Neotectonics of the Indo-Australian plate. This project will contribute fundamental insights into the dynamics of our planet, towards earthquake risk assessment and to evolution of Australia's distinctive landscapes. The benefit of this project can therefore be evaluated in light of its contribution to the social and economic repercussions of improved understanding of earthquake risk and our landscapes and our place in them.
Quantifying the Phanerozoic thermal evolution and long-term stability of cratonic lithosphere using integrated low temperature thermochronology. The Earth's most ancient crustal regions (i.e. cratons) are thought to have remained remarkably stable since their formation >2.5 billion years ago. This project will re-evaluate this paradigm by applying low temperature thermochronology by the fission track and (U-Th)/He methods to three key cratons, to detect and quantify previously unknown episodes o ....Quantifying the Phanerozoic thermal evolution and long-term stability of cratonic lithosphere using integrated low temperature thermochronology. The Earth's most ancient crustal regions (i.e. cratons) are thought to have remained remarkably stable since their formation >2.5 billion years ago. This project will re-evaluate this paradigm by applying low temperature thermochronology by the fission track and (U-Th)/He methods to three key cratons, to detect and quantify previously unknown episodes of significant cooling and denudation (i.e. low-level instability) which are invisible to other analytical techniques. The outcomes will open a new research avenue in these terrains, which host some of the world's most valuable mineral resources, underlie important petroleum basins and are potential long-term repositories for radioactive waste. Read moreRead less
Argon thermochronometers and the effects of recrystallization. Rocks exhumed from high temperatures in continental settings contain a record of cooling in potassium-bearing minerals, known as thermochronometers, due to the quantitative retention of radiogenic argon below some characteristic closure temperature. However, thermochronometers may be affected by recrystallization processes occurring below such temperatures, and in some cases argon data record the timing of crystallization rather tha ....Argon thermochronometers and the effects of recrystallization. Rocks exhumed from high temperatures in continental settings contain a record of cooling in potassium-bearing minerals, known as thermochronometers, due to the quantitative retention of radiogenic argon below some characteristic closure temperature. However, thermochronometers may be affected by recrystallization processes occurring below such temperatures, and in some cases argon data record the timing of crystallization rather than cooling. Field, microstructural and isotopic analysis will be used to evaluate the effects of recrystallization on the muscovite and potassium-feldspar thermochronometers, particularly in fault zones. Understanding the effects of recrystallization on thermochronometers is critical for studies of the assembly of the continental crust.Read moreRead less
From crystal to craton: unravelling the low-temperature thermal evolution and long-term stability of cratonic lithosphere. The project will expand Australia's knowledge base by increasing fundamental scientific knowledge about the evolution of cratons, the old nuclei of the continents. These areas are important for the resources they contain and their potential elsewhere as stable sites for long-term nuclear waste repositories. The project will also enhance our research capability by developin ....From crystal to craton: unravelling the low-temperature thermal evolution and long-term stability of cratonic lithosphere. The project will expand Australia's knowledge base by increasing fundamental scientific knowledge about the evolution of cratons, the old nuclei of the continents. These areas are important for the resources they contain and their potential elsewhere as stable sites for long-term nuclear waste repositories. The project will also enhance our research capability by developing new methods and help to build and sustain world leading research capability in Australia. In addition, the project will forge strong international links with researchers overseas. Whilst not focussed directly on the National Research Priorities the project will nonetheless provide important background information to 'deep-earth resources' and 'geoinformatics'.Read moreRead less
Integrated Chronologies and Dynamics of Continental Extension. Knowledge about how the Earth's crust is stretched and eventually broken apart to form new ocean basins is fundamental to understanding the evolution of the continents, their resources and the surface environment of our planet. This project combines new methods of analysing the temperature history of rocks to trace their progress towards the surface with direct measurements of the rate of surface erosion following extensional moveme ....Integrated Chronologies and Dynamics of Continental Extension. Knowledge about how the Earth's crust is stretched and eventually broken apart to form new ocean basins is fundamental to understanding the evolution of the continents, their resources and the surface environment of our planet. This project combines new methods of analysing the temperature history of rocks to trace their progress towards the surface with direct measurements of the rate of surface erosion following extensional movements. This integrated approach will be used to examine some of the best-characterised examples of continental extension in Arizona, Mexico and Africa to cast new light on the development of older extensional environments in Australia.Read moreRead less
