| Structural Geology & Metamorphism
Study in Proterozoic Orogenic zones
To establish the
timing, kinematic and metamorphic relationships within the
major faults and shear zones that transect selected areas
in the east Antarctica shield and the Gawler Craton in the
Eyre Peninsular, South Australia. Planar and linear fabric
elements and their kinematic significance will be related
to the folds and lineation development outside the areas of
high strain. To combine this with information from metamorphic
assemblages and age dating to establish pressure-temperature-time
paths for the orogenies involved and intrusive events. NB
Any work on Antarctic projects is subject to Antarctic Scientific
Advisory Committee approval and applicants passing the appropriate
medical examinations.
Supervisors: Prof. Chris Wilson & Assoc. Prof. Roger
Powell
Structural investigation of Antarctic glaciers
A structural investigation
will be undertaken of an Antarctic outlet glacier in order
to quantify the development of brittle and ductile structures.
This will involve the identification and monitoring of zones
of fast flowing ice and crevasse fields (as described by Marmo
& Wilson 1998; J. Struct. Geol. 20,149-162). It will also
involve either numerically or experimentally modelling the
processes that act during macro- to microscopic flow and the
control this has on the dynamics of ice masses in Antarctica.
Supervisor: Prof. Chris Wilson
The uplift of Antarctica
To establish the
timing and thermal histories in relationship to the major
structural events in the east Antarctic shield. Using Ar/Ar
and Fission track techniques to relate metamorphic cooling
histories to crustal vertical sections, both in local profiles
and on a regional scale in order to establish the temporal
relationships between tectonic terrains at different levels
in the earth's crust. This will lead to the development of
tectonic models for the orogenies involved and accompanying
intrusive events.
Supervisor: Prof. Chris Wilson
Structural evolution of Tibetan Plateau, China
To establish the
structural-metamorphic and timing and relationships between
the major faults and shear zones that form the eastern boundary
of the Tibetan Plateau. In particular to establish the kinematic
significance of the Himalayan events that are superimposed
on the late Triassic Indosinian Orogeny. This will involve
undertaking field investigations of a folded Triassic accretionary
sequence, followed by detailed geochronological analyses of
rocks and minerals. This has important implications for how
continental margins evolve, particularly as it applies to
Asian collisional tectonics.
Supervisor: Prof. Chris Wilson
Structural
and tectonic evolution of the east Antarctic shield
The east Antarctic
shield has formed a central cratonic block within the two
most recent cycles of supercontinent growth and dispersion,
ie. the formation of Rodinia and Gondwana. The thrust of the
project will be to unravel the structural and metamorphic
evolution in the rocks outcropping in selected areas of Prydz
Bay and Prince Charles Mountains, and geochronologically constrain
these events using modern U-Pb and Ar-Ar geochronology, coupled
with thermodynamic metamorphic modelling. With an aim to understand
the deformation-pressure-temperature-time evolution of the
terrain that has applications to continental scale correlations
with adjacent continents.
Supervisors: Prof. Chris Wilson & Assoc. Prof. Roger
Powell
Structural,
mineralogical and fluid flow related to gold mineralisation
Gold mineralisation
in the central Victorian gold fields is controlled on a scale
of kilometres to metres by the location of folds, faults and
quartz veins. These structures can act as pathways for gold-bearing
fluids. This study will involve both field investigations
and computer modelling to understand the control that structure
exerts on the location of the greatest fluid flow. By identifying
the mineralogical assemblages, in quartz veins, with numerical
quantification of fluid phases and mechanical interactions
in the deforming region, it will be possible to gain an insight
into the importance of deformation-induced fluid-flow.
Supervisor: Prof. Chris Wilson
Dating the mineralising system in western Victoria
This will involve
establishing the timing and kinematic relationships between
the major structural events, metamorphic/alteration assemblages
to mineralisation in western Victoria. Ar-Ar, U-Th-He and
Fission Track dating techniques will be used to establish
temperature-deformation-time paths for the orogenies involved
and the accompanying intrusive and mineralising events. Such
information will also be related to the exhumation and unroofing
of mineralised systems in southeastern Australia.
Supervisors: Dr David
Phillips & Prof. Chris Wilson
Geochemistry and geochronology of fluid inclusion systems related
to gold mineralisation in western Victoria
This project is
aimed at determining the nature and timing of fluid systems
associated with gold mineralisation in western Victoria. The
project will involve the development of methods for measuring
of halogen (Cl, Br, I) and noble gas compositions as well
as Ar-Ar dating of fluid inclusion systems in quartz veins
related with gold mineralisation.
Supervisors: Dr David
Phillips & Prof. Chris Wilson
Geophysical characterisation of the mineralised systems in western
Victoria
This will involve
relating crustal rock associations and structures to sub-surface
geophysical data namely gravity and magnetic data sets. Aeromagnetic
anomalies will be related to mineralisation processes by empirical
and theoretical rock-magnetic (magnetic petrophysics) studies
of rocks form mineralised versus non-mineralised areas and
to obvious fluid migration pathways. Predictive models of
aeromagnetic and downhole magnetic textures leading directly
to orebody detection, beyond the current indirect interpretation
of aeromagnetics will be developed as a regional exploration
tool.
Supervisors: Dr Bob Musgrave
(La Trobe University) & Prof. Chris Wilson
Fluid
flow and structural modelling of gold deposits in China
This project will
be centred on mineralised sites in Yunan, China in order to
understand the structural and stratigraphic controls on gold
deposition from fluids within a Carlin-type gold deposits.
An important aspect of this project will be to understand
how the ore deposit is intimately related to the physical
and chemical character of the host rocks, fluid composition,
source, migration paths and deposition sites. The project
will involve modelling the system at a number of scales to
understand the localisation of mineralisation within the fault
systems from a mine to regional scale.
Supervisor: Prof.
Chris Wilson
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