eps research overview 2015 - macquarie university · 2015-10-22 · eps research overview 2015 1...

EPS Research Overview 2015

1

This brochure provides an overview of staff in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and their research interests. Further information can be found on their individual web pages and on the following pages: http://eps.mq.edu.au/ http://ccfs.mq.edu.au/ https://www.facebook.com/MQeps

Faculty of Science and Engineering | Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

http://eps.mq.edu.au/

http://ccfs.mq.edu.au/

http://ccfs.mq.edu.au/

Juan Carlos Afonso MODELLING THE MULTISCALE EVOLUTION OF THE EARTH

The Earth is a complex system governed by many different processes interacting with each other at different scales… we can model them to decipher the deep secrets of our planet…

Large Scale Meso Scale Micro Scale


Elena Belousova


My research involves in-situ microanalysis of trace elements and isotopic analyses of zircon and other accessory minerals (eg rutile, perovskite, apatite, sulfides) to fingerprint geochemical and geodynamic evolution of the Earth’s continental crust. Particular focus of my current research interest is on the nature and role of crust–mantle interaction through time.

ACCESSORY MINERALS: GEOCHEMISTRY & GEOCHRONOLOGY

Currently available projects include: • Trace-element signatures of zircon and apatite from diverse magma compositions: applications for provenance studies and mineral/whole rock partitioning • Contrasting types, geochemical characteristics and age distribution of eastern Australia granitoids • “Hidden history” of mafic rocks and lower continental crust • Constraining models for the evolution of continental crust over the ~4.5 billion year history

Simon Clark


We work at the very edge of technology, utilizing the latest experimental equipment at national laboratories around the world, recreating Earth conditions from the crust to the core and then using intense beams of x-rays and neutrons to watch what happens while planets form, plates subduct and volcanoes erupt. If you want a career in academia this is the place to start.

EXPERIMENTAL HIGH-PRESSURE, HIGH-TEMPERATURE GEOSCIENCE

Projects include: • Developing new methods to map the lithosphere. • Using advanced accelerators to watch rocks become magnetic. • How do bulk and surface diffusion contribute to overall rock conductivity? • Measuring diffusion rates at core-mantle pressures and temperatures. • How much water is there inside the Earth? • Recreating the center of Jupiter here on Earth.

Nathan Daczko


I combine field and laboratory studies to examine metamorphic processes. I address multiple scales of activity, from the pressure (P)–temperature (T)–time (t) evolution of a single rock to the evolution of P–T in space and time for large orogens. Inverting this P–T–t information, provides constraints on the geodynamic and metasomatic processes involved, and consequently advances understanding of lithosphere evolution and geodynamics.

STRUCTURAL–METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, TECTONICS & GEODYNAMICS

Currently available projects include: • Hot shallow rocks – HTLP metamorphism, Central and Eastern Australia • Migmatites and melt flow in high-P granulites, New Zealand • Just add water: deformation of continental interiors, Central Australia • Metamorphic core complexes, exhumation of the deep Earth, PNG

Kelsie Dadd

• Geochemical fingerprinting of ash from the South China Sea

• Sedimentology and geochemistry of a seamount volcaniclastic apron, South China Sea

• Geochemistry, physical volcanology and tectonics of volcanic rocks in the Louth area, NSW

• Physical volcanology and age of rhyolitic volcanic rocks in the Comerong Volcanics, NSW

• Modern and Ancient Volcanoes and Sediments

Richard Flood

• 1.Using magnetic and gravity data to find the subsurface shape of volcanic and plutonic rocks: the Siluro-Devonian dacitic volcanic rocks at Yerranderie (Lackie /Flood).

• 2. Investigate Early Permian rocks on the edges of the Sydney Basin to evaluate the timing and type of extensional event that instigated the basin.

• a)The dyke swarm in the Oberon area: formed during the early rift phase of the Sydney Basin?

• b) The felsic components of the Werrie Basalt Fm: part of a bimodal volcanic event related to opening of the Sydney Basin?

