Introduction
My Parliamentary colleagues, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, welcome. It gives me great pleasure to be with you all today for this auspicious launch of Geoscience's exciting Sensitive High Resolution Ion MicroProbe, or SHRIMP, as it is colloquially referred to.
SHRIMP capacity
This state-of-the-art, mineral age-detecting instrument provides vital information assisting in the exploration for, and discovery of, mineral and energy resources.
As Minister for Resources and Energy, this potential for exploration and discovery is both very exciting and critical for the future and for the wealth and energy security of our nation.
The SHRIMP may also have the capacity to identify brand new resources.
The SHRIMP holds the record for the analysis of the oldest mineral grain on earth, at 4402 million years from a rock in the Jack Hills, WA. This is only 100 million years younger than the actual age of the Earth itself.
The physics are pretty extraordinary as well. Approximately 50 billion atoms of oxygen per second, at a speed of 28 million km/per hour are focussed into the microbeam that ablates the mineral samples. What this equates to is, if it was possible to direct this beam without interference, it would only take 8 seconds for it to go around the coastline. Pretty amazing stuff!
As Australia is explored more and more, it will be increasingly difficult to locate new mineral deposits. Geochronology provides crucial information about the geological processes which form mineral deposits and gives explorers a comprehensive understanding of mineral systems within current and prospective areas.
This information is particularly significant as it increases our knowledge of the geological evolution of the Australian continent and the formation of mineral and petroleum resources.
Project Background
It all started in the 1970s, with the development of the SHRIMP technology at the Australian National University's (ANU) Research School of Earth Sciences.
Recognising the potential for the SHRIMP technology in aiding the mapping of complex Australian geology, AGSO, the predecessor to Geoscience Australia (GA), established a relationship with the ANU and contributed to the development of the commercial version of this new instrument.
An offshoot of the ANU, Australian Scientific Instruments (ASI), was established in 1998 to commercialise the technology. ASI has become a local success story, with 14 of the SHRIMP instruments being sold within Australia and internationally, to laboratories in Japan, Canada, the United States, Russia, China, Korea and Brazil. That is quite an achievement and shows the vital linkages between our tertiary institutions and bodies such GA.
Significance of Launch
This long-standing relationship between GA and the SHRIMP enters a new exciting phase with today's opening.
Having the SHRIMP located at GA is the result of increased demand for high quality geochronology by GA and their State and NT partners in their geoscience programs. GA intends to make this a world-class centre for geochronology resource centre of exploration and discovery.
In addition, housing the SHRIMP at GA will further support GA's activities under the Onshore Energy Security Initiative. I would like to take this opportunity to wish GA all the best with their endeavours.
Closing
I would like to thank you for inviting me here today and wish everyone associated with this state-of-the art instrument every possible success for the future.