Government of Western Australia Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety RECORD 2019/10 COAL RESOURCES OF THE CANNING BASIN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA: EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION HISTORY by SL Simons Geological Survey of Western Australia Government of Western Australia Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety RECORD 2019/10 COAL RESOURCES OF THE CANNING BASIN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA: EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION HISTORY by SL Simons PERTH 2019 MINISTER FOR MINES AND PETROLEUM Hon Bill Johnston MLA DIRECTOR GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF MINES, INDUSTRY REGULATION AND SAFETY David Smith EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND RESOURCE STRATEGY Jeff Haworth REFERENCE The recommended reference for this publication is: Simons, SL 2019, Coal resources of the Canning Basin, Western Australia: exploration and evaluation history: Geological Survey of Western Australia, Record 2019/10, 27p. ISBN 978-1-74168-868-9 ISSN 2204-4345 Grid references in this publication refer to the Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94). Locations mentioned in the text are referenced using Map Grid Australia (MGA) coordinates, Zone 50. All locations are quoted to at least the nearest 100 m. Disclaimer This product was produced using information from various sources. The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) and the State cannot guarantee the accuracy, currency or completeness of the information. Neither the department nor the State of Western Australia nor any employee or agent of the department shall be responsible or liable for any loss, damage or injury arising from the use of or reliance on any information, data or advice (including incomplete, out of date, incorrect, inaccurate or misleading information, data or advice) expressed or implied in, or coming from, this publication or incorporated into it by reference, by any person whosoever. Published 2019 by the Geological Survey of Western Australia This Record is published in digital format (PDF) and is available online at <www.dmp.wa.gov.au/GSWApublications>. © State of Western Australia (Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety) 2019 With the exception of the Western Australian Coat of Arms and other logos, and where otherwise noted, these data are provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence. (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode) Further details of geoscience products and maps are available from: Information Centre Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety 100 Plain Street EAST PERTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6004 Telephone: +61 8 9222 3459 Facsimile: +61 8 9222 3444 www.dmp.wa.gov.au/GSWApublications Cover image: Sunset over the Yalgoo Mineral Field. Photograph by T Ivanic, DMIRS Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................1 Regional geological setting ....................................................................................................................................1 Stratigraphic distribution of coal ............................................................................................................................2 Depositional environment ......................................................................................................................................3 Biostratigraphy .......................................................................................................................................................6 Coal quality and utilization ....................................................................................................................................6 Resources ...............................................................................................................................................................6 Geophysics .............................................................................................................................................................6 Previous exploration ...............................................................................................................................................6 Premier Mining Co. Pty Ltd (1965–66) ..........................................................................................................7 Thiess Bros Pty Ltd (1966–67) .......................................................................................................................7 Australian Inland Exploration Co. Ltd (1970–72) ..........................................................................................8 CRA Exploration Pty Limited (1974) ...........................................................................................................10 Esso Exploration and Production Australia Inc. (1974–75) ..........................................................................10 Shell Australia Ltd (1975) .............................................................................................................................10 Broken Hill Pty Co. Ltd (1973–79)...............................................................................................................10 Geopeko Limited (1978) ...............................................................................................................................11 CRA Exploration Pty Limited (1980) ...........................................................................................................11 BHP Minerals Ltd (Dampier Mining Company) (1980)...............................................................................11 Kennecott Exploration (Australia) Ltd (1981) ..............................................................................................12 Broken Hill Pty Co Ltd (1981)......................................................................................................................12 Hamersley Exploration Pty Ltd (1981) .........................................................................................................12 Santos Ltd (1981) ..........................................................................................................................................12 Mentof Pty Ltd (1982) ..................................................................................................................................12 Rio Tinto Exploration Pty Limited (2003) ....................................................................................................12 ASF Resources Pty Ltd (2008–12) ...............................................................................................................14 Rey Resources Limited, Blackfin Pty Ltd (2000–14) ...................................................................................14 Drilling history .......................................................................................................................................16 Cullen Exploration Pty Ltd (2009–10) ..........................................................................................................21 Derby Resources Pty Ltd (2010) ...................................................................................................................21 TPL Corporation Ltd (2011) .........................................................................................................................23 Petroleum wells ....................................................................................................................................................23 Summary ..............................................................................................................................................................24 References ............................................................................................................................................................24 Figures 1. Location of coal exploration drillholes in the Canning Basin .....................................................................2 2. Canning Basin location map of onshore tectonic subdivisions and major structures .................................3 3. Summary of Ordovician–Cretaceous stratigraphy, Canning Basin .............................................................4 4. Schematic cross section through the Canning Basin ...................................................................................5 5. Regional seismic interpretation across the Fitzroy Trough .........................................................................6 6. Location of holes drilled by companies: ASF Resources, Hamersley Exploration, Premier Mining and Rio Tinto Exploration ...........................................................................................................................8 7. Location of holes drilled by companies: BHP, CRA Exploration, Geopeko, Mentof, Rey Resources, Santos, Shell Australia, Thiess Bros and TPL ..........................................................................9 8. Location of holes drilled by companies: AIE, Derby Resources, Cullen Resources, Esso Exploration and Kennecott Exploration ......................................................................................................9 9. Rio Tinto drillhole MCL008 showing a single, shaley, banded seam .......................................................13