Correction of non-linearity in inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry. Chemical analyses by mass spectrometers underpin key Australian economic sectors, particularly minerals and agriculture. The quadrupole inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometer has seen a particular rise in prominence over last 25 years. In this collaboration between mass spectrometrists and the leading instrument designer, we will improve the linearity of its detection system for more precise and accurate data. Bet ....Correction of non-linearity in inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry. Chemical analyses by mass spectrometers underpin key Australian economic sectors, particularly minerals and agriculture. The quadrupole inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometer has seen a particular rise in prominence over last 25 years. In this collaboration between mass spectrometrists and the leading instrument designer, we will improve the linearity of its detection system for more precise and accurate data. Better elemental and isotope ratio data from these high-throughput instruments will open up new real-world applications in many areas of Australian interest, such as biosecurity, forensics, groundwater management, and drug design. The research will also inform design of the next generation instruments by the industry partner.Read moreRead less
Storage of Volatiles in the Mantle Lithosphere: Time-scales, sources and processes. Fragments of the Earth's mantle (xenoliths), transported to surface by deep-seated volcanics, record the injection of fluids through formation of volatile-bearing minerals (mantle metasomatism). This project will 1) test the hypothesis that timescales of mantle volatile storage can be determined using noble gas (laser probe) dating techniques, and 2) determine the sources and processes involved in volatile stor ....Storage of Volatiles in the Mantle Lithosphere: Time-scales, sources and processes. Fragments of the Earth's mantle (xenoliths), transported to surface by deep-seated volcanics, record the injection of fluids through formation of volatile-bearing minerals (mantle metasomatism). This project will 1) test the hypothesis that timescales of mantle volatile storage can be determined using noble gas (laser probe) dating techniques, and 2) determine the sources and processes involved in volatile storage, using halogen and noble gas geochemistry. A successful outcome will establish unique methods for dating mantle metasomatic events and determine the relationship between mantle and crust melting episodes, thus providing critical constraints on mantle evolution and Earth degassing models. Read moreRead less
Deciphering the early Solar System chronology and planetary chemistry using isotope systematics of meteoritic zircon. This project addresses the early evolution of our Solar System that is one of the most important questions in Earth and Planetary sciences. It will use Australia's meteorites and innovative analytical techniques developed in Australia. High impact scientific results produced in this project will be to the national benefit in terms of international recognition of our unique capabi ....Deciphering the early Solar System chronology and planetary chemistry using isotope systematics of meteoritic zircon. This project addresses the early evolution of our Solar System that is one of the most important questions in Earth and Planetary sciences. It will use Australia's meteorites and innovative analytical techniques developed in Australia. High impact scientific results produced in this project will be to the national benefit in terms of international recognition of our unique capability in this high profile and competitive research field. Furthermore, by providing new constraints on the initial state of geochemical evolution of the terrestrial planets, this work will further our knowledge of the subsequent evolution of the Earth's mantle and crust, leading to better models for Australian continent development and its deep-Earth resources.Read moreRead less
Fluid mixing in hydrothermal systems. Mixing of fluids within permeable rocks can cause significant chemical changes to the fluids and the rocks, for example it causes metals to be dissolved and transported. Accumulation into mineral deposits requires concentration mechanisms which are uncertain due to difficulty of detecting ancient fluid pathways. We will analyse these ancient fluids using new microanalytical and other combined techniques, thereby testing the role of fluid mixing as a mechanis ....Fluid mixing in hydrothermal systems. Mixing of fluids within permeable rocks can cause significant chemical changes to the fluids and the rocks, for example it causes metals to be dissolved and transported. Accumulation into mineral deposits requires concentration mechanisms which are uncertain due to difficulty of detecting ancient fluid pathways. We will analyse these ancient fluids using new microanalytical and other combined techniques, thereby testing the role of fluid mixing as a mechanism for efficient metal precipitation. The research has significance for exploration and models for mineral deposits, and for characterising other geological fluids, and provides opportunity for technical breakthroughs in microanalysis of fluid inclusions.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100145
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
Three-dimensional analysis of important organic components in energy, environmental and earth systems. Australia’s ecosystems and water resources are sensitive to climate change and anthropogenic activities. A third degree of separation provided by this technique will improve our abilities to monitor the role of organic matter in modern systems. The characterisation of organics of petroleum mineral systems will sustain Australia's energy demand.
Isotopic fractionation in ore metals (Cu, Fe and Zn): A new window on ore-forming processes. Stable isotopes of common ore metals (e.g, copper and iron) are new tools for investigating ore deposits. Our data suggest that metal isotopic variations can provide new insights into mechanisms operative during formation of ore deposits. Stable metal isotopes also show promise as a new exploration tool for identifying the location of economic mineralisation within large prospective terrains; e.g., weakl ....Isotopic fractionation in ore metals (Cu, Fe and Zn): A new window on ore-forming processes. Stable isotopes of common ore metals (e.g, copper and iron) are new tools for investigating ore deposits. Our data suggest that metal isotopic variations can provide new insights into mechanisms operative during formation of ore deposits. Stable metal isotopes also show promise as a new exploration tool for identifying the location of economic mineralisation within large prospective terrains; e.g., weakly vs. strongly mineralised zones in a volcanic belt.
This project will provide fundamental baseline data that will help elucidate the processes that cause metal isotope variations. This will allow stable metal isotopes to be used much more effectively by the mining and exploration industries.
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The Impact of Changing Climatic Conditions inferred from the Isotope Abundances of Trace Metals in Global Ice Sheets and Glaciers. In this project Greenland and Antarctic ice-cores more than 3 km long will be used to investigate climatic variation extending back more that 4 complete glacial cycles. Some of these ice-cores include sections of refrozen water formed from sub-glacial Antarctic lake water. This project will use naturally occurring lead and strontium isotopic tracers to fingerprint ....The Impact of Changing Climatic Conditions inferred from the Isotope Abundances of Trace Metals in Global Ice Sheets and Glaciers. In this project Greenland and Antarctic ice-cores more than 3 km long will be used to investigate climatic variation extending back more that 4 complete glacial cycles. Some of these ice-cores include sections of refrozen water formed from sub-glacial Antarctic lake water. This project will use naturally occurring lead and strontium isotopic tracers to fingerprint impurities in the ice, because they have the potential to simultaneously signal the timing and location of past episodes of climate change. This will lead to an improvement in our understanding of the processes that cause these changes.Read moreRead less
Tackling the resurgences of life, advanced dating tools of oils by sophisticated molecular and isotopic analyses from major geological events. Evidence of Earth’s biogeochemical evolution is uniquely recorded in sediments and petroleum, as are the mechanisms of life’s recovery from mass extinction caused by past catastrophes. Pioneering ageing techniques will be tested on ancient sediments, low temperature mineral fabrics and petroleum leading to the exploration of new energy sources.