Novel isotope techniques to explore the Centralian Superbasin, Australia. This project will leverage new advances in analytical instrumentation and isotope techniques to generate improved geochronological and stratigraphic framework for the Centralian Superbasin, a vast ancient depositional system covering much of central Australia. The project aims to apply novel laser-based dating of sedimentary rocks, coupled with metal isotope proxy reconstructions of the basin’s palaeogeography, hydrologica ....Novel isotope techniques to explore the Centralian Superbasin, Australia. This project will leverage new advances in analytical instrumentation and isotope techniques to generate improved geochronological and stratigraphic framework for the Centralian Superbasin, a vast ancient depositional system covering much of central Australia. The project aims to apply novel laser-based dating of sedimentary rocks, coupled with metal isotope proxy reconstructions of the basin’s palaeogeography, hydrological connectivity and past redox conditions, which are all critical parameters to guide and de-risk future exploration of sediment-hosted resources in this frontier basin. Anticipated outcomes will benefit Australia's resources economy, while providing insights into the evolution of Earth’s surface environment in deep time.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH130200004
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,966,350.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for transforming the mining value chain. ARC Research Hub for transforming the mining value chain. This Research Hub aims to transform the mining value chain to make significant improvements to industry practices through enhancing ore deposit discovery, mineral processing, and environmental management of ores and waste materials. The Hub will bring together a team of world-class researchers, industry partners and research facilities to develop end-user driven solutions to improv ....ARC Research Hub for transforming the mining value chain. ARC Research Hub for transforming the mining value chain. This Research Hub aims to transform the mining value chain to make significant improvements to industry practices through enhancing ore deposit discovery, mineral processing, and environmental management of ores and waste materials. The Hub will bring together a team of world-class researchers, industry partners and research facilities to develop end-user driven solutions to improve profitability and productivity in Australia’s mining industry.Read moreRead less
Geochronology, Metallogenesis and Deposit Styles of Loei Foldbelt in Thailand and Laos PDR. The Loei volcanic-plutonic belt occurs in Thailand and Laos PDR between two major crustal terranes in mainland SE Asia: Shan-Thai in the west and Indochina terrane in the east. Several skarn type copper-gold and porphyry related epithermal gold deposits are distributed along the Loei belt, and yet these deposits are not well documented in the literature. Detailed metallogenic relations and evolution of th ....Geochronology, Metallogenesis and Deposit Styles of Loei Foldbelt in Thailand and Laos PDR. The Loei volcanic-plutonic belt occurs in Thailand and Laos PDR between two major crustal terranes in mainland SE Asia: Shan-Thai in the west and Indochina terrane in the east. Several skarn type copper-gold and porphyry related epithermal gold deposits are distributed along the Loei belt, and yet these deposits are not well documented in the literature. Detailed metallogenic relations and evolution of these mineral deposits are also poorly understood; it is not known whether they formed from single, long-lived intrusive-centred mineralised systems or multiple/episodic mineralised systems. Understanding the geotectonic and metallogenic relations of this belt have a direct benefit to Australian companies exploring in SE Asia, and the research results also can be applied back in Australia for exploration of Cu-Au deposits.Read moreRead less
Geologic, genetic and exploration implications of syndeformational, structurally-controlled, sediment-hosted copper deposits: investigation of the Mt Oxide deposit, Queensland. This project will use a multi-disciplinary approach to understand the geology, geochemistry and genesis of the syndeformational, structurally-controlled, sediment-hosted copper mineralisation at the Mt Oxide deposit, Queensland. Copper deposits, like Mt Oxide, are an important exploration target in sedimentary basins but ....Geologic, genetic and exploration implications of syndeformational, structurally-controlled, sediment-hosted copper deposits: investigation of the Mt Oxide deposit, Queensland. This project will use a multi-disciplinary approach to understand the geology, geochemistry and genesis of the syndeformational, structurally-controlled, sediment-hosted copper mineralisation at the Mt Oxide deposit, Queensland. Copper deposits, like Mt Oxide, are an important exploration target in sedimentary basins but their characteristics and formation are poorly understood. Discovery of further sediment-hosted Cu deposits is imperative as Australia's industrial competitivness in exploration and mining depends on the discovery of new ore depsoits. This project specifically addresses the need for better genetic and exploration models for copper deposits concealed within ancient, deformed sedimentary sequences in Australia and overseas.Read moreRead less
Origin and setting of Congolese-type Cu deposits. This project aims to understand the genesis of the giant sediment-hosted Cu ore deposits of the Congolese Copperbelt, and their relationship to the enclosing strata. We will use selected study areas within the correlative Neoproterozic basin successions in Australia, which are well exposed and covered by modern geoscientific datasets, as analogues for the poorly exposed Congolese system. Once this is achieved, we will combine the results with tho ....Origin and setting of Congolese-type Cu deposits. This project aims to understand the genesis of the giant sediment-hosted Cu ore deposits of the Congolese Copperbelt, and their relationship to the enclosing strata. We will use selected study areas within the correlative Neoproterozic basin successions in Australia, which are well exposed and covered by modern geoscientific datasets, as analogues for the poorly exposed Congolese system. Once this is achieved, we will combine the results with those of a previous ARC linkage project on the nearby Zambian Copperbelt, to provide the first integrated model of the worlds largest sedimentary Cu system.Read moreRead less
