What controls trace element levels in ore sulfides? A laser-ICPMS perspective. Sub-surface hydrothermal gold and base metal orebodies are surrounded by aprons of elevated metal concentrations, mainly within micro-sulfides, which is one sign mineral explorers use to widen their target. Here we test whether the hostrock contributes metal in the most distant parts of such halos, and if so, what factors control where hostrock metal begins to be detectable in a given system. We will make better model ....What controls trace element levels in ore sulfides? A laser-ICPMS perspective. Sub-surface hydrothermal gold and base metal orebodies are surrounded by aprons of elevated metal concentrations, mainly within micro-sulfides, which is one sign mineral explorers use to widen their target. Here we test whether the hostrock contributes metal in the most distant parts of such halos, and if so, what factors control where hostrock metal begins to be detectable in a given system. We will make better models of how metalliferous waters react with rock, potentially translating into million dollar savings through more efficient exploration. The ultrafine sampling and precision analyses required for this are possible because of an ARC-funded core program at CODES.Read moreRead less
Order-disorder behaviour in Bi-tellurides: a tool to monitor gold scavenging by Bi-Te melts. This project addresses a group of minerals (bismuth tellurides) that are often part of the exotic assemblages present in gold deposits, yet their potential to model the gold-forming processes is only recently apparent. These minerals also have the capacity to record their genetic history due to crystal modularity. Materials scientists target the analogous synthetic compounds because of the same structura ....Order-disorder behaviour in Bi-tellurides: a tool to monitor gold scavenging by Bi-Te melts. This project addresses a group of minerals (bismuth tellurides) that are often part of the exotic assemblages present in gold deposits, yet their potential to model the gold-forming processes is only recently apparent. These minerals also have the capacity to record their genetic history due to crystal modularity. Materials scientists target the analogous synthetic compounds because of the same structural modularity for applications in nanotechnology. The dataset on the mineral compounds, using the geological environment as a natural laboratory, will serve materials science research, as much as delivering key information relevant to understanding the reasons for gold enrichment in economically important types of ores. Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence - in Ore Deposits. Australia's minerals industry faces a two-fold challenge - to find new ore deposits and to mine them with maximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact. Those challenges demand a new generation of focused ore deposit research, tailored specifically for the Australian context. The Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits will provide the foundation of fundamental research required by a successful, efficient and sustainable Australian minerals industry ....ARC Centre of Excellence - in Ore Deposits. Australia's minerals industry faces a two-fold challenge - to find new ore deposits and to mine them with maximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact. Those challenges demand a new generation of focused ore deposit research, tailored specifically for the Australian context. The Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits will provide the foundation of fundamental research required by a successful, efficient and sustainable Australian minerals industry. The Centre will also play a leading role in the undergraduate and postgraduate training of future geoscientists. The concentration of internationally recognised researchers in the Centre will ensure it maintains its premier position in the international ore deposit research arena.Read moreRead less
The high temperature geochemistry of the precious metals. Many commercially valuable elements including platinum and gold are extracted from magmas into sulphide melts under some conditions whose nature is poorly understood. The proposed research will make the first reliable measurements of the factors controlling the ability of sulphide melts to extract a range of sulphur-loving elements from magmas. The results will not only aid the search for new deposits of precious metals, but will provide ....The high temperature geochemistry of the precious metals. Many commercially valuable elements including platinum and gold are extracted from magmas into sulphide melts under some conditions whose nature is poorly understood. The proposed research will make the first reliable measurements of the factors controlling the ability of sulphide melts to extract a range of sulphur-loving elements from magmas. The results will not only aid the search for new deposits of precious metals, but will provide fundamental knowledge for use in such diverse disciplines as extractive metallurgy and planetary geochemistry.Read moreRead less
Genesis of platinum group element-rich, unconformity-style, hydrothermal mineral deposits, as inferred from a Northern Territory example. Mineral products currently provide a great deal of Australia's exports to international markets, and underpin much of our economy. However, Australia can only maintain this position through continued improvement of mineral discovery rates, particularly for high value, deep earth resources. This project aims to improve the likelihood of the discovery of higher ....Genesis of platinum group element-rich, unconformity-style, hydrothermal mineral deposits, as inferred from a Northern Territory example. Mineral products currently provide a great deal of Australia's exports to international markets, and underpin much of our economy. However, Australia can only maintain this position through continued improvement of mineral discovery rates, particularly for high value, deep earth resources. This project aims to improve the likelihood of the discovery of higher value hydrothermal orebodies. This will improve the value of mineral exports, raise exploration levels in some Australian provinces (thus stimulating economic activity in regional and industrial sectors), and help invigorate training within the geoscience arm of the university sector. Read moreRead less
