Developing a new tectonothermal and mineralization history for the Capricorn Orogen, Western Australia: Assisting mineral exploration in greenfields terrains. Successful exploration models rely on the development of a reliable geological framework through which to understand the specific processes responsible for the formation of economic ore deposits. A framework cannot be constructed without robust age data. This Project will apply advanced geochronology, combined with regional- and deposit-sc ....Developing a new tectonothermal and mineralization history for the Capricorn Orogen, Western Australia: Assisting mineral exploration in greenfields terrains. Successful exploration models rely on the development of a reliable geological framework through which to understand the specific processes responsible for the formation of economic ore deposits. A framework cannot be constructed without robust age data. This Project will apply advanced geochronology, combined with regional- and deposit-scale field mapping, to formulate a new and improved stratigraphic and tectonic framework for a prospective greenfields region in Western Australia. Outcomes from this Project will lead to more effective exploration models and thereby better exploration targeting. Reducing uncertainty and risk in exploration is key to the discovery and development of deep Earth resources. Read moreRead less
Three-dimensional magnetotelluric imaging of lithospheric-scale mineral systems from source to deposit. Geochemical studies indicate that world-class mineral deposits are partly sourced from fluids emerging from Earth's mantle and lower crust. Finding major mineral deposits in the future will therefore require knowledge of which parts of the crust and mantle yield the most prospective locations. However, there are few methods that can image deep Earth resources, and these can be very expensive ....Three-dimensional magnetotelluric imaging of lithospheric-scale mineral systems from source to deposit. Geochemical studies indicate that world-class mineral deposits are partly sourced from fluids emerging from Earth's mantle and lower crust. Finding major mineral deposits in the future will therefore require knowledge of which parts of the crust and mantle yield the most prospective locations. However, there are few methods that can image deep Earth resources, and these can be very expensive. We propose to develop the magnetotelluric method as a low-cost and rapid approach for delineating 3D information on deep mineral systems beneath existing major deposits, and adapting this to explore in greenfield locations.Read moreRead less
Physical and Chemical Constraints of Fluid Activated Processes During the Polyphase Tectonic Evolution of the Olary Domain, S.A. The Olary Domain, eastern South Australia, underwent several phases of deformation and metamorphism. These events mobilised fluids leading, amongst other features, to the formation of breccia bodies and mineral deposits. The complex nature of the geological evolution of the region obscures relationships of fluid migration to the structural history. Fluid inclusion stud ....Physical and Chemical Constraints of Fluid Activated Processes During the Polyphase Tectonic Evolution of the Olary Domain, S.A. The Olary Domain, eastern South Australia, underwent several phases of deformation and metamorphism. These events mobilised fluids leading, amongst other features, to the formation of breccia bodies and mineral deposits. The complex nature of the geological evolution of the region obscures relationships of fluid migration to the structural history. Fluid inclusion studies and stable isotope analyses combined with structural analyses on micro to macro scales shall establish links between the thermal and structural evolution of the area. This will provide insigth into the scale and physico-chemical characteristics of fluids and mineralising processes an relate these to the tectono-thermal history.Read moreRead less
Crustal Growth in the Northern Tasmanides. The Australian and Queensland governments have invested over $3 million to undertake deep crustal seismic imaging in northern Queensland, providing an extensive new geophysical dataset capable of modelling crustal architecture and geological evolution to unprecedented levels. However, such models will remain untested unless the data is groundtruthed by analysis of rocks at the surface, providing a geological framework for extrapolation into the deep Ea ....Crustal Growth in the Northern Tasmanides. The Australian and Queensland governments have invested over $3 million to undertake deep crustal seismic imaging in northern Queensland, providing an extensive new geophysical dataset capable of modelling crustal architecture and geological evolution to unprecedented levels. However, such models will remain untested unless the data is groundtruthed by analysis of rocks at the surface, providing a geological framework for extrapolation into the deep Earth. The framework critically describes when and how crustal blocks were assembled, and the integrated information will generate evolutionary 3D models that will substantially improve mineral exploration targeting in the region.Read moreRead less