3. Documentation of the peraluminous Carboniferous plutons of the Bathurst/Goulburn region: unusual I-types? (Pearson/Flood). 4. Dating the gabbro/syenite complex on the eastern edge of the Nandewah Mts. (Pearson/Flood) 5.Document in detail the fragmental character of the Merrions Fm “lavas”: extend the ground-breaking of research of Patrick Sandor.

Stephen Foley


MANTLE AND LOWER CRUSTAL PROCESSES

Scope of potential projects

Experiments on melting mantle rocks with hydrous phases

Identifying source rocks of melts from trace elements in volcanic phenocrysts

Petrology of volcanic rocks and ultramafic intrusions

Formation and differentiation of Archean crust

Nitrogen in minerals

Prof. Simon George


Organic geochemistry involves the study of the chemical and isotopic signatures in rocks and sediments, which inform about the past. We can reconstruct the nature and timing of important events in the evolution of life. Biomarkers and other hydrocarbons in oils, rocks and sediments provide us the ability to understand source inputs, subsequent burial and heating history (thermal maturity) and alteration events (such as oil biodegradation). They also provide us information about the fate of oil spills in modern environments.

ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY

Currently available projects include: • Oil spills and bioremediation in cold climates • Produced water and environmental effects of CMB/shale gas production • Evolution of life in the Precambrian (pre-GOE; early metazoans) • The Sydney Basin record of the Permian-Triassic extinction event • Biogeochemistry to infer palaeotemperatures and organic inputs in marine sediments (IODP; MNF) • Palaeoecology using organic geochemistry and fossils

Bill Griffin

10

Fields of research include: Petrology and geochemistry of the deep crust and lithospheric mantle, Geochemical and dynamic evolution of the crust-mantle system; magma generation and metasomatism in the crust and mantle; isotopic systems and their resetting;

PETROLOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY


• integration of petrological and geophysical data • development of techniques for in-situ microanalysis of trace elements

and isotopic compositions • delineation of prospective terrains for the minerals industry

Heather Handley


Fields of research interest include: (i) Magma genesis at subduction zones (petrological, mineralogical, geochemical and isotopic perspectives), (ii) The integration of field volcanology and volcano geochemistry (iii) Timescales of magmatic processes using Uranium-series isotopes, (iv) The behaviour of Uranium-series isotopes during weathering and erosion (v) Geochemical investigations into contaminated land and water.

VOLCANOLOGY, MAGMATIC PROCESSES AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Currently available projects include:

• Petrological, mineralogical and geochemical investigations of Indonesian volcanic rocks to constrain magmatic processes (multiple projects) • Testing the accuracy and value of the portable XRF devise as field tool for Volcanologists (involves fieldwork) • Investigating the links between phenocryst deformation, fragmentation and explosivity

Dorrit Jacob


My research deals with providing a better quantitative basis for paleoclimate reconstructions that use the shells and skeletons of marine organisms. We know very little about how corals, clams and snails build their shells. I use a broad range of instrumental analytical equipment (geochemical and structural) to unravel the secrets locked up in bio-minerals. My projects are often interdisciplinary between Geology and Biology or Chemistry and Physics.

BIOGEOCHEMISTRY, MINERALOGY


• How do mollusks make their shells? • What is the uptake mechanism of proxy-elements in foraminifera? • Can we use Sydney Harbour clams to reconstruct environmental conditions in the past?

Martin Kennedy


My research focuses on mechanisms of carbon cycling and triggers of rapid climate change using an interdisciplinary and process-based approach. I combine detailed field observations with isotopic and mineralogical data from both ancient and modern sediments to determine the changes in the Earth’s biosphere through time, including the controls on the carbon cycle that regulate fossil fuel distribution and influence climate stability. I head an ARC funded industry consortium that studies the nanoscale properties of shales to construct new understanding of unconventional reservoirs.

CLIMATE CHANGE, PETROLEUM EXPLORATION, GEOBIOLOGY,

Currently available projects include: • Snowball Earth and Earth’s first animals • Unconventional hydrocarbon exploration in Australia • Fugitive methane emissions associated with coal seam gas • Carbonate records of past climate events

Mark Lackie


• 3D Shape of plutons using gravity and magnetics.

