Mantle Heterogeneity: an exploration of the melting behaviours of compositional heterogeneities in the Earth's Mantle. This research represents an important national benefit in the provision of a valuable opportunity for further training and development of a very talented young earth scientist through request for an Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship. This is of particular importance in an era when many potential and actual research leaders are leaving the country for overseas positions. In addi ....Mantle Heterogeneity: an exploration of the melting behaviours of compositional heterogeneities in the Earth's Mantle. This research represents an important national benefit in the provision of a valuable opportunity for further training and development of a very talented young earth scientist through request for an Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship. This is of particular importance in an era when many potential and actual research leaders are leaving the country for overseas positions. In addition, Australia's long-term international leadership in high pressure experimental investigations of the earth will be enhanced as a result of the outcomes of the proposed research, which will resolve fundamental and currently hotly debated issues concerned with our planet's geochemical evolution through geological time.Read moreRead less
The geochemical role of iron in basaltic magmatism and planetary differentiation: an experimental study. The amount of Fe in primitive terrestrial basalts is surprisingly variable. The reasons for this are poorly understood, but could include melting of Fe-enriched refertilized mantle sources, increasing partitioning of FeO into the melt with depth of melting, or oxidation of some FeO to Fe2O3. An experimental investigation of the effects of Fe both as 2+ and 3+ on the partial melting of model ....The geochemical role of iron in basaltic magmatism and planetary differentiation: an experimental study. The amount of Fe in primitive terrestrial basalts is surprisingly variable. The reasons for this are poorly understood, but could include melting of Fe-enriched refertilized mantle sources, increasing partitioning of FeO into the melt with depth of melting, or oxidation of some FeO to Fe2O3. An experimental investigation of the effects of Fe both as 2+ and 3+ on the partial melting of model mantle material should help resolve this problem, while also providing the fundamental thermodynamic data needed to calibrate a general model for upper mantle phase relations.Read moreRead less
Accessory minerals and trace elements as monitors of partial melting and high-grade metamorphic processes in the crust. The proposed project addresses: "How do continents work?", which has been identified as a key question in the national strategic plan for geosciences. The development of new monitors for high-grade metamorphic processes and partial melting will help to understand and explore the continental crust and will provide crucial information on deep earth resources (National Research Pr ....Accessory minerals and trace elements as monitors of partial melting and high-grade metamorphic processes in the crust. The proposed project addresses: "How do continents work?", which has been identified as a key question in the national strategic plan for geosciences. The development of new monitors for high-grade metamorphic processes and partial melting will help to understand and explore the continental crust and will provide crucial information on deep earth resources (National Research Priority 1.6). Another direct potential benefit to Australia from this work is an enhancement of the country's international research reputation. The ANU is one of the world-leading research institutions in geochemistry, geochronology and experimental petrology and the outcomes of this project will ensure that Australia remains at the forefront in these disciplines.Read moreRead less
Revisiting The Alpine Paradigm: The Role Of Inversion Cycles In The Evolution Of The European Alps. This project aims to evaluate a new theory that suggests mountain belts are repeatedly built and then destroyed, taking advantage of the youthful and classic natural laboratory offered by the European Alps. We will use geochronology, structural geology and metamorphic petrology to track individual rocks through time and space, and compare the results with predictions made by computer simulations. ....Revisiting The Alpine Paradigm: The Role Of Inversion Cycles In The Evolution Of The European Alps. This project aims to evaluate a new theory that suggests mountain belts are repeatedly built and then destroyed, taking advantage of the youthful and classic natural laboratory offered by the European Alps. We will use geochronology, structural geology and metamorphic petrology to track individual rocks through time and space, and compare the results with predictions made by computer simulations. The initiation of these episodes of immense destruction in mountain belts occurs at the same time as the creation of deep Earth resources. This project will, as its main outcome, provide the foundation for future theoretical understanding of these remarkable coincidences.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Halide Melts In Platinum-Group Element Mobility. The proposed research will introduce a new, high profile application of analytical and experimental facilities at ANU, thereby maintaining Australia's standing as a world leader in the global geoscience community. The data generated in the proposed study may critically impact exploration models and assist the Australian mining industry in locating new reserves of platinum-group elements (PGE). Therefore, the study will benefit the peop ....The Role Of Halide Melts In Platinum-Group Element Mobility. The proposed research will introduce a new, high profile application of analytical and experimental facilities at ANU, thereby maintaining Australia's standing as a world leader in the global geoscience community. The data generated in the proposed study may critically impact exploration models and assist the Australian mining industry in locating new reserves of platinum-group elements (PGE). Therefore, the study will benefit the people of Australia by providing the means to find an important resource base for sustainable society. The research will be timely as Australia's future demand for the environmentally-safe PGE metals in medicine, transportation, and energy production will be very significant.Read moreRead less
