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Mineral equilibria modelling for Earth processes. The aim of the project is to develop methodologies, and to generate an internally-consistent set of thermodynamic descriptions of minerals, in multicomponent systems, so that reliable mineral equilibria modelling can be undertaken in the majority of systems of geological interest. Such mineral equilibria modelling will allow the testing of hypotheses regarding Earth processes, for example in relation to mountain building, granite magmatism, and t ....Mineral equilibria modelling for Earth processes. The aim of the project is to develop methodologies, and to generate an internally-consistent set of thermodynamic descriptions of minerals, in multicomponent systems, so that reliable mineral equilibria modelling can be undertaken in the majority of systems of geological interest. Such mineral equilibria modelling will allow the testing of hypotheses regarding Earth processes, for example in relation to mountain building, granite magmatism, and the generation of gold deposits.Read moreRead less
Mantle Heterogeneity: an exploration of the melting behaviours of compositional heterogeneities in the Earth's Mantle. This research represents an important national benefit in the provision of a valuable opportunity for further training and development of a very talented young earth scientist through request for an Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship. This is of particular importance in an era when many potential and actual research leaders are leaving the country for overseas positions. In addi ....Mantle Heterogeneity: an exploration of the melting behaviours of compositional heterogeneities in the Earth's Mantle. This research represents an important national benefit in the provision of a valuable opportunity for further training and development of a very talented young earth scientist through request for an Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship. This is of particular importance in an era when many potential and actual research leaders are leaving the country for overseas positions. In addition, Australia's long-term international leadership in high pressure experimental investigations of the earth will be enhanced as a result of the outcomes of the proposed research, which will resolve fundamental and currently hotly debated issues concerned with our planet's geochemical evolution through geological time.Read moreRead less
Building the thermodynamic framework for modelling the Earth. The Earth holds resources essential for society, such as metals and petroleum, but it also presents risks to society, such as earthquakes and volcanoes. To understand these, we need to understand how the Earth works, and not just at or close to the Earth's surface where these things are found or are felt. This fellowship aims to provide the framework and the tools for modelling the processes involved in how the Earth works. Such tools ....Building the thermodynamic framework for modelling the Earth. The Earth holds resources essential for society, such as metals and petroleum, but it also presents risks to society, such as earthquakes and volcanoes. To understand these, we need to understand how the Earth works, and not just at or close to the Earth's surface where these things are found or are felt. This fellowship aims to provide the framework and the tools for modelling the processes involved in how the Earth works. Such tools will, for example, dramatically improve our ability to understand, and therefore to find, ore deposits.Read moreRead less
Reading the orogenic record: mineral textures, metamorphic processes and crustal evolution. This research will produce new information relevant to the geological evolution of the Australian plate by direct examination of appropriate areas and by providing constraints on the geological processes that formed Australia. The metamorphic belts we propose to study host several of Australia's major mineral deposits, economically-important resources generated as a consequence of orogenesis, intrinsicall ....Reading the orogenic record: mineral textures, metamorphic processes and crustal evolution. This research will produce new information relevant to the geological evolution of the Australian plate by direct examination of appropriate areas and by providing constraints on the geological processes that formed Australia. The metamorphic belts we propose to study host several of Australia's major mineral deposits, economically-important resources generated as a consequence of orogenesis, intrinsically linked to their metamorphic evolution. The methodologies developed here and the resulting greater understanding of orogenesis will have direct application to many aspects of ore formation.Read moreRead less
Partial melting. granulite facies metamorphism and the evolution of the continental crust. The basement of the continents is made up largely of rocks that have partially melted at deep levels in ancient mountain belts. Such granulite facies rocks hold a key to understanding the evolution of the continents. Now, with a model for the thermodynamics of melt, partial melting processes can be investigated quantitatively for the first time. Integrating rock-based studies of granulite facies terrains w ....Partial melting. granulite facies metamorphism and the evolution of the continental crust. The basement of the continents is made up largely of rocks that have partially melted at deep levels in ancient mountain belts. Such granulite facies rocks hold a key to understanding the evolution of the continents. Now, with a model for the thermodynamics of melt, partial melting processes can be investigated quantitatively for the first time. Integrating rock-based studies of granulite facies terrains with thermodynamic calculations will allow granulite facies rocks, and, as a consequence, the evolution of the continental crust, to be much better understood.Read moreRead less
