A Mission to Very Early Earth: When Did Conditions Suitable for Life Emerge on Earth? A uniquely Australian resource - 4.4-4.1 Ga detrital zircons from the Jack Hills (WA) - represent the only tangible record of the Hadean Eon (4.5-4.0 Ga) and potentially contain information regarding the origin of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, continental lithosphere, geodynamo, and perhaps even life, during the earliest stages of Earth evolution. Following age characterization of 100,000 zircons, experiments in ....A Mission to Very Early Earth: When Did Conditions Suitable for Life Emerge on Earth? A uniquely Australian resource - 4.4-4.1 Ga detrital zircons from the Jack Hills (WA) - represent the only tangible record of the Hadean Eon (4.5-4.0 Ga) and potentially contain information regarding the origin of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, continental lithosphere, geodynamo, and perhaps even life, during the earliest stages of Earth evolution. Following age characterization of 100,000 zircons, experiments involving short-lived nuclear chronometers and tracers of continental evolution (Hf and O isotopes) will be undertaken on the most ancient zircons that could both radically our paradigm for early planetary evolution and permit assessment of whether life emerged during the Hadean Eon.Read moreRead less
Distribution and origin of 4 billion-year-old zircons from Western Australia: Implications for the early history of the earth and moom. We aim to determine the distribution and origin of >4 billion year old (Ga) zircons in rocks from north-western Western Australia, using geological mapping, mineralogical and chemical techniques and SHRIMP zircon geochronology. The >4Ga zircons are the oldest known crustal material, and the only material which can give direct information on the earliest evoluti ....Distribution and origin of 4 billion-year-old zircons from Western Australia: Implications for the early history of the earth and moom. We aim to determine the distribution and origin of >4 billion year old (Ga) zircons in rocks from north-western Western Australia, using geological mapping, mineralogical and chemical techniques and SHRIMP zircon geochronology. The >4Ga zircons are the oldest known crustal material, and the only material which can give direct information on the earliest evolution of the Earth. In this research, we will collaborate with international research groups also intending to investigate the early history of the Earth using the >4Ga zircons. Outcomes will be new ideas on the origin of the zircons, the differentiation of the Earth, the formation of the Moon and the Earth's oceans, and the development of ancient life forms.Read moreRead less
Mapping Under the Ice - crustal evolution in Antarctica and the assembly of Gondwanaland. The project will use a novel approach to map the sub-ice geology of Antarctica, and fill a gap in paleogeographical reconstructions. Paleocurrents indicate that Permo-Triassic river sands in Gondwanaland were dispersed from the sub-glacial Gamburtsev Mountains and the Beardmore-Ross region following the collision of Gondwanaland and Laurussia to form Pangea. An integrated U-Pb and Hf-isotope analysis of zi ....Mapping Under the Ice - crustal evolution in Antarctica and the assembly of Gondwanaland. The project will use a novel approach to map the sub-ice geology of Antarctica, and fill a gap in paleogeographical reconstructions. Paleocurrents indicate that Permo-Triassic river sands in Gondwanaland were dispersed from the sub-glacial Gamburtsev Mountains and the Beardmore-Ross region following the collision of Gondwanaland and Laurussia to form Pangea. An integrated U-Pb and Hf-isotope analysis of zircon grains from these sandstones will map the age and crustal evolution of these intracontinental orogens. Comparison with similar data from older Devonian sands in Australia-Antarctica-Africa will allow reconstruction of the pre- and post-collisional tectonics of Australia and adjoining areas of Gondwanaland.Read moreRead less
Fluid chemistry and critical mineral enrichment in salty metamorphic belts. Several geological regions in Australia are worth billions of dollars to our economy in their contained copper-goldcobalt and uranium-rare earth element mineral deposits. These regions will continue to be important to Australia as the world transitions to a renewable energy economy because they can provide some of the most critical metals needed for that transition: Cu, Co, rare earth elements. This project aims to provi ....Fluid chemistry and critical mineral enrichment in salty metamorphic belts. Several geological regions in Australia are worth billions of dollars to our economy in their contained copper-goldcobalt and uranium-rare earth element mineral deposits. These regions will continue to be important to Australia as the world transitions to a renewable energy economy because they can provide some of the most critical metals needed for that transition: Cu, Co, rare earth elements. This project aims to provide a fundamental quatitative understanding of the geological processes that form these deposits. We will conduct experiments to generate quantitative models of the metamorphic and structural processes that control the liberation and migration of highly saline fluids, which are ideal for transporting a large range of metals.Read moreRead less
