Understanding marine biodiversity across vast spatial scales. Large-scale studies of biodiversity are frequently recommended by ecologists, but their costs are prohibitive. More efficient, yet accurate, sampling and analytical procedures are needed. This proposal will provide new quantitative knowledge on patterns of diversity of marine species (fish & invertebrates) from local to regional scales across southern Australia and northern New Zealand. An innovative feature of this research is the c ....Understanding marine biodiversity across vast spatial scales. Large-scale studies of biodiversity are frequently recommended by ecologists, but their costs are prohibitive. More efficient, yet accurate, sampling and analytical procedures are needed. This proposal will provide new quantitative knowledge on patterns of diversity of marine species (fish & invertebrates) from local to regional scales across southern Australia and northern New Zealand. An innovative feature of this research is the contribution of new ecological information with novel analytical procedures to identify the consequences of using more cost-effective techniques on quantifying patterns of biodiversity. This understanding is fundamental to the on-going advancement of ecology and conservation biology.Read moreRead less
Minerals replacement reactions: understanding mineral formation under hydrothermal conditions. Many geological processes involve the transformation of one mineral into another. By understanding molecular-level reaction mechanisms, we can predict how fast reactions progress, and what the final product will look like. This project focuses on a reaction mechanism called 'coupled dissolution-reprecipitation', in which the parent mineral is dissolved into a thin layer of fluid at the reaction front, ....Minerals replacement reactions: understanding mineral formation under hydrothermal conditions. Many geological processes involve the transformation of one mineral into another. By understanding molecular-level reaction mechanisms, we can predict how fast reactions progress, and what the final product will look like. This project focuses on a reaction mechanism called 'coupled dissolution-reprecipitation', in which the parent mineral is dissolved into a thin layer of fluid at the reaction front, and the daughter mineral subsequently precipitates. This concept will be applied to sulfide minerals for the first time. The results have many applications for the Australian mining industry, in particular in improving the efficiency of the processing of Ni- and Au-ores.Read moreRead less
Resistivity of typical rocks at crustal pressure and temperature conditions from combined laboratory and magnetotelluric measurements. Magnetotelluric surveys are playing an increasing role in Australian geoscience, including academic research, data collected by geological surveys (including a role in Geoscience Australia's $58.9 million Onshore Energy and Security Program), mineral exploration and geothermal exploration. This project will enable the results of these surveys to be interpreted mo ....Resistivity of typical rocks at crustal pressure and temperature conditions from combined laboratory and magnetotelluric measurements. Magnetotelluric surveys are playing an increasing role in Australian geoscience, including academic research, data collected by geological surveys (including a role in Geoscience Australia's $58.9 million Onshore Energy and Security Program), mineral exploration and geothermal exploration. This project will enable the results of these surveys to be interpreted more accurately and meaningfully by constraining the expected resistivities of crustal rocks at various pressures and temperatures. This research is vital if the investment currently being put into MT surveys is to be capitalized upon. Read moreRead less
New understanding of turbulent flames with soot and particulate fuels. This project will develop the new understanding and models required to optimise practical furnaces, boilers and combustion chambers, most of which involve soot and/or particulate fuels. This work will be performed with state-of-the-art measurement and modelling tools through a well-established partnership of international researchers.
