Geological Survey of Western Australia Discovers New Chemical Fingerprint for Gold Prospecting

According to MiningNews.net, geologists funded by the Western Australian government have discovered a chemical fingerprint capable of revealing previously undiscovered concealed gold deposits. This discovery is expected to potentially spark a revolution in global mineral exploration, with Western Australia becoming the epicenter of a new gold rush.

This breakthrough by experts from the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) provides explorers with a new tool to potentially uncover more gold deposits in one of the world's richest gold regions.

On July 3, David Michael, the Minister for Mines and Petroleum of Western Australia, stated, "The chemical fingerprints discovered by GSWA will undoubtedly have a global impact on the use of geochemical data and will cement Western Australia's leading position in geoscience research."

By analyzing thousands of Earth samples, GSWA has identified chemical fingerprints associated with the formation of gold-rich mineralization systems, particularly those formed by the intrusion of molten rocks deep underground in ancient times.

Michael said that this discovery represents another step forward in global mineral exploration. Miners can now use this fingerprint to screen areas with high potential, rather than relying solely on broad assumptions or historical data, thereby reducing costs, managing risks, and improving discovery rates.

The world's largest and highest-yielding gold deposits are all located in gold mineralization systems related to intrusive rocks. These deposits form when mineral-rich fluids are released from cooling magma deep underground, enriching and precipitating gold over time. Identifying the subtle chemical signals of these systems has long been a challenge.

Using these new fingerprints, GSWA has already delineated high-potential target areas in the Yilgarn Craton, one of the world's oldest and most mineral-rich geological provinces.

By comparing industry drilling data with its enhanced geochemical models, GSWA is helping to reshape the way explorers evaluate known areas, potentially revealing undiscovered deposits hidden from plain sight.

These intrusive bodies may have multiple mineralization styles, indicating that a region may host multiple types of deposits.

In addition to gold, they often contain high-grade pathfinder elements—trace minerals indicating the presence of gold—as well as critical minerals like tellurium and bismuth, which are becoming increasingly important for driving the global energy transition.

"The Cook government's actions mean smarter exploration, new opportunities, and a stronger resources sector—we're on our way," Michael said.

He added that this discovery highlighted the Cook government's investment in smarter exploration. This includes ongoing funding for the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS), which underpins much of the data and research behind breakthroughs such as chemical fingerprinting.

Other initiatives, such as the purchase of a Tescan integrated mineral analyser, are helping GSWA scientists work faster and smarter. This new generation of tools improves mineral identification capabilities, enhances understanding of ore-forming systems, and provides greener and more efficient processing methods.

Important geoscience projects, such as the Western Australian Array and magnetotelluric surveys, continue to generate critical data that helps map deep crustal structures—locating ancient geological pathways that control mineral movement—providing a roadmap for future exploration.

GSWA's Geoscience Data Transformation Program has released over 10TB of new exploration data, with over 30TB to be released by 2026.

This open-access data provides explorers with a powerful advantage and supports industry-wide innovation.

"Our ongoing investment in mineral exploration is creating jobs and will deliver long-term benefits to communities across the state," Michael said.