Large-scale three dimensional deformation of the lithosphere by subduction and mantle flow. We will be modelling of the dynamics of the Earth's crust and shallow lithosphere in response to the huge stresses created by plate motions. For Australia these stresses are transmitted from the distant plate boundaries, but they have a direct controlling influence on the evolution of the petroleum rich basins of Australia. These basins have reached maturity; further exploration will be in deep water wher ....Large-scale three dimensional deformation of the lithosphere by subduction and mantle flow. We will be modelling of the dynamics of the Earth's crust and shallow lithosphere in response to the huge stresses created by plate motions. For Australia these stresses are transmitted from the distant plate boundaries, but they have a direct controlling influence on the evolution of the petroleum rich basins of Australia. These basins have reached maturity; further exploration will be in deep water where geophysical prospecting methods are unreliable. Model-driven "exploration geodynamics" methods such as those we are developing will be needed to support traditional exploration techniques in these areas.Read moreRead less
The Initiation and 3D Evolution of Instabilities in the Deep Continental Lithosphere. This project is part of a new international initiative in the Geodynamics of the Australian Plate bringing together studies of the active tectonics of the boundary regions of our plate and the ancient analogues of these processes which are locked into the stable interior of the Australian continent. The proposed research is a good fit to the Identification and Extraction of Deep Earth Resources priority goal. D ....The Initiation and 3D Evolution of Instabilities in the Deep Continental Lithosphere. This project is part of a new international initiative in the Geodynamics of the Australian Plate bringing together studies of the active tectonics of the boundary regions of our plate and the ancient analogues of these processes which are locked into the stable interior of the Australian continent. The proposed research is a good fit to the Identification and Extraction of Deep Earth Resources priority goal. Detachment of the lithosphere is associated with fertile mantle being emplaced at shallow depth below the crust; an important precursory event for mineralization. The project builds upon AuScope (NCRIS 5.13) to create infrastructure for a new, smart resource exploration and extraction industry based on modelling and simulation.Read moreRead less
A new rheological model for Australia to improve seismic hazard estimates and study the region's recent tectonic history and landform evolution. Australia is currently being squeezed between three active mountain belts, the Himalayas, the Papua New Guinea Highlands and the Southern Alps in New Zealand. We propose to integrate a large number of geological and geophysical databases that have been collected over the past few decades to develop a three-dimensional rheological model of the Australian ....A new rheological model for Australia to improve seismic hazard estimates and study the region's recent tectonic history and landform evolution. Australia is currently being squeezed between three active mountain belts, the Himalayas, the Papua New Guinea Highlands and the Southern Alps in New Zealand. We propose to integrate a large number of geological and geophysical databases that have been collected over the past few decades to develop a three-dimensional rheological model of the Australian continent, that is a model that predicts where and how Australia is deforming today. Combined with new, targeted field work, this model will be used to predict where earthquakes are likely to take place but also to study how our old continent is affected by these active mountain belts to create the present-day landscapes in which we live.Read moreRead less
Computer simulation to study emergence of material texture in the Earth and Plate Tectonics. Plate tectonics has played a crucial role in the evolution and dynamics of the earth impacting on the diversity of life, mineralisation, and crustal dynamics. Despite its significance, how and under what conditions material texture and plate tectonics emerge from a proto-planet is not well understood. New computational methodologies to simulate the evolution of the plate-mantle system will be used to stu ....Computer simulation to study emergence of material texture in the Earth and Plate Tectonics. Plate tectonics has played a crucial role in the evolution and dynamics of the earth impacting on the diversity of life, mineralisation, and crustal dynamics. Despite its significance, how and under what conditions material texture and plate tectonics emerge from a proto-planet is not well understood. New computational methodologies to simulate the evolution of the plate-mantle system will be used to study how the upper mantle emerges as a thermo-mechanically distinct boundary layer, how this emergent structure relates to anisotropy in the upper mantle, and how it is affected by cross-scale effects controlling fault zone behaviour and crustal dynamics.Read moreRead less
