The structure and geochemistry of mineral interfaces in Earth's mantle. The interfaces between mineral grains are critical in determining rock properties and behaviour, yet we know little about them. This project uses emerging nano-technologies to establish the structure, chemistry and energy characteristics of interfaces in rocks from Earth’s mantle that control fundamental Earth processes such as plate tectonics and melting. The expected outcomes include a new understanding on one of the funda ....The structure and geochemistry of mineral interfaces in Earth's mantle. The interfaces between mineral grains are critical in determining rock properties and behaviour, yet we know little about them. This project uses emerging nano-technologies to establish the structure, chemistry and energy characteristics of interfaces in rocks from Earth’s mantle that control fundamental Earth processes such as plate tectonics and melting. The expected outcomes include a new understanding on one of the fundamental controls on rock properties and an enhanced ability to predict and model rock behaviour. The project provides research training in innovative research methodologies, will strengthen Australia’s leadership in nano-geoscience and will provide new methodologies for advanced rock characterisation.Read moreRead less
Mineral Physics of the Earth's Core. Most information on the nature of Earth's core properties has come from teleseismic studies, which detect weak earthquake-wave signals that have traversed the Earth's deepest interior. These studies have revealed several unusual and enigmatic phenomena in the core, but interpretation of these observations must rely on mineral-physics data on the materials of the core (e.g. iron-based alloys). This project will create a unique world-class ultra-high pressure l ....Mineral Physics of the Earth's Core. Most information on the nature of Earth's core properties has come from teleseismic studies, which detect weak earthquake-wave signals that have traversed the Earth's deepest interior. These studies have revealed several unusual and enigmatic phenomena in the core, but interpretation of these observations must rely on mineral-physics data on the materials of the core (e.g. iron-based alloys). This project will create a unique world-class ultra-high pressure laboratory to obtain such data. By defining the composition and mineralogy of Earth's core, it will place Australia in the forefront of this exciting research field, and will also represent a major national resource for the study of novel materials at extreme conditions.Read moreRead less
UNDERSTANDING PHASE TRANSITIONS THROUGH PRECISE STRUCTURAL STUDIES. This project will examine the fundamental nature of the structural phase transitions that are critical for the utilisation of numerous advanced materials. Researchers at Sydney University and the Australian National University in collaboration with staff at ANSTO are world leaders in the structural analysis of such materials. Through comprehensive experimental and theoretical studies of a number of such materials this project w ....UNDERSTANDING PHASE TRANSITIONS THROUGH PRECISE STRUCTURAL STUDIES. This project will examine the fundamental nature of the structural phase transitions that are critical for the utilisation of numerous advanced materials. Researchers at Sydney University and the Australian National University in collaboration with staff at ANSTO are world leaders in the structural analysis of such materials. Through comprehensive experimental and theoretical studies of a number of such materials this project will enhance the ability of industry to develop new and improved materials.Read moreRead less
Maximising accuracy and reliability of carbonate climate proxy archives. This project brings together expertise and cutting-edge methodology from different disciplines to identify the controls on the compositions of the shells and skeletons of marine organisms. The compositions of these materials are essential tools to reconstruct environmental conditions before modern climate records began. However, recent insights into how they form profoundly complicate and affect their interpretations.
The r ....Maximising accuracy and reliability of carbonate climate proxy archives. This project brings together expertise and cutting-edge methodology from different disciplines to identify the controls on the compositions of the shells and skeletons of marine organisms. The compositions of these materials are essential tools to reconstruct environmental conditions before modern climate records began. However, recent insights into how they form profoundly complicate and affect their interpretations.
