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Recent advances in exploration for volcanic-hosted Cu-Zn in Western Australia have included the discovery of Au-rich lenses at depths of as much as 1 300 m through innovative geology and drilling campaigns and the successful use of electromagnetic techniques. However, differentiating between conductive black shales and massive sulphides through conductive overburden remains a major challenge for geophysical exploration. Advances in airborne hyperspectral surveying techniques have identified regional alteration patterns that represent potential targets. Significant progress in the exploration and understanding of modern seafloor hydrothermal systems is also being applied to exploration for ancient massive sulphides in Australia. The volume brings together a diverse range of expertise in chapters on these and other exploration techniques and on the geology and mineralisation of particular massive sulphide deposits or hydrothermal systems in Western Australia and in Canadian and Papua New Guinean provinces., Recent advances in exploration for volcanic-hosted Cu-Zn in Western Australia have included the discovery of Au-rich lenses at depths of as much as 1 300 m through innovative geology and drilling campaigns and the successful use of electromagnetic techniques. However, differentiating between conductive black shales and massive sulphides through conductive overburden remains a major challenge for geophysical exploration. Advances in airborne hyperspectral surveying techniques have identified regional alteration patterns that represent potential targets. Significant progress in the exploration and understanding of modern seafloor hydrothermal systems is also being applied to exploration for ancient massive sulphides in Australia. The volume brings together a diverse range of expertise in chapters on these and other exploration techniques and on the geology and mineralisation of particular massive sulphide deposits or hydrothermal systems in Western Australia and in Canadian and Papua New Guinean provinces.

Around 30 Western Australian deposits and prospects (including the various Golden Grove deposits) are listed with their age, terrain, year of discovery, depth, discovery methods, tonnages, grades and literature references. Lead isotopic signatures and lithogeochemistry are discussed and the Horseshoe, Mount Gibson and Nimbus deposits described including the economic benefits of their deep weathering and supergene enrichment. Almost all deposits, though with a few notable exceptions, have had some form of Fe-rich gossan at surface, while the discovery of Jaguar at 450 m depth has improved perceptions of the effectiveness of electromagnetic exploration techniques. Homogeneous Pb isotope signatures signify discrete metallogenic events, especially in the Murchison and Eastern Goldfields terranes, and have potential for screening alteration and geochemical targets. Further surface discoveries are still likely as well as deeper brownfield ones, but better understanding of weathering and transport is needed for greenfield exploration., Around 30 Western Australian deposits and prospects (including the various Golden Grove deposits) are listed with their age, terrain, year of discovery, depth, discovery methods, tonnages, grades and literature references. Lead isotopic signatures and lithogeochemistry are discussed and the Horseshoe, Mount Gibson and Nimbus deposits described including the economic benefits of their deep weathering and supergene enrichment. Almost all deposits, though with a few notable exceptions, have had some form of Fe-rich gossan at surface, while the discovery of Jaguar at 450 m depth has improved perceptions of the effectiveness of electromagnetic exploration techniques. Homogeneous Pb isotope signatures signify discrete metallogenic events, especially in the Murchison and Eastern Goldfields terranes, and have potential for screening alteration and geochemical targets. Further surface discoveries are still likely as well as deeper brownfield ones, but better understanding of weathering and transport is needed for greenfield exploration.

Past trends are illustrated by graphs of copper and zinc prices since 1955 that show the sharp decline in real Cu prices from 1965 onwards, a bar chart of Australian base-metal exploration expenditure from 1980-81 to 2002-03 and a list of Australian discoveries from 1871 to 2003 with metals, deposit types, exploration methods and references. The objectives and expenditure on research and development of the various Australian cooperative research centres in exploration, mining and metallurgy are listed and CSIRO's research and development in base-metal exploration for copper-zinc deposits in the Yilgarn craton is outlined. Accurate data with which to quantify the R&D effort and to evaluate its economic benefits are difficult to assemble. The trend in base-metal exploration research is towards a more holistic and integrated approach, determining the types of ore systems that best meet industry needs and increasing understanding of how they are formed and preserved as well as how they can be detected in a variety of terrains., Past trends are illustrated by graphs of copper and zinc prices since 1955 that show the sharp decline in real Cu prices from 1965 onwards, a bar chart of Australian base-metal exploration expenditure from 1980-81 to 2002-03 and a list of Australian discoveries from 1871 to 2003 with metals, deposit types, exploration methods and references. The objectives and expenditure on research and development of the various Australian cooperative research centres in exploration, mining and metallurgy are listed and CSIRO's research and development in base-metal exploration for copper-zinc deposits in the Yilgarn craton is outlined. Accurate data with which to quantify the R&D effort and to evaluate its economic benefits are difficult to assemble. The trend in base-metal exploration research is towards a more holistic and integrated approach, determining the types of ore systems that best meet industry needs and increasing understanding of how they are formed and preserved as well as how they can be detected in a variety of terrains.