Deformational controls on the dynamics of fluid flow, hydrothermal alteration and gold mineralisation, Argo Gold deposit, WA. Detailed structural analysis, combined with major and trace element geochemistry and stable isotope geochemistry, will be used to explore the 3D evolution of fluid pathways and their relationship to growth of shear zones, vein networks and alteration patterns in the Argo shear-hosted gold deposit. The research will be used to (1) maximise the efficiency of resource defini ....Deformational controls on the dynamics of fluid flow, hydrothermal alteration and gold mineralisation, Argo Gold deposit, WA. Detailed structural analysis, combined with major and trace element geochemistry and stable isotope geochemistry, will be used to explore the 3D evolution of fluid pathways and their relationship to growth of shear zones, vein networks and alteration patterns in the Argo shear-hosted gold deposit. The research will be used to (1) maximise the efficiency of resource definition and extraction, (2) refine resource exploration models, (3) explore the dynamics of gold mineralisation processes in shear zones, and (4) advance understanding of how coupling between deformation, fluid flow, and fluid-rock reaction influence the mechanical behaviour of the Earth's crust.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
Development and Application of Stress Transfer Modelling for Area Selection in Mesothermal Gold Systems. Many mesothermal gold systems are hosted by low displacement faults and shear zones which develop adjacent to high displacement, crustal-scale faults and shear zones. By analogy with modern, seismogenic fault systems, the gold-hosting structures are interpreted as aftershock arrays whose formation is related to stress redistribution and fluid flow after major slip events on high displacement ....Development and Application of Stress Transfer Modelling for Area Selection in Mesothermal Gold Systems. Many mesothermal gold systems are hosted by low displacement faults and shear zones which develop adjacent to high displacement, crustal-scale faults and shear zones. By analogy with modern, seismogenic fault systems, the gold-hosting structures are interpreted as aftershock arrays whose formation is related to stress redistribution and fluid flow after major slip events on high displacement faults. This project will test and develop Coulomb stress transfer modelling techniques, currently used for aftershock risk assessment, for predicting the distribution of low displacment, gold-hosting structures around crustal-scale shear systems. The technique is expected to provide a powerful tool to assist area selection in fault-related epigenetic ore systems.Read moreRead less
Where to find giant porphyry and epithermal gold and copper deposits. This project will determine when and where giant gold or copper deposits should form, consolidating links with Indonesia, and using South East Asia as a vast natural laboratory in which to examine the effect of large-scale tectonic processes. The project will produce a four-dimensional virtual exploration toolkit to show how to apply the methods.
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
Multiscale dynamics of ore body formation. Future discoveries of giant ore-bodies will undoubtedly be under surface cover. Modelling of new data from South Australia and Western Australia will define targeting criteria for new major ore-bodies, thus exploiting Australia's deep earth resource potential. New understanding of controls on mineralisation decrease exploration risk. Ore-bodies, such as Olympic Dam, have made major contributions to Australia's economy over past decades and promise to ad ....Multiscale dynamics of ore body formation. Future discoveries of giant ore-bodies will undoubtedly be under surface cover. Modelling of new data from South Australia and Western Australia will define targeting criteria for new major ore-bodies, thus exploiting Australia's deep earth resource potential. New understanding of controls on mineralisation decrease exploration risk. Ore-bodies, such as Olympic Dam, have made major contributions to Australia's economy over past decades and promise to add increased value over future decades. This project enhances the probability that at least one other ore-body of this type will be discovered. Such discoveries contribute directly to the wealth of Australia through export earnings and accelerate the development of regional infrastructure and new technological development.Read moreRead less
Understanding the stratigraphic and structural architecture of late Archean basins and the context of their gold deposits. Gold mined from Archean rocks contributed $4.0 billion to Australia's export income in 2006 and provided the backbone of support for many remote communities. However, production has fallen 40% since 1997 and will be exhausted within 15 years unless major new discoveries are made. The potential to find additional gold deposits remains high, but urgently requires new data and ....Understanding the stratigraphic and structural architecture of late Archean basins and the context of their gold deposits. Gold mined from Archean rocks contributed $4.0 billion to Australia's export income in 2006 and provided the backbone of support for many remote communities. However, production has fallen 40% since 1997 and will be exhausted within 15 years unless major new discoveries are made. The potential to find additional gold deposits remains high, but urgently requires new data and improved exploration techniques to assist in their discovery. The results of this integrated multidisciplinary project will help to arrest the declining discovery rate and thereby sustain this important Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Reconstructing the Beetaloo/Greater McArthur Basin System . This project aims to build a stratigraphic and water chemistry framework for the greater McArthur Basin—a rock system that covers northern Australia from WA to Queensland. This will be a vital resource for researchers and energy/mineral explorers. This project expects to develop novel sediment dating and isotopic proxies for salinity, redox and bioproductivity and use them to build a sequence stratigraphic framework of the basin. The ex ....Reconstructing the Beetaloo/Greater McArthur Basin System . This project aims to build a stratigraphic and water chemistry framework for the greater McArthur Basin—a rock system that covers northern Australia from WA to Queensland. This will be a vital resource for researchers and energy/mineral explorers. This project expects to develop novel sediment dating and isotopic proxies for salinity, redox and bioproductivity and use them to build a sequence stratigraphic framework of the basin. The expected outcome is a unique 3D lithological, geochronological and geochemical framework for the basin. Expected benefits include de-risked information for the petroleum and minerals industry, assisting northern Australia's resources economy, as well as insights into the development of our planet in deep time.Read moreRead less
Defining the multi-scale controls on high-grade gold mineralisation. This project aims to improve our understanding of how extremely high-grade gold occurrences form in order to further our understanding of metal transport and accumulation within the Earth’s crust. This project will generate new knowledge in the area of gold geochemistry using novel experimental programs, interdisciplinary approaches and by utilising advanced technologies. Expected outcomes of this project include reducing the ....Defining the multi-scale controls on high-grade gold mineralisation. This project aims to improve our understanding of how extremely high-grade gold occurrences form in order to further our understanding of metal transport and accumulation within the Earth’s crust. This project will generate new knowledge in the area of gold geochemistry using novel experimental programs, interdisciplinary approaches and by utilising advanced technologies. Expected outcomes of this project include reducing the unpredictability of high-grade gold occurrences that impact both production and exploration strategies. This project should benefit the mineral industry partners by helping to discover high grade gold resources which is of great benefit to Australia.Read moreRead less
Links between marine biotic evolution and carbonate platform and petroleum reservoir development in the South China sea. This project will aim to discover the major environmental controls over the historical development of the high biodiversity of Indo-Pacific coral reefs. By investigating fossils from rocky outcrops we will enhance the ability of petroleum companies to predict the occurrence of hydrocarbons in sub-surface reef limestones.