The State Government will commit $2 million to support an expansion of pre competitive mineral exploration data within the highly prospective Gawler Craton.

The focus of much of this work will be within the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) - a highly prospective area roughly the size of England.

Worth more than an estimated $35 billion of potential development including iron ore, gold and uranium prospects the WPA already hosts a number of mines, including the Challenger gold mine, Prominent Hill copper-gold mine and Peculiar Knob, high grade iron ore mine.

Treasurer Jack Snelling said the funding would be included in Thursday's State Budget to further unlock the potential of the Gawler Craton in the north of the state.

"Billions of dollars of spending on exploring in this State have already been unleashed by the Plan for Accelerating Exploration and pro-mining policies," Mr Snelling said.

"This new investment in addition to the ongoing work of PACE 2020 aims to extend this level of investment into the underexplored areas of the WPA.

"It will also provide valuable geo-scientific information that the State Government and Australian Governments can use to effectively manage a framework of co-existence of mining and defence interests in this strategically important area for Australia.

"One of the Government's key priorities is realising the benefits of the mining boom for all South Australians, this government is committed to seeing the expansion of a strong and robust resources industry through ongoing exploration."

Mr Snelling said the State Budget would also include $960,000 of funding over the next two years for initial design and scoping work to ensure the development of the state's drill core library facilities to promote exploration for minerals, petroleum, gas and geothermal energy in South Australia.

This work will lay the foundation for the creation of a Resources Information Centre with the world renowned drill core library at its heart.

Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the State Drill Core Reference Library housed drill core and rock cutting samples from resource exploration and mining activity across the State. The archives date back from the present day to the late 1800s.

"South Australia's core library, together with the online resources provided by SARIG - the South Australian Resources Information Geoserver - have been consistently voted World's no. 1 by the annual Fraser Institute Survey of global mining jurisdictions," Mr Koutsantonis said.

'The continued expansion of our States resources industry has seen major investment in minerals, petroleum, gas and geothermal energy securing a predicted $34 billion of resource projects in the pipeline.

"The Government and industry recognise that existing levels of departmental resourcing won't be sufficient to effectively deliver on the next wave of growth in these sectors.

"That is why we have invested $18.9 million over four years to address complex land access impediments and ensure the best practice environment assessments and timely approvals to the state's upcoming major resources developments.

"These additional resources are essential to sustain effective management of the states world class regulatory functions associated with the growing volume of minerals, petroleum and geothermal activities being carried out in South Australia.

"This proposal retains and builds on South Australia's internationally positive reputation in mining and includes investment for accommodation and equipment upgrades, funded through increases in regulated mining exploration and resources production fees, which will be done in consultation with the industry."

27 May 2012