The early tectonic evolution of the Curnamona Province. This project aims to test the hypothesis that the Curnamona Province preserves evidence for an extension-related structural geology architecture. This will allow a comparison of the basin evolution, crustal architecture and mechanisms of basin development between the Curnamona Province and well-understood basins of the Mount Isa Inlier. The project is expected to add value to pre-existing databases, and deliver a plate tectonic and str ....The early tectonic evolution of the Curnamona Province. This project aims to test the hypothesis that the Curnamona Province preserves evidence for an extension-related structural geology architecture. This will allow a comparison of the basin evolution, crustal architecture and mechanisms of basin development between the Curnamona Province and well-understood basins of the Mount Isa Inlier. The project is expected to add value to pre-existing databases, and deliver a plate tectonic and structural framework to interpret basin evolution and constrain geochronology/geochemical analysis, and develop a three-dimesional crustal architecture. The results will provide new constraints on the evolution of the Australian plate, and how the Australian crust has evolved.Read moreRead less
Magmatic response to slab deformation and implications to ore formation. The uneven distribution of ore deposits in magmatic arcs is poorly understood. This project aims to provide new strategies for more effective mineral targeting by testing the hypothesis that anomalous magmatism enriched in metals reflects particular styles of deformation, such as tears in subducting slabs. We will use geophysical modelling to constrain slab structure along the northern boundary of the Australian plate, and ....Magmatic response to slab deformation and implications to ore formation. The uneven distribution of ore deposits in magmatic arcs is poorly understood. This project aims to provide new strategies for more effective mineral targeting by testing the hypothesis that anomalous magmatism enriched in metals reflects particular styles of deformation, such as tears in subducting slabs. We will use geophysical modelling to constrain slab structure along the northern boundary of the Australian plate, and geochemical data to establish spatio-temporal links with anomalous magmatism and ore deposits. By identifying the geochemical fingerprint of tear-related magmatism, outcomes are expected to benefit geoscience research and mineral exploration by providing context to similar rock associations in mineral-rich provinces.Read moreRead less
Unearthing the Marginal Terranes of the South Australian Craton: Keystone of Proterozoic Australia. This project will investigate the buried geology of vast regions of northern South Australia that is likely to be compatible with rocks that host enormous mineral wealth including the giant Broken Hill and Olympic Dam deposits. We will access these buried rocks using a program of on-shore scientific drilling that will provide the ground truth for multi-million dollar federal and state government ....Unearthing the Marginal Terranes of the South Australian Craton: Keystone of Proterozoic Australia. This project will investigate the buried geology of vast regions of northern South Australia that is likely to be compatible with rocks that host enormous mineral wealth including the giant Broken Hill and Olympic Dam deposits. We will access these buried rocks using a program of on-shore scientific drilling that will provide the ground truth for multi-million dollar federal and state government funded geophysical data acquisition. Results will help identify prospective mineral belts and determine the processes responsible for their formation.Read moreRead less
Platinum deposit genesis: A new way of thinking. Platinum is becoming increasingly crucial to the high technology sector, and is used particularly in catalytic converters and fuel cells, which serve to minimise or eliminate car exhaust pollution. Greatly expanded resources of this precious metal are needed to help society's transition to a low carbon dioxide (CO2) lifestyle. This project will combine high temperature-pressure experiments with geological field research to greatly improve our unde ....Platinum deposit genesis: A new way of thinking. Platinum is becoming increasingly crucial to the high technology sector, and is used particularly in catalytic converters and fuel cells, which serve to minimise or eliminate car exhaust pollution. Greatly expanded resources of this precious metal are needed to help society's transition to a low carbon dioxide (CO2) lifestyle. This project will combine high temperature-pressure experiments with geological field research to greatly improve our understanding of how platinum ore deposits form and thus where to find them. The outcomes of this project will change mineral exploration strategies in Australia and around the world, and facilitate our progression to a cleaner, greener future.Read moreRead less
Evolution of sub-arc mantle oxidation state over Earth’s history. This project aims to determine how the oxidation state of the Earth's mantle has changed throughout geologic history in response to recycling of sulfur, carbon and iron though subduction zones, and how this has influenced mineral deposit formation. The expected outcome is a holistic model that ties evolution of the Earth's biosphere to geochemical changes in the deep Earth that control mineral deposit formation. By improving our u ....Evolution of sub-arc mantle oxidation state over Earth’s history. This project aims to determine how the oxidation state of the Earth's mantle has changed throughout geologic history in response to recycling of sulfur, carbon and iron though subduction zones, and how this has influenced mineral deposit formation. The expected outcome is a holistic model that ties evolution of the Earth's biosphere to geochemical changes in the deep Earth that control mineral deposit formation. By improving our understanding of how, where, when and why mineral deposits formed, this project should provide improvements in mineral exploration strategy, and thus benefits to Australia's economy.Read moreRead less
