses, whole rock geochemistry, geochronology samples, aeromagnetic interpretation and a geological interpretation of the province.

Discoveries of new oil and gas reserves occurred in Western Australia and Victoria during the 1st quarter of 2003.

Highlights in this period include:

• Offshore gas discoveries at Dawn in the Carnarvon Basin of Western Australia and Scallop in the Gippsland Basin of Victoria.
• Offshore oil discoveries at Crackling South and Stybarrow in the Carnarvon Basin of Western Australia.
• Offshore oil and gas discovery at Cyrano in the Carnarvon Basin of Western Australia.
• Onshore oil discovery at Eremia in the Perth Basin of Western Australia.

The 1st Quarter Petroleum Statistics includes preliminary statistics for wells and metres drilled, seismic survey line and square kilometres recorded and rig activity from 1 January to 31 March 2003.

Geoscience Australia compiles these statistics using data from various sources including the petroleum exploration industry and State and Northern Territory Departments of Mines.

Geoscience Australia provides research and advice to government and industry on petroleum prospects, reserves and potential in Australian territory.

Read more about our oil and gas program.