The results will enable us to develop new, realistic models for the behaviour of chemical elements in these materials. This will significantly improve paleoclimate interpretations and provide critical benefit for protecting Australia’s marine resources in the future. Read moreRead less
Platinum-group Metal Oxides with Modulated Crystal Structures: Flexible Frameworks Designed for Geometrically Frustrated Magnetism. Magnetic materials are of huge importance to modern society because of the key roles they play in devices such as hard disks, sensors, switches and permanent magnets. This project will focus on the chemical design and synthesis of novel, flexible and unconventional magnetic materials. Their study will lead to improved theories of magnetism and superconductivity, and ....Platinum-group Metal Oxides with Modulated Crystal Structures: Flexible Frameworks Designed for Geometrically Frustrated Magnetism. Magnetic materials are of huge importance to modern society because of the key roles they play in devices such as hard disks, sensors, switches and permanent magnets. This project will focus on the chemical design and synthesis of novel, flexible and unconventional magnetic materials. Their study will lead to improved theories of magnetism and superconductivity, and ultimately to technologies such as new data-storage media. The project will also help introduce Australian scientists to their new research reactor and synchrotron, which will play critical roles by allowing exceptionally thorough and systematic studies to be carried out.Read moreRead less
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
Developing a geophysically relevant conduction model for the upper mantle. The aim of this project is to develop a geophysically relevant proton conduction model for the Earth’s upper mantle. This would allow the robust interpretation of conductivity maps of the interior of the Earth and the discovery of major new mineral deposits. This advance is designed to be achieved through four major initiatives based on recently developed experimental and computational facilities. The project aims to deve ....Developing a geophysically relevant conduction model for the upper mantle. The aim of this project is to develop a geophysically relevant proton conduction model for the Earth’s upper mantle. This would allow the robust interpretation of conductivity maps of the interior of the Earth and the discovery of major new mineral deposits. This advance is designed to be achieved through four major initiatives based on recently developed experimental and computational facilities. The project aims to develop new methods for determining rock conductivities and subsurface mapping from combined datasets. This may provide new insights into the structure and dynamics of the upper mantle as well as providing key data necessary for a national effort aimed at re-establishing Australia as a primary target for mineral exploration.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of proxy uptake in biominerals. This project plans to combine nano-analytical and aquaculture methods to develop new models that improve the reliability of paleoclimate reconstructions. The compositions of shells and skeletal materials of marine invertebrates are essential archives for quantifying temperatures and environmental conditions before modern climate records began. However, their reliability relies on understanding their formation. Emerging knowledge from material sciences i ....Mechanisms of proxy uptake in biominerals. This project plans to combine nano-analytical and aquaculture methods to develop new models that improve the reliability of paleoclimate reconstructions. The compositions of shells and skeletal materials of marine invertebrates are essential archives for quantifying temperatures and environmental conditions before modern climate records began. However, their reliability relies on understanding their formation. Emerging knowledge from material sciences indicates that these biocarbonates form via transient precursors rather than direct precipitation from seawater, profoundly affecting their interpretation. This project plans to transfer this new understanding to the earth sciences using nanoscale analytical methods including in vitro geochemical partitioning experiments. This would enable realistic models for geochemical proxy behaviour to be developed, significantly improving paleoclimate interpretations and assessments of ocean acidification effects on marine calcifiers.Read moreRead less
Contemporary sulfur biomineralisation in acid sulfate soil landscapes. This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the processes, kinetics and impacts to water quality of contemporary sulfur biomineralisation in acid sulfate soil landscapes. Extreme concentrations of highly reactive sulfides are forming in the surface sediments of floodplain drains, wetlands and agricultural soils. The newly forming sulfides are linked to severe oxygen depletion and acidification of coastal rivers a ....Contemporary sulfur biomineralisation in acid sulfate soil landscapes. This project aims to generate fundamental knowledge on the processes, kinetics and impacts to water quality of contemporary sulfur biomineralisation in acid sulfate soil landscapes. Extreme concentrations of highly reactive sulfides are forming in the surface sediments of floodplain drains, wetlands and agricultural soils. The newly forming sulfides are linked to severe oxygen depletion and acidification of coastal rivers and the complete failure of floodplain vegetation, leaving soils susceptible to erosion. The proposed study will greatly advance our understanding of how our precious coastal floodplain soil and water resources are being degraded, and will guide better land management.
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Schwertmannite in acid sulfate soil landscapes: iron cycling induced acidification. Acid sulfate soils impact over 24 million ha of land throughout the world, 4 million ha of valuable coastal land in Australia alone. Their oxidation and acidification are the cause of catastrophic declines in water quality, aquatic habitat, agricultural productivity and urban infrastructure. The practical benefits of this project arise from an improved understanding of the processes controlling acidification a ....Schwertmannite in acid sulfate soil landscapes: iron cycling induced acidification. Acid sulfate soils impact over 24 million ha of land throughout the world, 4 million ha of valuable coastal land in Australia alone. Their oxidation and acidification are the cause of catastrophic declines in water quality, aquatic habitat, agricultural productivity and urban infrastructure. The practical benefits of this project arise from an improved understanding of the processes controlling acidification and water quality in these areas. Intellectual benefits include the development and application of novel geochemical concepts involving iron minerals relevant to acidity impacted coastal rivers, wetlands and estuaries; this project will enhance Australia's capacity for sustainable environmental management.Read moreRead less