Macro-scale targeting of magmatic-related uranium mineral systems

Created 17/10/2025

Updated 17/10/2025

Uranium-rich igneous rocks are recognised as an important source of metals in uranium mineral systems. Magmatic-related uranium mineralisation may be orthomagmatic in origin, forming via favourable igneous processes, or may result from the exsolution of uranium-rich fluids from particular magmas. Additionally, it is recognised that igneous rocks also may contribute directly to basin-related uranium mineral systems as a metal source. Thus, mapping of the distribution of uranium in igneous rocks has the potential to highlight prospective regions for uranium mineralisation at a macro-scale. Geoscience Australia has produced a series of three digital maps showing the uranium content of igneous rocks across Australia, drawing together geochemical and geological datasets from disparate open file sources. Map 1 shows the uranium concentration in whole rock geochemical analyses plotted as point data on a background of igneous rock type, which itself is derived from Geoscience Australia's 1:1 000 000 national surface geology map. Map 2 integrates these datasets, and shows the average uranium content of all intersecting geochemical data point for outcropping individual igneous rock units. In Map 3, a similar approach is employed in mapping the average uranium content of igneous rocks occurring under cover, using interpreted solid geology coverages. Combined, these maps provide a comprehensive picture of the province-scale trends in igneous uranium content across the continent. Using an applied knowledge of processes leading to uranium concentration in magmatic systems, igneous rocks exhibiting a favourable combination of factors are able to be identified for further analysis of prospectivity for uranium mineral systems.

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Additional Info

Field Value
Title Macro-scale targeting of magmatic-related uranium mineral systems
Language eng
Licence Not Specified
Landing Page https://data.gov.au/data/en/dataset/d1ea836d-186c-4bc1-b003-547878eb9093
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia Data
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period 20/04/2018
Geospatial Coverage
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
{
  "coordinates": [
    [
      [
        110.0,
        -44.0
      ],
      [
        156.0,
        -44.0
      ],
      [
        156.0,
        -9.0
      ],
      [
        110.0,
        -9.0
      ],
      [
        110.0,
        -44.0
      ]
    ]
  ],
  "type": "Polygon"
}
Data Portal Geoscience Australia

Data Source

This dataset was originally found on Geoscience Australia "Macro-scale targeting of magmatic-related uranium mineral systems". Please visit the source to access the original metadata of the dataset:
https://ecat.ga.gov.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/csw/dataset/macro-scale-targeting-of-magmatic-related-uranium-mineral-systems