Advancing diamond exploration - novel techniques for the interpretation of indicator minerals. Diamond production is an important industry in Australia, with a total export value in 2004-05 of $650 million. Most of this production comes from the Argyle Mine in Western Australia, which may be nearing the end of its productivity. Therefore, there is a need to reinvigorate exploration for diamond in Australia, in order for new and significant deposits to be discovered. The outcomes of this proposal ....Advancing diamond exploration - novel techniques for the interpretation of indicator minerals. Diamond production is an important industry in Australia, with a total export value in 2004-05 of $650 million. Most of this production comes from the Argyle Mine in Western Australia, which may be nearing the end of its productivity. Therefore, there is a need to reinvigorate exploration for diamond in Australia, in order for new and significant deposits to be discovered. The outcomes of this proposal will provide diamond exploration companies with improved mineralogical tools to assess the likely diamond grade of parts of the lithosphere sampled by kimberlite or lamproite magmas, thus better directing exploration strategies.Read moreRead less
Trace element analysis of diamond: new applications to diamond fingerprinting and genesis. The project will provide new insights into the processes by which diamond crystallises in the Earth's mantle. A better understanding of these processes can lead to improved models and techniques for diamond exploration, enhancing the prospect of finding new deposits in Australia and abroad. The project will test the potential of trace-element microanalysis to fingerprint diamonds by source. If successful ....Trace element analysis of diamond: new applications to diamond fingerprinting and genesis. The project will provide new insights into the processes by which diamond crystallises in the Earth's mantle. A better understanding of these processes can lead to improved models and techniques for diamond exploration, enhancing the prospect of finding new deposits in Australia and abroad. The project will test the potential of trace-element microanalysis to fingerprint diamonds by source. If successful, this technology will provide economic benefits by reducing theft and illegal mining, which represent significant losses to legitimate companies. Application of this Australian development could reduce the circulation of "conflict diamonds", which would have real social benefits worldwide, especially in some developing countries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100095
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,000.00
Summary
Frontiers in integrated laser-sampled trace-element and isotopic geoanalysis. Until around 2005 Australia was a leader in the coupling of laser-ablation microprobes (LAM) with inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometers (ICPMS) for geochemical research. However, international developments in femtosecond LAM, sector field instruments and novel instrument coupling possibilities have leap-frogged these achievements. The proposed innovative facility will allow us to regain the leading edge in thi ....Frontiers in integrated laser-sampled trace-element and isotopic geoanalysis. Until around 2005 Australia was a leader in the coupling of laser-ablation microprobes (LAM) with inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometers (ICPMS) for geochemical research. However, international developments in femtosecond LAM, sector field instruments and novel instrument coupling possibilities have leap-frogged these achievements. The proposed innovative facility will allow us to regain the leading edge in this field, help maintain the high profile of Australian geoscience internationally, and to attract high-quality researchers and industry-related research funding. The research is relevant to the Deep Earth Resources National Priority and will include projects of direct relevance to mineral exploration and process technology.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668155
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
Instrumentation for combined seismic and electromagnetic Earth sounding. The set of geophysical recorders will provide the means to enhance understanding of the structure of the Australian continent in 3-D. The interpretation of multiple images of Earth structure will help to link features in the crust and mantle beneath, and provide controls on the evolution and assembly of the present continent, with a major contribution to possible geotransects as recommended in the 2003 National Strategic Pl ....Instrumentation for combined seismic and electromagnetic Earth sounding. The set of geophysical recorders will provide the means to enhance understanding of the structure of the Australian continent in 3-D. The interpretation of multiple images of Earth structure will help to link features in the crust and mantle beneath, and provide controls on the evolution and assembly of the present continent, with a major contribution to possible geotransects as recommended in the 2003 National Strategic Plan for the Geosciences. Combining seismic and electromagnetic methods will provide both geochemeical and geophysical constaints, e.g., on zones of alteration and shear with the potential for deep mineralisation. Read moreRead less
Composition, structure and evolution of the lithospheric mantle beneath southern Africa: improving area selection criteria for diamond exploration. The project will provide new insights into the detailed structure of the deep Earth (to about 250 km) and identify and predict zones of weakness that could focus kimberlite magmas that carry diamonds to the surface. A better understanding of the nature and location of these structures will lead to improved models for diamond exploration, enhancing th ....Composition, structure and evolution of the lithospheric mantle beneath southern Africa: improving area selection criteria for diamond exploration. The project will provide new insights into the detailed structure of the deep Earth (to about 250 km) and identify and predict zones of weakness that could focus kimberlite magmas that carry diamonds to the surface. A better understanding of the nature and location of these structures will lead to improved models for diamond exploration, enhancing the prospect of finding new deposits in Australia and abroad. Innovations in integrating information from geochemistry and geophysics, development of 3D imaging techniques, and extrapolation to past geological scenarios will provide new exploration tools, and also maintain our high international profile in research relevant to the National Priority on Developing Deep Earth Resources.Read moreRead less
