Submarine explosive eruptions of silicic magma: constraints on products and processes from modern sea-floor examples, ancient successions and experiments. Volcanoes are common on the sea-floor. Many have been the sites of devastating explosive eruptions throughout Earth history, producing thick layers of pumice and volcanic ash in both modern and ancient ocean basins. None of these events has been witnessed, hence, little is known about submarine explosive eruptions and the associated volcanoes. ....Submarine explosive eruptions of silicic magma: constraints on products and processes from modern sea-floor examples, ancient successions and experiments. Volcanoes are common on the sea-floor. Many have been the sites of devastating explosive eruptions throughout Earth history, producing thick layers of pumice and volcanic ash in both modern and ancient ocean basins. None of these events has been witnessed, hence, little is known about submarine explosive eruptions and the associated volcanoes. This detailed, multidisciplinary study will link exploration of modern explosive sea-floor volcanoes (western Pacific Ocean), field-work on older, submarine volcanic formations (Japan, Greece) and experiments that simulate explosive eruptions and their products. The results will elucidate sea-floor explosive volcanism and its contribution to the geology of ocean basins.Read moreRead less
How responsive are continental interiors to the geodynamic evolution of plate margins? An Australian case study. The outcomes of this project will advance our understanding of the evolution and dynamics of the Australian plate by improving knowledge of the way plate driving forces shaped the continental interior. This will lead to a refinement of existing geological models describing the history of the Australian continent, and will provide a valuable backdrop for the current focus on the cont ....How responsive are continental interiors to the geodynamic evolution of plate margins? An Australian case study. The outcomes of this project will advance our understanding of the evolution and dynamics of the Australian plate by improving knowledge of the way plate driving forces shaped the continental interior. This will lead to a refinement of existing geological models describing the history of the Australian continent, and will provide a valuable backdrop for the current focus on the contemporary state of the Australian plate. The study will also provide a framework for petroleum exploration models in the central Australian basins, since they rely crucially on the thermal and structural datasets that will be produced in this project.Read moreRead less
Thermal regimes, flexure and duration: establishing the framework for intracratonic orogeny in central Australia. Intracratonic orogeny is a confronting phenomena because it contradicts the plate tectonic paradigm, which highlights the apparently rigidity of the lithospheric plates. Central Australia contains an exceptional record of intracratonic orogeny, expressed by the formation of the Petermann and Alice Springs orogens. This project will quantify the duration, and thermal conditions assoc ....Thermal regimes, flexure and duration: establishing the framework for intracratonic orogeny in central Australia. Intracratonic orogeny is a confronting phenomena because it contradicts the plate tectonic paradigm, which highlights the apparently rigidity of the lithospheric plates. Central Australia contains an exceptional record of intracratonic orogeny, expressed by the formation of the Petermann and Alice Springs orogens. This project will quantify the duration, and thermal conditions associated with the comparatively poorly known Petermann Orogen. Given the importance of intracratonic deformation in shaping the lithospheric architecture of central Australia, understanding the history of the Petermann Orogeny is essential to developing models that describe the evolution of the Australian continent, and continental interiors in general.Read moreRead less
MACQUARIE ISLAND: A UNIQUE WINDOW INTO THE OCEAN BASEMENT AND THE LINK BETWEEN OCEAN RIDGES AND OPHIOLITES. Knowledge about the composition and structure of the oceanic crust is limited due to the inaccessibility of the deep-ocean floor. Macquarie Island is the only fragment of ocean crust and mantle exposed above sea-level in the world, providing a unique opportunity to study processes of oceanic floor generation in-situ. Our project will carry out detailed mapping of the lower crust and mantle ....MACQUARIE ISLAND: A UNIQUE WINDOW INTO THE OCEAN BASEMENT AND THE LINK BETWEEN OCEAN RIDGES AND OPHIOLITES. Knowledge about the composition and structure of the oceanic crust is limited due to the inaccessibility of the deep-ocean floor. Macquarie Island is the only fragment of ocean crust and mantle exposed above sea-level in the world, providing a unique opportunity to study processes of oceanic floor generation in-situ. Our project will carry out detailed mapping of the lower crust and mantle sections on the island, followed by an integrated microstructural, petrological, and geochronological analysis of samples. Such investigations may lead to fundamental advances in the understanding of formation, deformation, and emplacement of oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridge spreading centres.Read moreRead less
