Just add water: a recipe for the deformation of continental interiors. By integrating geochemical, geochronological and microstructural datasets, this project aims to provide a novel framework for fluid–rock systems in the lithosphere. Plate tectonics argues that continental interiors are usually stable, rigid and undeformable, yet mountain belts have formed in these locations. Their existence suggests that strong crust can be weakened to allow the accommodation of deforming forces, but the unde ....Just add water: a recipe for the deformation of continental interiors. By integrating geochemical, geochronological and microstructural datasets, this project aims to provide a novel framework for fluid–rock systems in the lithosphere. Plate tectonics argues that continental interiors are usually stable, rigid and undeformable, yet mountain belts have formed in these locations. Their existence suggests that strong crust can be weakened to allow the accommodation of deforming forces, but the underlying causes for this change in behaviour are not clear. This project aims to investigate the largely unexplored impact of fluid flow on the characteristics of intraplate deformation. This would improve our understanding of what modulates the strength of continental crust, including its susceptibility to seismic activity, and the ways in which fluids interact with the deep crust, including their mineralisation potential.Read moreRead less
Four dimensional lithospheric evolution and controls on mineral system distribution in Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic terranes. This project will resolve important questions about the links between the evolution and preservation of continents and important mineral deposits in Australia and West Africa between 2.7 and 1.8 billion years ago. The results will improve the understanding of a key period of Earth history and make a major contribution to mineral exploration.
Earth's origin and evolution: a sulphurous approach. This project aims to shed new light on global element cycles in the deep Earth and how they connect to the evolution of the exospheres – one of the hottest topics in geosciences. It also aims to produce key knowledge of the extraction and transport of elements from the deep Earth to the surface, which may provide valuable information for resource exploration. Using novel integrated elemental and isotopic approaches, this program aims to track ....Earth's origin and evolution: a sulphurous approach. This project aims to shed new light on global element cycles in the deep Earth and how they connect to the evolution of the exospheres – one of the hottest topics in geosciences. It also aims to produce key knowledge of the extraction and transport of elements from the deep Earth to the surface, which may provide valuable information for resource exploration. Using novel integrated elemental and isotopic approaches, this program aims to track the origin and fate of sulfur, selenium and tellurium during accretion and subsequent redistribution in fluids to Earth’s surface. This new knowledge is critical to understanding how these and other elements of strategic and economic importance, such as the Platinum Group Elements, are extracted from the deep Earth and transported to the surface.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100095
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,000.00
Summary
Frontiers in integrated laser-sampled trace-element and isotopic geoanalysis. Until around 2005 Australia was a leader in the coupling of laser-ablation microprobes (LAM) with inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometers (ICPMS) for geochemical research. However, international developments in femtosecond LAM, sector field instruments and novel instrument coupling possibilities have leap-frogged these achievements. The proposed innovative facility will allow us to regain the leading edge in thi ....Frontiers in integrated laser-sampled trace-element and isotopic geoanalysis. Until around 2005 Australia was a leader in the coupling of laser-ablation microprobes (LAM) with inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometers (ICPMS) for geochemical research. However, international developments in femtosecond LAM, sector field instruments and novel instrument coupling possibilities have leap-frogged these achievements. The proposed innovative facility will allow us to regain the leading edge in this field, help maintain the high profile of Australian geoscience internationally, and to attract high-quality researchers and industry-related research funding. The research is relevant to the Deep Earth Resources National Priority and will include projects of direct relevance to mineral exploration and process technology.Read moreRead less
Earth's best-preserved Archean boninites: do they finally resolve the Archean mantle plume - plate tectonics controversy? Subduction typically starts on the modern Earth with the eruption of chemically distinctive rocks known as boninites. This project will study remarkably well preserved 2.85 billion year old boninites from Western Australia that may finally establish whether modern-style plate tectonics operated in the first half of Earth's history.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100128
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,131.00
Summary
Tectonic drivers of extreme metamorphism in Eastern Indonesia. This project intends to investigate the tectonic drivers of (ultra-)high temperature metamorphism in eastern Indonesia. Subduction zones – where one of Earth's plates collapses beneath another – drive the formation of mountain belts and produce high pressure and high temperature metamorphic rocks. However, it is typically very difficult when investigating mature mountain belts to interpret how subduction was exactly involved. Eastern ....Tectonic drivers of extreme metamorphism in Eastern Indonesia. This project intends to investigate the tectonic drivers of (ultra-)high temperature metamorphism in eastern Indonesia. Subduction zones – where one of Earth's plates collapses beneath another – drive the formation of mountain belts and produce high pressure and high temperature metamorphic rocks. However, it is typically very difficult when investigating mature mountain belts to interpret how subduction was exactly involved. Eastern Indonesia is one of the few places where active subduction can be linked directly to recent mountain building. Better understanding of how complex subduction dynamics and how mountain belts form is intended to assist natural hazard assessment in earthquake-prone areas.Read moreRead less
Garnet speed dating: Innovation for fast tectonic problem solving. This project aims to develop and apply a novel way to rapidly date the mineral garnet within rocks using the analytical technique of laser ablation mass spectrometry to calculate Lutetium-Hafnium ages. Garnet is the most important mineral we have to determine the depths of burial and the temperatures rocks experienced during the tectonic processes that shaped the continents. Our novel in situ laser ablation method will allow ga ....Garnet speed dating: Innovation for fast tectonic problem solving. This project aims to develop and apply a novel way to rapidly date the mineral garnet within rocks using the analytical technique of laser ablation mass spectrometry to calculate Lutetium-Hafnium ages. Garnet is the most important mineral we have to determine the depths of burial and the temperatures rocks experienced during the tectonic processes that shaped the continents. Our novel in situ laser ablation method will allow garnet to be rapidly and easily dated, permitting routine collection of large age datasets for tectonic problem solving. It will also offer a rapid means to determine ages of garnet-bearing rocks across prospective mineral exploration regions, providing explorers with key exploration data.Read moreRead less
What goes on inside subduction zones? This project aims to decipher how rocks behave inside subduction zones. Subduction is a central tenant of plate tectonic theory and the project will test the hypothesis rocks can become trapped within giant long-lived eddies that circulate material within subduction zones. This international collaborative project will generate new knowledge regarding the time scales rocks can remain trapped inside subduction zones using pressure–temperature–age constraints f ....What goes on inside subduction zones? This project aims to decipher how rocks behave inside subduction zones. Subduction is a central tenant of plate tectonic theory and the project will test the hypothesis rocks can become trapped within giant long-lived eddies that circulate material within subduction zones. This international collaborative project will generate new knowledge regarding the time scales rocks can remain trapped inside subduction zones using pressure–temperature–age constraints from subducted rocks. We will use this information as a framework for numerical simulations of subduction zone behaviour. The project will provide significant benefits in training a new generation of Earth scientists, and in broadening public awareness of fundamental Earth science.Read moreRead less
Iron isotope variation in subduction magmas: Links to fluid flux and oxidation of the mantle wedge? The plates of the outer tectonic shell of our Earth are in ceaseless motion; their collisions create huge earthquakes and their collapse into the Earth introduces surface water to these hot regions at >150km depth, creating melting and volcanic eruption. This project will use iron isotopes to map this surface water as it is introduced to the mantle.
From core to ore: emplacement dynamics of deep-seated nickel sulphide systems. This project will investigate the genesis of ore deposits containing nickel, copper and the immensely valuable platinum group elements. These systems provide insights into fundamental questions regarding the evolution and dynamics of the Earth system, because these ore deposits are windows into the deep mantle of our planet.