Geonome is an industry partner in the newly funded ARC Research Hub for Geodynamic Pathways to Critical Resources (GeoPath). Led by Professor Rhodri Davies at The Australian National University (ANU), the five-year Hub is supported through the 2026 Industrial Transformation Research Hubs round.
GeoPath will bring together geodynamics, data science and decision science to improve the search for critical resources. Its ambition is a Virtual Earth for Resources: a framework for understanding mineral formation and preservation across geological time, and turning that knowledge into practical exploration tools.
From Earth's deep past to future discoveries
The research will combine plate reconstructions, mantle dynamics, landscape evolution and artificial intelligence to assess mineral potential in space and time. For Geonome, this collaboration aligns with our focus on deep-time reconstruction and explainable AI for mineral exploration.
Four connected research themes
The GeoPath research program sets out eight coordinated projects across four themes:
- Identify: Reconstruct plate and mantle evolution to locate geological settings favourable for mineral formation and preservation, from global supercontinent cycles to Australian mineral provinces.
- Understand: Investigate how deep-Earth processes, crustal structure, uplift, erosion and burial influence mineral systems and their survival.
- Predict: Develop interpretable AI and probabilistic prospectivity models, linking geological, geophysical and geochemical evidence with geodynamic history to guide exploration beneath cover.
- Inform: Translate research into decision-support tools, trusted data workflows, professional training and opportunities for the next generation of geoscience researchers.
Working across research, industry and government
Geonome joins industry partners including Rio Tinto, Fleet Space Technologies, GeoSpectra and Terrescient, alongside Geoscience Australia, state geological surveys, Mineral Resources Tasmania and AuScope. The ARC funded-project report also lists Satyam Pratap Singh among the Hub's investigators.
By connecting research with exploration decisions, GeoPath aims to help partners narrow search areas, assess uncertainty and support responsible discovery of the resources needed for the clean-energy transition.
The Hub has been awarded A$3.66 million in ARC funding, alongside support from industry, government and participating universities.
Official announcements
Read the ARC funded-project report for the 2026 Research Hubs round and ANU's announcement of 16 October 2026. The ARC scheme-round statistics provide further context.
Research themes and illustration adapted from the GeoPath Hub overview supplied by the project team.