The geochemical role of iron in basaltic magmatism and planetary differentiation: an experimental study. The amount of Fe in primitive terrestrial basalts is surprisingly variable. The reasons for this are poorly understood, but could include melting of Fe-enriched refertilized mantle sources, increasing partitioning of FeO into the melt with depth of melting, or oxidation of some FeO to Fe2O3. An experimental investigation of the effects of Fe both as 2+ and 3+ on the partial melting of model ....The geochemical role of iron in basaltic magmatism and planetary differentiation: an experimental study. The amount of Fe in primitive terrestrial basalts is surprisingly variable. The reasons for this are poorly understood, but could include melting of Fe-enriched refertilized mantle sources, increasing partitioning of FeO into the melt with depth of melting, or oxidation of some FeO to Fe2O3. An experimental investigation of the effects of Fe both as 2+ and 3+ on the partial melting of model mantle material should help resolve this problem, while also providing the fundamental thermodynamic data needed to calibrate a general model for upper mantle phase relations.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
How has the continental lithosphere evolved? Processes of assembly, growth, transformation and destruction. We will use new in-situ analytical techniques, developed In-house, to date the formation and modification of specific volumes of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle, and to define the temporal and genetic relationships between mantle events and crustal formation. Quantitative modelling will investigate the geodynamic consequences of spatial and temporal variations in lithosphere composi ....How has the continental lithosphere evolved? Processes of assembly, growth, transformation and destruction. We will use new in-situ analytical techniques, developed In-house, to date the formation and modification of specific volumes of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle, and to define the temporal and genetic relationships between mantle events and crustal formation. Quantitative modelling will investigate the geodynamic consequences of spatial and temporal variations in lithosphere composition and thermal state. Magmatic products will be used to assess the roles of mantle plumes and delamination in construction of the lithosphere and xenolith studies will investigate the evolution of oceanic plateaus. The results will provide a framework for interpreting the architecture of lithospheric terranes and their boundaries.Read moreRead less
How has continental lithosphere evolved? Processes of assembly, growth, transformation and destruction. Novel in-situ analytical and dating techniques will be used on samples from the Earth's mantle and deep crust to define the processes by which the continents and their roots (to depths of 250 km) have been formed, modified or destroyed at different times throughout Earth's 4.6 billion year evolution. The role of oceanic plateaus and mantle plumes in building protocontinents or modifying lithos ....How has continental lithosphere evolved? Processes of assembly, growth, transformation and destruction. Novel in-situ analytical and dating techniques will be used on samples from the Earth's mantle and deep crust to define the processes by which the continents and their roots (to depths of 250 km) have been formed, modified or destroyed at different times throughout Earth's 4.6 billion year evolution. The role of oceanic plateaus and mantle plumes in building protocontinents or modifying lithospheric volumes will be evaluated. The results will provide a more robust framework for interpreting the architecture of Earth's lithosphere and will have relevance to the formation and location of resources such as Ni, PGEs, Au and diamonds.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
Application of Double and Triple Dating of Zircons to Sediment Provenance Studies and to Quantifying Recycling in Sedimentary Rocks. Double and triple dating are exciting new ANU-Yale breakthroughs that can be used to more accurately identify the source of sediment in rivers and sedimentary rocks than is possible using existing techniques. They have fundamental applications in the study of erosion, tracing the source of heavy minerals in titanium deposits and in determining the source of sedi ....Application of Double and Triple Dating of Zircons to Sediment Provenance Studies and to Quantifying Recycling in Sedimentary Rocks. Double and triple dating are exciting new ANU-Yale breakthroughs that can be used to more accurately identify the source of sediment in rivers and sedimentary rocks than is possible using existing techniques. They have fundamental applications in the study of erosion, tracing the source of heavy minerals in titanium deposits and in determining the source of sedimentary sequences that host oil. Under favourable circumstances double dating can be used also to date sediments that are devoid of fossils, which has direct application in oil exploration.Read moreRead less
Exposure dating with manganese-53, neon-21 and beryllium-10: a new toolkit for studying long-term landscape evolution. Australia today is the driest inhabited continent but this was not always the case. Tens of millions of years ago the climate of Australia was considerably wetter. Then, several million years ago, aridity in Australia developed producing most of the desert features of the red Centre that we see today. The age of our deserts and other arid features are not, however, well known. T ....Exposure dating with manganese-53, neon-21 and beryllium-10: a new toolkit for studying long-term landscape evolution. Australia today is the driest inhabited continent but this was not always the case. Tens of millions of years ago the climate of Australia was considerably wetter. Then, several million years ago, aridity in Australia developed producing most of the desert features of the red Centre that we see today. The age of our deserts and other arid features are not, however, well known. This project will determine the age of desertification in Australia, thereby enhancing our understanding of such processes and the response of our landscape to changing climate.
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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
Understanding the deep mantle: experimental petrology at very high pressures. The great processes that shape the Earth at its surface, including plate tectonics and continental drift, can only be understood by appreciating how the interior of the Earth works. However, studying the deep Earth is difficult because of the enormous pressures and temperatures involved. This research proposes to simulate conditions in the Earth's lower mantle (that is, below 670 km in depth) by making use of an Austra ....Understanding the deep mantle: experimental petrology at very high pressures. The great processes that shape the Earth at its surface, including plate tectonics and continental drift, can only be understood by appreciating how the interior of the Earth works. However, studying the deep Earth is difficult because of the enormous pressures and temperatures involved. This research proposes to simulate conditions in the Earth's lower mantle (that is, below 670 km in depth) by making use of an Australian invented diamond-based ceramic, to double the pressure at which experiments can be performed. The information gained from this fundamental research will help predict how giant ore bodies form. The development of the high-pressure apparatus will also aid material scientists in their quest for novel materials.Read moreRead less