High-P partial melting and melt escape from the lower crust: the evolution of a Cretaceous Island Arc, Fiordland NZ. Partial melting, melt segregation and magma transport are the main processes controlling change on Earth. Though there is clear evidence that even small melt fractions can segregate into large igneous bodies, our inability to directly observe active magma ascent means that there is not agreement on the mechanisms by which melt initially segregates, pools and ascends. This project ....High-P partial melting and melt escape from the lower crust: the evolution of a Cretaceous Island Arc, Fiordland NZ. Partial melting, melt segregation and magma transport are the main processes controlling change on Earth. Though there is clear evidence that even small melt fractions can segregate into large igneous bodies, our inability to directly observe active magma ascent means that there is not agreement on the mechanisms by which melt initially segregates, pools and ascends. This project will study well-exposed lower crustal rocks from the root of a long-lived Mesozoic island arc to resolve the mechanisms that controlled melt escape from, and extensive magma transport through deep crustal environments.Read moreRead less
Unmixing in Magmas: Melt and Fluid Inclusion Constraints on Identity, Timing, and Evolution of Immiscible Fluids, Salt and Sulphide Melts. Much of the research proposed herein genuinely breaks new ground in both the fields of igneous petrology and ore deposit geology. It will contribute to Australia maintaining a leading role (as identified in "Towards 2005 - a prospectus for research and training in the Australian Earth sciences") in the burgeoning field of melt inclusion research, and serve as ....Unmixing in Magmas: Melt and Fluid Inclusion Constraints on Identity, Timing, and Evolution of Immiscible Fluids, Salt and Sulphide Melts. Much of the research proposed herein genuinely breaks new ground in both the fields of igneous petrology and ore deposit geology. It will contribute to Australia maintaining a leading role (as identified in "Towards 2005 - a prospectus for research and training in the Australian Earth sciences") in the burgeoning field of melt inclusion research, and serve as a training base for young researchers keen to learn the techniques and methodologies involved. The possible outcomes of the project are of wide interest to geoscientists, and may benefit the Australian economy in that they help to predict whether the magmas have experienced exsolution of a metal-rich fluid.Read moreRead less
Mineral reaction, deformation, and accessory phases in migmatites: What controls monazite behaviour during high-grade metamorphism? Isotopic dating of rocks and minerals has revolutionized the way we view our planet, and allowed us to attach an absolute timescale to a range of Earth processes from the evolution of life to formation of mineral deposits. Australian technology has long been at the forefront of this field, but it is apparent that our ability to date Earth materials has overtaken our ....Mineral reaction, deformation, and accessory phases in migmatites: What controls monazite behaviour during high-grade metamorphism? Isotopic dating of rocks and minerals has revolutionized the way we view our planet, and allowed us to attach an absolute timescale to a range of Earth processes from the evolution of life to formation of mineral deposits. Australian technology has long been at the forefront of this field, but it is apparent that our ability to date Earth materials has overtaken our ability to interpret these ages in terms of geologic processes. The results of this study and the associated collaboration will ensure that Australian understanding of what isotopic ages mean keeps pace with our ability to measure them. This will allow us to resolve finer details of Earth history, and improve our understanding of the planet and how best to manage it.Read moreRead less
The enigmatic link between crustal growth and supercontinent formation. This project links with major energy and resource initiatives from the Australian Government. It will provide detailed geological information that will help constrain our understanding of the deep structure of the Earth in northern and central Australia. This knowledge will assist in mineral and energy resource exploration of these highly prospective regions. The information will also link with other ARC-funded geological st ....The enigmatic link between crustal growth and supercontinent formation. This project links with major energy and resource initiatives from the Australian Government. It will provide detailed geological information that will help constrain our understanding of the deep structure of the Earth in northern and central Australia. This knowledge will assist in mineral and energy resource exploration of these highly prospective regions. The information will also link with other ARC-funded geological studies, to help understand how a large, but enigmatic, part of the Australian continental grew rapidly, almost 2 billion years ago.
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A test for Pangean breakup models. This project addresses a core issue of planetary-geology, with project outcomes providing an unparalleled synthesis of global-scale Earth processes that highlight hitherto unsuspected links between peripheral orogenic systems and Pangean breakup. The project directly addresses the key problem 'How do the continents work?', outlined by the National Committee of Earth Sciences. It links internationally to [ERAS], a multi-national proposal to investigate accretion ....A test for Pangean breakup models. This project addresses a core issue of planetary-geology, with project outcomes providing an unparalleled synthesis of global-scale Earth processes that highlight hitherto unsuspected links between peripheral orogenic systems and Pangean breakup. The project directly addresses the key problem 'How do the continents work?', outlined by the National Committee of Earth Sciences. It links internationally to [ERAS], a multi-national proposal to investigate accretionary orogens through geologic time, and nationally via the seed-funded ARC Network (AEON) to ACcess, RSES (ANU) and with a National Key Centre, (GEMOC), with whom the University of Newcastle is a research partner. 2PhD projects are involved.Read moreRead less