Low-grade metamorphic phosphate geochronology: High-precision dating of ancient crustal fluid flow, hydrothermal mineralisation and the "Great Oxidation Event". Reliable dating techniques are required to obtain precise ages for ancient crustal fluid flow. Current techniques suffer from inheritance and isotopic resetting, problems that are particularly pronounced in early Precambrian rocks. This project will employ new analytical techniques to date phosphate minerals recently identified as potent ....Low-grade metamorphic phosphate geochronology: High-precision dating of ancient crustal fluid flow, hydrothermal mineralisation and the "Great Oxidation Event". Reliable dating techniques are required to obtain precise ages for ancient crustal fluid flow. Current techniques suffer from inheritance and isotopic resetting, problems that are particularly pronounced in early Precambrian rocks. This project will employ new analytical techniques to date phosphate minerals recently identified as potentially important new chronometers of ancient fluid flow, providing the first precise tectonothermal history of the Archaean Pilbara Craton. The project will also establish the age of giant iron-ore deposits across the Hamersley Province, test the various models for iron-ore formation, and provide a minimum age for the oxidation of the Earth's surface. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668377
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$246,000.00
Summary
Western Australia Palaeomagnetic and Rock-magnetic Facility. The WA Palaeomagnetic and Rock-magnetic Facility is an essential piece of infrastructure for geoscience developments in WA and Australia in general. It not only serves the needs of the scientific community, but also supports resource-related projects sponsored by government and the resource industries, and serves the educational needs of postgraduate, undergraduate, and school students. Upgrading of the WA facility will enhance the res ....Western Australia Palaeomagnetic and Rock-magnetic Facility. The WA Palaeomagnetic and Rock-magnetic Facility is an essential piece of infrastructure for geoscience developments in WA and Australia in general. It not only serves the needs of the scientific community, but also supports resource-related projects sponsored by government and the resource industries, and serves the educational needs of postgraduate, undergraduate, and school students. Upgrading of the WA facility will enhance the research capacity of the WA geoscience community and maintain its international position in tectonic, palaeogeographic, and palaeoclimatic studies, and in ore genesis research.Read moreRead less
Structural and hydrothermal fluid control of high-grade (>65 wt% Fe) hematite ores in BIF-hosted iron deposits in the Hamersley Basin. The project aims to understand the geological controls on high-grade(>65wt%Fe)iron ore deposits of the Hamersley Province. In particular, the role of hydrothermal fluids in the transformation of banded iron formation (BIF) to high-grade iron ore. Three deposits (Mt Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Channar) provide an ideal study of the relationship between the struct ....Structural and hydrothermal fluid control of high-grade (>65 wt% Fe) hematite ores in BIF-hosted iron deposits in the Hamersley Basin. The project aims to understand the geological controls on high-grade(>65wt%Fe)iron ore deposits of the Hamersley Province. In particular, the role of hydrothermal fluids in the transformation of banded iron formation (BIF) to high-grade iron ore. Three deposits (Mt Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Channar) provide an ideal study of the relationship between the structural evolution, timing, and characteristics of hydrothermal and supergene processes. In particular, the the study aims to investigate the structural control and fluid chemistry of the hydrothermal system. The outcomes of this study will include a better understanding about the timing and fluid characteristcs of hydrothermal/supergene events and their significance to the formation and geometry of high-grade iron ore deposits in the Hamersley Province.Read moreRead less
Tectonic Reconstruction of the Evolution of the Alpine-Himalayan Orogenic Chain. This project will construct a computationally explicit model of movements in the solid Earth for the past 150 million years, to study the Earth as a complex system during the collision that produced the Alpine-Himalayan mountain belt. This is the youngest collisional mountain belt on Earth, and at times it stretched from Spain to New Zealand. Earth Scientists want to understand the processes that took place to mak ....Tectonic Reconstruction of the Evolution of the Alpine-Himalayan Orogenic Chain. This project will construct a computationally explicit model of movements in the solid Earth for the past 150 million years, to study the Earth as a complex system during the collision that produced the Alpine-Himalayan mountain belt. This is the youngest collisional mountain belt on Earth, and at times it stretched from Spain to New Zealand. Earth Scientists want to understand the processes that took place to make it, in particular the role of ribbon continents. As a result of this work ordinary Australians will be able to better perceive their interactions with their nearest neighbours.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0237490
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$715,000.00
Summary
X-ray mapping and trace element electron probe microanalysis. The new advances offered by the acquisition of a state-of-the-art electron microprobe will provide multiple high-precision chemical and mineralogical data sets that will represent a breakthrough in our capacity to recognise scientifically important compositional micro-scale variations in geological, archaeological, biological and manufacured (metallurgical) materials.
