LATE PALAEOZOIC PALAEOGEOGRAPHY OF CENTRAL ASIA: A PALAEOBIOGEOGRAPHICAL APPROACH USING IMPROVED BIOSTRATIGRAPHY. Fossil data from Central Asia (Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, NW China, Mongolia, Altaids) indicate significant degree of palaeo-latitudinal variation in biogeographical patterns across the Palaeo-Tethys and its flanking shelves during Late Palaeozoic, but details of these patterns and implications for enhancing contemporaneous palaeogeographical models are virtually unknown. Thi ....LATE PALAEOZOIC PALAEOGEOGRAPHY OF CENTRAL ASIA: A PALAEOBIOGEOGRAPHICAL APPROACH USING IMPROVED BIOSTRATIGRAPHY. Fossil data from Central Asia (Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, NW China, Mongolia, Altaids) indicate significant degree of palaeo-latitudinal variation in biogeographical patterns across the Palaeo-Tethys and its flanking shelves during Late Palaeozoic, but details of these patterns and implications for enhancing contemporaneous palaeogeographical models are virtually unknown. This project will analyse the biogeographical patterns of Late Palaeozoic brachiopod, coral, fusulinid faunas using advanced statistical methods, and integrate biogeographical signals with palaeomagnetic data to constrain models for the Late Palaeozoic geological evolution of Central Asia-a vast region that is known to bear enormous potential for natural resources but remains geologically little explored.Read moreRead less
Obduction, lithospheric flexure and basin formation. The proposal aims to investigate the links between hydrocarbon basins and obduction, or emplacement of oceanic crust onto continental margins. Obduction of the Samail Ophiolite of Oman onto the Arabian Peninsular at a time of the world's largest hydrocarbon accumulation, requires a causative relationship. This event remains poorly constrained and controversial, and therefore limits exploration models for hydrocarbons. Understanding the dynamic ....Obduction, lithospheric flexure and basin formation. The proposal aims to investigate the links between hydrocarbon basins and obduction, or emplacement of oceanic crust onto continental margins. Obduction of the Samail Ophiolite of Oman onto the Arabian Peninsular at a time of the world's largest hydrocarbon accumulation, requires a causative relationship. This event remains poorly constrained and controversial, and therefore limits exploration models for hydrocarbons. Understanding the dynamics of obduction of ocean crust onto a passive continental margin and the resultant flexural basin is of major global importance. This proposal addresses this issue in the superbly exposed Arabian Pensinsular, applying geochronology, basin analysis and basin modelling techniques.Read moreRead less
New Stratigraphy and Geostatistics for Gas and Water Resources . Management of gas and water resources is of significant importance to the Australian economy and society. Industry and government use digital modelling to assist in resources management. The first step in modelling is to correlate geological data and then use geostatistics to estimate properties in areas without data. This project aims to produce a new geological framework for the Surat Basin underpinned by new zircon ages and ages ....New Stratigraphy and Geostatistics for Gas and Water Resources . Management of gas and water resources is of significant importance to the Australian economy and society. Industry and government use digital modelling to assist in resources management. The first step in modelling is to correlate geological data and then use geostatistics to estimate properties in areas without data. This project aims to produce a new geological framework for the Surat Basin underpinned by new zircon ages and ages of fossils in sediments and a new geostatistical methodology to better represent flow properties in coal seams and aquifers. This is expected result in a more accurate modelling methodology that can be used by industry and government for modelling resources, including in other basins in Australia and worldwide.Read moreRead less
Metamorphism, fluid flow, anatexis and the petrogenesis of peraluminous magmas: constraints from boron and lithium elemental and isotopic geochemistry. Boron (B) and lithium (Li) elemental and isotopic variations are sensitive monitors of metamorphism, fluid flow and melting; the generation of granites; and hydrothermal alteration. However, in detail B- and Li- geochemistry are poorly understood. This project uses field-based, analytical and experimental techniques to constrain B and Li elementa ....Metamorphism, fluid flow, anatexis and the petrogenesis of peraluminous magmas: constraints from boron and lithium elemental and isotopic geochemistry. Boron (B) and lithium (Li) elemental and isotopic variations are sensitive monitors of metamorphism, fluid flow and melting; the generation of granites; and hydrothermal alteration. However, in detail B- and Li- geochemistry are poorly understood. This project uses field-based, analytical and experimental techniques to constrain B and Li elemental and stable isotope variations in order to better understand high-temperature metamorphism, fluid flow, melting and the generation of granites and pegmatites. The results of this project will greatly increase our understanding of B and Li systematics in high-temperature crustal environments, and have implications for a range of metamorphic and igneous processes.Read moreRead less
The Initiation of Early Palaeozoic Subduction in Eastern Australia and North America: causes and effects. Identified thirty or more years ago subduction is the return of cold, dense, oceanic lithosphere to the mantle and is one of the key dynamic elements of the plate tectonic paradigm. It is this process that is responsible for the 'Pacific Ring of Fire'. It is the root cause of many key geological processes and is a primary control of some of the earth's largest-scale physiographic features, i ....The Initiation of Early Palaeozoic Subduction in Eastern Australia and North America: causes and effects. Identified thirty or more years ago subduction is the return of cold, dense, oceanic lithosphere to the mantle and is one of the key dynamic elements of the plate tectonic paradigm. It is this process that is responsible for the 'Pacific Ring of Fire'. It is the root cause of many key geological processes and is a primary control of some of the earth's largest-scale physiographic features, including deep-sea trenches and mountain ranges. Using the important record of Cambrian in eastern Australia and in the comparable Canadian Atlantic margin, we will look at the causes and impact of the earliest stages of subduction as it first developed in the western Pacific and pre-cursor Atlantic 500 million years ago.Read moreRead less
