As the global energy transition accelerates, demand for base metals like copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and nickel (Ni) is booming. Yet, exploration success rates for major discoveries are shrinking worldwide. In Australia—home to an array of world-class resources—the biggest challenge isn’t finding the right rocks, it’s working out where to start looking beneath the post-mineralisation cover that hides up to 80% of the continent’s prospective geology.

In a world where major mineral discoveries are increasingly elusive and hidden beneath cover, Geoscience Australia has crafted a powerful lens into the Earth’s potential—mineral systems-based prospectivity mapping. This approach, backed by decades of data and a deep understanding of geology, is turning Australia into a frontier once again, particularly in the hunt for Iron Oxide Copper-Gold (IOCG) deposits.