Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100185
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$464,531.00
Summary
Mass spectrometry for next generation isotope analysis of silicate minerals. This project aims to establish a facility for mass spectrometry and sample preparation to enhance Australian capacity to analyse the stable isotope composition of silicate minerals. The project seeks to implement innovations that will greatly enhance the use of stable isotopes in silicate minerals by increasing analytical throughput and reducing cost. This will provide better understanding of the trajectories of environ ....Mass spectrometry for next generation isotope analysis of silicate minerals. This project aims to establish a facility for mass spectrometry and sample preparation to enhance Australian capacity to analyse the stable isotope composition of silicate minerals. The project seeks to implement innovations that will greatly enhance the use of stable isotopes in silicate minerals by increasing analytical throughput and reducing cost. This will provide better understanding of the trajectories of environmental change, formation of mineral deposits and identifying trade networks in prehistoric societies.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100141
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
High sensitivity and precision mass spectrometry for tracing Australia's ancient evolution and securing our future groundwater resources. High sensitivity and precision mass spectrometry for tracing Australia’s ancient evolution and securing our future groundwater resources: Micro-sampling thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) provides the ability to undertake ultra low-level isotope analysis of earth and environmental samples. Analysis of radiogenic (for example, Neodymium, Strontium and ....High sensitivity and precision mass spectrometry for tracing Australia's ancient evolution and securing our future groundwater resources. High sensitivity and precision mass spectrometry for tracing Australia’s ancient evolution and securing our future groundwater resources: Micro-sampling thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) provides the ability to undertake ultra low-level isotope analysis of earth and environmental samples. Analysis of radiogenic (for example, Neodymium, Strontium and Lead) and stable (for example, Boron) isotopes allows researchers to trace the evolution of the Australian continent from its beginnings in the Precambrian through to the impacts of climate change in the Quaternary period (the last 2.6 million years). The proposed micro-sampling TIMS facility will give researchers the opportunity to characterise mineral deposit formation, paleoclimate records and groundwater sources with new levels of accuracy and precision. This will help secure the economic and environmental future of Australia.Read moreRead less
Cracking the sulfate isotopic composition problem in ancient hydrothermal systems: application of the Carbonate-Associated Sulfate (CAS) method. Successful exploration of the deep Earth for valuable ores requires better knowledge of ore formation conditions, to feed to predictive deposit models. Our work shows great promise of improving the quality of this raw data. Smarter ore deposit prediction would likely exert its influence over the next ten years, rather than be immediate. It will increase ....Cracking the sulfate isotopic composition problem in ancient hydrothermal systems: application of the Carbonate-Associated Sulfate (CAS) method. Successful exploration of the deep Earth for valuable ores requires better knowledge of ore formation conditions, to feed to predictive deposit models. Our work shows great promise of improving the quality of this raw data. Smarter ore deposit prediction would likely exert its influence over the next ten years, rather than be immediate. It will increase exploration efficiency, saving tens of millions of dollars currently devoted to unproductive exploration. Exploration and mining are conducted primarily in regional Australia, and a healthy mining industry is therefore directly benefits hinterland communities. It also benefits all Australians through the payment of royalties and contributions to Australia's GDP from mineral exports.Read moreRead less
What controls trace element levels in ore sulfides? A laser-ICPMS perspective. Sub-surface hydrothermal gold and base metal orebodies are surrounded by aprons of elevated metal concentrations, mainly within micro-sulfides, which is one sign mineral explorers use to widen their target. Here we test whether the hostrock contributes metal in the most distant parts of such halos, and if so, what factors control where hostrock metal begins to be detectable in a given system. We will make better model ....What controls trace element levels in ore sulfides? A laser-ICPMS perspective. Sub-surface hydrothermal gold and base metal orebodies are surrounded by aprons of elevated metal concentrations, mainly within micro-sulfides, which is one sign mineral explorers use to widen their target. Here we test whether the hostrock contributes metal in the most distant parts of such halos, and if so, what factors control where hostrock metal begins to be detectable in a given system. We will make better models of how metalliferous waters react with rock, potentially translating into million dollar savings through more efficient exploration. The ultrafine sampling and precision analyses required for this are possible because of an ARC-funded core program at CODES.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100229
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$160,000.00
Summary
Time-of-flight mass spectrometer for analysis of complex mixtures in oils, ancient rocks, recent sediments, natural products and atmospheric aerosols. Research benefits will be:1. More effective remediation of petroleum spills through better understanding of degradation pathways, and ecotoxicological impact of spills.
2. Better understanding of the role of urban aerosols in human health impacts and climate change.
3. More effective development of finite petroleum resources by better understand ....Time-of-flight mass spectrometer for analysis of complex mixtures in oils, ancient rocks, recent sediments, natural products and atmospheric aerosols. Research benefits will be:1. More effective remediation of petroleum spills through better understanding of degradation pathways, and ecotoxicological impact of spills.
2. Better understanding of the role of urban aerosols in human health impacts and climate change.
3. More effective development of finite petroleum resources by better understanding of processes altering crude oil in the sub-surface.