Metamorphism, fluid flow, anatexis and the petrogenesis of peraluminous magmas: constraints from boron and lithium elemental and isotopic geochemistry. Boron (B) and lithium (Li) elemental and isotopic variations are sensitive monitors of metamorphism, fluid flow and melting; the generation of granites; and hydrothermal alteration. However, in detail B- and Li- geochemistry are poorly understood. This project uses field-based, analytical and experimental techniques to constrain B and Li elementa ....Metamorphism, fluid flow, anatexis and the petrogenesis of peraluminous magmas: constraints from boron and lithium elemental and isotopic geochemistry. Boron (B) and lithium (Li) elemental and isotopic variations are sensitive monitors of metamorphism, fluid flow and melting; the generation of granites; and hydrothermal alteration. However, in detail B- and Li- geochemistry are poorly understood. This project uses field-based, analytical and experimental techniques to constrain B and Li elemental and stable isotope variations in order to better understand high-temperature metamorphism, fluid flow, melting and the generation of granites and pegmatites. The results of this project will greatly increase our understanding of B and Li systematics in high-temperature crustal environments, and have implications for a range of metamorphic and igneous processes.Read moreRead less
Melting in the Earth and the origin of basalts. This project aims to investigate and link the many studies of natural basalts to better understand Earth’s global tectonics and mineral resources. Much of our knowledge of the deep Earth’s history comes from studying the melting of the mantle to produce basaltic magma. This project will investigate experimentally at high temperatures and pressures, link studies of natural basalts with melting processes in simplified chemical systems. The expected o ....Melting in the Earth and the origin of basalts. This project aims to investigate and link the many studies of natural basalts to better understand Earth’s global tectonics and mineral resources. Much of our knowledge of the deep Earth’s history comes from studying the melting of the mantle to produce basaltic magma. This project will investigate experimentally at high temperatures and pressures, link studies of natural basalts with melting processes in simplified chemical systems. The expected outcome is a comprehensive model for the origin of basalts on Earth and in other rocky planets, which will establish the framework for the geochemical cycles of the elements and lead to a better understanding of mineral resources.Read moreRead less
The Windimurra-Narndee Layered Complexes, Western Australia. Mineral resources are a major export earner for Australia. If Australia is to continue benefiting from the current minerals boom then new reserves must be continuously found as existing reserves are mined out. The Windimurra-Narndee complexes represent a relatively new exploration target for platinum, nickel, and iron ore. Identification of a new mineral field in remote West Australia would be very good for the regional (and national) ....The Windimurra-Narndee Layered Complexes, Western Australia. Mineral resources are a major export earner for Australia. If Australia is to continue benefiting from the current minerals boom then new reserves must be continuously found as existing reserves are mined out. The Windimurra-Narndee complexes represent a relatively new exploration target for platinum, nickel, and iron ore. Identification of a new mineral field in remote West Australia would be very good for the regional (and national) economy. Furthermore, advancing Australian's understanding of large intrusive systems will further raise international regard for the Australian academic community. The results of this work will help Australian mining companies better explore similar terranes.Read moreRead less
Deep Crustal Section Through a Late Archaean Orogen (Greenland): Archaean Crustal Sutures, Abyssal Peridotites and Gold. Did plate tectonics operate in Earth's early times - the Archaean (before 2500 million years ago)? This is important for understanding Australia's rich Archaean gold mineralisation. Using plate tectonics, young mountains like the European Alps formed when once distant continents collided. The project will investigate the origins of a deeply-eroded, superbly-exposed Archaean Gr ....Deep Crustal Section Through a Late Archaean Orogen (Greenland): Archaean Crustal Sutures, Abyssal Peridotites and Gold. Did plate tectonics operate in Earth's early times - the Archaean (before 2500 million years ago)? This is important for understanding Australia's rich Archaean gold mineralisation. Using plate tectonics, young mountains like the European Alps formed when once distant continents collided. The project will investigate the origins of a deeply-eroded, superbly-exposed Archaean Greenland mountain belt and its gold mineralisation. This is to establish whether it represents a deep section through an Archaean continent-continent collision formed via ancient plate tectonics and also to provide insight into Australia's important Archaean gold deposits and to produce models to help search for more gold.Read moreRead less
How has the continental lithosphere evolved? Processes of assembly, growth, transformation and destruction. We will use new in-situ analytical techniques, developed In-house, to date the formation and modification of specific volumes of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle, and to define the temporal and genetic relationships between mantle events and crustal formation. Quantitative modelling will investigate the geodynamic consequences of spatial and temporal variations in lithosphere composi ....How has the continental lithosphere evolved? Processes of assembly, growth, transformation and destruction. We will use new in-situ analytical techniques, developed In-house, to date the formation and modification of specific volumes of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle, and to define the temporal and genetic relationships between mantle events and crustal formation. Quantitative modelling will investigate the geodynamic consequences of spatial and temporal variations in lithosphere composition and thermal state. Magmatic products will be used to assess the roles of mantle plumes and delamination in construction of the lithosphere and xenolith studies will investigate the evolution of oceanic plateaus. The results will provide a framework for interpreting the architecture of lithospheric terranes and their boundaries.Read moreRead less