Rehabilitation strategies for metalliferous mine wastes using native metallophytes from Pb-Zn-Ag gossans, northwest Queensland. The global area covered with mine waste is in the order of 100 million hectares containing several 100,000 million tonnes of mine wastes. The long-term sustainable rehabilitation of metal mine sites is inhibited by our lack of knowledge of metal resistance and uptake by Australian native plants. This project will evaluate metallophytes naturally growing on metal-rich so ....Rehabilitation strategies for metalliferous mine wastes using native metallophytes from Pb-Zn-Ag gossans, northwest Queensland. The global area covered with mine waste is in the order of 100 million hectares containing several 100,000 million tonnes of mine wastes. The long-term sustainable rehabilitation of metal mine sites is inhibited by our lack of knowledge of metal resistance and uptake by Australian native plants. This project will evaluate metallophytes naturally growing on metal-rich soils, northwest Queensland, for their capabilities and revegetation potential when grown in mine wastes of the Cannington Ag-Pb-Zn mine. Outcomes will include practical, innovative methods of mine site rehabilitation that are low-cost and environmentally-friendly.Read moreRead less
Tracking mass transport during metamorphism using in situ micro-analysis of minerals. The continental masses we inhabit developed in response to the colossal forces of plate tectonics. Through compression and heating, rocks of the crust can experience fluid loss or melting. Movement of these fluids or magmas can, among other things, impact on the heat budget of Earth, the carbon and water cycles and the formation of ores in the crust. This project will utilize state-of-the-art scientific instrum ....Tracking mass transport during metamorphism using in situ micro-analysis of minerals. The continental masses we inhabit developed in response to the colossal forces of plate tectonics. Through compression and heating, rocks of the crust can experience fluid loss or melting. Movement of these fluids or magmas can, among other things, impact on the heat budget of Earth, the carbon and water cycles and the formation of ores in the crust. This project will utilize state-of-the-art scientific instruments and methods to greatly improve our understanding of these issues, which, in turn, will enhance our knowledge of how the Earth's crust develops. Research training and development will be provided through two PhD projects supported through this project.Read moreRead less
A microscopic and analytical study of extreme thermophile bacteria in simulated environments compared to organic matter in early Earth hydrothermal systems. The study will examine microbial cells and organic residues of cultured thermophilic archaea from simulated extreme environments in terms of temperature, pressure and mineral concentrations. These will be compared, applying observational and geochemical techniques to organic material in geologically earliest ecosystems. A novel approach will ....A microscopic and analytical study of extreme thermophile bacteria in simulated environments compared to organic matter in early Earth hydrothermal systems. The study will examine microbial cells and organic residues of cultured thermophilic archaea from simulated extreme environments in terms of temperature, pressure and mineral concentrations. These will be compared, applying observational and geochemical techniques to organic material in geologically earliest ecosystems. A novel approach will be adopted, of 'backtracking' changes occurring to cultured microbial cells towards their breakdown and disintegration (in contrast to the more common approach of simulating synthesis of organic compounds as a starting point towards structured functioning organisms), and their viability limits. The results of the study will be tested within the currently available theoretical models for the origin of life.Read moreRead less
Weathering on Mars and Australian Analogues: Developing Suitable Chronological Tools and Theoretical Approaches. The research outlined in this proposal will place Australia at the forefront of Mars exploration research. It will lead to the development of new approaches for the analysis of minerals formed by low temperature water-rock interaction and for the interpretation of geochronological results obtained from supergene minerals. The new analytical approaches developed in this project will ha ....Weathering on Mars and Australian Analogues: Developing Suitable Chronological Tools and Theoretical Approaches. The research outlined in this proposal will place Australia at the forefront of Mars exploration research. It will lead to the development of new approaches for the analysis of minerals formed by low temperature water-rock interaction and for the interpretation of geochronological results obtained from supergene minerals. The new analytical approaches developed in this project will have direct application in the study of the paleoclimatological and environmental evolution of Earth and Mars. It will also result in improved understanding of environmental and landscape evolution in Australia, helping to reach the objectives of an Environmentally Sustainable Australia, a national research priority.Read moreRead less
Phosphate stabilisation of metalliferous mine wastes: The key to solving a major environmental issue? Mine wastes represent the greatest proportion of solid waste produced by mankind. Unconstrained drainage from sulfide-rich mine wastes impacts on water, soil and sediment quality. This project will establish the scientific principles of phosphate stabilisation, which involves the addition of phosphate compounds to mine wastes and soils to permanently contain metals and acid. A solid understandin ....Phosphate stabilisation of metalliferous mine wastes: The key to solving a major environmental issue? Mine wastes represent the greatest proportion of solid waste produced by mankind. Unconstrained drainage from sulfide-rich mine wastes impacts on water, soil and sediment quality. This project will establish the scientific principles of phosphate stabilisation, which involves the addition of phosphate compounds to mine wastes and soils to permanently contain metals and acid. A solid understanding of this emerging technology is a prerequisite for any sustainable management of mine sites. The study will provide the foundation of future management tools needed by landholders, industry and regulators to remediate mined land and waste repositories.Read moreRead less
