Three-dimensional magnetotelluric and controlled-source electromagnetic modelling and inversion in isotropic and anisotropic media with Gaussian Quadrature Grids. Electromagnetic methods are widely used by geophysicists in many applications, including mineral, petroleum and geothermal exploration, environmental and groundwater characterisation, and in imaging of Earth and other planets. Large data-sets are routinely collected, but to interpret these carefully we need efficient computer modellin ....Three-dimensional magnetotelluric and controlled-source electromagnetic modelling and inversion in isotropic and anisotropic media with Gaussian Quadrature Grids. Electromagnetic methods are widely used by geophysicists in many applications, including mineral, petroleum and geothermal exploration, environmental and groundwater characterisation, and in imaging of Earth and other planets. Large data-sets are routinely collected, but to interpret these carefully we need efficient computer modelling tools that incorporate the complexity of the subsurface. We will develop a new computer algorithm that uses an innovative approach to model the Earth in three dimensions. Computer codes will be available through the national AuScope infrastructure facilities, so that researchers will have free access to algorithms, largely for the first time, to better interpret their data.Read moreRead less
Thermodynamics inversion for mineral systems. This project aims to provide a newly developed science approach to the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP). AusLAMP provides unparalleled geophysical information aimed at unravelling the tectonic history of the Australian continent and its mineral potential. The project will use thermodynamically based geodynamic simulators to jointly analyse and quantify intraplate deformation. This will illuminate the cause of dri ....Thermodynamics inversion for mineral systems. This project aims to provide a newly developed science approach to the Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project (AusLAMP). AusLAMP provides unparalleled geophysical information aimed at unravelling the tectonic history of the Australian continent and its mineral potential. The project will use thermodynamically based geodynamic simulators to jointly analyse and quantify intraplate deformation. This will illuminate the cause of driving fluid flow thorough the lithosphere, mineralisation phenomena, their datasets and geometries, and dynamic aspects of the processes driving mineral systems.Read moreRead less
Measuring mantle hydrogen to map ore fluids and model plate tectonics. The goal of this project is to use magnetotellurics to measure mantle hydrogen content to aid in the discovery of new mineral deposits. Hydrogen controls the strength of Earth’s mantle and is a vital component of the systems that form giant ore deposits. However, mantle hydrogen content is unconstrained. Ore-forming fluids hydrate the mantle pathways on which they travel. The first aim of this project is to image these fluid ....Measuring mantle hydrogen to map ore fluids and model plate tectonics. The goal of this project is to use magnetotellurics to measure mantle hydrogen content to aid in the discovery of new mineral deposits. Hydrogen controls the strength of Earth’s mantle and is a vital component of the systems that form giant ore deposits. However, mantle hydrogen content is unconstrained. Ore-forming fluids hydrate the mantle pathways on which they travel. The first aim of this project is to image these fluid pathways to improve mineral exploration techniques. Plate tectonic models assume that the lithospheric mantle is dehydrated but existing data from magnetotellurics and mantle rocks show high hydrogen contents. The second aim of this project is to create a map of the hydrogen content of the plates, which may lead to new models for continental evolution and mantle dynamics.Read moreRead less
New developments in 3D electrical resistivity imaging of the shallow subsurface. This project is concerned with developing improved procedures for electrical imaging of hidden geological features in the subsurface. These techniques are required to solve urgent problems associated with important issues, such as natural hazards, disposal of dangerous waste, groundwater and construction of major buildings and tunnels. The project will develop new hardware, software and interpretation aids, as well ....New developments in 3D electrical resistivity imaging of the shallow subsurface. This project is concerned with developing improved procedures for electrical imaging of hidden geological features in the subsurface. These techniques are required to solve urgent problems associated with important issues, such as natural hazards, disposal of dangerous waste, groundwater and construction of major buildings and tunnels. The project will develop new hardware, software and interpretation aids, as well as providing postgraduate training in an area of vital national importance.Read moreRead less
Optimisation of Signal-to-Noise Ratio in Electrical and Electromagnetic Investigations. Electrical and electromagnetic geophysical methods have been used extensively for mineral exploration, and are developing a role in salinity mapping and contaminant identification. To enhance the utility of such methods for very shallow targets (in the case of salinity) and deep targets (minerals beneath regolith)improved signal processing methods are required. The project involves the development of time-ser ....Optimisation of Signal-to-Noise Ratio in Electrical and Electromagnetic Investigations. Electrical and electromagnetic geophysical methods have been used extensively for mineral exploration, and are developing a role in salinity mapping and contaminant identification. To enhance the utility of such methods for very shallow targets (in the case of salinity) and deep targets (minerals beneath regolith)improved signal processing methods are required. The project involves the development of time-series processing techniques using robust-statistical methods and remote-referencing to improve signal-to-noise data quality. Instrumentation hardware and software developments are required for in-field data acquisition and interpretation, applied to direct current (DC) resistivity, induced polarisation (IP) and time-domain EM (TEM).Read moreRead less
