Discovery Through the Ages – A Journey of Coal Resource Discovery in Queensland's Bowen Basin From the 1960’s and the 2000’s

Abstract

Exploration methods, technology and equipment may have changed greatly over the last few decades but still does not replace sound geological principles in making new coal resource discoveries. Starting with a case history of the early big discoveries in the Bowen Basin, Central Queensland, author and co presenter Mr Lex Hansen will provide an overview of the methods, techniques, equipment and successes of exploration during the early 1960’s in the Bowen Basin. Mr Hansen was a member of the team of 3 geologists working for Utah development Company (purchased by BHP Ltd in the 1980’s) that made the first big coking coal discoveries in the Bowen Basin extending from Blackwater in the south along the western side of the Basin to Goonyella in the north. The majority of these discoveries are still in production today, some 50 years later. These are compared and contrasted with a more recent case study involving greenfields discovery’s at the Meteor Downs South Project located also in the Bowen Basin Central Queensland. This will provide a unique opportunity to review coal exploration methodology, technology and successes. Co author and co presenter Mr Darren Walker lead the teams responsible for this discovery. The authors then contrast and compare exploration from the ‘then’ and ‘now’ and discuss the importance of ‘grass roots’ geological field work, data analysis and principles in successful exploration regardless of the perceived exploration or resource maturity of a mineral province. Much has changed in the 60 odd years between the discovery of the world class coking coal deposits along the western edge of the Bowen Basin with the most significant being technology and significant increases in regulation, community expectations and approvals now governing coal exploration in Queensland. This begs the question as to whether this change has achieved the benefits desired and resulted in further major discoveries, or if its has further hindered the exploration industry and the discovery of the future of the coal resources in Queensland.