EPG7 & EPG9 Queensland

Background

In Queensland geothermal exploration permits are awarded by a tender process. A round of tenders closed in 2007 and on 17 May 2007 KUTh was appointed preferred tenderer for two areas, Jackin Creek on the Cape York Penisular and Eveleigh north of Einasleigh.

Jackin Creek

Jackin Creek EPG7

The area lies adjacent to the previous Reserved Area 315 (RA315) containing bauxite. Chalco, the Chinese aluminium company recently successfully bid for RA315 which is expected to form the basis for a $3b investment in Queensland. Bauxite is also mined at Weipa to the north.

Approximately 1km of Mesozoic sediments overlie an altered granite basement. The temperature gradient is ~50°C/km in the sediments as measured in petroleum wells, e.g. Jackin Creek #1. Groundwater is artesian and hot.

Hot Artesian bore at Weipa, 4 Aug 1958
National Archives of Australia: A1200, L26746

 

Eveleigh

Eveleigh EPG9

This area lies immediately south of Tallaroo Hot Springs, one of the hottest springs in North Queensland at 70°C. The general area contains volcanics as young as 50,000 years with a major centre at Mount Surprise to the east of the permit area. Other areas in North Queensland have volcanics as young as 10,000 years. The geology is complex with at least two possible heat sources but as a starting model it is assumed that the thermal activity is related to the young volcanics. The hot springs seem to be associated with the north western margin of a caldera some 30km across extending towards Mt Surprise.

 

Other Areas

KUTh has nominated a further two areas in Queensland for future tender.

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