Global Lithosphere Architecture Mapping. Compositional domains in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle reflect the processes of continental assembly and breakup through Earth's history. Their boundaries may focus the fluid movements that produce giant ore deposits. Mapping these boundaries will provide fundamental insights into Earth processes and a basis for the targeting of mineral exploration. We will integrate mantle petrology, tectonic synthesis and geophysical analysis to produce the f ....Global Lithosphere Architecture Mapping. Compositional domains in the subcontinental lithospheric mantle reflect the processes of continental assembly and breakup through Earth's history. Their boundaries may focus the fluid movements that produce giant ore deposits. Mapping these boundaries will provide fundamental insights into Earth processes and a basis for the targeting of mineral exploration. We will integrate mantle petrology, tectonic synthesis and geophysical analysis to produce the first maps of the architecture of the continental lithosphere, to depths of ca 250 km. These maps will provide a unique perspective on global dynamics and continental evolution, and on the relationships between lithosphere domains and large-scale mineralisation.Read moreRead less
Diamond genesis: cracking the code for deep-Earth processes. The project will provide new insights into the processes by which diamond crystallises in the Earth's mantle, and will deliver information directly relevant to interpreting the diamond prospectivity of the Australian continent. The development of a new diamond mine in Australia, or by Australian companies abroad, would be a major addition to the economy and Australian-based industry. Another outcome of this research will be further de ....Diamond genesis: cracking the code for deep-Earth processes. The project will provide new insights into the processes by which diamond crystallises in the Earth's mantle, and will deliver information directly relevant to interpreting the diamond prospectivity of the Australian continent. The development of a new diamond mine in Australia, or by Australian companies abroad, would be a major addition to the economy and Australian-based industry. Another outcome of this research will be further development of methodologies for identification of sources of individual diamonds, relevant to the international Kimberley Process for reducing theft and illegal diamond trade. The project will be a highly visible Australian contribution to this global social and economic problem.Read moreRead less
CRATON EDGES AND SUTURES IN THE AUSTRALIAN MANTLE. A major seismic experiment using recording of distant earthquakes will be used to provide images of 3-D structure in the Earth's crust and mantle along the length of the edge of the Precambrian Australian Shield and across the suture between the South and North Australian cratons within the Shield. Seismic structures derived from different classes of geodynamic models will be compared with seismic results derived from a variety of styles of dat ....CRATON EDGES AND SUTURES IN THE AUSTRALIAN MANTLE. A major seismic experiment using recording of distant earthquakes will be used to provide images of 3-D structure in the Earth's crust and mantle along the length of the edge of the Precambrian Australian Shield and across the suture between the South and North Australian cratons within the Shield. Seismic structures derived from different classes of geodynamic models will be compared with seismic results derived from a variety of styles of data interpretation, including seismic tomography. The experiment will improve understanding of the range of physical processes associated with rifting and building of continents.Read moreRead less
The Initiation and 3D Evolution of Instabilities in the Deep Continental Lithosphere. This project is part of a new international initiative in the Geodynamics of the Australian Plate bringing together studies of the active tectonics of the boundary regions of our plate and the ancient analogues of these processes which are locked into the stable interior of the Australian continent. The proposed research is a good fit to the Identification and Extraction of Deep Earth Resources priority goal. D ....The Initiation and 3D Evolution of Instabilities in the Deep Continental Lithosphere. This project is part of a new international initiative in the Geodynamics of the Australian Plate bringing together studies of the active tectonics of the boundary regions of our plate and the ancient analogues of these processes which are locked into the stable interior of the Australian continent. The proposed research is a good fit to the Identification and Extraction of Deep Earth Resources priority goal. Detachment of the lithosphere is associated with fertile mantle being emplaced at shallow depth below the crust; an important precursory event for mineralization. The project builds upon AuScope (NCRIS 5.13) to create infrastructure for a new, smart resource exploration and extraction industry based on modelling and simulation.Read moreRead less
Seismic constraints on the assembly of cratons. Improved definition of the 3-D seismological structure and nature of the major lithospheric blocks in Australia and their assembly to form the present-day continent will be sought from seismological data. The inclusion of information on the depth extent and character of the lithosphere will improve geological understanding of the evolution of the continent, with relevance to the interaction of the crust and mantle and the placement of mineral res ....Seismic constraints on the assembly of cratons. Improved definition of the 3-D seismological structure and nature of the major lithospheric blocks in Australia and their assembly to form the present-day continent will be sought from seismological data. The inclusion of information on the depth extent and character of the lithosphere will improve geological understanding of the evolution of the continent, with relevance to the interaction of the crust and mantle and the placement of mineral resources.Read moreRead less