Seismic wavespeeds and attenuation in upper-mantle rocks: a laboratory study of the effect of partial melting. The influence of partial melting on the seismic properties of the Earth's upper mantle will be explored through a laboratory study. Synthetic rock specimens consisting of the upper-mantle mineral olivine and a small proportion of basaltic magma will be prepared and their grain-scale melt distribution will be characterised. The seismic properties of these materials will be measured at ....Seismic wavespeeds and attenuation in upper-mantle rocks: a laboratory study of the effect of partial melting. The influence of partial melting on the seismic properties of the Earth's upper mantle will be explored through a laboratory study. Synthetic rock specimens consisting of the upper-mantle mineral olivine and a small proportion of basaltic magma will be prepared and their grain-scale melt distribution will be characterised. The seismic properties of these materials will be measured at high temperatures and seismic frequencies with novel locally developed equipment. Comparison with melt-free equivalents will allow the influence of the added magma to be quantified, allowing robust interpretation of seismological models of Earth structure with implications for its chemical and dynamical evolution.Read moreRead less
Exploration potential and implications for stress transfer modelling in fault-related mineral deposits. Following our success in the application of stress transfer modelling (STM) techniques to understand the clustered distribution of upper crustal, Archean gold deposits within crustal scale fault systems, this project seeks to test and develop the application of STM in (1) gold systems formed below the crustal seismogenic regime, (2) for deposit-scale targeting, and (3) in a range of fault-re ....Exploration potential and implications for stress transfer modelling in fault-related mineral deposits. Following our success in the application of stress transfer modelling (STM) techniques to understand the clustered distribution of upper crustal, Archean gold deposits within crustal scale fault systems, this project seeks to test and develop the application of STM in (1) gold systems formed below the crustal seismogenic regime, (2) for deposit-scale targeting, and (3) in a range of fault-related mineral deposits other than Archaean gold systems. The project will also develop methods to evaluate the combined roles of co-seismic stress transfer and post-seismic fluid redistribution in influencing deposit distribution. The approach provides a new conceptual framework in which to develop exploration strategies for deep earth resources.Read moreRead less
The Role of Hydrous Fluids in Fault Processes: An Experimental Study. The proposed project seeks to understand how hydrothermal reactions in fault zones affect various physical properties such as fault strength and permeability. The project will be conducted by performing high pressure experiments which simulate natural conditions. I will also develop new analytical techniques to characterize the microstructural evolution of faults, with a focus on understanding how any changes alter the hydrolo ....The Role of Hydrous Fluids in Fault Processes: An Experimental Study. The proposed project seeks to understand how hydrothermal reactions in fault zones affect various physical properties such as fault strength and permeability. The project will be conducted by performing high pressure experiments which simulate natural conditions. I will also develop new analytical techniques to characterize the microstructural evolution of faults, with a focus on understanding how any changes alter the hydrologic behaviour of the fault. This study will shed much needed information related to the mechanisms of earthquake nucleation, and to the formation mechanism of fault-hosted gold deposits.Read moreRead less
High-temperature Elastic Wave Speeds of Mantle Minerals and their Seismological Implications. Laboratory measurements of elastic wave speeds are critical for the interpretation of seismological models for the Earth's deep interior. During the past several years, research groups at ANU and Stony Brook University have separately been proving novel experimental techniques for measurement of the temperature dependence of elastic wave speeds. Now a timely collaboration is proposed in which we would ....High-temperature Elastic Wave Speeds of Mantle Minerals and their Seismological Implications. Laboratory measurements of elastic wave speeds are critical for the interpretation of seismological models for the Earth's deep interior. During the past several years, research groups at ANU and Stony Brook University have separately been proving novel experimental techniques for measurement of the temperature dependence of elastic wave speeds. Now a timely collaboration is proposed in which we would exploit access to similar temperature ranges under two very different pressure regimes to examine the mixed pressure-temperature dependence of wave speeds that is so critical for the inference of chemical composition, mineralogical make-up, and temperature variations within the Earth's mantle.Read moreRead less
From crust to core: probing the heterogeneity of the Earth with seismic arrays. Seismic array deployments will be used for a variety of studies including tomographic mapping of upper mantle structure, coda analysis for crustal properties and delineation of deeper Earth structure. The high resolution information on crustal and upper mantle structure will provide important detail on the building blocks of the Australian plate at depth. This class of information helps to refine our understanding o ....From crust to core: probing the heterogeneity of the Earth with seismic arrays. Seismic array deployments will be used for a variety of studies including tomographic mapping of upper mantle structure, coda analysis for crustal properties and delineation of deeper Earth structure. The high resolution information on crustal and upper mantle structure will provide important detail on the building blocks of the Australian plate at depth. This class of information helps to refine our understanding of the way that the Australian continent has been assembled with regard to the interaction of the crust and mantle and the emplacement of mineral resources.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668155