Tectonic geography of the world's oldest petroleum play, the McArthur Basin. This projects aims to develop a 4D tectonic geography framework to support the effective exploration of the McArthur Basin. This project will construct this by a) investigating the evolving tectonic setting, b) examining intra-basin correlations and trace the source to sink sediment provenance, c) unraveling the depositional geography using novel isotopic proxies, and, d) constructing the subsequent thermal history of ....Tectonic geography of the world's oldest petroleum play, the McArthur Basin. This projects aims to develop a 4D tectonic geography framework to support the effective exploration of the McArthur Basin. This project will construct this by a) investigating the evolving tectonic setting, b) examining intra-basin correlations and trace the source to sink sediment provenance, c) unraveling the depositional geography using novel isotopic proxies, and, d) constructing the subsequent thermal history of the basin. The techniques developed through this project will de-risk the exploration for petroleum in this basin, and be applicable in opening up Proterozoic petroleum elsewhere in Australia and internationally.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100032
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
A state-of-the-art field emission electron microprobe for Tasmania. A state-of-the-art field emission electron microprobe for Tasmania:
This proposal aims to replace an existing 12-year old conventional electron microprobe with a state-of-the art field emission electron microprobe instrument capable of in-situ, low-level, quantitative non-destructive chemical analysis, and mapping of element distribution and texture at sub-micron resolution. This would establish new research strengths in the fi ....A state-of-the-art field emission electron microprobe for Tasmania. A state-of-the-art field emission electron microprobe for Tasmania:
This proposal aims to replace an existing 12-year old conventional electron microprobe with a state-of-the art field emission electron microprobe instrument capable of in-situ, low-level, quantitative non-destructive chemical analysis, and mapping of element distribution and texture at sub-micron resolution. This would establish new research strengths in the field of earth and materials science. In particular, it may improve efficiencies of discovery and recovery of ore deposits and develop environmentally friendly processes for waste disposal. Read moreRead less
Transitions and Zoning in Porphyry-Epithermal Districts: Indicators, Discriminators, and Vectors. We aim to improve understanding of ore genesis and exploration success in porphyry-epithermal mineral districts. These districts can contain porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits (the world's major source of copper), epithermal Au-Ag deposits, skarn and sediment-hosted gold deposits. These districts continue to be important targets for copper and gold explorers, even though it can be difficult to identify th ....Transitions and Zoning in Porphyry-Epithermal Districts: Indicators, Discriminators, and Vectors. We aim to improve understanding of ore genesis and exploration success in porphyry-epithermal mineral districts. These districts can contain porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits (the world's major source of copper), epithermal Au-Ag deposits, skarn and sediment-hosted gold deposits. These districts continue to be important targets for copper and gold explorers, even though it can be difficult to identify the ore zones within large zones of background alteration. We will develop and test criteria that can be used by explorers to indicate prospective environments, discriminate between mineralization styles, and vector towards ore zones - be they of porphyry, epithermal, and/or other peripheral styles.Read moreRead less
Pyrite: a deep-time capsule of ocean chemistry and atmosphere oxidation. Surprisingly little is known about trace element trends in past oceans, even though these data are vital for interpreting the evolution of the Earth's atmosphere, evolutionary pathways of marine life and cycles of major mineral deposits. Using laser-based analysis of sedimentary pyrite in deep marine rocks, this project aims to produce, for the first time, temporal variation curves for 25 trace elements in seawater over the ....Pyrite: a deep-time capsule of ocean chemistry and atmosphere oxidation. Surprisingly little is known about trace element trends in past oceans, even though these data are vital for interpreting the evolution of the Earth's atmosphere, evolutionary pathways of marine life and cycles of major mineral deposits. Using laser-based analysis of sedimentary pyrite in deep marine rocks, this project aims to produce, for the first time, temporal variation curves for 25 trace elements in seawater over the last 3.5 billion years. Preliminary research has validated the technique and demonstrated major changes in certain trace elements over geologically short periods. Outcomes will assist the minerals industry in the discovery of new deposits of zinc, copper, gold and iron ore in Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100047
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$420,000.00
Summary
Events through time: eruptions, extinctions, impacts, ore-bodies and orogenies - upgrading the national argon geochronology network. Nine universities and the CSIRO will replace aged and obsolete equipment with new mass spectrometers which will be strategically placed at opposite ends of our continent to improve access for Australian researchers to these instruments for which there is high demand. These instruments will allow more exact dating of events such as eruptions, impacts, climate change ....Events through time: eruptions, extinctions, impacts, ore-bodies and orogenies - upgrading the national argon geochronology network. Nine universities and the CSIRO will replace aged and obsolete equipment with new mass spectrometers which will be strategically placed at opposite ends of our continent to improve access for Australian researchers to these instruments for which there is high demand. These instruments will allow more exact dating of events such as eruptions, impacts, climate change, biological extinctions, mineral deposits and mountain building.Read moreRead less