Seismic wavespeeds and attenuation in upper-mantle rocks: a laboratory study of the effect of partial melting. The influence of partial melting on the seismic properties of the Earth's upper mantle will be explored through a laboratory study. Synthetic rock specimens consisting of the upper-mantle mineral olivine and a small proportion of basaltic magma will be prepared and their grain-scale melt distribution will be characterised. The seismic properties of these materials will be measured at ....Seismic wavespeeds and attenuation in upper-mantle rocks: a laboratory study of the effect of partial melting. The influence of partial melting on the seismic properties of the Earth's upper mantle will be explored through a laboratory study. Synthetic rock specimens consisting of the upper-mantle mineral olivine and a small proportion of basaltic magma will be prepared and their grain-scale melt distribution will be characterised. The seismic properties of these materials will be measured at high temperatures and seismic frequencies with novel locally developed equipment. Comparison with melt-free equivalents will allow the influence of the added magma to be quantified, allowing robust interpretation of seismological models of Earth structure with implications for its chemical and dynamical evolution.Read moreRead less
Exploration potential and implications for stress transfer modelling in fault-related mineral deposits. Following our success in the application of stress transfer modelling (STM) techniques to understand the clustered distribution of upper crustal, Archean gold deposits within crustal scale fault systems, this project seeks to test and develop the application of STM in (1) gold systems formed below the crustal seismogenic regime, (2) for deposit-scale targeting, and (3) in a range of fault-re ....Exploration potential and implications for stress transfer modelling in fault-related mineral deposits. Following our success in the application of stress transfer modelling (STM) techniques to understand the clustered distribution of upper crustal, Archean gold deposits within crustal scale fault systems, this project seeks to test and develop the application of STM in (1) gold systems formed below the crustal seismogenic regime, (2) for deposit-scale targeting, and (3) in a range of fault-related mineral deposits other than Archaean gold systems. The project will also develop methods to evaluate the combined roles of co-seismic stress transfer and post-seismic fluid redistribution in influencing deposit distribution. The approach provides a new conceptual framework in which to develop exploration strategies for deep earth resources.Read moreRead less
The Role of Hydrous Fluids in Fault Processes: An Experimental Study. The proposed project seeks to understand how hydrothermal reactions in fault zones affect various physical properties such as fault strength and permeability. The project will be conducted by performing high pressure experiments which simulate natural conditions. I will also develop new analytical techniques to characterize the microstructural evolution of faults, with a focus on understanding how any changes alter the hydrolo ....The Role of Hydrous Fluids in Fault Processes: An Experimental Study. The proposed project seeks to understand how hydrothermal reactions in fault zones affect various physical properties such as fault strength and permeability. The project will be conducted by performing high pressure experiments which simulate natural conditions. I will also develop new analytical techniques to characterize the microstructural evolution of faults, with a focus on understanding how any changes alter the hydrologic behaviour of the fault. This study will shed much needed information related to the mechanisms of earthquake nucleation, and to the formation mechanism of fault-hosted gold deposits.Read moreRead less
High-temperature Elastic Wave Speeds of Mantle Minerals and their Seismological Implications. Laboratory measurements of elastic wave speeds are critical for the interpretation of seismological models for the Earth's deep interior. During the past several years, research groups at ANU and Stony Brook University have separately been proving novel experimental techniques for measurement of the temperature dependence of elastic wave speeds. Now a timely collaboration is proposed in which we would ....High-temperature Elastic Wave Speeds of Mantle Minerals and their Seismological Implications. Laboratory measurements of elastic wave speeds are critical for the interpretation of seismological models for the Earth's deep interior. During the past several years, research groups at ANU and Stony Brook University have separately been proving novel experimental techniques for measurement of the temperature dependence of elastic wave speeds. Now a timely collaboration is proposed in which we would exploit access to similar temperature ranges under two very different pressure regimes to examine the mixed pressure-temperature dependence of wave speeds that is so critical for the inference of chemical composition, mineralogical make-up, and temperature variations within the Earth's mantle.Read moreRead less
From crust to core: probing the heterogeneity of the Earth with seismic arrays. Seismic array deployments will be used for a variety of studies including tomographic mapping of upper mantle structure, coda analysis for crustal properties and delineation of deeper Earth structure. The high resolution information on crustal and upper mantle structure will provide important detail on the building blocks of the Australian plate at depth. This class of information helps to refine our understanding o ....From crust to core: probing the heterogeneity of the Earth with seismic arrays. Seismic array deployments will be used for a variety of studies including tomographic mapping of upper mantle structure, coda analysis for crustal properties and delineation of deeper Earth structure. The high resolution information on crustal and upper mantle structure will provide important detail on the building blocks of the Australian plate at depth. This class of information helps to refine our understanding of the way that the Australian continent has been assembled with regard to the interaction of the crust and mantle and the emplacement of mineral resources.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668155
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
