Tracking water on planetary surfaces using data from the Curiosity rover, the laboratory, meteorites and Australian field sites. A fundamental question in science is why does Earth have so much liquid water, but other planets do not? This project will answer this question using the Curiosity rover on Mars, studying alteration minerals that record the action of water. The project will develop new methods to improve our understanding of alteration minerals in martian meteorites, under controlled ....Tracking water on planetary surfaces using data from the Curiosity rover, the laboratory, meteorites and Australian field sites. A fundamental question in science is why does Earth have so much liquid water, but other planets do not? This project will answer this question using the Curiosity rover on Mars, studying alteration minerals that record the action of water. The project will develop new methods to improve our understanding of alteration minerals in martian meteorites, under controlled environmental conditions and in field samples that are relevant for Mars. It aims to build expertise in the environmental aspects of planetary surfaces and in novel instrumentation. This research will improve methods to examine returned extraterrestrial samples, to evaluate land degradation and to search for energy and ore deposits.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of nucleation with special emphasis on gas hydrates. Successful recovery of natural gas from hydrate reservoirs, flow assurance in natural gas pipelines, prevention of undesirable dissociation of methane hydrates in deep ocean sediments, sequestration of carbon dioxide and high density gas storage, all depend on timely formation and dissociation of gas hydrates. Controlled extraction of methane hydrates from, and simultaneous sequestration of carbon dioxide to, deep ocean sediments ha ....Mechanisms of nucleation with special emphasis on gas hydrates. Successful recovery of natural gas from hydrate reservoirs, flow assurance in natural gas pipelines, prevention of undesirable dissociation of methane hydrates in deep ocean sediments, sequestration of carbon dioxide and high density gas storage, all depend on timely formation and dissociation of gas hydrates. Controlled extraction of methane hydrates from, and simultaneous sequestration of carbon dioxide to, deep ocean sediments have been considered to be the 'next big thing' in energy and environment sectors. Sequestration of carbon dioxide is necessary not only for reducing the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere but also to stabilise the sediments once methane is extracted.Read moreRead less
Investigation of the structure and stability of ion tracks in application-specific materials and environments. This project will use an innovative experimental approach to study the structure and stability of high-energy ion tracks in solids. It will resolve open questions related to applications in geology, nanotechnology, and nuclear physics, and provide new strategies for understanding materials behaviour under extreme experimental conditions.
Testing theories of two-phase fluid flow in porous media through experiment, imaging and modelling. The process underlying oil extraction, groundwater flow and the sequestration of carbon dioxide is that of one fluid pushing another out of the microscopic spaces in porous rocks and soils. Using the latest three-dimensional X-ray microscopes and computing technology, the project will image and model these fluid flows, allowing theories to be tested for the first time.
Global Scale Cycling of Noble Gases and Halogens. A novel approach for combined measurement of halogens and noble gases will be used to provide the first constraints on the concentrations of these elements in key reservoirs within subduction zones. The data will revolutionise our understanding of how noble gases and halogens transfer between the Earth's atmosphere and mantle, which has profound implications for our planet's origin and evolution. In addition, the study will provide practical info ....Global Scale Cycling of Noble Gases and Halogens. A novel approach for combined measurement of halogens and noble gases will be used to provide the first constraints on the concentrations of these elements in key reservoirs within subduction zones. The data will revolutionise our understanding of how noble gases and halogens transfer between the Earth's atmosphere and mantle, which has profound implications for our planet's origin and evolution. In addition, the study will provide practical information about how economically important hydrothermal ore deposits form on the seafloor and it will test models for orogenic gold mineralisation. Read moreRead less
Identifying the secular evolution of chemical heterogeneity in the mantle as probed by deep mantle plumes. This project aims to focus on modes and timescales of melting associated with deep mantle plumes. These melts form massive magmatic bodies and volcanic flood basalt provinces throughout Earth’s history and record the secular chemical evolution of the Earth’s mantle. Selective igneous bodies contain high-grade noble metal deposits and coincide with global mass extinction linked to anoxic oce ....Identifying the secular evolution of chemical heterogeneity in the mantle as probed by deep mantle plumes. This project aims to focus on modes and timescales of melting associated with deep mantle plumes. These melts form massive magmatic bodies and volcanic flood basalt provinces throughout Earth’s history and record the secular chemical evolution of the Earth’s mantle. Selective igneous bodies contain high-grade noble metal deposits and coincide with global mass extinction linked to anoxic ocean events in response to atmospheric volcanic pollution. This project aims to provide knowledge of planetary surface evolution in response to mantle dynamics, place constraints on enrichment processes of metals in ore quality in plume-derived melts, and may help understandings of the relation between massive volcanic eruptions and climate variability.Read moreRead less
Lighting Up Dark Fibre for Seismic Imaging. Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is a newly emerging passive seismic technique that converts telecommunication fibre-optic cables (dark fibres) into thousands of individual ground motion sensors. This project aims to harness DAS and the big data arising from it to develop unprecedented high-resolution images of the Earth’s structure, detect micro-seismicity, and thereby relate geological observations to Earth processes. Outcomes of this powerful tech ....Lighting Up Dark Fibre for Seismic Imaging. Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) is a newly emerging passive seismic technique that converts telecommunication fibre-optic cables (dark fibres) into thousands of individual ground motion sensors. This project aims to harness DAS and the big data arising from it to develop unprecedented high-resolution images of the Earth’s structure, detect micro-seismicity, and thereby relate geological observations to Earth processes. Outcomes of this powerful technique include fine-scale seismic imaging of the Earth’s subsurface as the best proxy for geological processes and geochemistry. Benefits include transforming exploration of mineral resources, water, changes in subsurface structure, as well as geohazard assessments for Australia and worldwideRead moreRead less
Geological applications of synchrotron radiation: magmas, fluids, ores and minerals. This project will use the Australian synchrotron facility to study magmas and minerals to improve our understanding of the formation of ore-deposits and the evolution of the continents.
Probing gold in hot ore fluids: experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. In order to efficiently discover vital new mineral resources for Australia, explorers must understand the fundamental controls on ore formation. The lack of data for soluble metal behaviour in hot fluids at high pressure is a significant impediment to our understanding of deposit formation and for the application of industrial processes, such as hydrometallurgy. This project will gain molecular-level understanding of ....Probing gold in hot ore fluids: experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. In order to efficiently discover vital new mineral resources for Australia, explorers must understand the fundamental controls on ore formation. The lack of data for soluble metal behaviour in hot fluids at high pressure is a significant impediment to our understanding of deposit formation and for the application of industrial processes, such as hydrometallurgy. This project will gain molecular-level understanding of the fundamental chemistry of gold transport and deposition in high temperature, high-pressure, carbon dioxide-rich fluids and gold colloid systems, using multiple novel experimental techniques and molecular dynamics simulations that make use of Australia’s cutting-edge experimental and computational facilities.Read moreRead less
Lifting the veil on the Geological Dark Ages: The search for Hadean Crust on Earth. The project involves detailed field and isotopic study of some of the oldest known rocks and minerals to develop the first comprehensive picture of the earliest growth of the Australian continent. The data will reveal the timing and processes of continent formation and shed new light on the enigmatic early period of the Earth's evolution.