Global Lithospheric Architecture Mapping II. The continents have been rifted, or broken up, and collided, or re-assembled, along major zones of weakness many times throughout Earth's history. Boundaries between such continental domains focus large-scale movements of fluids that can produce giant ore deposits. This study will provide new perspectives on the localisation of world-class economic deposits, the Earth resources on which society depends. Innovations in imaging the deep Earth beneath co ....Global Lithospheric Architecture Mapping II. The continents have been rifted, or broken up, and collided, or re-assembled, along major zones of weakness many times throughout Earth's history. Boundaries between such continental domains focus large-scale movements of fluids that can produce giant ore deposits. This study will provide new perspectives on the localisation of world-class economic deposits, the Earth resources on which society depends. Innovations in imaging the deep Earth beneath continents, and in numerical modelling, will maintain our high international profile in research relevant to National Priority 1.6 (Developing Deep Earth Resources). Unique 3D geological maps of regions down to 250km will make the composition of deep Earth regions newly accessible to geoscientists and all potential endusers.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346856
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$950,000.00
Summary
High Performance Computing Infrastructure Upgrade. The aim of the High Performance Computing Facility is to operate a world class facility as measured by both computational power and client satisfaction. This proposal seeks to increase the current computational power of the existing Victorian High Performance Compting Facility by doubling the current capacity. The combination of a large number of very fast processors and a very fast interconnect makes this facility ideal for modelling and solv ....High Performance Computing Infrastructure Upgrade. The aim of the High Performance Computing Facility is to operate a world class facility as measured by both computational power and client satisfaction. This proposal seeks to increase the current computational power of the existing Victorian High Performance Compting Facility by doubling the current capacity. The combination of a large number of very fast processors and a very fast interconnect makes this facility ideal for modelling and solving science and engineering problems beyond the scope of installed HPC systems. The facility will be linked to other HPC systems in Victoria and across Australia to create an evolving cluster computing "meta-centre" that links computing resources together.
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The dynamic strength of continents and how they break apart. Sedimentary basins formed as a result of continental extension are the source of many oil and gas and geothermal resources. The geometries of the deepest part of these basins and their temporal and thermal evolution, are essential for basin prospectivity, but can seldom be investigated directly. This Australia-based project is expected to overhaul how we understand continental deformation, which is a crucial, but relatively vaguely und ....The dynamic strength of continents and how they break apart. Sedimentary basins formed as a result of continental extension are the source of many oil and gas and geothermal resources. The geometries of the deepest part of these basins and their temporal and thermal evolution, are essential for basin prospectivity, but can seldom be investigated directly. This Australia-based project is expected to overhaul how we understand continental deformation, which is a crucial, but relatively vaguely understood, component of plate tectonics. By modelling continental extension, the project will improve our understanding of basin development, deep geometry, and heat distribution, providing the basis for new applied and specific research projects directed at enhancing energy resource exploration. Read moreRead less
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.
Spreading ridge sedimentation processes: a novel approach using Macquarie Island as a natural laboratory. This research will examine the south eastern tectonic plate boundary of Australia, providing analogues for seafloor spreading related crustal processes that relate to present plate boundaries and ancient examples now joined to the Australian continent. The scientific innovation represented by this project will help Australian scientists to better understand an important part of the plate tec ....Spreading ridge sedimentation processes: a novel approach using Macquarie Island as a natural laboratory. This research will examine the south eastern tectonic plate boundary of Australia, providing analogues for seafloor spreading related crustal processes that relate to present plate boundaries and ancient examples now joined to the Australian continent. The scientific innovation represented by this project will help Australian scientists to better understand an important part of the plate tectonic cycle. This project will be of direct relevance to the Australian minerals exploration industry and will provide better constraints on rift-related metallogenesis.Read moreRead less
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