Reconstructing the morphotectonic evolution of rifted continental margins from low-temperature thermochronology. Knowledge of how continental rifting occurs will improve our ability to predict the locations of important oil and gas resources on the margins of Australia and elsewhere, which is directly relevant to the National Research Priority goal of 'Developing Deep Earth Resources'. The project will enhance our national scientific standing by developing and maintaining key expertise and facil ....Reconstructing the morphotectonic evolution of rifted continental margins from low-temperature thermochronology. Knowledge of how continental rifting occurs will improve our ability to predict the locations of important oil and gas resources on the margins of Australia and elsewhere, which is directly relevant to the National Research Priority goal of 'Developing Deep Earth Resources'. The project will enhance our national scientific standing by developing and maintaining key expertise and facilities that can sustain a world-leading research capability in Australia. The project will also forge strong international links with researchers outside Australia, build our research profile in an area of significant worldwide scientific interest at the present time, and provide a training ground for a new generation of younger scientists in Australia.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
The dynamic evolution of sheared continental margins. This project will contribute to the fundamental science of understanding plate tectonic processes, and also have important practical implications for the oil and gas resources that are developed and hosted in continental margin settings. The study is therefore relevant to the National Research Priority goal of 'Developing Deep Earth Resources'. The project will also enhance our national scientific standing by addressing important scientific q ....The dynamic evolution of sheared continental margins. This project will contribute to the fundamental science of understanding plate tectonic processes, and also have important practical implications for the oil and gas resources that are developed and hosted in continental margin settings. The study is therefore relevant to the National Research Priority goal of 'Developing Deep Earth Resources'. The project will also enhance our national scientific standing by addressing important scientific questions of global significance, and by establishing strong international collaborations with prominent researchers outside Australia. In addition, the work will help sustain a world-leading research capability and provide a training ground for a new generation of younger scientists in Australia.Read moreRead less
Role of Crustal Processes in Archaean Cratonisation: A Case Study from the East Pilbara Granite-Greenstone Terrain, W.A. The formation of stable cratons is a fundamental aspect of continental evolution, and often follows a protracted, episodic history of crustal reworking. This project will examine the geology of the Early Archaean (>3200 million years) East Pilbara Granite-Greenstone Terrain, in order to evaluate the extent to which the uniquely Early Archaean, large-scale 'dome-and-keel' crust ....Role of Crustal Processes in Archaean Cratonisation: A Case Study from the East Pilbara Granite-Greenstone Terrain, W.A. The formation of stable cratons is a fundamental aspect of continental evolution, and often follows a protracted, episodic history of crustal reworking. This project will examine the geology of the Early Archaean (>3200 million years) East Pilbara Granite-Greenstone Terrain, in order to evaluate the extent to which the uniquely Early Archaean, large-scale 'dome-and-keel' crustal architecture contributed to the thermal and mechanical stabilisation of the Earth's oldest craton. The results will have important implications for the influence of radiogenic heat production redistribution on the intensity, style and duration of tectonic activity predating cratonisation of continental lithosphere throughout the Earth's history.Read moreRead less
Gondwana in East Asia? A biogeographic test using Permian marine invertebrate biota. Combining Permian fossil collections from key Australian, NE Chinese, East Russian and Japanese localities, coupled with a detailed quantitative biogeographical analysis, this project will provide fundamental data for evaluating current plate tectonic models regarding the palaeo-positions of some of the tectonic blocks in East Asia. In particular, this project will test, using biogeographical data, the validity ....Gondwana in East Asia? A biogeographic test using Permian marine invertebrate biota. Combining Permian fossil collections from key Australian, NE Chinese, East Russian and Japanese localities, coupled with a detailed quantitative biogeographical analysis, this project will provide fundamental data for evaluating current plate tectonic models regarding the palaeo-positions of some of the tectonic blocks in East Asia. In particular, this project will test, using biogeographical data, the validity of several recently proposed claims that continental East Asia contains some tectonic blocks of Gondwana origin. An improved understanding of the Permian palaeogeographical relationship between Gondwanaland and East Asia is critical for improving geological models for resources exploration and the understanding of earth history.Read moreRead less