Investigating mineral alteration and infilling of discontinuities in naturally deformed rocks as a guide to rock mass rheology. Structural analysis of naturally deformed rock will be used to investigate the origin, physical characteristics and frictional behaviour of naturally formed discontinuity surfaces. Discontinuities in naturally deformed rock masses are typically altered and infilled with complex combinations of mineral matter and are a major control on the rheology, including strength a ....Investigating mineral alteration and infilling of discontinuities in naturally deformed rocks as a guide to rock mass rheology. Structural analysis of naturally deformed rock will be used to investigate the origin, physical characteristics and frictional behaviour of naturally formed discontinuity surfaces. Discontinuities in naturally deformed rock masses are typically altered and infilled with complex combinations of mineral matter and are a major control on the rheology, including strength and stability, of rock masses in engineering excavations. By combining structural geology techniques and laboratory experiments, and with reference to existing data on field-scale rock mass deformation derived from engineering rock mechanics investigations, a methodology for predicting rock mass rheology from fundamental geological observations will be devised and tested.Read moreRead less
A Direct Approach to Crystal Structure Determination - a solution to the phase problem. The purpose of this research is to determine the positions of atoms in crystals and nano-crystals. We have developed a theory that shows how to extract all of the information required to determine atomic positions from such crystals and we have carried through initial successful tests on simple materials. In particular, we have found that crystallographic phase, hitherto not directly measurable, can in fact b ....A Direct Approach to Crystal Structure Determination - a solution to the phase problem. The purpose of this research is to determine the positions of atoms in crystals and nano-crystals. We have developed a theory that shows how to extract all of the information required to determine atomic positions from such crystals and we have carried through initial successful tests on simple materials. In particular, we have found that crystallographic phase, hitherto not directly measurable, can in fact be extracted uniquely from a single electron diffraction pattern. This constitutes a solution to the phase problem in crystallography. It is now our aim to develop this method into a routine technique.Read moreRead less
A one million year record of relative sea-level, climatic and environmental changes - Aeolianites of the southern Australian continental margin. This project will (1) further refine two dating methods that will revolutionize Australia's capacity to date geological and archaeological events; (2) ensure that Australia remains in the forefront in applied geochronology and that a sufficient level of technical expertise remains within the country; (3) examine the sensitivity of coastal environments t ....A one million year record of relative sea-level, climatic and environmental changes - Aeolianites of the southern Australian continental margin. This project will (1) further refine two dating methods that will revolutionize Australia's capacity to date geological and archaeological events; (2) ensure that Australia remains in the forefront in applied geochronology and that a sufficient level of technical expertise remains within the country; (3) examine the sensitivity of coastal environments to rapid climate and sea-level changes; (4) increase public awareness of the scientific basis for the unique nature of Australia's coastal landscapes; and (5) may also assist in the exploration of strategically important minerals. 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
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
Deciphering the tectonic history of the Musgrave Block to assist mineral explorers and regional synthesis programs. Effective mineral exploration strategies in complex basement terrains are increasingly reliant on integrated, data-rich, tectonic models. In this project we will focus a large multidisciplinary team to develop a tectonic model for the evolution of the Musgrave Block in central Australia. This large, poorly understood terrain occupies a critical structural location, separating the ....Deciphering the tectonic history of the Musgrave Block to assist mineral explorers and regional synthesis programs. Effective mineral exploration strategies in complex basement terrains are increasingly reliant on integrated, data-rich, tectonic models. In this project we will focus a large multidisciplinary team to develop a tectonic model for the evolution of the Musgrave Block in central Australia. This large, poorly understood terrain occupies a critical structural location, separating the northern and southern Australian cratons. By constraining models of crustal evolution and architecture, the project will underpin future mineral exploration programs in this highly prospective greenfields region and define the role of the Musgrave Block in the assembly of Proterozoic Australia.Read moreRead less