Resources Victoria geoscientists are working to paint a picture for the first time of the ancient rocks hidden for millions of years deep under the Murray Basin, an area of ancient seas.
A collaboration between Geoscience Australia and the geological surveys of New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria has used seismic surveying to gather information about the structure of the Earth's crust as part of the federal government's Exploring for the Future program.
The technique involved sending sound waves into the ground and analysing the echoes to produce detailed images of the ancient geological formations to approximately 60 km below the surface, similar to a giant ultrasound.
Previous studies of the Murray Basin mainly focused on the geologically younger surface sediments, where heavy mineral sands deposits have been found. These deposits are critical for renewable energy technologies and are estimated by the CSIRO to have a potential in-ground value of at least $200 billion.
However, the thick sediment cover has hindered studies of the older, deeper rocks.
Insights from the Stavely Geoscience Project south of the Murray Basin between 2015 and 2018 shed some light on north-west Victoria's deeper geology.
Early results from the new seismic survey have provided new insights into the area's bedrock geology, enhancing our understanding of Victoria's geological evolution. These insights will inform explorers about the potential for gold and copper under the Murray Basin.
A detailed report on the findings is expected to be released in late 2025.