Modeling fluid flow and mineralisation at crustal interfaces. Several types of mineral resources, including some uranium, iron, and base metal ore deposits, may be created by fluid flow through and around interfaces in the Earth's crust. By understanding how, where and why such deposits form, we will assist exploration for future resources of these metals. Insights will also be gained into petroleum resource generation and extraction, the distribution of seismicity and volcanoes in time and spac ....Modeling fluid flow and mineralisation at crustal interfaces. Several types of mineral resources, including some uranium, iron, and base metal ore deposits, may be created by fluid flow through and around interfaces in the Earth's crust. By understanding how, where and why such deposits form, we will assist exploration for future resources of these metals. Insights will also be gained into petroleum resource generation and extraction, the distribution of seismicity and volcanoes in time and space, the problems of underground nuclear waste disposal and sequestration of CO2, and the potential for geothermal energy, with benefits in resource identification and/or hazard assessment in these areas.Read moreRead less
Partial melting in natural metal-silicate and silicate systems: rheological and geochemical implications for the Earth and other planets. Understanding how fluid and melts migrate through the Earth's crust is vital to predicting how important minerals, metals and oil can be concentrated. Understanding fluid-rock systems therefore contribute to an environmentally sustainable Australia (Research Priority 1). Furthering our knowledge of permeable networks through the use of dynamic experiments is a ....Partial melting in natural metal-silicate and silicate systems: rheological and geochemical implications for the Earth and other planets. Understanding how fluid and melts migrate through the Earth's crust is vital to predicting how important minerals, metals and oil can be concentrated. Understanding fluid-rock systems therefore contribute to an environmentally sustainable Australia (Research Priority 1). Furthering our knowledge of permeable networks through the use of dynamic experiments is an innovative way to study their development within naturally evolving crustal systems as they respond to changing physical and chemical conditions. Thus, this proposal is also directly concerned with the continuing aim of building a sustainable Australia through knowledge of deep Earth resources.Read moreRead less
Computationally Modelling a Volcano: Flow and Stability. Mainland Australia is fortunate not to suffer directly from active volcanism. However, this does not mean volcanoes are of little importance. The products of ancient eruptions can define the wealth of a nation. But they are also highly destructive and there are currently 30 active volcanoes capable of generating a tsunami that could affect Australia. Understanding the physical processes using computational models is essential to save lives ....Computationally Modelling a Volcano: Flow and Stability. Mainland Australia is fortunate not to suffer directly from active volcanism. However, this does not mean volcanoes are of little importance. The products of ancient eruptions can define the wealth of a nation. But they are also highly destructive and there are currently 30 active volcanoes capable of generating a tsunami that could affect Australia. Understanding the physical processes using computational models is essential to save lives and help us benefit from their products. This is a relatively new research field and owing to the resources in Australia, our research team has the potential to be at the forefront. There is also the capability to build and impressive research team within the University of Queensland.Read moreRead less
Developing indicator minerals to geochemically fingerprint mineralized Fe oxide Cu-Au systems: a pilot study around the Ernest Henry Cu-Au mine. Fe oxide Cu-Au deposits represent some of the largest accumulations of economically extractable metal in the earth's crust. However, exploration has been largely ineffective over the last decade, and new methods for their delineation are required to deliver a step-change in the efficiency of exploration programs. The development of a mineral indicator s ....Developing indicator minerals to geochemically fingerprint mineralized Fe oxide Cu-Au systems: a pilot study around the Ernest Henry Cu-Au mine. Fe oxide Cu-Au deposits represent some of the largest accumulations of economically extractable metal in the earth's crust. However, exploration has been largely ineffective over the last decade, and new methods for their delineation are required to deliver a step-change in the efficiency of exploration programs. The development of a mineral indicator scheme to fingerprint potential ?ore-forming? systems using state-of-the-art laser ablation ICP-MS analysis may engender new methods and strategies that lead to exploration success. A baseline study around a known deposit provides the best means to characterize indicators- the Ernest Henry Cu-Au deposit provides the ideal candidate.Read moreRead less
Integrating Global Multidimensional Datasets to Underpin Subduction Process Modelling During the Past 60 Million Years. Subduction zones are the sites for massive sulphide, orogenic vein gold and porphyry deposits. As Australia derived 47% of it merchandise exports from its mineral and energy resources in 2001, ore-deposits constitute an important component of the Australian economy. Understanding the environment of subduction initiation and development as well as the signal that it imparts on ....Integrating Global Multidimensional Datasets to Underpin Subduction Process Modelling During the Past 60 Million Years. Subduction zones are the sites for massive sulphide, orogenic vein gold and porphyry deposits. As Australia derived 47% of it merchandise exports from its mineral and energy resources in 2001, ore-deposits constitute an important component of the Australian economy. Understanding the environment of subduction initiation and development as well as the signal that it imparts on the magmatic (ore-forming) arc, will provide improved efficiency for targeting Australia's deep-earth ore-deposits.Read moreRead less