Fluid mixing in hydrothermal systems. Mixing of fluids within permeable rocks can cause significant chemical changes to the fluids and the rocks, for example it causes metals to be dissolved and transported. Accumulation into mineral deposits requires concentration mechanisms which are uncertain due to difficulty of detecting ancient fluid pathways. We will analyse these ancient fluids using new microanalytical and other combined techniques, thereby testing the role of fluid mixing as a mechanis ....Fluid mixing in hydrothermal systems. Mixing of fluids within permeable rocks can cause significant chemical changes to the fluids and the rocks, for example it causes metals to be dissolved and transported. Accumulation into mineral deposits requires concentration mechanisms which are uncertain due to difficulty of detecting ancient fluid pathways. We will analyse these ancient fluids using new microanalytical and other combined techniques, thereby testing the role of fluid mixing as a mechanism for efficient metal precipitation. The research has significance for exploration and models for mineral deposits, and for characterising other geological fluids, and provides opportunity for technical breakthroughs in microanalysis of fluid inclusions.Read moreRead less
CO2-brine behaviour in high temperature geological processes: Microanalysis and significance. This project clearly lies within the national research priority of developing deep earth resources. It may strengthen our economic fabric through mineral deposit discoveries in Australia as well as other circum-Pacific countries. The proposed research will also indirectly enhance our understanding of the relationships between geosphere, biosphere, fluids and global greenhouse warming. By strong national ....CO2-brine behaviour in high temperature geological processes: Microanalysis and significance. This project clearly lies within the national research priority of developing deep earth resources. It may strengthen our economic fabric through mineral deposit discoveries in Australia as well as other circum-Pacific countries. The proposed research will also indirectly enhance our understanding of the relationships between geosphere, biosphere, fluids and global greenhouse warming. By strong national and international collaborations and our use of innovative frontier technologies of fluid microgeochemistry, we will expand recognition of Australia's world-class research capacities.Read moreRead less
Environmental controls over Fe availability and transport in a forested coastal catchment. Iron is one of a number of elements that are mobilised in catchments, have recognised detrimental impacts to marine settings and are known to be nutrients for toxic cyanobacteria blooms. Knowledge of controls over distribution of Fe is important in catchment management and for sustainable forestry. The total catchment approach will result in an understanding of release and transport of Fe, and other heav ....Environmental controls over Fe availability and transport in a forested coastal catchment. Iron is one of a number of elements that are mobilised in catchments, have recognised detrimental impacts to marine settings and are known to be nutrients for toxic cyanobacteria blooms. Knowledge of controls over distribution of Fe is important in catchment management and for sustainable forestry. The total catchment approach will result in an understanding of release and transport of Fe, and other heavy metals. The outcomes of the study will enable useful comparison to coastal plantations elsewhere in Australia, and overseas. Determination of the relationship to rainfall and hydrological processes will enhance these comparisons plus consideration of climatic change.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347662
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$195,000.00
Summary
Laser Ablation System for Elemental Analysis and Tropical Environmental Research. This application seeks funding for a Laser Ablation system as a sample introduction system for the current Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (LA-ICPMS). The proposed LA-ICPMS facility will provide a trace element analytical facility that will be used for research in northern Australia which will enhance and develop strong and sustainable collaborative partnerships in the areas of conservation biology, ....Laser Ablation System for Elemental Analysis and Tropical Environmental Research. This application seeks funding for a Laser Ablation system as a sample introduction system for the current Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (LA-ICPMS). The proposed LA-ICPMS facility will provide a trace element analytical facility that will be used for research in northern Australia which will enhance and develop strong and sustainable collaborative partnerships in the areas of conservation biology, living resource management, tropical environmental science and resource development. The facility will not be simply providing a routine analytical service. It will be used to develop innovative approaches to environmental management and sustainable development and ensure a continued high level of research and research training which will contribute to regional development.Read moreRead less
Mineral Physics and Crystal Chemistry of Ni-Co-Laterite Deposits. Ni-Co laterite deposits host more than 50% of the mineable Ni-Co resources on the planet. Australia and Australian mining companies have been major producers of Ni and Co in the past. To continue to play a significant role in the exploration, production, and environmentally sound remediation of Ni-Co laterite mining sites, Australian mining companies must increase their understanding of the mineralogy of Ni-Co-deposits. This res ....Mineral Physics and Crystal Chemistry of Ni-Co-Laterite Deposits. Ni-Co laterite deposits host more than 50% of the mineable Ni-Co resources on the planet. Australia and Australian mining companies have been major producers of Ni and Co in the past. To continue to play a significant role in the exploration, production, and environmentally sound remediation of Ni-Co laterite mining sites, Australian mining companies must increase their understanding of the mineralogy of Ni-Co-deposits. This research program proposes strategic micro-analytical and synchrotron-based research on the fundamental physical properties and crystal chemistry of Ni-Co-laterite minerals from selected deposits in Australia and around the globe.Read moreRead less