Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations Program

What is the Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations Program?

The Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations Program is a grant opportunity for exploratory drilling and geophysics in areas of the Northern Territory that have not yet been explored.

Background

The Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations (GDC) program is funded under the Northern Territory (NT) Government’s $26 million Resourcing the Territory initiative, aimed at increasing exploration in under explored areas of the NT.

The program provides for co-funding of approved drilling and geophysical acquisition projects where the outcomes are expected to improve geological knowledge in greenfields areas. Eligibility has been expanded in Round 14 to include diamond drilling in brownfields areas, with the aim of increasing knowledge of mineral systems and bringing forward resource development.

The Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations Program is administered by the Northern Territory Geological Survey (NTGS).

Funding

The Northern Territory Geological Survey (NTGS) administers the GDC program which awards approximately $1 million in exploration grants annually, to be shared between the successful applicants.

The GDC program provides co-funding assistance for half of the eligible direct program costs capped at:

$125,000 for selected greenfields diamond drilling programs; and
$100,000 for selected brownfields diamond drilling, greenfields reverse-circulation (RC) drilling and geophysical acquisition programs.

All amounts specified throughout are inclusive of GST.

The Territory Supplier Incentive (TSI) offers an additional $10,000 of co-funding per project to engage NT enterprises to complete works in the NT.

Eligible Projects

Greenfields and brownfields diamond drilling, greenfields RC drilling and geophysical acquisition programs are all eligible to apply.

Programs that seek to use innovative exploration tools or to obtain geological information at depth are encouraged to apply. Applications that use integrated or new technologies that test a clear, targeted geological problem may be considered for smaller prospect-scale programs. RC drilling will be considered in pure greenfields areas where evidence can be provided that no other drilling has been conducted in the area and a completely untested geological model is being investigated.

Eligibility has been expanded in round 14 to include:

Diamond drilling in brownfields areas, with the aim of increasing knowledge of mineral systems and bringing forward resource development.
Higher resolution regional geophysical acquisition.
Exemptions for withdrawn Round 13 projects to re-submit applications due to COVID-19 related delays. Applications will be competitively ranked against Round 14 applications. Please contact the Collaborations grant manager prior to re-submitting an application.

For full details on the specific assessment criteria for each program type, please refer to the appendices of the GDC Guidelines.

Timing

Applications close 03 May 2021.

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