Rapid approximate imaging of electromagnetic data acquired using multichannel distributed acquisition systems. This project will investigate techniques for rapid, multidimensiuonal imaging of electromagnetic data acquired using modern multichannel distributed acquisition systems. This research will provide high-resolution images of buried ore deposits at greater depths than is possible using current instruments and processing techniques.
Kimberlites and Flood Basalts: Linking Primary Melts with Mantle and Crustal Sources. Intimate relationships between kimberlites and diamonds, and between flood basalts and sulphide mineralisation make the study of deep mantle-derived magmas important to the scientific and exploration communities. The proposed research therefore represents a logical scientific step forward and is hence timely and important in this internationally competitive field, and serve as a training base for young research ....Kimberlites and Flood Basalts: Linking Primary Melts with Mantle and Crustal Sources. Intimate relationships between kimberlites and diamonds, and between flood basalts and sulphide mineralisation make the study of deep mantle-derived magmas important to the scientific and exploration communities. The proposed research therefore represents a logical scientific step forward and is hence timely and important in this internationally competitive field, and serve as a training base for young researchers keen to learn the techniques and methodologies involved. The possible outcomes of the project are of wide interest to geoscientists, and may benefit the Australian economy in that they help to predict whether the continental magmas and respective rocks have formed in parts of deep mantle with mineralisation potential.Read moreRead less
Geologic, genetic and exploration implications of syndeformational, structurally-controlled, sediment-hosted copper deposits: investigation of the Mt Oxide deposit, Queensland. This project will use a multi-disciplinary approach to understand the geology, geochemistry and genesis of the syndeformational, structurally-controlled, sediment-hosted copper mineralisation at the Mt Oxide deposit, Queensland. Copper deposits, like Mt Oxide, are an important exploration target in sedimentary basins but ....Geologic, genetic and exploration implications of syndeformational, structurally-controlled, sediment-hosted copper deposits: investigation of the Mt Oxide deposit, Queensland. This project will use a multi-disciplinary approach to understand the geology, geochemistry and genesis of the syndeformational, structurally-controlled, sediment-hosted copper mineralisation at the Mt Oxide deposit, Queensland. Copper deposits, like Mt Oxide, are an important exploration target in sedimentary basins but their characteristics and formation are poorly understood. Discovery of further sediment-hosted Cu deposits is imperative as Australia's industrial competitivness in exploration and mining depends on the discovery of new ore depsoits. This project specifically addresses the need for better genetic and exploration models for copper deposits concealed within ancient, deformed sedimentary sequences in Australia and overseas.Read moreRead less
Origin and setting of Congolese-type Cu deposits. This project aims to understand the genesis of the giant sediment-hosted Cu ore deposits of the Congolese Copperbelt, and their relationship to the enclosing strata. We will use selected study areas within the correlative Neoproterozic basin successions in Australia, which are well exposed and covered by modern geoscientific datasets, as analogues for the poorly exposed Congolese system. Once this is achieved, we will combine the results with tho ....Origin and setting of Congolese-type Cu deposits. This project aims to understand the genesis of the giant sediment-hosted Cu ore deposits of the Congolese Copperbelt, and their relationship to the enclosing strata. We will use selected study areas within the correlative Neoproterozic basin successions in Australia, which are well exposed and covered by modern geoscientific datasets, as analogues for the poorly exposed Congolese system. Once this is achieved, we will combine the results with those of a previous ARC linkage project on the nearby Zambian Copperbelt, to provide the first integrated model of the worlds largest sedimentary Cu system.Read moreRead less
Cracking the sulfate isotopic composition problem in ancient hydrothermal systems: application of the Carbonate-Associated Sulfate (CAS) method. Successful exploration of the deep Earth for valuable ores requires better knowledge of ore formation conditions, to feed to predictive deposit models. Our work shows great promise of improving the quality of this raw data. Smarter ore deposit prediction would likely exert its influence over the next ten years, rather than be immediate. It will increase ....Cracking the sulfate isotopic composition problem in ancient hydrothermal systems: application of the Carbonate-Associated Sulfate (CAS) method. Successful exploration of the deep Earth for valuable ores requires better knowledge of ore formation conditions, to feed to predictive deposit models. Our work shows great promise of improving the quality of this raw data. Smarter ore deposit prediction would likely exert its influence over the next ten years, rather than be immediate. It will increase exploration efficiency, saving tens of millions of dollars currently devoted to unproductive exploration. Exploration and mining are conducted primarily in regional Australia, and a healthy mining industry is therefore directly benefits hinterland communities. It also benefits all Australians through the payment of royalties and contributions to Australia's GDP from mineral exports.Read moreRead less