Present-Day Stress and Tectonics of Deltas and Deepwater Fold-Thrust Belts. The key benefit of the project will be to advance our understanding of the geological processes that control the development of deltas, and of the fold-thrust belts located in deepwater adjacent to deltas, by analysis of five examples worldwide. Global hydrocarbon exploration is successfully moving to deepwater fold-thrust belts. One of Australia's key under-explored frontier petroleum provinces is the Australian Bight B ....Present-Day Stress and Tectonics of Deltas and Deepwater Fold-Thrust Belts. The key benefit of the project will be to advance our understanding of the geological processes that control the development of deltas, and of the fold-thrust belts located in deepwater adjacent to deltas, by analysis of five examples worldwide. Global hydrocarbon exploration is successfully moving to deepwater fold-thrust belts. One of Australia's key under-explored frontier petroleum provinces is the Australian Bight Basin. The prospective parts of this basin comprise delta/deepwater fold-thrust belt systems and analysis of more data-rich systems worldwide will help provide the geological knowledge required to help re-invigorate exploration in the Bight Basin.Read moreRead less
Crustal Stress Field of SE Asia. The key project benefit is to advance our fundamental understanding of tectonic processes such as sedimentary basin development and continental collision. It has major implications for natural hazard assessment and resources exploration in SE Asia, consistent with Australia's participation in the APEC Energy Working Group. The project has major ancillary benefits. It will strengthen international links between Australia, SE Asia, the UK, USA and Germany. It will ....Crustal Stress Field of SE Asia. The key project benefit is to advance our fundamental understanding of tectonic processes such as sedimentary basin development and continental collision. It has major implications for natural hazard assessment and resources exploration in SE Asia, consistent with Australia's participation in the APEC Energy Working Group. The project has major ancillary benefits. It will strengthen international links between Australia, SE Asia, the UK, USA and Germany. It will provide high-quality research and training experience for the APD and PhD student involved, whom will spend time with research groups and oil companies in Australia, UK, USA and SE Asia. Finally, the project will increase the institutional capacity for contract research in SE Asia.Read moreRead less
Numerical simulation of seismic waves in the regional and global earth with 3D Gaussian quadrature grids. The ability to realistically model the propagation of seismic waves through the global 3D earth, taking account of all internal and surface complexity, is extremely important for predicting the response to earthquakes and imaging the interior structure. This will lead to fundamental new knowledge on Earth constitution and heterogeneity, and will have spin-off benefits in others areas such as ....Numerical simulation of seismic waves in the regional and global earth with 3D Gaussian quadrature grids. The ability to realistically model the propagation of seismic waves through the global 3D earth, taking account of all internal and surface complexity, is extremely important for predicting the response to earthquakes and imaging the interior structure. This will lead to fundamental new knowledge on Earth constitution and heterogeneity, and will have spin-off benefits in others areas such as exploring for oil and minerals, and better understanding of seismic hazard. The numerical modelling and seismic data analysis will be done on a supercomputer, thus providing important training for research students. 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
Present-Day Crustal Stresses of NW Borneo: Neotectonics of an Active Collisional Margin. The key project benefit is to advance understanding of continental collision and the early evolution of mountain belts using a region with an unrivalled database from hydrocarbon exploration. The project will improve understanding of Australia's northern, collisional margins and petroleum exploration there, which is less advanced than in Borneo. The project has major ancillary benefits. It will strengthen in ....Present-Day Crustal Stresses of NW Borneo: Neotectonics of an Active Collisional Margin. The key project benefit is to advance understanding of continental collision and the early evolution of mountain belts using a region with an unrivalled database from hydrocarbon exploration. The project will improve understanding of Australia's northern, collisional margins and petroleum exploration there, which is less advanced than in Borneo. The project has major ancillary benefits. It will strengthen international links between Australia, Brunei, Malaysia and Germany. It will provide high quality research training for the RA and PhDs whom will spend time at the Universities of Brunei and Karlsruhe and at Shell Brunei and Shell Malaysia. Finally the project will increase the institutional capacity for contract research in SE Asia.Read moreRead less