Closed
Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations
Tender ID: 579570
Tender Details
Organisation:
Tender #:
-
Status:
Closed
Publish Date:
25 February 2025
Closing Date:
28 April 2025
Tender Description
Overview
The Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations (GDC) program is a competitive grants program funded by the Resourcing the Territory program. The GDC program aims to advance geological understanding and resource development in the Northern Territory.
Applicants are encouraged to apply for co-funding for exploration programs where the outcomes are expected to improve geological knowledge and resource targeting within a region, particularly at depth. The report and data generated from the co-funded programs become publicly accessible six months from the completion of the field work or on 1 August 2026 (whichever is earlier).The Northern Territory Geological Survey (NTGS) administers the GDC program which will award up to $3 million in exploration grants to successful applicants. The GDC program has been funded continuously through Northern Territory Government initiatives since 2008. For further information on current and previous co-funded programs, please visit the Resourcing the Territory website Exploration grants page.
Applicants must meet eligibility requirements to be considered for funding. Information about essential eligibility, project specific eligibility, the funding sequence, application process and successful applicants are detailed in the round 18 guidelines
| DATE | ACTION |
| Tuesday 25 February 2025 | Applications open for round 18 through GrantsNT |
| Monday 28 April 2025 (5:00pm ACST) | Applications for round 18 close through GrantsNT |
| May 2025 | Assessment panel meet. |
| June 2025 | Applicants notified of funding outcome. Funding agreements negotiated and signed with successful applicants |
| 1 August 2025 | Signed funding agreement must be returned. |
| 31 December 2025 | Fieldwork for round 18 to be complete |
| 30 June 2026 | Round 18 funding agreements end. |
| 1 August 2026 | Reports, data and sample will become OPEN FILE six months after project fieldwork completion or on 1 August 2026 (whichever is earlier). |
Available funding
The program provides co-funding up to 50% of direct claimable project costs inclusive of GST capped at specific co-funding amounts for specific projects.
Greenfields drilling- $200,000 for a single, deep diamond hole program
- $150,000 for multi-hole diamond drilling program
- $100,000 for non-diamond drilling program (RC, aircore, sonic, RAB).
Brownfields diamond drilling
- $150,000 for diamond drilling programs testing new concepts below or adjacent to a known deposit.
Regional-scale geophysics
- $150,000 for regional-scale geophysical acquisition resulting in a significant improvement in the resolution and quality of existing data (contiguous survey area greater than 350km2 or the complete contiguous
tenement package when less than 350 m²; or 25 km traverse length), or reflection seismic surveys of any size.
Innovative targeting
- $100,000 for camp- or prospect-scale acquisition of geophysics and/or geochemistry where technique and/or approach is Innovative in the area of interest. Multiple complementary datasets (geophysical/geochemical) to improve targeting will be viewed favourably.
- $100,000 for seismic re-processing to assist in visualizing sub-surface geology and undercover targeting.
Advancing critical minerals
- $50,000 for re-analysis of existing sample sets and/or mine waste to include previously untested critical minerals.
- $50,000 for early-stage metallurgical test work and/or ore characterisation to assess potential recoverability of critical minerals from mineralised material.
In addition to the co-funding available above, the Territory Supplier Incentive (TSI) scheme is available for any project that engages NT enterprises for service or supply. The TSI provides up to 50% of direct claimable project costs inclusive of GST capped at $10,000.
Please read the GDC round 18 guidelines for the full details and visit Exploration grants.
What can be funded
Greenfields drilling
Greenfields diamond drilling projects are eligible when:
- programs are located away from known deposits, and
- it is demonstrated by the applicant there is no previous diamond drilling in the area of interest, or the proposed drilling is to a significantly greater depth than existing drilling, and
- non-diamond pre-collars account for less than half of the proposed drill metreage.
Greenfields reverse-circulation (RC) drilling projects are eligible when:
- it is demonstrated by the applicant that no previous drilling of any method has been conducted in the area of interest, or
- any previous drilling in the area was shallow RAB or aircore drilling that did not effectively test bedrock.
