Tectonothermal and mineralization history of banded iron formations of the north Pilbara Craton. Iron ore is Australia's largest single export commodity, accounting for 8% ($12.8 billion) of total merchandise exports in 2006. Most of that value comes from the Pilbara region of Australia. Discovery rates of new deposits have declined over the past two decades, while many mines are nearing the end of production. Exploration expenditure has also declined. There is therefore an urgent need to reinvi ....Tectonothermal and mineralization history of banded iron formations of the north Pilbara Craton. Iron ore is Australia's largest single export commodity, accounting for 8% ($12.8 billion) of total merchandise exports in 2006. Most of that value comes from the Pilbara region of Australia. Discovery rates of new deposits have declined over the past two decades, while many mines are nearing the end of production. Exploration expenditure has also declined. There is therefore an urgent need to reinvigorate exploration to maintain an industry that underpins much of Australia's regional wealth. Outcomes of the project will provide exploration with improved geological tools with which to develop superior exploration models and thereby better direct exploration strategies.Read moreRead less
Chronostratigraphic and tectonothermal history of the northern Capricorn Orogen: constructing a geological framework for understanding mineral systems. The application of innovative age dating techniques with field mapping and a new deep seismic survey across the Capricorn Orogen by this project will help construct a vastly improved geological framework for understanding large mineral systems. Outcomes of this project will reduce uncertainty and risk in exploration, thereby improving the discove ....Chronostratigraphic and tectonothermal history of the northern Capricorn Orogen: constructing a geological framework for understanding mineral systems. The application of innovative age dating techniques with field mapping and a new deep seismic survey across the Capricorn Orogen by this project will help construct a vastly improved geological framework for understanding large mineral systems. Outcomes of this project will reduce uncertainty and risk in exploration, thereby improving the discovery rate of natural resources.Read moreRead less
Structural and hydrothermal fluid control of high-grade (>65 wt% Fe) hematite ores in BIF-hosted iron deposits in the Hamersley Basin. The project aims to understand the geological controls on high-grade(>65wt%Fe)iron ore deposits of the Hamersley Province. In particular, the role of hydrothermal fluids in the transformation of banded iron formation (BIF) to high-grade iron ore. Three deposits (Mt Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Channar) provide an ideal study of the relationship between the struct ....Structural and hydrothermal fluid control of high-grade (>65 wt% Fe) hematite ores in BIF-hosted iron deposits in the Hamersley Basin. The project aims to understand the geological controls on high-grade(>65wt%Fe)iron ore deposits of the Hamersley Province. In particular, the role of hydrothermal fluids in the transformation of banded iron formation (BIF) to high-grade iron ore. Three deposits (Mt Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Channar) provide an ideal study of the relationship between the structural evolution, timing, and characteristics of hydrothermal and supergene processes. In particular, the the study aims to investigate the structural control and fluid chemistry of the hydrothermal system. The outcomes of this study will include a better understanding about the timing and fluid characteristcs of hydrothermal/supergene events and their significance to the formation and geometry of high-grade iron ore deposits in the Hamersley Province.Read moreRead less
Developing indicator minerals to geochemically fingerprint mineralized Fe oxide Cu-Au systems: a pilot study around the Ernest Henry Cu-Au mine. Fe oxide Cu-Au deposits represent some of the largest accumulations of economically extractable metal in the earth's crust. However, exploration has been largely ineffective over the last decade, and new methods for their delineation are required to deliver a step-change in the efficiency of exploration programs. The development of a mineral indicator s ....Developing indicator minerals to geochemically fingerprint mineralized Fe oxide Cu-Au systems: a pilot study around the Ernest Henry Cu-Au mine. Fe oxide Cu-Au deposits represent some of the largest accumulations of economically extractable metal in the earth's crust. However, exploration has been largely ineffective over the last decade, and new methods for their delineation are required to deliver a step-change in the efficiency of exploration programs. The development of a mineral indicator scheme to fingerprint potential ?ore-forming? systems using state-of-the-art laser ablation ICP-MS analysis may engender new methods and strategies that lead to exploration success. A baseline study around a known deposit provides the best means to characterize indicators- the Ernest Henry Cu-Au deposit provides the ideal candidate.Read moreRead less
Four dimensional lithospheric evolution and controls on mineral system distribution in Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic terranes. This project will resolve important questions about the links between the evolution and preservation of continents and important mineral deposits in Australia and West Africa between 2.7 and 1.8 billion years ago. The results will improve the understanding of a key period of Earth history and make a major contribution to mineral exploration.