The role of supercontinents in Earth's dynamic evolution. By better understanding the dynamic and volcanic evolution of continents, the project will contribute to our understanding of the long-term evolution and construction of the Australian plate, leading to better models for Australia's deep-Earth resources(NRP 1.6), and the impact of large-scale dynamics on ore-deposit formation. The geodynamic modelling capabilities implemented in this project will keep Australian at the cutting edge of Ge ....The role of supercontinents in Earth's dynamic evolution. By better understanding the dynamic and volcanic evolution of continents, the project will contribute to our understanding of the long-term evolution and construction of the Australian plate, leading to better models for Australia's deep-Earth resources(NRP 1.6), and the impact of large-scale dynamics on ore-deposit formation. The geodynamic modelling capabilities implemented in this project will keep Australian at the cutting edge of Geoinformatics (NRP 3.2). The project will strengthen ties between the mantle convection modelling and lithospheric dating communities, enhancing our understanding of complex Earth-system interactions, and promote international collaboration between Australia and the USA.Read moreRead less
Proterozoic tectonic evolution of Australia and India. Recent studies cast doubt on reconstructions of the Neoproterozoic supercontinent Rodinia, and on the tectonic coherence of East Gondwanaland (Australia, Antarctica and India). Within Australia, the relative positions of the major crustal blocks during most of the Proterozoic era remain largely unverified. Fossil magnetism in rocks of different ages from the major crustal blocks of Australia and India will be used to determine whether the ....Proterozoic tectonic evolution of Australia and India. Recent studies cast doubt on reconstructions of the Neoproterozoic supercontinent Rodinia, and on the tectonic coherence of East Gondwanaland (Australia, Antarctica and India). Within Australia, the relative positions of the major crustal blocks during most of the Proterozoic era remain largely unverified. Fossil magnetism in rocks of different ages from the major crustal blocks of Australia and India will be used to determine whether the blocks were together or were separated by large oceans during Proterozoic time. The results will place fundamental constraints on the geological, palaeogeographic, and palaeobiological evolution of Australia, Rodinia, and the early Earth as a whole.Read moreRead less
Seismic tomography using signal and noise: A new window into deep Earth. This project will combine traditional imaging techniques based on earthquake records, and state of the art ambient noise tomography, which exploits oceanic and atmospheric disturbances, to construct detailed models of the crust and upper mantle beneath southeast Australia. The national benefits of this research include: a vastly improved understanding of the deep architecture of the Australian Plate, and how it has evolved ....Seismic tomography using signal and noise: A new window into deep Earth. This project will combine traditional imaging techniques based on earthquake records, and state of the art ambient noise tomography, which exploits oceanic and atmospheric disturbances, to construct detailed models of the crust and upper mantle beneath southeast Australia. The national benefits of this research include: a vastly improved understanding of the deep architecture of the Australian Plate, and how it has evolved over time; a paradigm shift in the interpretation of seismic data, which will enhance Australia's reputation in the international scientific community; and important new constraints on the broad scale geology of prospective regions that host world class mineral deposits.Read moreRead less
Three-dimensional evolution of the Banda Arc: effects of the collision of the Indo-Australian plate with the active Banda volcanic arc. National benefits are associated with the advance of basic science by addressing fundamental tectonic problems on the geodynamics of convergent plate boundaries. In particular, the specific study area would provide a better understanding on the tectonic environment of Australia in the context of the Asia-Pacific region. In the future, outcomes of this research ....Three-dimensional evolution of the Banda Arc: effects of the collision of the Indo-Australian plate with the active Banda volcanic arc. National benefits are associated with the advance of basic science by addressing fundamental tectonic problems on the geodynamics of convergent plate boundaries. In particular, the specific study area would provide a better understanding on the tectonic environment of Australia in the context of the Asia-Pacific region. In the future, outcomes of this research could potentially be used to reconstruct the tectonic history of Australia using the Banda region as a modern analogue.Read moreRead less
Earth's Internal System: deep processes and crustal consequences. Outcomes will include significant new information about the structure and formation of the Earth's crust and the underlying mantle. An improved framework for interpreting the architecture of Australia and other continents will be directly relevant to exploration for world-class economic deposits, the Earth resources on which society depends. Innovations in geochemical technology and in the integration of information from geochemi ....Earth's Internal System: deep processes and crustal consequences. Outcomes will include significant new information about the structure and formation of the Earth's crust and the underlying mantle. An improved framework for interpreting the architecture of Australia and other continents will be directly relevant to exploration for world-class economic deposits, the Earth resources on which society depends. Innovations in geochemical technology and in the integration of information from geochemistry, geophysics and geodynamics will maintain our high international profile in research relevant to National Priority 1.6 (Developing Deep Earth Resources). The project and its interaction with the minerals industry will provide advanced Postgraduate training in a field critical to Australia's future.Read moreRead less