Instrumentation for combined seismic and electromagnetic Earth sounding. The set of geophysical recorders will provide the means to enhance understanding of the structure of the Australian continent in 3-D. The interpretation of multiple images of Earth structure will help to link features in the crust and mantle beneath, and provide controls on the evolution and assembly of the present continent, with a major contribution to possible geotransects as recommended in the 2003 National Strategic Pl ....Instrumentation for combined seismic and electromagnetic Earth sounding. The set of geophysical recorders will provide the means to enhance understanding of the structure of the Australian continent in 3-D. The interpretation of multiple images of Earth structure will help to link features in the crust and mantle beneath, and provide controls on the evolution and assembly of the present continent, with a major contribution to possible geotransects as recommended in the 2003 National Strategic Plan for the Geosciences. Combining seismic and electromagnetic methods will provide both geochemeical and geophysical constaints, e.g., on zones of alteration and shear with the potential for deep mineralisation. Read moreRead less
Supercomputer Simulation and Risk Evaluation of Tsunami Generation Induced by Earthquakes. New hotspot forecasts show that great earthquakes are likely to occur during the next decade in the Western Pacific north of New Zealand which potentially poses a tsunami risk to Australia. The project will enable this risk to be reliably assessed thereby providing the information needed to properly manage this risk thus addressing the national research priority: Safeguarding Australia. Building on extensi ....Supercomputer Simulation and Risk Evaluation of Tsunami Generation Induced by Earthquakes. New hotspot forecasts show that great earthquakes are likely to occur during the next decade in the Western Pacific north of New Zealand which potentially poses a tsunami risk to Australia. The project will enable this risk to be reliably assessed thereby providing the information needed to properly manage this risk thus addressing the national research priority: Safeguarding Australia. Building on extensive geo-data and Australia's forefront position in solid earth simulation via investment in the ACcESS Major National Research Facility, the project provides an opportunity for Australia to play a key role in constructing next generation real-time tsunami warning systems.Read moreRead less
Assessment of the Seismic Hazard in South-East Queensland utilizing earthquake simulations. Assessment of seismic hazard in Australia is hampered by relatively few instrumental records of past earthquakes. Supercomputer simulations of long-term earthquake activity and strong ground motion, provide an alternative method for estimating the risk posed by earthquakes. The aim of this project is to construct a physical model for South-East Queensland incorporating the major faults and rock units of ....Assessment of the Seismic Hazard in South-East Queensland utilizing earthquake simulations. Assessment of seismic hazard in Australia is hampered by relatively few instrumental records of past earthquakes. Supercomputer simulations of long-term earthquake activity and strong ground motion, provide an alternative method for estimating the risk posed by earthquakes. The aim of this project is to construct a physical model for South-East Queensland incorporating the major faults and rock units of the region. In conjunction with earthquake simulation software of the Australian Computational Earth Systems Simulator, this model will be employed to analyse the spatial and temporal variability of earthquake activity and the ground motion resulting from these earthquakes.Read moreRead less
Crustal fault system dynamics and earthquake prediction. The greatest challenge in earthquake science is prediction. Yet this possibility remains elusive. However, recent advances using an innovative numerical simulation model provided the first clear evidence for an underlying physical mechanism for earthquake forecasting, and observational studies have recently identified two independent precursors suggesting that this mechanism operates in the crust. The proposed project will use advanced sim ....Crustal fault system dynamics and earthquake prediction. The greatest challenge in earthquake science is prediction. Yet this possibility remains elusive. However, recent advances using an innovative numerical simulation model provided the first clear evidence for an underlying physical mechanism for earthquake forecasting, and observational studies have recently identified two independent precursors suggesting that this mechanism operates in the crust. The proposed project will use advanced simulation models and an innovative, multidisciplinary approach to obtain an improved understanding of crustal fault system dynamics with the aim of resolving the earthquake prediction question and progressing towards the scientific underpinning needed for intermediate-term earthquake forecasting.Read moreRead less
APEC Cooperation for Earthquake Simulation Visitors Program. This project aims to improve understanding of earthquakes through development of numerical simulation models for the earthquake generation process. Its centerpiece is a major international collaboration, achieved via a visitor exchange program between the headquarters of the APEC Cooperation for Earthquake Simulation in Australia and overseas centres of excellence. Earthquakes are one of the most costly and deadly natural disasters, a ....APEC Cooperation for Earthquake Simulation Visitors Program. This project aims to improve understanding of earthquakes through development of numerical simulation models for the earthquake generation process. Its centerpiece is a major international collaboration, achieved via a visitor exchange program between the headquarters of the APEC Cooperation for Earthquake Simulation in Australia and overseas centres of excellence. Earthquakes are one of the most costly and deadly natural disasters, and APEC member economies have a high earthquake risk. Recent analyses suggest earthquakes may dominate the loss potential in Australia. The complementary research programs offer an opportunity to achieve breakthrough advances in improved methods of earthquake forecasting and hazard quantification.Read moreRead less