In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. By enhancing and guiding abiotic and biotic processes of soil development, this project aims to accelerate the in situ remediation of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings). Over 7 gigatonnes of tailings are produced globally every year, comprising complex mineral assemblages at extremes of pH and salinity with minimal biological activity. This project will build detailed knowledge on the chemi ....In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. By enhancing and guiding abiotic and biotic processes of soil development, this project aims to accelerate the in situ remediation of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings). Over 7 gigatonnes of tailings are produced globally every year, comprising complex mineral assemblages at extremes of pH and salinity with minimal biological activity. This project will build detailed knowledge on the chemical, physical, and biological properties of bauxite residue and apply this to develop field-scale in situ remediation strategies. This research will also advance understanding of soil development and primary succession of microbial communities in extreme, anthropogenic environments such as those presented by tailings.Read moreRead less
Electron flow in iron hyper-enriched acidifying coastal environments: reaction paths and kinetics of iron-sulfur-carbon transformations. Iron hyper-enriched acidifying coastal lowlands have a direct social, economic and environmental impact on communities in many parts of Australia. This project will determine how iron transforms and accumulates. The new knowledge will be of immediate relevance for the remediation of coastal plains.
Rehydration of the lower crust, fluid sources and geophysical expression. This project aims to explore a long-standing mystery: the origin of deep crustal electrical conductors detected by magnetotelluric imaging of tectonically stable crust. These features occur in cratons of all ages, and commonly cross cut structures and lithologies. This project aims to investigate the hypothesis that such features are the record of ancient deep crustal fluid flow, which modified the rock electrical properti ....Rehydration of the lower crust, fluid sources and geophysical expression. This project aims to explore a long-standing mystery: the origin of deep crustal electrical conductors detected by magnetotelluric imaging of tectonically stable crust. These features occur in cratons of all ages, and commonly cross cut structures and lithologies. This project aims to investigate the hypothesis that such features are the record of ancient deep crustal fluid flow, which modified the rock electrical properties. Using an exceptionally exposed natural laboratory preserving large-scale rehydration of anhydrous lower crust, the project plans to determine the source of fluids and the compositional changes they induced. It then plans to experimentally determine changes in resistivity induced by fluid flow and use that data to model the magnetotelluric response at crustal scale.Read moreRead less
Chemical optimisation of geothermal heat extraction. Geothermal energy can contribute to our energy needs, but we must understand chemical interactions between geothermal fluids, the host aquifers and the engineered environment to use the energy safely and efficiently. This project will assess those interactions, provide guidelines for geothermal energy use and train future geothermal scientists.
The origin of iron formations: implications for ancient ocean chemistry and the evolution of microbial life. Iron formations host most of the world's iron reserves and are central to our understanding of ancient ocean chemistry and the diversity of microbial life. Despite their scientific importance, questions remain about their original composition and formation. Preliminary work suggests that basic assumptions about their deposition require reevaluation. This project will use new technology an ....The origin of iron formations: implications for ancient ocean chemistry and the evolution of microbial life. Iron formations host most of the world's iron reserves and are central to our understanding of ancient ocean chemistry and the diversity of microbial life. Despite their scientific importance, questions remain about their original composition and formation. Preliminary work suggests that basic assumptions about their deposition require reevaluation. This project will use new technology and novel methods to investigate the precursor sediments of iron formations and their temporal relationship with periods of global magmatism and atmospheric oxygenation. Results will be used to test and develop new depositional models for iron formations, underpinning interpretations about the composition of the Precambrian ocean, atmosphere and biosphere. Read moreRead less