Experimental studies on hydrothermal reaction processes at the molecular level: the role of mineral replacement reactions in ore formation. Most of the World's supply of metals such as copper (Cu), gold (Au), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) or uranium (U) comes from hydrothermal ore deposits. The metals were deposited deep below the Earth's surface when hot fluids, carrying minute quantities of the metals, reacted with suitable rocks to form ore minerals. By understanding molecular-level ....Experimental studies on hydrothermal reaction processes at the molecular level: the role of mineral replacement reactions in ore formation. Most of the World's supply of metals such as copper (Cu), gold (Au), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) or uranium (U) comes from hydrothermal ore deposits. The metals were deposited deep below the Earth's surface when hot fluids, carrying minute quantities of the metals, reacted with suitable rocks to form ore minerals. By understanding molecular-level reaction mechanisms at high pressure and temperature, we can predict the nature of the ore minerals formed for a given set of physical and chemical conditions. This multidisciplinary research project is devoted to understanding these chemical and physical processes and how this knowledge can be applied to improve mineral exploration, mining, and ore processing.Read moreRead less
Transport of metals in vapours and brines: new insights into the formation of the Earth's mineral deposits. Traditional models for the formation of hydrothermal ore deposits assume that aqueous fluids transported the metals. This view is challenged by new observations showing that gold and copper are preferentially enriched in vapours coexisting with salty aqueous fluids in some deposits. This project uses state-of-the-art techniques and develops new instruments to measure experimentally the par ....Transport of metals in vapours and brines: new insights into the formation of the Earth's mineral deposits. Traditional models for the formation of hydrothermal ore deposits assume that aqueous fluids transported the metals. This view is challenged by new observations showing that gold and copper are preferentially enriched in vapours coexisting with salty aqueous fluids in some deposits. This project uses state-of-the-art techniques and develops new instruments to measure experimentally the partitioning of metals between solid, fluid and vapour at temperatures typical for natural ore deposits (350-550C, pressures varying for vapour saturated to 1 kb). By improving our understanding of metal transport within the Earth's crust, these data will lead to improved models and technologies for exploring and processing base and precious metals.Read moreRead less
Nickel iron sulphide mineralogy: the link between mineral transformations and microstructure and magnetic properties. This project is about measuring the rate at which minerals transform or react and how metal diffusion controls these reactions. Metal diffusion in sulphides is much more rapid that in silicates and is still very significant at low temperatures (< 300 C). In this project, we are trying to measure the rate at which the principal ore of nickel, pentlandite, transforms to violarite ....Nickel iron sulphide mineralogy: the link between mineral transformations and microstructure and magnetic properties. This project is about measuring the rate at which minerals transform or react and how metal diffusion controls these reactions. Metal diffusion in sulphides is much more rapid that in silicates and is still very significant at low temperatures (< 300 C). In this project, we are trying to measure the rate at which the principal ore of nickel, pentlandite, transforms to violarite, another important nickel rich sulphide that forms from it in the upper parts of ore bodies. The arrangement of the metal atoms in these minerals is sensitive to temperature, so it may be used as a geothermometer.Read moreRead less
Integrated photo and thermal catalysis for economic carbon dioxide conversion to fuels. The project aims to develop an integrated process for simultaneously photo- and thermal-catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide and water vapour to hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals using solar light and waste heat from flue gas. This project will design and make multi-functional catalysts based on zirconium metal organic frameworks, incorporating quantum dots and metal nanoclusters. This project is expected to ....Integrated photo and thermal catalysis for economic carbon dioxide conversion to fuels. The project aims to develop an integrated process for simultaneously photo- and thermal-catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide and water vapour to hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals using solar light and waste heat from flue gas. This project will design and make multi-functional catalysts based on zirconium metal organic frameworks, incorporating quantum dots and metal nanoclusters. This project is expected to develop an advanced materials system, reduce carbon dioxide and use it to produce fuel, and harness solar energy. The project should advance Australia’s leading role in reducing carbon emission, and producing clean energy and nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
The interplay between natural and human perturbations in structuring marine habitats. Empirical predictions of which could be the changes to natural habitats caused by human perturbations will increase the ability to prevent irreversible losses of biodiversity. This project will enable the planning of sound strategies for the conservation of valuable ecosystems, such as kelp forests, in view of the massive changes that will likely take place as a consequence of increasing exploitation of marine ....The interplay between natural and human perturbations in structuring marine habitats. Empirical predictions of which could be the changes to natural habitats caused by human perturbations will increase the ability to prevent irreversible losses of biodiversity. This project will enable the planning of sound strategies for the conservation of valuable ecosystems, such as kelp forests, in view of the massive changes that will likely take place as a consequence of increasing exploitation of marine resources and of global climatic changes. The scientific knowledge generated by this project is necessary for a sustainable development of coastal areas, which would guarantee the provision of goods and services to Australian future generations.Read moreRead less
Local and regional investigations into perturbations of marine habitat. Surprising changes to coastal ecology are forecast as increasing physical stresses (e.g. nutrient and sediment runoff) initiate changes to habitat. Lack of information about perturbations remains a major gap in marine ecology and coastal management. Multifactorial experiments will examine perturbations to one of temperate Australia's most widespread subtidal habitats (kelp forests) to test predictions derived from ecologic ....Local and regional investigations into perturbations of marine habitat. Surprising changes to coastal ecology are forecast as increasing physical stresses (e.g. nutrient and sediment runoff) initiate changes to habitat. Lack of information about perturbations remains a major gap in marine ecology and coastal management. Multifactorial experiments will examine perturbations to one of temperate Australia's most widespread subtidal habitats (kelp forests) to test predictions derived from ecological theory. Tests focus on (1) models about abrupt switches of habitat to contrasting states, and (2) responses among regions bearing striking differences in consumer control. These trans-Australian tests may change the way we view one of the world's most extensive temperate coastlines.Read moreRead less