Submarine explosive eruptions of silicic magma: constraints on products and processes from modern sea-floor examples, ancient successions and experiments. Volcanoes are common on the sea-floor. Many have been the sites of devastating explosive eruptions throughout Earth history, producing thick layers of pumice and volcanic ash in both modern and ancient ocean basins. None of these events has been witnessed, hence, little is known about submarine explosive eruptions and the associated volcanoes. ....Submarine explosive eruptions of silicic magma: constraints on products and processes from modern sea-floor examples, ancient successions and experiments. Volcanoes are common on the sea-floor. Many have been the sites of devastating explosive eruptions throughout Earth history, producing thick layers of pumice and volcanic ash in both modern and ancient ocean basins. None of these events has been witnessed, hence, little is known about submarine explosive eruptions and the associated volcanoes. This detailed, multidisciplinary study will link exploration of modern explosive sea-floor volcanoes (western Pacific Ocean), field-work on older, submarine volcanic formations (Japan, Greece) and experiments that simulate explosive eruptions and their products. The results will elucidate sea-floor explosive volcanism and its contribution to the geology of ocean basins.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100263
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,536.00
Summary
Halogen Bonding for Assembly and Separation in Solution. The properties of substances we experience in our daily lives owe much to very weak interactions taking place between molecules. Consider a cup of coffee: very weak interactions hold the water together as a liquid, and result in the biological action of caffeine within the body. The project aims to develop new materials based on an underexplored class of weak interactions known as halogen bonds. These interactions will be used to assemble ....Halogen Bonding for Assembly and Separation in Solution. The properties of substances we experience in our daily lives owe much to very weak interactions taking place between molecules. Consider a cup of coffee: very weak interactions hold the water together as a liquid, and result in the biological action of caffeine within the body. The project aims to develop new materials based on an underexplored class of weak interactions known as halogen bonds. These interactions will be used to assemble large molecules in solution, probe the presence of pollutants in water, and to separate active and inactive forms of pharmaceuticals. The development of health and environmental applications in the course of this project aim to significantly enhance our fundamental understanding of these weak interactions.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775533
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,000.00
Summary
A New Generation Noble Gas Mass Spectrometer Facility for Advanced Research in the Earth, Planetary and Environmental Sciences. The current proposal, to establish a new Noble Gas Analytical Consortium for noble gas chronological and geochemical analyses, will generate new knowledge on the evolution of the Earth, with profound implications for past climate change, landscape evolution, formation of ore bodies, and terrestrial geodynamics. Consequently, the facility will conform to the National Res ....A New Generation Noble Gas Mass Spectrometer Facility for Advanced Research in the Earth, Planetary and Environmental Sciences. The current proposal, to establish a new Noble Gas Analytical Consortium for noble gas chronological and geochemical analyses, will generate new knowledge on the evolution of the Earth, with profound implications for past climate change, landscape evolution, formation of ore bodies, and terrestrial geodynamics. Consequently, the facility will conform to the National Research Priority of 'An Environmentally Sustainable Australia'. The new facility will ensure that Australian research remains at the forefront of international science development and will also provide essential training for the next generation of Australian scientists.Read moreRead less
Transitions and Zoning in Porphyry-Epithermal Districts: Indicators, Discriminators, and Vectors. We aim to improve understanding of ore genesis and exploration success in porphyry-epithermal mineral districts. These districts can contain porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits (the world's major source of copper), epithermal Au-Ag deposits, skarn and sediment-hosted gold deposits. These districts continue to be important targets for copper and gold explorers, even though it can be difficult to identify th ....Transitions and Zoning in Porphyry-Epithermal Districts: Indicators, Discriminators, and Vectors. We aim to improve understanding of ore genesis and exploration success in porphyry-epithermal mineral districts. These districts can contain porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits (the world's major source of copper), epithermal Au-Ag deposits, skarn and sediment-hosted gold deposits. These districts continue to be important targets for copper and gold explorers, even though it can be difficult to identify the ore zones within large zones of background alteration. We will develop and test criteria that can be used by explorers to indicate prospective environments, discriminate between mineralization styles, and vector towards ore zones - be they of porphyry, epithermal, and/or other peripheral styles.Read moreRead less
Genetic and chemical characterisation of the pristine Archean Jaguar base-metal deposit, to improve local and global prospectivity. Jaguar is a remarkably pristine finely banded submarine volcanic hosted base-metals-silver deposit from the Australian Archean, ~2.7 billion years old. We will document its detailed ore and volcanic textures, gaining valuable new genetic insights from its extraordinary preservation. With an emerging mining company in regional Western Australia, we will combine foren ....Genetic and chemical characterisation of the pristine Archean Jaguar base-metal deposit, to improve local and global prospectivity. Jaguar is a remarkably pristine finely banded submarine volcanic hosted base-metals-silver deposit from the Australian Archean, ~2.7 billion years old. We will document its detailed ore and volcanic textures, gaining valuable new genetic insights from its extraordinary preservation. With an emerging mining company in regional Western Australia, we will combine forensic textural studies with advanced geochemical analysis to (1) determine the deposit origin; (2) infer the origin of other well laminated but less well preserved deposits globally; (3) apply these findings to the detection of local prospective horizons under deep cover; and (4) use the deposit features to test current models of massive sulfide formation.Read moreRead less