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
Proterozoic tectonic evolution of Australia and India. Recent studies cast doubt on reconstructions of the Neoproterozoic supercontinent Rodinia, and on the tectonic coherence of East Gondwanaland (Australia, Antarctica and India). Within Australia, the relative positions of the major crustal blocks during most of the Proterozoic era remain largely unverified. Fossil magnetism in rocks of different ages from the major crustal blocks of Australia and India will be used to determine whether the ....Proterozoic tectonic evolution of Australia and India. Recent studies cast doubt on reconstructions of the Neoproterozoic supercontinent Rodinia, and on the tectonic coherence of East Gondwanaland (Australia, Antarctica and India). Within Australia, the relative positions of the major crustal blocks during most of the Proterozoic era remain largely unverified. Fossil magnetism in rocks of different ages from the major crustal blocks of Australia and India will be used to determine whether the blocks were together or were separated by large oceans during Proterozoic time. The results will place fundamental constraints on the geological, palaeogeographic, and palaeobiological evolution of Australia, Rodinia, and the early Earth as a whole.Read moreRead less
Tectonic paradox of the E margin of the Australian plate, 120 - 45 Ma. Available geological evidence indicates that massive extension of continental crust occurred from 120-45 million years ago at the eastern margin of the Australian plate. In contrast, global plate movement models indicate that there was convergence between the Pacific and Australian plates, implying subduction and island arc magmatism. We propose a marine research expedition to dredge rocks from scarps of the submarine ridges ....Tectonic paradox of the E margin of the Australian plate, 120 - 45 Ma. Available geological evidence indicates that massive extension of continental crust occurred from 120-45 million years ago at the eastern margin of the Australian plate. In contrast, global plate movement models indicate that there was convergence between the Pacific and Australian plates, implying subduction and island arc magmatism. We propose a marine research expedition to dredge rocks from scarps of the submarine ridges east of Australia. Geochemical signatures and dating of the dredged rocks should elucidate the geological evolution of this region, improve our understanding of eastern Australian geology, and better define Australia's Maritime Jurisdiction Zone along the eastern seaboard.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
Accessory REE-phosphates as tracers of heat and fluids in time and space. This project will provide fundamental information vital for the widespread application of a new and developing technique for dating rocks and ore bodies that formed at geologically low temperatures. The technique will benefit the Australian mining industry by improving models for the formation of ore deposits, thereby reducing the financial risk involved in discovering new resources. Results will highlight the value of ano ....Accessory REE-phosphates as tracers of heat and fluids in time and space. This project will provide fundamental information vital for the widespread application of a new and developing technique for dating rocks and ore bodies that formed at geologically low temperatures. The technique will benefit the Australian mining industry by improving models for the formation of ore deposits, thereby reducing the financial risk involved in discovering new resources. Results will highlight the value of another Australian invention - the SHRIMP - in resolving both fundamental and applied geological problems, encouraging the uptake of this technology overseas. Outcomes from this project will enhance Australia's scientific reputation as a world leader in geochronology and economic geology.Read moreRead less
A Pan African-aged suture zone in western Madagascar: Tracking the lost Mozambique Ocean. The aims of the project are to identify and locate a major suture in western Madagascar i.e, between Africa and Madagascar. The precise age of this suture will ba dated using U/Pb zircon geochronology, Ar / Ar analysis combined with on-site fieldwork. The project also aims to provide a coherent geotectonic framework for the Madagascar microcontinent both north and south of the Ranotsara Shear Zone. The p ....A Pan African-aged suture zone in western Madagascar: Tracking the lost Mozambique Ocean. The aims of the project are to identify and locate a major suture in western Madagascar i.e, between Africa and Madagascar. The precise age of this suture will ba dated using U/Pb zircon geochronology, Ar / Ar analysis combined with on-site fieldwork. The project also aims to provide a coherent geotectonic framework for the Madagascar microcontinent both north and south of the Ranotsara Shear Zone. The project has significant implications for the reconstruction and continental configuration of both Gondwanaland and Rodinia.Read moreRead less