Large-scale three dimensional deformation of the lithosphere by subduction and mantle flow. We will be modelling of the dynamics of the Earth's crust and shallow lithosphere in response to the huge stresses created by plate motions. For Australia these stresses are transmitted from the distant plate boundaries, but they have a direct controlling influence on the evolution of the petroleum rich basins of Australia. These basins have reached maturity; further exploration will be in deep water wher ....Large-scale three dimensional deformation of the lithosphere by subduction and mantle flow. We will be modelling of the dynamics of the Earth's crust and shallow lithosphere in response to the huge stresses created by plate motions. For Australia these stresses are transmitted from the distant plate boundaries, but they have a direct controlling influence on the evolution of the petroleum rich basins of Australia. These basins have reached maturity; further exploration will be in deep water where geophysical prospecting methods are unreliable. Model-driven "exploration geodynamics" methods such as those we are developing will be needed to support traditional exploration techniques in these areas.Read moreRead less
Three dimensional computational models of geological basin and hinterland evolution incorporating lithospheric mantle and surface processes. Petroleum exploration in deepwater areas offshore Australia is becoming increasingly important as more accessible, shallow water oil reserves near exhaustion. Geological simulation is an important tool for understanding deep water basins where geophysical imaging techniques are less effective. This project will develop 3D computational models relevant to un ....Three dimensional computational models of geological basin and hinterland evolution incorporating lithospheric mantle and surface processes. Petroleum exploration in deepwater areas offshore Australia is becoming increasingly important as more accessible, shallow water oil reserves near exhaustion. Geological simulation is an important tool for understanding deep water basins where geophysical imaging techniques are less effective. This project will develop 3D computational models relevant to understanding the development and evolution of geological basins and the sediments that fill them. The models will be integrated with available offshore data for potentially prospective Australian basins in the Northwest Shelf and the Southern Australian margin.Read moreRead less
Developing a fully automated analytical system for the next generation of fission-track thermochronology. This project aims to develop a revolutionary new generation of research tools for analysing the temperature history of rocks in the upper several kilometres of the earth's crust with new opportunities for the commercialisation of the outcomes. The approach will bring together and integrate several rapidly-developing technologies at the forefront of international developments in this field. ....Developing a fully automated analytical system for the next generation of fission-track thermochronology. This project aims to develop a revolutionary new generation of research tools for analysing the temperature history of rocks in the upper several kilometres of the earth's crust with new opportunities for the commercialisation of the outcomes. The approach will bring together and integrate several rapidly-developing technologies at the forefront of international developments in this field. The information obtained will contain vital clues about the processes that operate within the crust, the evolution of its surface environments over long periods of time, the long-term stability of the ancient continental cores, and the formation of important hydrocarbon and mineral resources.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100145
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,000.00
Summary
The South Australian Thermochronometry Hub (SA Thermo). A thermochronometry hub: This project aims to set up a thermochronometry hub which will complement existing Australian geo- and thermochronological facilities by focussing on zircon fission track dating. This method will enable characterisation of the evolution of Australia's landscape, uncovering of its mineral deposits and constraining the formation of its petroleum reservoirs. The facility will enhance capacity to undertake thermochronol ....The South Australian Thermochronometry Hub (SA Thermo). A thermochronometry hub: This project aims to set up a thermochronometry hub which will complement existing Australian geo- and thermochronological facilities by focussing on zircon fission track dating. This method will enable characterisation of the evolution of Australia's landscape, uncovering of its mineral deposits and constraining the formation of its petroleum reservoirs. The facility will enhance capacity to undertake thermochronological research and aid in securing the economic future of Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346856
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$950,000.00
Summary
High Performance Computing Infrastructure Upgrade. The aim of the High Performance Computing Facility is to operate a world class facility as measured by both computational power and client satisfaction. This proposal seeks to increase the current computational power of the existing Victorian High Performance Compting Facility by doubling the current capacity. The combination of a large number of very fast processors and a very fast interconnect makes this facility ideal for modelling and solv ....High Performance Computing Infrastructure Upgrade. The aim of the High Performance Computing Facility is to operate a world class facility as measured by both computational power and client satisfaction. This proposal seeks to increase the current computational power of the existing Victorian High Performance Compting Facility by doubling the current capacity. The combination of a large number of very fast processors and a very fast interconnect makes this facility ideal for modelling and solving science and engineering problems beyond the scope of installed HPC systems. The facility will be linked to other HPC systems in Victoria and across Australia to create an evolving cluster computing "meta-centre" that links computing resources together.
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