Developing a new tectonothermal and mineralization history for the Capricorn Orogen, Western Australia: Assisting mineral exploration in greenfields terrains. Successful exploration models rely on the development of a reliable geological framework through which to understand the specific processes responsible for the formation of economic ore deposits. A framework cannot be constructed without robust age data. This Project will apply advanced geochronology, combined with regional- and deposit-sc ....Developing a new tectonothermal and mineralization history for the Capricorn Orogen, Western Australia: Assisting mineral exploration in greenfields terrains. Successful exploration models rely on the development of a reliable geological framework through which to understand the specific processes responsible for the formation of economic ore deposits. A framework cannot be constructed without robust age data. This Project will apply advanced geochronology, combined with regional- and deposit-scale field mapping, to formulate a new and improved stratigraphic and tectonic framework for a prospective greenfields region in Western Australia. Outcomes from this Project will lead to more effective exploration models and thereby better exploration targeting. Reducing uncertainty and risk in exploration is key to the discovery and development of deep Earth resources. Read moreRead less
Three-dimensional magnetotelluric imaging of lithospheric-scale mineral systems from source to deposit. Geochemical studies indicate that world-class mineral deposits are partly sourced from fluids emerging from Earth's mantle and lower crust. Finding major mineral deposits in the future will therefore require knowledge of which parts of the crust and mantle yield the most prospective locations. However, there are few methods that can image deep Earth resources, and these can be very expensive ....Three-dimensional magnetotelluric imaging of lithospheric-scale mineral systems from source to deposit. Geochemical studies indicate that world-class mineral deposits are partly sourced from fluids emerging from Earth's mantle and lower crust. Finding major mineral deposits in the future will therefore require knowledge of which parts of the crust and mantle yield the most prospective locations. However, there are few methods that can image deep Earth resources, and these can be very expensive. We propose to develop the magnetotelluric method as a low-cost and rapid approach for delineating 3D information on deep mineral systems beneath existing major deposits, and adapting this to explore in greenfield locations.Read moreRead less
Neoproterozoic global geodynamic and climatic events: were they linked? This project will study a unique cluster of global geodynamic and climatic events 850-700 million years ago that will help us to understand the interactions between the Earth's deep mantle, its crust, and its atmospheric climate. Academic values aside, the work will bring direct benefit to the Australian industry. Knowledge on the distribution of the Neoproterozoic plume events will provide new exploration targets for Ni-Cu- ....Neoproterozoic global geodynamic and climatic events: were they linked? This project will study a unique cluster of global geodynamic and climatic events 850-700 million years ago that will help us to understand the interactions between the Earth's deep mantle, its crust, and its atmospheric climate. Academic values aside, the work will bring direct benefit to the Australian industry. Knowledge on the distribution of the Neoproterozoic plume events will provide new exploration targets for Ni-Cu-PGE and V-Ti deposits. Better constrained palaeogeography will help to locate mineral-rich crustal provinces that were once connected. Understanding climatic consequences of global geodynamic events will help to better understand and respond to climate changes. 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
Tetconic feedback and the long-term evolution of the continents. The continents are shaped through complex interactions between the primary tectonic processes of magmatism, metamorphism, deformation, erosion and sedimentation. Because these processes modify the distribution of heat producing elements, and are themselves temperature sensitive, they must be subject to important feedback loops. This project will use constraints on heat producing element distributions in the Australian crust, and th ....Tetconic feedback and the long-term evolution of the continents. The continents are shaped through complex interactions between the primary tectonic processes of magmatism, metamorphism, deformation, erosion and sedimentation. Because these processes modify the distribution of heat producing elements, and are themselves temperature sensitive, they must be subject to important feedback loops. This project will use constraints on heat producing element distributions in the Australian crust, and the way in which these distributions have evolved during various tectonic processes, to elucidate the nature and significance of "tectonic feedback" and its role in shaping the continents.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