Coupled subduction dynamics and continent deformations: understanding the Asian and Red Sea tectonics. Modeling slab pull forces and lithospheric deformation provides a new insight in the dynamics of plate tectonics. Unraveling the self-consistent formation of faults, rifts, shear zones and up to passive margin will further the understanding of our planet. Furthermore the application of these models to specific geological contexts will support the exploration and assessment of inaccessible Ear ....Coupled subduction dynamics and continent deformations: understanding the Asian and Red Sea tectonics. Modeling slab pull forces and lithospheric deformation provides a new insight in the dynamics of plate tectonics. Unraveling the self-consistent formation of faults, rifts, shear zones and up to passive margin will further the understanding of our planet. Furthermore the application of these models to specific geological contexts will support the exploration and assessment of inaccessible Earth's resources, such as hydrocarbons pools, located along the deep Australian continent margins, and diamonds and ore deposits, associated with continental shear zones, which potential is still to be fully discovered.Read moreRead less
Present-Day Stress and Tectonics of Deltas and Deepwater Fold-Thrust Belts. The key benefit of the project will be to advance our understanding of the geological processes that control the development of deltas, and of the fold-thrust belts located in deepwater adjacent to deltas, by analysis of five examples worldwide. Global hydrocarbon exploration is successfully moving to deepwater fold-thrust belts. One of Australia's key under-explored frontier petroleum provinces is the Australian Bight B ....Present-Day Stress and Tectonics of Deltas and Deepwater Fold-Thrust Belts. The key benefit of the project will be to advance our understanding of the geological processes that control the development of deltas, and of the fold-thrust belts located in deepwater adjacent to deltas, by analysis of five examples worldwide. Global hydrocarbon exploration is successfully moving to deepwater fold-thrust belts. One of Australia's key under-explored frontier petroleum provinces is the Australian Bight Basin. The prospective parts of this basin comprise delta/deepwater fold-thrust belt systems and analysis of more data-rich systems worldwide will help provide the geological knowledge required to help re-invigorate exploration in the Bight Basin.Read moreRead less
Crustal Stress Field of SE Asia. The key project benefit is to advance our fundamental understanding of tectonic processes such as sedimentary basin development and continental collision. It has major implications for natural hazard assessment and resources exploration in SE Asia, consistent with Australia's participation in the APEC Energy Working Group. The project has major ancillary benefits. It will strengthen international links between Australia, SE Asia, the UK, USA and Germany. It will ....Crustal Stress Field of SE Asia. The key project benefit is to advance our fundamental understanding of tectonic processes such as sedimentary basin development and continental collision. It has major implications for natural hazard assessment and resources exploration in SE Asia, consistent with Australia's participation in the APEC Energy Working Group. The project has major ancillary benefits. It will strengthen international links between Australia, SE Asia, the UK, USA and Germany. It will provide high-quality research and training experience for the APD and PhD student involved, whom will spend time with research groups and oil companies in Australia, UK, USA and SE Asia. Finally, the project will increase the institutional capacity for contract research in SE Asia.Read moreRead less
Present-Day Crustal Stresses of NW Borneo: Neotectonics of an Active Collisional Margin. The key project benefit is to advance understanding of continental collision and the early evolution of mountain belts using a region with an unrivalled database from hydrocarbon exploration. The project will improve understanding of Australia's northern, collisional margins and petroleum exploration there, which is less advanced than in Borneo. The project has major ancillary benefits. It will strengthen in ....Present-Day Crustal Stresses of NW Borneo: Neotectonics of an Active Collisional Margin. The key project benefit is to advance understanding of continental collision and the early evolution of mountain belts using a region with an unrivalled database from hydrocarbon exploration. The project will improve understanding of Australia's northern, collisional margins and petroleum exploration there, which is less advanced than in Borneo. The project has major ancillary benefits. It will strengthen international links between Australia, Brunei, Malaysia and Germany. It will provide high quality research training for the RA and PhDs whom will spend time at the Universities of Brunei and Karlsruhe and at Shell Brunei and Shell Malaysia. Finally the project will increase the institutional capacity for contract research in SE Asia.Read moreRead less
The Australasian Stress Map. The contemporary crustal stress field of Australasia is both more complex and more poorly constrained than that of other continental areas. The crustal stress field controls processes including earthquake hazard; the stability of mines, tunnels and boreholes, and; fluid flow in groundwater aquifers and oil reservoirs. Using data from oil exploration wells, earthquakes and recent geological activity, this project will increase from around 300 to 1000 the number of rel ....The Australasian Stress Map. The contemporary crustal stress field of Australasia is both more complex and more poorly constrained than that of other continental areas. The crustal stress field controls processes including earthquake hazard; the stability of mines, tunnels and boreholes, and; fluid flow in groundwater aquifers and oil reservoirs. Using data from oil exploration wells, earthquakes and recent geological activity, this project will increase from around 300 to 1000 the number of reliable stress determinations available for Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The stress field will be modelled in order to improve our understanding of its origin and variability.Read moreRead less