Time- and Temperature-Dependence of the Fluid Transport Properties, Strength and Mechanical Behaviour of Crustal Faults - An Experimental and Modelling Study. High temperature rock deformation experiments will be performed in conjunction with high resolution, computer-aided x-ray microtomography to determine time-dependent and temperature-dependent effects on fluid transport properties, strength and mechanical behaviour during slip and interseismic healing of simulated fault rocks in hydrotherma ....Time- and Temperature-Dependence of the Fluid Transport Properties, Strength and Mechanical Behaviour of Crustal Faults - An Experimental and Modelling Study. High temperature rock deformation experiments will be performed in conjunction with high resolution, computer-aided x-ray microtomography to determine time-dependent and temperature-dependent effects on fluid transport properties, strength and mechanical behaviour during slip and interseismic healing of simulated fault rocks in hydrothermal environments. The results will be used with cellular automaton modelling approaches to develop a quantitative understanding of how coupling between fluid flow and rock deformation controls earthquake rupture and fluid migration in fault networks in the continental seismogenic regime. This work will provide new understanding of triggers for earthquake nucleation and controls on localisation of ore deposits.Read moreRead less
Molecular Structure and Transport Properties of Hydrothermal Fluids under Extreme Conditions: Near-Critical, High Salinity, High Pressure and High Volatile Contents. The experimental capabilities, theoretical understanding, and numerical modeling methods developed in this project have broad implication for supporting both well-established (mineral exploration and ore processing) and emerging (geothermal energy; geosequestration) industries of core significance for the future of Australia's econo ....Molecular Structure and Transport Properties of Hydrothermal Fluids under Extreme Conditions: Near-Critical, High Salinity, High Pressure and High Volatile Contents. The experimental capabilities, theoretical understanding, and numerical modeling methods developed in this project have broad implication for supporting both well-established (mineral exploration and ore processing) and emerging (geothermal energy; geosequestration) industries of core significance for the future of Australia's economy. This project also provides access to unique technology developed overseas; this technology will be adapted for the unique challenges faced by Australia, and made available to the broader scientific community via the Australian Synchrotron.Read moreRead less
An Advanced Numerical Technique for Stability Analysis of Mining Excavations in Jointed/Faulted Rock Masses under High Stresses. The aim of this project is to develop a sophisticated mathematical model and computational technique for the stability analysis of mining excavations in jointed/faulted rock masses. The development involves a novel solution method based on current work in finite element method, boundary element method and large-scale optimisation with partial differential equation cons ....An Advanced Numerical Technique for Stability Analysis of Mining Excavations in Jointed/Faulted Rock Masses under High Stresses. The aim of this project is to develop a sophisticated mathematical model and computational technique for the stability analysis of mining excavations in jointed/faulted rock masses. The development involves a novel solution method based on current work in finite element method, boundary element method and large-scale optimisation with partial differential equation constraints. The work is extremely important to the mining industry in Australia, as the outcomes of the project will provide engineers with an innovative simulation technique to optimise mine design and to predict and control rock failure so as to reduce personnel injuries and death toll in mine sites.Read moreRead less
Platinum deposit genesis: A new way of thinking. Platinum is becoming increasingly crucial to the high technology sector, and is used particularly in catalytic converters and fuel cells, which serve to minimise or eliminate car exhaust pollution. Greatly expanded resources of this precious metal are needed to help society's transition to a low carbon dioxide (CO2) lifestyle. This project will combine high temperature-pressure experiments with geological field research to greatly improve our unde ....Platinum deposit genesis: A new way of thinking. Platinum is becoming increasingly crucial to the high technology sector, and is used particularly in catalytic converters and fuel cells, which serve to minimise or eliminate car exhaust pollution. Greatly expanded resources of this precious metal are needed to help society's transition to a low carbon dioxide (CO2) lifestyle. This project will combine high temperature-pressure experiments with geological field research to greatly improve our understanding of how platinum ore deposits form and thus where to find them. The outcomes of this project will change mineral exploration strategies in Australia and around the world, and facilitate our progression to a cleaner, greener future.Read moreRead less
Tectonic mode switches and the nature of orogenesis. Tectonic mode switches coincide with short periods of time during which base and precious metals, as well as diamond-bearing kimberlites are emplaced into the continental crust. Our research is aimed at uncovering why this should be so, thereby perhaps solving a riddle that is at the present little more than an oddity in respect to mineral exploration. If we can understand the underlying science we may be able to provide practical benefits t ....Tectonic mode switches and the nature of orogenesis. Tectonic mode switches coincide with short periods of time during which base and precious metals, as well as diamond-bearing kimberlites are emplaced into the continental crust. Our research is aimed at uncovering why this should be so, thereby perhaps solving a riddle that is at the present little more than an oddity in respect to mineral exploration. If we can understand the underlying science we may be able to provide practical benefits to mineral explorers. The project uses modelling and simulation research infrastructure provided by the AuScope NCRIS initiative, and benefits the community by returning data to this organization.Read moreRead less