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
Instrumentation for combined seismic and electromagnetic Earth sounding. The set of geophysical recorders will provide the means to enhance understanding of the structure of the Australian continent in 3-D. The interpretation of multiple images of Earth structure will help to link features in the crust and mantle beneath, and provide controls on the evolution and assembly of the present continent, with a major contribution to possible geotransects as recommended in the 2003 National Strategic Pl ....Instrumentation for combined seismic and electromagnetic Earth sounding. The set of geophysical recorders will provide the means to enhance understanding of the structure of the Australian continent in 3-D. The interpretation of multiple images of Earth structure will help to link features in the crust and mantle beneath, and provide controls on the evolution and assembly of the present continent, with a major contribution to possible geotransects as recommended in the 2003 National Strategic Plan for the Geosciences. Combining seismic and electromagnetic methods will provide both geochemeical and geophysical constaints, e.g., on zones of alteration and shear with the potential for deep mineralisation. Read moreRead less
Precise location of earthquakes: combining arrival times with Coda Wave Interferometry. The location of earthquakes is important for improving our knowledge
of the contemporary plate tectonic regime, mapping of active crustal faults and quantifying risk posed to population centres and infrastructure. Precise relative location of micro-earthquakes also has important industrial applications, including mapping the extent of underground geothermal reservoirs, and in exploration for ore producing ....Precise location of earthquakes: combining arrival times with Coda Wave Interferometry. The location of earthquakes is important for improving our knowledge
of the contemporary plate tectonic regime, mapping of active crustal faults and quantifying risk posed to population centres and infrastructure. Precise relative location of micro-earthquakes also has important industrial applications, including mapping the extent of underground geothermal reservoirs, and in exploration for ore producing hydrothermal systems. This project will advance the field of earthquake location by introducing new techniques that will increase the amount of seismic information that can be used for both research and national monitoring purposes. Read moreRead less
CRATON EDGES AND SUTURES IN THE AUSTRALIAN MANTLE. A major seismic experiment using recording of distant earthquakes will be used to provide images of 3-D structure in the Earth's crust and mantle along the length of the edge of the Precambrian Australian Shield and across the suture between the South and North Australian cratons within the Shield. Seismic structures derived from different classes of geodynamic models will be compared with seismic results derived from a variety of styles of dat ....CRATON EDGES AND SUTURES IN THE AUSTRALIAN MANTLE. A major seismic experiment using recording of distant earthquakes will be used to provide images of 3-D structure in the Earth's crust and mantle along the length of the edge of the Precambrian Australian Shield and across the suture between the South and North Australian cratons within the Shield. Seismic structures derived from different classes of geodynamic models will be compared with seismic results derived from a variety of styles of data interpretation, including seismic tomography. The experiment will improve understanding of the range of physical processes associated with rifting and building of continents.Read moreRead less
The Initiation and 3D Evolution of Instabilities in the Deep Continental Lithosphere. This project is part of a new international initiative in the Geodynamics of the Australian Plate bringing together studies of the active tectonics of the boundary regions of our plate and the ancient analogues of these processes which are locked into the stable interior of the Australian continent. The proposed research is a good fit to the Identification and Extraction of Deep Earth Resources priority goal. D ....The Initiation and 3D Evolution of Instabilities in the Deep Continental Lithosphere. This project is part of a new international initiative in the Geodynamics of the Australian Plate bringing together studies of the active tectonics of the boundary regions of our plate and the ancient analogues of these processes which are locked into the stable interior of the Australian continent. The proposed research is a good fit to the Identification and Extraction of Deep Earth Resources priority goal. Detachment of the lithosphere is associated with fertile mantle being emplaced at shallow depth below the crust; an important precursory event for mineralization. The project builds upon AuScope (NCRIS 5.13) to create infrastructure for a new, smart resource exploration and extraction industry based on modelling and simulation.Read moreRead less
Seismic tomography using signal and noise: A new window into deep Earth. This project will combine traditional imaging techniques based on earthquake records, and state of the art ambient noise tomography, which exploits oceanic and atmospheric disturbances, to construct detailed models of the crust and upper mantle beneath southeast Australia. The national benefits of this research include: a vastly improved understanding of the deep architecture of the Australian Plate, and how it has evolved ....Seismic tomography using signal and noise: A new window into deep Earth. This project will combine traditional imaging techniques based on earthquake records, and state of the art ambient noise tomography, which exploits oceanic and atmospheric disturbances, to construct detailed models of the crust and upper mantle beneath southeast Australia. The national benefits of this research include: a vastly improved understanding of the deep architecture of the Australian Plate, and how it has evolved over time; a paradigm shift in the interpretation of seismic data, which will enhance Australia's reputation in the international scientific community; and important new constraints on the broad scale geology of prospective regions that host world class mineral deposits.Read moreRead less