Palaeobiology of hydrothermal mineral deposits. Mineral deposits that formed at up to 150 degrees C record the history of micro-organisms referred to as hyperthermophiles. Current biological studies predict that such organisms are the most primitive known. Thus by studying these deposits we have the opportunity to uncover the earliest history of life on Earth, and to improve our understanding of ore deposition. Such deposits are also prime targets for the search for life and former life elsewher ....Palaeobiology of hydrothermal mineral deposits. Mineral deposits that formed at up to 150 degrees C record the history of micro-organisms referred to as hyperthermophiles. Current biological studies predict that such organisms are the most primitive known. Thus by studying these deposits we have the opportunity to uncover the earliest history of life on Earth, and to improve our understanding of ore deposition. Such deposits are also prime targets for the search for life and former life elsewhere in the Solar System, and the proposed research will contribute to that search.Read moreRead less
Organic geochemistry of the McArthur River hydrothermal deposit. Exploration for hydrothermal ore deposits in sedimentary basins has many problems because of the lack of any general agreement on the mechanisms of formation of major deposits. This proposed research will focus on the fundamental issue of the interaction of organic matter and mineralizing fluids in contributing to ore mineral deposition. Given that the McArthur River orebody is an exquisitely preserved example of a hydrothermal dep ....Organic geochemistry of the McArthur River hydrothermal deposit. Exploration for hydrothermal ore deposits in sedimentary basins has many problems because of the lack of any general agreement on the mechanisms of formation of major deposits. This proposed research will focus on the fundamental issue of the interaction of organic matter and mineralizing fluids in contributing to ore mineral deposition. Given that the McArthur River orebody is an exquisitely preserved example of a hydrothermal deposit it will thus enable a comprehensive organic geochemical investigation to elucidate the role of organic matter in ore formation. The outcomes will benefit the Australian mineral exploration industry by refining current ore genesis models.Read moreRead less
Physical and Chemical Constraints of Fluid Activated Processes During the Polyphase Tectonic Evolution of the Olary Domain, S.A. The Olary Domain, eastern South Australia, underwent several phases of deformation and metamorphism. These events mobilised fluids leading, amongst other features, to the formation of breccia bodies and mineral deposits. The complex nature of the geological evolution of the region obscures relationships of fluid migration to the structural history. Fluid inclusion stud ....Physical and Chemical Constraints of Fluid Activated Processes During the Polyphase Tectonic Evolution of the Olary Domain, S.A. The Olary Domain, eastern South Australia, underwent several phases of deformation and metamorphism. These events mobilised fluids leading, amongst other features, to the formation of breccia bodies and mineral deposits. The complex nature of the geological evolution of the region obscures relationships of fluid migration to the structural history. Fluid inclusion studies and stable isotope analyses combined with structural analyses on micro to macro scales shall establish links between the thermal and structural evolution of the area. This will provide insigth into the scale and physico-chemical characteristics of fluids and mineralising processes an relate these to the tectono-thermal history.Read moreRead less
Understanding the Sibao Orogenic Belt in South China: A Part of the Rodinian Supercontinent Assembly Adjacent to Australia. The Sibao Orogenic Belt (SOB) in South China is regarded as one of the worldwide 1300-1000 Ma mountain belts that record the assembly of the supercontinent Rodinia. However, recent work suggests that some of these mountain belts, including the SOB, were probably active until 900 Ma, thus questioning parts of the early Rodinia reconstructions. In this study we aim to deter ....Understanding the Sibao Orogenic Belt in South China: A Part of the Rodinian Supercontinent Assembly Adjacent to Australia. The Sibao Orogenic Belt (SOB) in South China is regarded as one of the worldwide 1300-1000 Ma mountain belts that record the assembly of the supercontinent Rodinia. However, recent work suggests that some of these mountain belts, including the SOB, were probably active until 900 Ma, thus questioning parts of the early Rodinia reconstructions. In this study we aim to determine the ages, and geochemical and structural characteristics of key tectonic units in the SOB. This will lead to a better understanding of the assembly process of Rodinia, and events occurring in continental blocks adjacent to Australia at that time.Read moreRead less