Tetconic feedback and the long-term evolution of the continents. The continents are shaped through complex interactions between the primary tectonic processes of magmatism, metamorphism, deformation, erosion and sedimentation. Because these processes modify the distribution of heat producing elements, and are themselves temperature sensitive, they must be subject to important feedback loops. This project will use constraints on heat producing element distributions in the Australian crust, and th ....Tetconic feedback and the long-term evolution of the continents. The continents are shaped through complex interactions between the primary tectonic processes of magmatism, metamorphism, deformation, erosion and sedimentation. Because these processes modify the distribution of heat producing elements, and are themselves temperature sensitive, they must be subject to important feedback loops. This project will use constraints on heat producing element distributions in the Australian crust, and the way in which these distributions have evolved during various tectonic processes, to elucidate the nature and significance of "tectonic feedback" and its role in shaping the continents.Read moreRead less
Exploration targeting from next-generation volcanic facies reconstruction. The project aims to develop new innovative image analysis techniques to reconstruct the architecture of the volcanic host at four highly prospective hydrothermal-magmatic ore deposits, and investigate the properties of rocks that favour high-grade ore mineralisation. Expected outcomes of this project include next-generation automated techniques for volcanic facies analysis, and predictions of where hydrothermal alteration ....Exploration targeting from next-generation volcanic facies reconstruction. The project aims to develop new innovative image analysis techniques to reconstruct the architecture of the volcanic host at four highly prospective hydrothermal-magmatic ore deposits, and investigate the properties of rocks that favour high-grade ore mineralisation. Expected outcomes of this project include next-generation automated techniques for volcanic facies analysis, and predictions of where hydrothermal alteration is most prospective for mineralisation. Both outcomes are relevant to the discovery of volcanic-hosted mineralisation globally. This project will provide significant benefit to the Australian mining industry by diversifying ore exploration strategies in the Australian crust, and will train the next generation of explorers.Read moreRead less
The Early Stages of Granite Evolution: Extraction and Transport Through Ductile Crust . This research is aimed at understanding how the continents develop through several stages of rock melting. Rock melts deep in the continents to form granite magmas which rise, transporting to the upper crust important metals, such as gold, copper and tin, and heat producing elements such as uranium, thorium and potassium. This research proposal seeks to understand how granite melts form and rise transporting ....The Early Stages of Granite Evolution: Extraction and Transport Through Ductile Crust . This research is aimed at understanding how the continents develop through several stages of rock melting. Rock melts deep in the continents to form granite magmas which rise, transporting to the upper crust important metals, such as gold, copper and tin, and heat producing elements such as uranium, thorium and potassium. This research proposal seeks to understand how granite melts form and rise transporting these all important elements, which control not only our wealth but also the stability of the continents we live in.Read moreRead less
The supergiant Olympic Dam uranium-copper-gold rare earth element ore deposit: towards a new genetic model. This project will be focused on temporal and spatial relationships between crustal and mantle rocks, melts and fluids, associated with development of the Olympic Dam uranium-copper-gold rare earth element ore deposit, the largest on the planet.
Evolution of Proterozoic multistage rift basins – key to mineral systems. This project will deliver a new quantitative and integrated exploratory framework for the mineral industry in Australia’s frontier sedimentary basins by integrating the latest advances in laboratory experimental tectonics with thermo-mechanical numerical, surface process and geophysical modelling. The project will use northern Australian basins as a natural laboratory to address the fundamental processes involved in the de ....Evolution of Proterozoic multistage rift basins – key to mineral systems. This project will deliver a new quantitative and integrated exploratory framework for the mineral industry in Australia’s frontier sedimentary basins by integrating the latest advances in laboratory experimental tectonics with thermo-mechanical numerical, surface process and geophysical modelling. The project will use northern Australian basins as a natural laboratory to address the fundamental processes involved in the development of sedimentary ore systems. The project will investigate how they can be detected by modern exploration techniques using a multidisciplinary approach with a team of experts with backgrounds in mineral and petroleum systems. Read moreRead less