Yeah, I'm fairly certain that the resource-discovery techs spawn a specific set of resources directly in your area of influence somewhere.  In my earliest games, I used to rush them assuming that it would reveal new resources everywhere and help me decide where to found new cities, but all that actually happened is that my lone capital wound up swamped with bees, orchards, and mines.

Yeah that needs to be fixed.  You are kind of screwed if you do not wait to research those techs.  Not only will your later outposts be deprived of potential resources, but the growth of your capital can be hindered by limiting availible tiles as it is choked off by excessive resource squares.  I'm not so sure that the tech that discovers food resources works that way too though.  I have noticed new (maybe 1-2 on a large map) appearing later in the game but that may have been from something else.

Exploration has only ever revealed Gold for me. It could be a fluke, but I've had it happen that way 100% of the time.

So far as I can tell, the "WORLDAWARENESS" flag is hard-coded, meaning that its definition isn't exposed in any XML so far. Deciphering out just what it is supposed to produce for the player upon being researched is, well, a matter of trial and error at best, I'm afraid. Know that other, similar techs are quite explicit about the resulting resource--metals, gold, etcetera are listed as the wholly expected result of the tech.

With that in mind, I'm fairly certain that I've seen an iron deposit spawn as a result of the exploration tech. Don't take that as gospel truth, I'm anything but 100% certain. Perhaps, time permitting, I'll test it out a bit. Even a fairly small sample should be enough to tell us if it consistently produces the same resource (e.g., gold) or if there is any randomization to it, however weighted.

I'm playing my first Empire game, and I see you are missing some Domination techs. This branch of the Domination Tree opens up various buildings that can be built.

The Old Order (Likely): This breakthru represents a significant effort on behalf of our scouts. We will map out more of the world and find superior notable locations which can provide great items. Unfortunately, it also awakens more dangerous creatures.

Unlocks:
Temple of the Titans: The Temple of the Titans increase [sic] the Influence produced by the settlement.
Requires Allegiance: Empire
Per faction: 1
Requires:
Guildar: 90
Labor: 15
Open Tiles: 1
City Level: 3

Leads to: Order of Zaleth

Order of Zaleth: Zaleth was Curgen's chief treasurer. Legend says he could make Guildar appear out of thin air. While we doubt that is the case, this technolgoy will allow us to construct a Treasure in his honor and thus attract the scholars of the coin who can increase that settlement's wealth production.

Unlocks:
Zaleth's Treasury: Zaleths' [sic] Treasury increases the Gildar produced by the settlement by 50%.
Requires Allegiance: Empire
Per faction: 1
Requires:
Gildar: 40
Materials: 80
Labor: 15
Open Tiles: 1
City Level: 3
Bonuses:
Gildar: 50%

Leads to: Keepers of the Telenanth

Keepers of the Telenanth: It is said that the Telenanth is the source of all magic. Long before there was life, there was Telenanth. Legend says it took on the physical form of a splendid crystal. Curgen's journals indicate that the Shards themselves are fragments of this Telenanth. By learning more on the Telenanth, we hope to be able to make better use of Arcane Crystal which in turn will allow the construction of more powerful items to aid our soldiers.

Unlocks:
Temple of the Telenanth: The Temple of the Telenanth increases the Crystal produced by the settlement by 100%.
Requires Allegiance: Empire
Per faction: 1
Requires:
Gildar: 80
Materials: 50
Labor: 15
Open Tiles: 1
City Level: 3
Bonuses:
Crystal: 100%

Leads to: Order of Islidar

Order of Islidar: Islidar is the legendary farmer who is said to have created the first fruit orchards in the world. We have been fortunate enough to recover his notes only to find that much of his power comes in the form of an enchanted soil given to him by one of the great Magic of the first age. His notes, however, indicate that there is enough of this enchanted soil to vastly increase the food production of a single settlement. We have called this soil "Islidar's Bounty."

Unlocks:
Islidar's Bounty: Islidar's Bounty increases the Food produced by the settlement by 100%.
Requires Allegiance: Empire
Per faction: 1
Requires:
Gildar: 40
Materials: 80
Labor: 15
Open Tiles: 1
City Level: 3
Bonuses:
Food: 100%

Leads to: Keepers of the Faith

Keepers of the Faith: The Titans have only been gone a century and already there are those who would have us believe that the Titans were evil destroyers who enslaved. The truth is the only weapon we have to fight such blasphemy. Be assembling the true knowledge of the past, we can build a Temple of Knowledge which will greatly increase our world research capability and spread the word on the benevolence of the Titans.

Unlocks:
Temple of Knowledge: The Temple of Knowledge increases the Tech Knowledge produced by the settlement by 100%.
Requires Allegiance: Empire
Per faction: 1
Requires:
Gildar: 140
Materials: 20
Labor: 15
Open Tiles: 1
City Level: 3
Bonuses:
Tech Knowledge: 100%

Leads to: Order of the Emerald

Order of the Emerald: The Emerald Sorceress was beloved by both the Kingdoms of Men and the Empires of old. By making one of our settlements the center of worship of lost Arnor, we can greatly increase that settlement's influence.

Unlocks:
Emerald Palace: The Emerald Palace increases the Influence produced by the settlement.
Requires Allegiance: Empire
Per faction: 1
Requires:
Gildar: 100
Labor: 25
Open Tiles: 1
City Level: 4

Leads to: Keepers of Avarice

Keepers of Avarice: Greed is a powerful motivator. Long ago, the Titans build [sic] splendid Temples to attract the most greedy of mortals who, in turn, enriched those around them. This technology will allow us to reconstruct this temple.

Unlocks:
Temple of Avarice: The Temple of Avarice increases the Gildar produced by the settlement by 100%.
Requires Allegiance: Empire
Per faction: 1
Requires:
Gildar: 80
Materials: 50
Labor: 15
Open Tiles: 1
City Level: 3
Bonuses:
Gildar: 100%

Leads to: Order of Draginol

Order of Draginol: The Order of Draginol claims that it can rediscover lost shards. We are skeptical of this claim. It cannot be verified since where were these shards previously? Nevertheless, this technology will allegedly reveal more elemental shards.

Unlocks:
Order of Draginol: The Order of Draginol summons Lost Shards to the world.
Requires Allegiance: Empire
Per Game: 1
Requires:
Gildar: 80
Materials: 50
Labor: 15
Open Tiles: 1
City Level: 3

You're right, I should have included that track as well. Originally I was trying to stay focused more on the notables and quest levels dimension and, obviously, it started to grow from there. In any case, I'll update the OP with the "buildings" track soon. Thanks!

Kingdom
1st: Gold Mine
2nd: Orchard and Apiary

Empire
1st: Gold Mine
2nd: Gold Mine

The first level for Kingdoms appears to be random, as I have had it spawn a Crystal Crag.

I'm poking around in the Empire files now.  I've been adding 'Game Effect: Raises 'x' Level.  More monsters appear.' to the descriptions for my own mod.  Just thought I'd point out that 'The Old Order' raises Notable Locations (Goodiehut) Level, so a Level of 6 in Notable Locations is possible with Empire...