Enabling three dimensional stochastic geological modelling. This project aims to develop technologies to mitigate three dimensional (3D) geological risk in resources management. This project expects to create new knowledge and methods in the field of 3D geological modelling through the innovative application of mathematical methods, structural geology concepts and probabilistic programming. The expected outcomes are an enhanced capability to model the subsurface, characterise model uncertainty a ....Enabling three dimensional stochastic geological modelling. This project aims to develop technologies to mitigate three dimensional (3D) geological risk in resources management. This project expects to create new knowledge and methods in the field of 3D geological modelling through the innovative application of mathematical methods, structural geology concepts and probabilistic programming. The expected outcomes are an enhanced capability to model the subsurface, characterise model uncertainty and test multiple geological scenarios. This enhanced capability is important for the future of Australia's subsurface management, including urban geology and our continuously growing sustainable resources industry.Read moreRead less
Three-dimensional Bayesian Modelling of Geological and Geophysical data. The project aims to develop technologies enabling rapid informed decision-making related to the management of natural resources, including critical metals, copper and water. This new technology will support a greener future, securing our energy future, our access to clean water and reduce the mining footprint. Expected outcomes include an enhanced capability in interoperable, integrated three-dimensional geological and geop ....Three-dimensional Bayesian Modelling of Geological and Geophysical data. The project aims to develop technologies enabling rapid informed decision-making related to the management of natural resources, including critical metals, copper and water. This new technology will support a greener future, securing our energy future, our access to clean water and reduce the mining footprint. Expected outcomes include an enhanced capability in interoperable, integrated three-dimensional geological and geophysical modelling in order to predictively characterise sub-surface geology. The outcome will be an open-source forecasting dashboard enabling decision making while considering underlying risk related to resource extractions and management with significant benefits to the Australian society (lower emissions, clean water).Read moreRead less
Integrating Stress and Strain Data from the North West Shelf, Australia: Implications for Hydrocarbon Seal Integrity. Many exploration wells in the Australian North West Shelf encounter residual columns from which hydrocarbons have leaked due to fault reactivation. Recently there has been a significant increase in our knowledge of contemporary stress (from data such as borehole breakouts)
and strain (from fault reactivation styles) on the North West Shelf.
This project will integrate informati ....Integrating Stress and Strain Data from the North West Shelf, Australia: Implications for Hydrocarbon Seal Integrity. Many exploration wells in the Australian North West Shelf encounter residual columns from which hydrocarbons have leaked due to fault reactivation. Recently there has been a significant increase in our knowledge of contemporary stress (from data such as borehole breakouts)
and strain (from fault reactivation styles) on the North West Shelf.
This project will integrate information on stress and strain in order to investigate whether the current state-of-stress is consistent with
observed reactivation styles, and thus develop predictive models for
fault reactivation and hydrocarbon leakage based on the distribution of
stress and strain.Read moreRead less
The neo- and seismo-tectonics of northwestern Australia. Australia's two largest earthquakes occurred in NW Australia (magnitudes 7 and 7.9 in 1941 and 1906). Onshore and offshore geologic evidence indicates other such events in recent geological history. Our present seismic database records no such events. We propose to document the nature, frequency, intensity, distribution and possible causes of seismicity in NW Australia, through deployment of seismograph arrays. We will test the effects ....The neo- and seismo-tectonics of northwestern Australia. Australia's two largest earthquakes occurred in NW Australia (magnitudes 7 and 7.9 in 1941 and 1906). Onshore and offshore geologic evidence indicates other such events in recent geological history. Our present seismic database records no such events. We propose to document the nature, frequency, intensity, distribution and possible causes of seismicity in NW Australia, through deployment of seismograph arrays. We will test the effects of basement reactivation, determine the crustal structure beneath the cratonic mass, examine onshore and offshore faults, determine local and regional stress orientations and investigate implications for petroleum production in the region, and whether natural resource extraction causes local seismicity.Read moreRead less
A mineral systems analysis of Australia's largest gold producing deposit: Sunrise Dam Gold Mine, Western Australia. This project will augment existing mineral resources at Australia's largest current gold producing mine, and guide exploration for additional resources in the surrounding district. By understanding the genesis of this exceptional deposit, the study will spawn a new set of targeting criteria that can be used to explore for other world-class deposits in Western Australia and similar ....A mineral systems analysis of Australia's largest gold producing deposit: Sunrise Dam Gold Mine, Western Australia. This project will augment existing mineral resources at Australia's largest current gold producing mine, and guide exploration for additional resources in the surrounding district. By understanding the genesis of this exceptional deposit, the study will spawn a new set of targeting criteria that can be used to explore for other world-class deposits in Western Australia and similar geological terranes throughout the world. In the context of high and rising gold prices, the project has the potential to generate billion dollar revenues and substantial employment, and it will deliver advanced training at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Read moreRead less
