ClosedBusinessRound 19
Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations (GDC) program
Northern Territory Geological Survey · Australia
The Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations program is a competitive Northern Territory co-funding grant for mineral exploration projects that improve geological knowledge and resource targeting. Round 19 offers up to 50% of eligible project costs, with capped amounts for drilling, geophysics, innovative targeting, and mineral characterisation and testwork.
Funding
$15K – $200K
Closed
22 Apr 2026
Duration
up to 1 year
Location
Northern Territory
Who Can Apply
• Applicants must meet essential and project-specific eligibility requirements in the Round 19 guidelines.
• Projects must be exploration programs in the Northern Territory that improve geological knowledge and resource targeting.
• Co-funding is available for up to 50% of direct claimable project costs inclusive of GST, subject to category caps.
• Greenfields diamond drilling must be away from known deposits, with no previous diamond drilling in the area or significantly greater depth than existing drilling.
• Greenfields diamond and brownfields diamond drilling require non-diamond pre-collars to account for less than half of proposed drill metreage.
• Greenfields RC drilling must show no previous drilling in the area, or only shallow RAB or aircore drilling that did not effectively test bedrock.
• Greenfields non-diamond drilling must be first-pass style drilling with no previous drilling of any method in the area.
• Brownfields diamond drilling must test an untested conceptual target significantly deeper than existing drilling or not adequately tested, and be outside an existing Identified Resource.
• Brownfields projects are not eligible for shallow drilling into known mineralisation, resource definition or development drilling, or RC/RAB/aircore/sonic drilling except pre-collars.
• Regional-scale geophysics must significantly improve existing data and cover a contiguous area greater than 350 square kilometres, the complete contiguous tenement package when smaller, or traverses greater than 25 kilometres.
• Innovative targeting must use a technique or approach not previously tested in the project area, or involve seismic re-processing not previously undertaken or not adequate to modern standards.
• Mineral characterisation and testwork must address insufficient existing analysis, critical minerals potential, or novel early-stage metallurgical or ore characterisation approaches.
• Mineral characterisation and testwork at pre-feasibility stage and above is not eligible unless new critical minerals are being assessed.
• Territory Supplier Incentive support is available for projects engaging Northern Territory enterprises for service or supply.
Applicants must meet essential and project-specific eligibility requirements set out in the Round 19 guidelines. Eligible projects are exploration programs in the Northern Territory seeking co-funding for activities that improve geological knowledge and resource targeting. Greenfields diamond drilling must be away from known deposits, with no previous diamond drilling in the area or significantly greater depth than existing drilling, and non-diamond pre-collars less than half of proposed drill metreage. Greenfields RC drilling must show no previous drilling in the area, or only shallow RAB or aircore drilling that did not effectively test bedrock. Greenfields non-diamond drilling must show no previous drilling of any method in the area. Brownfields diamond drilling must test an untested conceptual target significantly deeper than existing drilling or not adequately tested, be outside an existing Identified Resource, and have non-diamond pre-collars less than half of proposed drill metreage; shallow drilling into known mineralisation, resource definition or development drilling, and RC/RAB/aircore/sonic drilling except pre-collars are ineligible. Regional-scale geophysics must significantly improve the resolution and quality of existing data and meet minimum area or traverse thresholds. Innovative targeting must use a technique or approach not previously tested in the project area, or involve seismic re-processing not previously undertaken or not adequate to modern standards. Mineral characterisation and testwork must address insufficient existing analysis, critical minerals potential, or novel early-stage metallurgical or ore characterisation approaches; pre-feasibility stage and above is ineligible unless new critical minerals are being assessed.
What's Funded
Co-funded mineral exploration activities in the Northern Territory including greenfields drilling, brownfields diamond drilling, regional-scale geophysical acquisition, innovative geophysics or geochemistry targeting, seismic re-processing, re-analysis of existing sample sets or mine waste, and early-stage metallurgical testwork or ore characterisation. Projects may also access a Territory Supplier Incentive when engaging Northern Territory enterprises for service or supply.Expected Outcomes
Improved geological understanding, better resource targeting, exploration data and reports, geological analyses, project deliverables, final reports, and public release of reports, data and samples six months after fieldwork completion or by 2027-09-01, whichever is earlier.Key Information
Applicant Types
companypartnershipsole_traderother
Stage
early_stagegrowthestablished
Funding Purposes
r_and_dinnovationcapital_expenditurecommercialisationother
Keywords
mineral explorationgeophysicsdrillingbrownfieldsgreenfieldsregional geophysicsinnovative targetingmetallurgical testwork
Frequently Asked Questions
1
What is the Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations (GDC) program?
The Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations (GDC) program is a business grant offered by Northern Territory Geological Survey in Australia, providing $15K – $200K in funding. The Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations program is a competitive Northern Territory co-funding grant for mineral exploration projects that improve geological knowledge and resource targeting. Round 19 offers up to 50% of eligible project costs, with capped amounts for drilling, geophysics, innovative targeting, and mineral characterisation and testwork.
2
How much funding does the Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations (GDC) program provide?
The Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations (GDC) program provides $15K – $200K in funding. The typical project duration is up to 1 year.
3
Who is eligible for the Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations (GDC) program?
- Applicants must meet essential and project-specific eligibility requirements in the Round 19 guidelines.
- Projects must be exploration programs in the Northern Territory that improve geological knowledge and resource targeting.
- Co-funding is available for up to 50% of direct claimable project costs inclusive of GST, subject to category caps.
- Greenfields diamond drilling must be away from known deposits, with no previous diamond drilling in the area or significantly greater depth than existing drilling.
- Greenfields diamond and brownfields diamond drilling require non-diamond pre-collars to account for less than half of proposed drill metreage.
- Greenfields RC drilling must show no previous drilling in the area, or only shallow RAB or aircore drilling that did not effectively test bedrock.
- Greenfields non-diamond drilling must be first-pass style drilling with no previous drilling of any method in the area.
- Brownfields diamond drilling must test an untested conceptual target significantly deeper than existing drilling or not adequately tested, and be outside an existing Identified Resource.
- Brownfields projects are not eligible for shallow drilling into known mineralisation, resource definition or development drilling, or RC/RAB/aircore/sonic drilling except pre-collars.
- Regional-scale geophysics must significantly improve existing data and cover a contiguous area greater than 350 square kilometres, the complete contiguous tenement package when smaller, or traverses greater than 25 kilometres.
- Innovative targeting must use a technique or approach not previously tested in the project area, or involve seismic re-processing not previously undertaken or not adequate to modern standards.
- Mineral characterisation and testwork must address insufficient existing analysis, critical minerals potential, or novel early-stage metallurgical or ore characterisation approaches.
- Mineral characterisation and testwork at pre-feasibility stage and above is not eligible unless new critical minerals are being assessed.
- Territory Supplier Incentive support is available for projects engaging Northern Territory enterprises for service or supply.
4
When does the Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations (GDC) program close?
Applications closed on 22 Apr 2026.
5
What activities are funded?
Co-funded mineral exploration activities in the Northern Territory including greenfields drilling, brownfields diamond drilling, regional-scale geophysical acquisition, innovative geophysics or geochemistry targeting, seismic re-processing, re-analysis of existing sample sets or mine waste, and early-stage metallurgical testwork or ore characterisation. Projects may also access a Territory Supplier Incentive when engaging Northern Territory enterprises for service or supply.
6
How do I apply for the Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations (GDC) program?
Start by checking your eligibility using the free Beta Docs eligibility checker. If eligible, Beta Docs' AI-powered platform can help you draft, review, and refine your application to maximise your chances of success.
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