4. Identification of natural products from algae, cyanobacteria, plants and mushrooms as new sources of pharmaceutical agents. 5. Improved knowledge of early evolution of life on Earth, helping maintain Australian scientists as world leaders in this field. 6. Greater understanding of the source and migration of petroleum in frontier areas.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775533
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,000.00
Summary
A New Generation Noble Gas Mass Spectrometer Facility for Advanced Research in the Earth, Planetary and Environmental Sciences. The current proposal, to establish a new Noble Gas Analytical Consortium for noble gas chronological and geochemical analyses, will generate new knowledge on the evolution of the Earth, with profound implications for past climate change, landscape evolution, formation of ore bodies, and terrestrial geodynamics. Consequently, the facility will conform to the National Res ....A New Generation Noble Gas Mass Spectrometer Facility for Advanced Research in the Earth, Planetary and Environmental Sciences. The current proposal, to establish a new Noble Gas Analytical Consortium for noble gas chronological and geochemical analyses, will generate new knowledge on the evolution of the Earth, with profound implications for past climate change, landscape evolution, formation of ore bodies, and terrestrial geodynamics. Consequently, the facility will conform to the National Research Priority of 'An Environmentally Sustainable Australia'. The new facility will ensure that Australian research remains at the forefront of international science development and will also provide essential training for the next generation of Australian scientists.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100183
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$715,000.00
Summary
An ICP-ToF-MS facility for environmental, mineral and biological science. This project aims at establishing a facility for the detection, quantification and rapid mapping of elements and their isotopes in nanoparticles and a diverse set of biological and earth materials. The facility consists of a latest generation ICP-ToF-MS that can simultaneously collect a full suite of isotopic information (Li to U) from liquid samples or, in combination with laser ablation and laser induced breakdown spectr ....An ICP-ToF-MS facility for environmental, mineral and biological science. This project aims at establishing a facility for the detection, quantification and rapid mapping of elements and their isotopes in nanoparticles and a diverse set of biological and earth materials. The facility consists of a latest generation ICP-ToF-MS that can simultaneously collect a full suite of isotopic information (Li to U) from liquid samples or, in combination with laser ablation and laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, solid samples. It will enhance capabilities and sample throughput in environmental science, geoscience, biology and cultural heritage research, significantly accelerating the discovery of new ore bodies, improving environmental risk assessment and assisting research in cancer biology.Read moreRead less
Hydrogen generation by subsurface iron mineral transformations. Aim
The aim of this project is to elucidate key factors responsible for natural hydrogen generation in Australian subsurface environments.
Significance
Large amounts of this valuable resource are produced naturally with estimates of production rates of this “gold” hydrogen at least 100 times the annual demand for this critical resource.
Expected Outcomes
Based on improved understanding of the source of natural hydrogen, predictive ....Hydrogen generation by subsurface iron mineral transformations. Aim
The aim of this project is to elucidate key factors responsible for natural hydrogen generation in Australian subsurface environments.
Significance
Large amounts of this valuable resource are produced naturally with estimates of production rates of this “gold” hydrogen at least 100 times the annual demand for this critical resource.
Expected Outcomes
Based on improved understanding of the source of natural hydrogen, predictive tools will be developed that will assist in assessing the viability in Australia of hydrogen exploration and engineered retrieval.
Benefits
Ready access to naturally produced hydrogen could enable Australia to replace hydrogen that is currently generated via the use of unabated hydrocarbons.Read moreRead less
Diatom lipids to reveal sea-ice history in remote Antarctic regions. This project aims to understand seasonal Antarctic sea-ice extent using molecular, geochemical, elemental and genomic characteristics of specific marine phytoplankton (diatoms). Little is known of the seasonal sea-ice variation and the position of the summer sea-ice extent a million years before satellite records, but this information is critical to determining air-sea gas exchange and ecosystem food web regulation. This projec ....Diatom lipids to reveal sea-ice history in remote Antarctic regions. This project aims to understand seasonal Antarctic sea-ice extent using molecular, geochemical, elemental and genomic characteristics of specific marine phytoplankton (diatoms). Little is known of the seasonal sea-ice variation and the position of the summer sea-ice extent a million years before satellite records, but this information is critical to determining air-sea gas exchange and ecosystem food web regulation. This project will unite geochemical and biological approaches to provide the data to improve past Antarctic ecosystem and climate models where sea-ice data is missing. Studying diatom biomarkers in deep sea cores from Australia’s Southern Ocean will redefine knowledge of Antarctic climate and provide data necessary to improve global ecosystem and climate models.Read moreRead less
Geochemical, physical and microbiological controls on zinc mobility and implications for bioremediation strategies in Western Tasmanian acid mine drainage. We propose to study heavy metal pollution (e.g., zinc, arsenic, iron, tin) and biogeochemical processes operating in acid mine drainage at the abandoned Mt Bischoff tin mine in Western Tasmania. The drainage waters at this site have pH values as low as 2, but contain an extensive and thriving natural biological community. We will evaluate w ....Geochemical, physical and microbiological controls on zinc mobility and implications for bioremediation strategies in Western Tasmanian acid mine drainage. We propose to study heavy metal pollution (e.g., zinc, arsenic, iron, tin) and biogeochemical processes operating in acid mine drainage at the abandoned Mt Bischoff tin mine in Western Tasmania. The drainage waters at this site have pH values as low as 2, but contain an extensive and thriving natural biological community. We will evaluate whether the natural biogeochemical processes operating at Mt Bischoff have the potential to remediate mine waters under the full gamut of climatic conditions, so as to evaluate whether the biota could be exported to other mine sites to help in ameliorating acid drainage problems.Read moreRead less