The Coupling of Plasticity, Microstructure and Phase Transformations in the Design of Novel Magnesium Alloys for the Automotive Industry. The desire to reduce the weight of automobiles due to legislative requirements on fuel emissions and to reduce overall fuel consumption is the driving force behind research into the development of new Mg-based alloys to replace the heavier steel and Al-alloy components in automobiles. Given the enormous worldwide transportation market and the environmental and ....The Coupling of Plasticity, Microstructure and Phase Transformations in the Design of Novel Magnesium Alloys for the Automotive Industry. The desire to reduce the weight of automobiles due to legislative requirements on fuel emissions and to reduce overall fuel consumption is the driving force behind research into the development of new Mg-based alloys to replace the heavier steel and Al-alloy components in automobiles. Given the enormous worldwide transportation market and the environmental and legislative motivation for reducing fuel emissions, the development of new Mg-based alloys capable of meeting this demand from automotive manufacturers represents both a potentially large economic advantage to the country of development as well as helping to address the environmental concern about fuel emissions.Read moreRead less
The global consequences of subduction zone congestion. This project will use a combination of 3D geodynamic modelling, plate kinematic reconstruction and geological and geophysical synthesis to determine how congested subduction zones influence plate kinematics, subduction dynamics and tectonic evolution at orogen and global scales. The project aims to deliver a transformation change in understanding the links between congested subduction, mantle flow, trench migration, crustal growth, transitio ....The global consequences of subduction zone congestion. This project will use a combination of 3D geodynamic modelling, plate kinematic reconstruction and geological and geophysical synthesis to determine how congested subduction zones influence plate kinematics, subduction dynamics and tectonic evolution at orogen and global scales. The project aims to deliver a transformation change in understanding the links between congested subduction, mantle flow, trench migration, crustal growth, transitions between stable convergent margin configurations and deformation in the overriding plates of subduction zones. Determining these relationships is significant because it will provide dynamic context to interpret the geological record of ancient convergent margins, which host a large percentage of Earth's metal resources.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
In the Driver's seat: role of trace elements in enabling crustal fluid flow. This proposal aims to systematically investigate the role of trace elements in controlling the kinetics, product composition, and feed-back between fluid flow and the reaction interface, in fluid-driven mineral reactions. This project expects to provide a framework for the integration of activator trace elements in models of crustal fluid flow and their application in the recovery of base, precious, and critical metals, ....In the Driver's seat: role of trace elements in enabling crustal fluid flow. This proposal aims to systematically investigate the role of trace elements in controlling the kinetics, product composition, and feed-back between fluid flow and the reaction interface, in fluid-driven mineral reactions. This project expects to provide a framework for the integration of activator trace elements in models of crustal fluid flow and their application in the recovery of base, precious, and critical metals, using interdisciplinary approaches across geochemistry, mineral engineering and material sciences. Expected outcomes include improved prediction of the transport of metals and fluids in geo-systems. This should provide significant benefits towards integrating the mineral value chain from exploration to mining and metallurgy.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
Influence of Impurities in Commercial Solvent Extraction Processes. This project directly supports the solvent extraction industry in Australia. This industry is responsible for generating in excess of $600M annually of export earnings for Australia. This type of technology can be applied in the recovery of base metals such as coper, nickel, cobalt, etc and in the environmental area for the clean up of heavy metals from waste water. Solvent extraction has the advantage of high selectivity that ....Influence of Impurities in Commercial Solvent Extraction Processes. This project directly supports the solvent extraction industry in Australia. This industry is responsible for generating in excess of $600M annually of export earnings for Australia. This type of technology can be applied in the recovery of base metals such as coper, nickel, cobalt, etc and in the environmental area for the clean up of heavy metals from waste water. Solvent extraction has the advantage of high selectivity that enables metals to be recovered and recycled, thus reducing the wastage of these metals in, for example, the chromium plating process.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
The Role of the Interface in Solvent Extraction. This project involves a fundamental study of the kinetics of reactions that occur in solvent extraction processes used for separation of many of Australia's metals from minerals. The understanding gained from this will enable a greater efficiency to be obtained from Australia's minerals industry. In particular, it is intended to investigate the role of additives on the kinetics of metal extraction; these additives either enter the solution from ....The Role of the Interface in Solvent Extraction. This project involves a fundamental study of the kinetics of reactions that occur in solvent extraction processes used for separation of many of Australia's metals from minerals. The understanding gained from this will enable a greater efficiency to be obtained from Australia's minerals industry. In particular, it is intended to investigate the role of additives on the kinetics of metal extraction; these additives either enter the solution from the ore or are added as flocculants during the process, and have a significant effect on the performance. With the move to smaller, shorter residence time contactors, this has become increasingly important if these new contactors are to be used efficiently.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
Plate kinematics to plate dynamics: understanding plate boundary processes at the global scale. This proposal aims to create geodynamic models which can be used a basis for a new, smart resource exploration and extraction industry which uses simulation to help characterize regions where traditional geophysical imaging alone is not able to penetrate. It provides essential scientific underpinnings for
The Australian Computational Earth System Simulator Major National Research Facility (ACcESS).