The Neoproterozoic to Paleozoic Thomson Orogen is a major component of the Tasmanides of
eastern Australia that extends through large portions of central and southwest Queensland and
northwest New South Wales. Much of the Thomson Orogen is buried under younger
sedimentary basins (some up to several kilometres thick) and regolith cover, making it one of the
most poorly understood elements of Australia’s geology. As a result, the mineral potential of the
region is also poorly defined.
The Southern Thomson Project (the Project) is a collaborative investigation between the
Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia – GA) and its partners the State of New South
Wales (Department of Trade and Investment, Geological Survey of New South Wales – GSNSW) and
the State of Queensland (Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Geological Survey of
Queensland – GSQ).
The Project aims to better understand the geological character and mineral potential of the southern
Thomson Orogen region, focusing on the border between New South Wales and Queensland, by
acquiring and interpreting multi-disciplinary geophysical, geochemical and geological data. The
primary intended impact of this work is to provide the mineral exploration industry with pre-competitive
data and knowledge that reduces risk and encourages mineral exploration in the region.