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Lithospheric conductors reveal source regions of convergent margin mineral systems

Created 16/10/2025

Updated 16/10/2025

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The clean energy transition will require a vast increase in metal supply, yet discoveries of new mineral deposits are declining. Recently, several case studies have demonstrated links between electrical conductors imaged using magnetotelluric (MT) data and mineral deposits. Use of MT methods for exploration is therefore growing but the general applicability has not yet been tested. We look at spatial relationships between conductors and three deposit styles and find that volcanic hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) and copper porphyry deposits show weak to moderate correlations with conductors in the upper mantle. In contrast, orogenic gold deposits show strong correlations with mid-crustal conductors. These differences likely reflect differences in the way these deposits form, and suggest a metamorphic-fluid source for orogenic gold is significant. The resistivity signature can be preserved for hundreds of millions of years, and therefore MT can be a powerful tool for mineral exploration.

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Additional Info

Field Value
Title Lithospheric conductors reveal source regions of convergent margin mineral systems
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/en/dataset/bd3eaab7-164b-490a-99f0-0bd90b201978
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period 08/04/2019
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
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    [
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        -44.0
      ],
      [
        154.0,
        -44.0
      ],
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        -9.0
      ],
      [
        112.0,
        -9.0
      ],
      [
        112.0,
        -44.0
      ]
    ]
  ],
  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Geoscience Australia

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "Lithospheric conductors reveal source regions of convergent margin mineral systems". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/lithospheric-conductors-reveal-source-regions-of-convergent-margin-mineral-systems