Geochemistry of ore metals at very high temperatures. The world’s largest copper and gold mines occur in extinct volcanoes around the Pacific Rim. Understanding how these essential metals are mobilised from magmas in the roots of volcanoes to become ore deposits and how to recognize where this has occurred is crucial in exploration for new deposits.
The oxidation state of mantle-derived arc magmas. The most voluminous volcanism on earth occurs at ocean ridges and island arcs. Spectacular differences in eruptive behaviour and development of important ore deposits are related to major differences in the degree of magma oxidation involved. The project will discover whether these differences are source controlled or develop during ascent.
Tracing fluids and rare elements in the crust by combining microscale oxygen isotope analysis with geochronology. Aqueous fluids are responsible for the transfer of elements, metals and heat in the Earth's crust. This research will trace the mobility of fluids and their interaction with minerals using microanalysis of oxygen isotopes and radioactive elements. Understanding fluids is fundamental to understanding metamorphism and the formation of ore deposits.
Revealing the deep Earth in deep time. This project aims to determine the nature of the chemical and dynamical transformation of the Earth’s interior at the end of the first 25 per cent of its history. This will provide a new understanding of the related establishment of modern surface features such as extensive continents and an oxygenated atmosphere, as well as investigate causal relationships with west Australia’s mineral resources. The expected outcome will be a significant new understandin ....Revealing the deep Earth in deep time. This project aims to determine the nature of the chemical and dynamical transformation of the Earth’s interior at the end of the first 25 per cent of its history. This will provide a new understanding of the related establishment of modern surface features such as extensive continents and an oxygenated atmosphere, as well as investigate causal relationships with west Australia’s mineral resources. The expected outcome will be a significant new understanding of the chemical and thermal history of our planet.Read moreRead less
Mantle evolution and the origin of Earth's atmosphere. This project aims to investigate Earth’s early evolution and the origin of our atmosphere. Using state-of-the-art instrumentation the project will measure noble gas and tungsten isotopes in unique volcanic glasses that record the composition of the Earth’s mantle. These measurements are expected to clarify the relationship between the formation of Earth’s atmosphere, mantle and core, and to generate new knowledge about convective currents ....Mantle evolution and the origin of Earth's atmosphere. This project aims to investigate Earth’s early evolution and the origin of our atmosphere. Using state-of-the-art instrumentation the project will measure noble gas and tungsten isotopes in unique volcanic glasses that record the composition of the Earth’s mantle. These measurements are expected to clarify the relationship between the formation of Earth’s atmosphere, mantle and core, and to generate new knowledge about convective currents in the modern mantle. The project aims to train the next generation of Earth scientists and to provide new knowledge to assist in overcoming the challenges in mitigating climate change and sustaining a resource-based economy.Read moreRead less
Precise cross-calibration of 40Ar/39Ar, Rb-Sr and U-Pb chronometers: towards an integrated geochronology toolbox. Application of the 40Ar/39Ar isotopic geochronometer to dating rocks, minerals, fossils and meteorites is limited by insufficient precision and consistency in existing determinations of the half-life of its parent isotope 40K. This project proposes novel methods for determination of the half-life and branching ratio of 40K, by age comparison against well calibrated 87Rb-87Sr and 40K- ....Precise cross-calibration of 40Ar/39Ar, Rb-Sr and U-Pb chronometers: towards an integrated geochronology toolbox. Application of the 40Ar/39Ar isotopic geochronometer to dating rocks, minerals, fossils and meteorites is limited by insufficient precision and consistency in existing determinations of the half-life of its parent isotope 40K. This project proposes novel methods for determination of the half-life and branching ratio of 40K, by age comparison against well calibrated 87Rb-87Sr and 40K-40Ca geochronometers. The ages with all isotopic systems will be determined in the same minerals, thus eliminating the main source of uncertainty in the previous studies. Independently The project will measure the 40K decay rate by decay counting of highly enriched 40K salt and expects a five-fold improvement in precision and accuracy of known 40K decay rate.Read moreRead less
High resolution timeframe for hominin evolution in the Turkana Basin, Kenya. This project aims to establish a high-resolution timeframe for hominin evolution in the famed Omo-Turkana Basin, Kenya. The Basin hosts a vast array of hominin fossils that cover more than four million years of human evolution, and interbedded volcanic deposits within the Basin sediments has provided much of our current constraints on the timing of hominin evolution. However critical knowledge gaps remain. Using new ins ....High resolution timeframe for hominin evolution in the Turkana Basin, Kenya. This project aims to establish a high-resolution timeframe for hominin evolution in the famed Omo-Turkana Basin, Kenya. The Basin hosts a vast array of hominin fossils that cover more than four million years of human evolution, and interbedded volcanic deposits within the Basin sediments has provided much of our current constraints on the timing of hominin evolution. However critical knowledge gaps remain. Using new instrumentation and dating methods, this project will provide an ultra-precise chronological framework for the basin. This is critical for transforming our understanding of hominin evolution and migration, under changing climatic and environmental conditions.Read moreRead less
Diamonds – Time Capsules of Ancient Mantle Volatiles and the Key to Dynamic Earth Evolution. This project aims to reconcile the radically different views on the structure of the Earth’s mantle, based on geochemical (mostly noble gas) and geophysical data. This objective will be addressed through innovative noble gas analyses of well-characterised diamond samples, including gem-stones used for previous dating studies. In combination with carbon isotopic results, this information will be used to c ....Diamonds – Time Capsules of Ancient Mantle Volatiles and the Key to Dynamic Earth Evolution. This project aims to reconcile the radically different views on the structure of the Earth’s mantle, based on geochemical (mostly noble gas) and geophysical data. This objective will be addressed through innovative noble gas analyses of well-characterised diamond samples, including gem-stones used for previous dating studies. In combination with carbon isotopic results, this information will be used to constrain the structure and temporal/spatial evolution of the Earth’s mantle. A related outcome will be an improved understanding of the mantle source regions of diamonds and diamond formation.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100044
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$905,654.00
Summary
Ultra-precise dating in Earth, planetary and archaeological science. An advanced facility incorporating next generation, multi-collector mass spectrometer and ultra-clean gas line systems, capable of ultra-precise dating of Earth, planetary and archaeological material. This joint Melbourne-Curtin facility seeks to generate ultra-precise age data from ever smaller and younger samples, such as minute particles from space return missions and tiny inclusions in diamonds. The facility is expected to ....Ultra-precise dating in Earth, planetary and archaeological science. An advanced facility incorporating next generation, multi-collector mass spectrometer and ultra-clean gas line systems, capable of ultra-precise dating of Earth, planetary and archaeological material. This joint Melbourne-Curtin facility seeks to generate ultra-precise age data from ever smaller and younger samples, such as minute particles from space return missions and tiny inclusions in diamonds. The facility is expected to revolutionise noble gas dating techniques, resulting in new knowledge on solar system genesis, hominid evolution, indigenous migrations, palaeo-climate change, natural hazards and ore deposit formation, while further enhancing Australia’s international leadership and competitive advantage in the discipline.
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