Abstract Native hydrogen and helium have been considered important resources in assisting the energy transition. Hydrogen and helium seeps have been reported worldwide, which may indicate large reserves within the subsurface. However, generation of hydrogen and helium is complex; poorly understood and constrained for both generation processes and migration. One source of native hydrogen is ultramafic rocks, which have experienced serpentinization together with water radiolysis. In contrast, helium generation occurs as the result of the radioactive decay of uranium and thorium present within radiogenically enriched basement. An exploration tool, dedicated to identifying areas with the geological settings and conditions favourable for native hydrogen and helium generation, has been developed and tested. Several databases have been created and integrated as part of this study (geological and geochemical generation models) to support and focus the search for both hydrogen and helium. Machine learning algorithms which extract value from geospatial data types for detecting various accumulations have been implemented. The first machine learning results demonstrate the significant value in integrating data and machine learning for high grading areas more conducive to accumulating hydrogen and helium.

Abstract Chemical and mineralogical evidence is reported, first for mudrocks from the Mid-Permian–Mid-Triassic Maitai Group and, secondly, for Late Permian(?) mudrocks from the structurally underlying Patuki Melange. Weathering and alteration indices indicate increased source weathering and aluminosilicate input stratigraphically upwards in the Maitai Group. The Maitai Group exhibits an upward change from a relatively enriched continental magmatic arc source (and related country rocks) during the Late Permian, to a relatively depleted continental magmatic arc source (and related country rocks) during the Triassic. The melange mudrocks have a similar provenance to the Late Permian mudrocks of the Maitai Group. The melange mudrocks are, however, generally less altered, probably because of additional, local, ophiolite-related input. Red iron-rich mudrocks accumulated widely in two Triassic Maitai Group formations and also locally in the Patuki Melange. The iron oxide was derived by continental weathering under warm conditions, and then accumulated relatively slowly under oxidizing seafloor conditions. The chemical evidence, as a whole, indicates sources for all of the mudrocks similar to the Median Batholith and associated country rocks, or non-exposed equivalents along the SE Gondwana active continental margin. Accumulation took place during a change from an icehouse to a hothouse world.