Greenfields non-diamond drilling (aircore, RAB, sonic) are eligible when:
- it is demonstrated by the applicant that no previous drilling of any method has been conducted in the area of interest (e.g. first pass drilling of an area).
Brownfields diamond drilling
Brownfields diamond drilling projects are eligible for co-funding when:
- it is demonstrated by the applicant that the proposed program is drilling an untested conceptual target significantly deeper than existing drilling and/or target has not been adequately tested by drilling; and
- target must be outside of an existing Identified Resource
- Non-diamond pre-collars account for less than half of the proposed drill metreage.
Brownfields drilling projects will not be eligible when:
- drilling shallow holes into known mineralisation; undertaking resource definition or development drilling; or utilising RC, RAB, aircore or sonic drilling (except pre-collars).
Regional-scale geophysics
Regional-scale geophysics projects are eligible for co-funding when:
- acquiring regional-scale geophysics that results in a significant improvement in the resolution and quality of existing data; where
- airborne surveys (e.g. magnetics, radiometrics, electromagnetics, gravity gradiometry) and ground gravity surveys cover a contiguous area greater than 350km2 ; or the complete contiguous
- tenement package when less than 350 m²;or
- passive seismic, reflection seismic or MT traverses are greater than 25km length.
Innovative targeting
Innovative targeting projects are eligible for co-funding when:
- it is demonstrated by the applicant that the technique and / or approach has not been tested in the Project Area, or
- it is demonstrated by the applicant that no seismic re-processing has been undertaken or previous seismic re-processing was not adequate or to modern standards.
Advancing critical minerals
Advancing critical minerals projects are eligible when:
- it is demonstrated that there is insufficient existing analysis to determine whether the critical mineral/s of interest may be present in economically significant quantities in the identified prospect/deposit or mine waste, or
- it is demonstrated the mineralisation or ore deposit to be tested contains potentially economic accumulations of critical minerals and has had no substantial early stage metallurgical or ore characterisation test work undertaken.
Please read the GDC round 18 guidelines for the full description of eligible co-funding costs. For further details go to Exploration grants.
What can't be funded
Brownfields drilling projects will not be eligible when:
- drilling shallow holes into known mineralisation; undertaking resource definition or development drilling; or utilising RC, RAB, aircore or sonic drilling (except pre-collars).
Advancing critical mineral projects will not be eligible when:
- project development stage for metallurgical test work or ore characterisation is considered pre-feasibility and above, unless new critical minerals are being assessed.
How to apply
Please read the GDC round 18 guidelines and use the project specific proposal templates in 'Supporting Documents' below to complete your online application. Contact the grant manager anytime to discuss best template to use or for any queries regarding eligbility.
To apply:
1. Register an account with GrantsNT through the login button.
2. Create an Individual Profile.
3. Create or link to an Organisation Profile.
4. Apply for the GDC program through your Organisational Profile.
5. Fill in the online application form and upload your project proposal using project category templates in 'Supporting documents' and mandatory documents outlined in the GDC round 18 guidelines.
For help submitting your application in GrantsNT visit, Apply for a grant | GrantsNT Administration
- Supporting Documents
Details Template GDC Round 18 guidelines GDC_Round_18_Guidelines_2025-26.pdf Greenfields drilling proposal template Greenfields drilling proposal template_round 18.docx Brownfields diamond drilling proposal template Brownfields diamond drilling proposal template_round 18.docx Regional-scale geophysics proposal template Regional-scale geophysics proposal template_round 18.docx Innovative targeting proposal template Innovative targeting proposal template_round 18.docx Advancing critical minerals proposal template Advancing critical minerals proposal template_round 18.docx Project deliverables Project-deliverables_round 18.docx Final report template Final-report-template_round 18.docx Advice for successful applicants Advice for successful applicants_round 18.pdf Useful links
- Resourcing the Territory website
- Exploration grants
- Geological Sample Submission Form
- Geological Sample Submission Procedure
- Guideline 7 - Reporting on Mineral Titles
- Guidelines for NT onshore petroleum reporting and data submission
- Vendor creation form
Contact Details
Name: Grant manager
Role: Department
Phone: 0889995424
Email: collaborations.DME@nt.gov.au
Location
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