An experimental study of trace element equilibria during metamorphism. The analytical methods and experimental data to be developed will enable an Australian team to become world leaders in determining pressures and temperatures of mineral growth that correspond to a range of depths and temperature gradients in the Earth tha t is wider than accessible previously. Obtaining this information from small zones within single grains will allow determination of rates of change, and give us a detailed p ....An experimental study of trace element equilibria during metamorphism. The analytical methods and experimental data to be developed will enable an Australian team to become world leaders in determining pressures and temperatures of mineral growth that correspond to a range of depths and temperature gradients in the Earth tha t is wider than accessible previously. Obtaining this information from small zones within single grains will allow determination of rates of change, and give us a detailed picture of how the host rock has evolved, even from very small samples. One application would be checking the origin of relatively common minerals for whether they could be associated with diamonds.Read moreRead less
Partial melting in natural metal-silicate and silicate systems: rheological and geochemical implications for the Earth and other planets. Understanding how fluid and melts migrate through the Earth's crust is vital to predicting how important minerals, metals and oil can be concentrated. Understanding fluid-rock systems therefore contribute to an environmentally sustainable Australia (Research Priority 1). Furthering our knowledge of permeable networks through the use of dynamic experiments is a ....Partial melting in natural metal-silicate and silicate systems: rheological and geochemical implications for the Earth and other planets. Understanding how fluid and melts migrate through the Earth's crust is vital to predicting how important minerals, metals and oil can be concentrated. Understanding fluid-rock systems therefore contribute to an environmentally sustainable Australia (Research Priority 1). Furthering our knowledge of permeable networks through the use of dynamic experiments is an innovative way to study their development within naturally evolving crustal systems as they respond to changing physical and chemical conditions. Thus, this proposal is also directly concerned with the continuing aim of building a sustainable Australia through knowledge of deep Earth resources.Read moreRead less
Mapping mineral systems of deep Australia. We aim at enabling mineral resource discoveries by calibrating geophysical surveys using geochemical and petrophysical properties measured on mantle samples brought to the surface by recent volcanoes. National geophysical surveys deliver images of geophysical gradients in the deeper part of the Australian continent. The interpretation of these gradients in geological terms and in terms of economic mineral systems is the key to unlock deep exploration su ....Mapping mineral systems of deep Australia. We aim at enabling mineral resource discoveries by calibrating geophysical surveys using geochemical and petrophysical properties measured on mantle samples brought to the surface by recent volcanoes. National geophysical surveys deliver images of geophysical gradients in the deeper part of the Australian continent. The interpretation of these gradients in geological terms and in terms of economic mineral systems is the key to unlock deep exploration success. This project will turn Australia’s investment in National geophysical surveys into new discoveries of base metals. The benefit stems from enabling the transition to a clean economy which requires a much broader range of critical minerals and a larger quantity of base metals.Read moreRead less
A melt inclusions pursuit into the identity of carbonatite magmas and their economic potential. The project will focus on close connections between mantle carbonate-rich magmas and the accumulation of rare metals and diamonds in the crust. This study is in an internationally competitive field, will educate young geoscientists in the use of modern research methods and will benefit the Australian communities and economy.
Multiple vertical tectonic movements in a continental interior: consequences of flat-subduction and foundering of an oceanic plateau? This project will investigate how the subduction of particularly thick oceanic crust impacts on the landscape, climate, structure and composition of the adjacent continent. It will help in understanding the history and distribution of mineral and hydrocarbon resources, of similar provinces in Australia.
The carbonate geology of the critical metal niobium. This project aims to understand how pyrochlore, the major ore mineral of the critical metal niobium, forms in
Earth’s crust. Niobium is exclusively mined from carbonatite magma bodies in Brazil and Canada, despite proven
Australian resources. It is used in high strength steel alloys in the construction and transport industries. Expected
research outcomes include understanding how pyrochlore forms in carbonatites, development of exploration too ....The carbonate geology of the critical metal niobium. This project aims to understand how pyrochlore, the major ore mineral of the critical metal niobium, forms in
Earth’s crust. Niobium is exclusively mined from carbonatite magma bodies in Brazil and Canada, despite proven
Australian resources. It is used in high strength steel alloys in the construction and transport industries. Expected
research outcomes include understanding how pyrochlore forms in carbonatites, development of exploration tools
to locate niobium ore bodies which are unexposed at the surface, and investigation of environmentally and
economically sustainable technologies for metallurgical extraction of niobium from ore. The research is intended
to benefit Australia’s critical metals exploration and mining industries.Read moreRead less