Proterozoic tectonic evolution of Australia and India. Recent studies cast doubt on reconstructions of the Neoproterozoic supercontinent Rodinia, and on the tectonic coherence of East Gondwanaland (Australia, Antarctica and India). Within Australia, the relative positions of the major crustal blocks during most of the Proterozoic era remain largely unverified. Fossil magnetism in rocks of different ages from the major crustal blocks of Australia and India will be used to determine whether the ....Proterozoic tectonic evolution of Australia and India. Recent studies cast doubt on reconstructions of the Neoproterozoic supercontinent Rodinia, and on the tectonic coherence of East Gondwanaland (Australia, Antarctica and India). Within Australia, the relative positions of the major crustal blocks during most of the Proterozoic era remain largely unverified. Fossil magnetism in rocks of different ages from the major crustal blocks of Australia and India will be used to determine whether the blocks were together or were separated by large oceans during Proterozoic time. The results will place fundamental constraints on the geological, palaeogeographic, and palaeobiological evolution of Australia, Rodinia, and the early Earth as a whole.Read moreRead less
Understanding the Sibao Orogenic Belt in South China: A Part of the Rodinian Supercontinent Assembly Adjacent to Australia. The Sibao Orogenic Belt (SOB) in South China is regarded as one of the worldwide 1300-1000 Ma mountain belts that record the assembly of the supercontinent Rodinia. However, recent work suggests that some of these mountain belts, including the SOB, were probably active until 900 Ma, thus questioning parts of the early Rodinia reconstructions. In this study we aim to deter ....Understanding the Sibao Orogenic Belt in South China: A Part of the Rodinian Supercontinent Assembly Adjacent to Australia. The Sibao Orogenic Belt (SOB) in South China is regarded as one of the worldwide 1300-1000 Ma mountain belts that record the assembly of the supercontinent Rodinia. However, recent work suggests that some of these mountain belts, including the SOB, were probably active until 900 Ma, thus questioning parts of the early Rodinia reconstructions. In this study we aim to determine the ages, and geochemical and structural characteristics of key tectonic units in the SOB. This will lead to a better understanding of the assembly process of Rodinia, and events occurring in continental blocks adjacent to Australia at that time.Read moreRead less
Neoproterozoic global geodynamic and climatic events: were they linked? This project will study a unique cluster of global geodynamic and climatic events 850-700 million years ago that will help us to understand the interactions between the Earth's deep mantle, its crust, and its atmospheric climate. Academic values aside, the work will bring direct benefit to the Australian industry. Knowledge on the distribution of the Neoproterozoic plume events will provide new exploration targets for Ni-Cu- ....Neoproterozoic global geodynamic and climatic events: were they linked? This project will study a unique cluster of global geodynamic and climatic events 850-700 million years ago that will help us to understand the interactions between the Earth's deep mantle, its crust, and its atmospheric climate. Academic values aside, the work will bring direct benefit to the Australian industry. Knowledge on the distribution of the Neoproterozoic plume events will provide new exploration targets for Ni-Cu-PGE and V-Ti deposits. Better constrained palaeogeography will help to locate mineral-rich crustal provinces that were once connected. Understanding climatic consequences of global geodynamic events will help to better understand and respond to climate changes. Read moreRead less
Accessory REE-phosphates as tracers of heat and fluids in time and space. This project will provide fundamental information vital for the widespread application of a new and developing technique for dating rocks and ore bodies that formed at geologically low temperatures. The technique will benefit the Australian mining industry by improving models for the formation of ore deposits, thereby reducing the financial risk involved in discovering new resources. Results will highlight the value of ano ....Accessory REE-phosphates as tracers of heat and fluids in time and space. This project will provide fundamental information vital for the widespread application of a new and developing technique for dating rocks and ore bodies that formed at geologically low temperatures. The technique will benefit the Australian mining industry by improving models for the formation of ore deposits, thereby reducing the financial risk involved in discovering new resources. Results will highlight the value of another Australian invention - the SHRIMP - in resolving both fundamental and applied geological problems, encouraging the uptake of this technology overseas. Outcomes from this project will enhance Australia's scientific reputation as a world leader in geochronology and economic geology.Read moreRead less
Developing a new tectonothermal and mineralization history for the Capricorn Orogen, Western Australia: Assisting mineral exploration in greenfields terrains. Successful exploration models rely on the development of a reliable geological framework through which to understand the specific processes responsible for the formation of economic ore deposits. A framework cannot be constructed without robust age data. This Project will apply advanced geochronology, combined with regional- and deposit-sc ....Developing a new tectonothermal and mineralization history for the Capricorn Orogen, Western Australia: Assisting mineral exploration in greenfields terrains. Successful exploration models rely on the development of a reliable geological framework through which to understand the specific processes responsible for the formation of economic ore deposits. A framework cannot be constructed without robust age data. This Project will apply advanced geochronology, combined with regional- and deposit-scale field mapping, to formulate a new and improved stratigraphic and tectonic framework for a prospective greenfields region in Western Australia. Outcomes from this Project will lead to more effective exploration models and thereby better exploration targeting. Reducing uncertainty and risk in exploration is key to the discovery and development of deep Earth resources. Read moreRead less
A Pan African-aged suture zone in western Madagascar: Tracking the lost Mozambique Ocean. The aims of the project are to identify and locate a major suture in western Madagascar i.e, between Africa and Madagascar. The precise age of this suture will ba dated using U/Pb zircon geochronology, Ar / Ar analysis combined with on-site fieldwork. The project also aims to provide a coherent geotectonic framework for the Madagascar microcontinent both north and south of the Ranotsara Shear Zone. The p ....A Pan African-aged suture zone in western Madagascar: Tracking the lost Mozambique Ocean. The aims of the project are to identify and locate a major suture in western Madagascar i.e, between Africa and Madagascar. The precise age of this suture will ba dated using U/Pb zircon geochronology, Ar / Ar analysis combined with on-site fieldwork. The project also aims to provide a coherent geotectonic framework for the Madagascar microcontinent both north and south of the Ranotsara Shear Zone. The project has significant implications for the reconstruction and continental configuration of both Gondwanaland and Rodinia.Read moreRead less
Tectonothermal and mineralization history of banded iron formations of the north Pilbara Craton. Iron ore is Australia's largest single export commodity, accounting for 8% ($12.8 billion) of total merchandise exports in 2006. Most of that value comes from the Pilbara region of Australia. Discovery rates of new deposits have declined over the past two decades, while many mines are nearing the end of production. Exploration expenditure has also declined. There is therefore an urgent need to reinvi ....Tectonothermal and mineralization history of banded iron formations of the north Pilbara Craton. Iron ore is Australia's largest single export commodity, accounting for 8% ($12.8 billion) of total merchandise exports in 2006. Most of that value comes from the Pilbara region of Australia. Discovery rates of new deposits have declined over the past two decades, while many mines are nearing the end of production. Exploration expenditure has also declined. There is therefore an urgent need to reinvigorate exploration to maintain an industry that underpins much of Australia's regional wealth. Outcomes of the project will provide exploration with improved geological tools with which to develop superior exploration models and thereby better direct exploration strategies.Read moreRead less