DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE DRILLING FLUIDS. An innovative technique of micro-emulsion of vegetable oils and water has been developed to create a new generation, low-toxicity drilling fluids for use by the petroleum exploration industry. The project aims at investigating the chronic toxicity of new generation drilling fluids to fish, and re-formulate the drilling fluids to minimize the toxic ingredients. Biomarkers of exposure and effects such as, but not limited to, EROD ind ....DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE DRILLING FLUIDS. An innovative technique of micro-emulsion of vegetable oils and water has been developed to create a new generation, low-toxicity drilling fluids for use by the petroleum exploration industry. The project aims at investigating the chronic toxicity of new generation drilling fluids to fish, and re-formulate the drilling fluids to minimize the toxic ingredients. Biomarkers of exposure and effects such as, but not limited to, EROD induction, DNA damage and stress proteins will be explored in fish exposed chronically to drilling fluids or their ingredients. Outcomes include environmentally acceptable drilling fluids, and will represent the start point for multi-million dollars agriculture and manufacturing industry in Australia.Read moreRead less
Application of 3D Modelling to Mineral Exploration Under Cover: an Example from the Woods Point Region, Victoria. This project aims to develop and test cost-effective tools in understanding and exploring for buried mineral deposits. We will apply our research via a) constructing three-dimensional models to analyse, characterise and compare ore system geometries, b) constraining structural controls that lead to mineralisation in a variety of settings, c) development and testing of fluid properti ....Application of 3D Modelling to Mineral Exploration Under Cover: an Example from the Woods Point Region, Victoria. This project aims to develop and test cost-effective tools in understanding and exploring for buried mineral deposits. We will apply our research via a) constructing three-dimensional models to analyse, characterise and compare ore system geometries, b) constraining structural controls that lead to mineralisation in a variety of settings, c) development and testing of fluid properties, and d) integration of geological, structural and geochemical datasets to predict favourable sites for gold mineralisation. This project will result in a greatly improved understanding of the formation of a range of gold deposit styles, and further strategic alliances between Monash University, the Geological Survey of Victoria and exploration companies.Read moreRead less