Proterozoic crustal evolution of the Northern Australian Craton revealed from hafnium-oxygen isotope systematics of granite-hosted and detrital zircons. This project will provide an detailed view of continental crust formation during a key period of Earth's history. Through an innovative approach and the use of sophisticated micro-analytical techniques, it will enhance the profile and global competitiveness of Australian research. The project is an integral part of a national collaboration on Pr ....Proterozoic crustal evolution of the Northern Australian Craton revealed from hafnium-oxygen isotope systematics of granite-hosted and detrital zircons. This project will provide an detailed view of continental crust formation during a key period of Earth's history. Through an innovative approach and the use of sophisticated micro-analytical techniques, it will enhance the profile and global competitiveness of Australian research. The project is an integral part of a national collaboration on Proterozoic terranes involving universities, Geoscience Australia and state geological surveys, and datasets generated by this study can potentially lead to refined mineral exploration strategies. The project is linked to the development of a major new analytical facility at James Cook University that will support local and international research and research training.Read moreRead less
Crustal Growth in the Northern Tasmanides. The Australian and Queensland governments have invested over $3 million to undertake deep crustal seismic imaging in northern Queensland, providing an extensive new geophysical dataset capable of modelling crustal architecture and geological evolution to unprecedented levels. However, such models will remain untested unless the data is groundtruthed by analysis of rocks at the surface, providing a geological framework for extrapolation into the deep Ea ....Crustal Growth in the Northern Tasmanides. The Australian and Queensland governments have invested over $3 million to undertake deep crustal seismic imaging in northern Queensland, providing an extensive new geophysical dataset capable of modelling crustal architecture and geological evolution to unprecedented levels. However, such models will remain untested unless the data is groundtruthed by analysis of rocks at the surface, providing a geological framework for extrapolation into the deep Earth. The framework critically describes when and how crustal blocks were assembled, and the integrated information will generate evolutionary 3D models that will substantially improve mineral exploration targeting in the region.Read moreRead less