Deformational controls on the dynamics of fluid flow, hydrothermal alteration and gold mineralisation, Argo Gold deposit, WA. Detailed structural analysis, combined with major and trace element geochemistry and stable isotope geochemistry, will be used to explore the 3D evolution of fluid pathways and their relationship to growth of shear zones, vein networks and alteration patterns in the Argo shear-hosted gold deposit. The research will be used to (1) maximise the efficiency of resource defini ....Deformational controls on the dynamics of fluid flow, hydrothermal alteration and gold mineralisation, Argo Gold deposit, WA. Detailed structural analysis, combined with major and trace element geochemistry and stable isotope geochemistry, will be used to explore the 3D evolution of fluid pathways and their relationship to growth of shear zones, vein networks and alteration patterns in the Argo shear-hosted gold deposit. The research will be used to (1) maximise the efficiency of resource definition and extraction, (2) refine resource exploration models, (3) explore the dynamics of gold mineralisation processes in shear zones, and (4) advance understanding of how coupling between deformation, fluid flow, and fluid-rock reaction influence the mechanical behaviour of the Earth's crust.Read moreRead less
Exploration potential and implications for stress transfer modelling in fault-related mineral deposits. Following our success in the application of stress transfer modelling (STM) techniques to understand the clustered distribution of upper crustal, Archean gold deposits within crustal scale fault systems, this project seeks to test and develop the application of STM in (1) gold systems formed below the crustal seismogenic regime, (2) for deposit-scale targeting, and (3) in a range of fault-re ....Exploration potential and implications for stress transfer modelling in fault-related mineral deposits. Following our success in the application of stress transfer modelling (STM) techniques to understand the clustered distribution of upper crustal, Archean gold deposits within crustal scale fault systems, this project seeks to test and develop the application of STM in (1) gold systems formed below the crustal seismogenic regime, (2) for deposit-scale targeting, and (3) in a range of fault-related mineral deposits other than Archaean gold systems. The project will also develop methods to evaluate the combined roles of co-seismic stress transfer and post-seismic fluid redistribution in influencing deposit distribution. The approach provides a new conceptual framework in which to develop exploration strategies for deep earth resources.Read moreRead less
The early tectonic evolution of the Curnamona Province. This project aims to test the hypothesis that the Curnamona Province preserves evidence for an extension-related structural geology architecture. This will allow a comparison of the basin evolution, crustal architecture and mechanisms of basin development between the Curnamona Province and well-understood basins of the Mount Isa Inlier. The project is expected to add value to pre-existing databases, and deliver a plate tectonic and str ....The early tectonic evolution of the Curnamona Province. This project aims to test the hypothesis that the Curnamona Province preserves evidence for an extension-related structural geology architecture. This will allow a comparison of the basin evolution, crustal architecture and mechanisms of basin development between the Curnamona Province and well-understood basins of the Mount Isa Inlier. The project is expected to add value to pre-existing databases, and deliver a plate tectonic and structural framework to interpret basin evolution and constrain geochronology/geochemical analysis, and develop a three-dimesional crustal architecture. The results will provide new constraints on the evolution of the Australian plate, and how the Australian crust has evolved.Read moreRead less
The Golden Gift gold mineralisation, Stawell, Victoria. The structure and the nature of the fluid flow that produced the mineralisation in the newly discovered Golden Gift orebody at Stawell, Victoria, will be investigated. This project will provide reasons for the distribution of the gold lodes, the distribution of major quartz vein arrays and associated fractures. Using both the existing and new geologic data and numerical models it should be possible to establish the primary setting for the S ....The Golden Gift gold mineralisation, Stawell, Victoria. The structure and the nature of the fluid flow that produced the mineralisation in the newly discovered Golden Gift orebody at Stawell, Victoria, will be investigated. This project will provide reasons for the distribution of the gold lodes, the distribution of major quartz vein arrays and associated fractures. Using both the existing and new geologic data and numerical models it should be possible to establish the primary setting for the Stawell goldfield. The models will be applicable not only to the Golden Gift orebody but will provide insights into the importance of these processes in controlling the localisation of gold mineralisation in other terranes.Read moreRead less
Development and Application of Stress Transfer Modelling for Area Selection in Mesothermal Gold Systems. Many mesothermal gold systems are hosted by low displacement faults and shear zones which develop adjacent to high displacement, crustal-scale faults and shear zones. By analogy with modern, seismogenic fault systems, the gold-hosting structures are interpreted as aftershock arrays whose formation is related to stress redistribution and fluid flow after major slip events on high displacement ....Development and Application of Stress Transfer Modelling for Area Selection in Mesothermal Gold Systems. Many mesothermal gold systems are hosted by low displacement faults and shear zones which develop adjacent to high displacement, crustal-scale faults and shear zones. By analogy with modern, seismogenic fault systems, the gold-hosting structures are interpreted as aftershock arrays whose formation is related to stress redistribution and fluid flow after major slip events on high displacement faults. This project will test and develop Coulomb stress transfer modelling techniques, currently used for aftershock risk assessment, for predicting the distribution of low displacment, gold-hosting structures around crustal-scale shear systems. The technique is expected to provide a powerful tool to assist area selection in fault-related epigenetic ore systems.Read moreRead less