• Environmental Geophysics

• Palaeomagnetism and rock magnetism of igneous rocks

PALAEOMAGNETISM, MAGNETICS AND GRAVITY

What is this? Find me and ask.

Stefan Löhr


My research interests lie broadly in the field of geobiology, where I aim to understand (i) how organisms alter and evolve in response to the environment and (ii) how they control geologic processes. To answer these questions, I study mainly fine-grained sedimentary rocks. Not only do these preserve a high-resolution record of the past, they also play a key role in biogeochemical cycles that are fundamental to the Earth System (e.g. C, Fe, S).

GEOBIOLOGY, BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLING, SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY

Current research projects include: • How far back does the trace fossil record of sub-mm benthic animals extend? • Do animal burrowers affect organic matter burial in low-oxygen sediments? • Does microbial reworking stabilize and preserve sedimentary organic matter? • Magnetic minerals in soils: does animal burrowing control their distribution? • High-resolution mineral mapping shales: palaeoenvironmental applications

Craig O’Neill


I use whopping great supercomputers to run simulations of how planets evolve. I look at the evolution of Earth’s tectonics, and the nature and evolution of rocky planets, icy satellites, and superEarths. On the side I also do geothermal modelling and craton formation.

PLANETARY GEODYNAMICS


• Hydrothermal modelling of impact craters • Modelling the thermal effects of giant impacts • The formation of cratonic keels • The volcanic history of Mars • The tectonic evolution of Venus

Sue O’Reilly

17

Fields of research include: the integration of geophysical, geochemical, petrological, petrophysical and tectonic data to construct realistic lithospheric structure and evolution models (4-D Lithosphere Mapping) and understand whole-mantle dynamics through time.

GEOCHEMISTRY, LITHOSPHERE RESEARCH IN 4D

• geochemistry and evolution of the mantle and deep crust • the geochemistry and origin of basaltic magmas and their geodynamic

significanc • trace element dispersions, residence sites and mineral partitioning in

the mantle • relationship between mantle geochemistry and structure, volcanic

activity, tectonic environment and economic deposits.


Sandra Piazolo


My main scientific interest is the understanding of physiochemical micro- and mesoscale processes and their link to macro-scale phenomena.

STRUCTURAL–METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY, MICRO- TO LARGE SCALE

Examples of currently available projects include: • How to make a km thick thrust zone? Learning from the Caledonides, Sweden • How to weaken the crust? Numerical simulations and/or field examples • Melt migration through the crust: Analogue modelling and field examples • Geology of the Yilgarn (with Geological Survey of Western Australia) • What can meteorites tell us about the formation of Earth? (with BS) • Migmatites and melt flow in high-P granulites, New Zealand (with ND)

Projects offered cover structural geology and tectonics, investigation of microstructural and-chemical relationships to “decipher” the history of a rock/terraine, numerical modelling to pinpoint down parameters governing grain to km scale phenomena and analogue modelling of geological processes. Field work can but does not always need to be part of such projects. Projects offered commonly combine a range of different techniques.

Tracy Rushmer


I am an experimentalist who works with both hydrostatic (piston-cylinders and other high pressure non-dynamic equipment) and deformation (mainly solid-media equipment, e.g. Griggs) to investigate mineral interactions under pressure and temperature. My work focuses on the evolution of planetary bodies. We know now that major differentiation between crust and mantle occurred much earlier in the Earth than previously thought. To understand fully the consequences of major differentiation events, I see the way forward is to integrate experimental, theoretical and numerical studies of partial melting, thermal evolution and geodynamic processes. Therefore I am most interested in this type of scientific approach.

EXPERIMENTAL HIGH-PRESSURE, HIGH-TEMPERATURE & DEFORMATION GEOSCIENCE

Currently available projects include: • How to make a planet – a synchrotron and experimental project • How did the Earth’s first crust form? (with Curtain University) • Rehydration of the lower crust, fluid sources and geophysical expression (with Curtain and Adelaide University)

Bruce Schaefer

21 OFFICE I FACULTY I DEPARTMENT

If you’re interested in potential projects involving petrography, trace elements and/or (Br) isotopes in:

• Extraterrestrial materials/Planetary Formation • Australian playa lakes • Igneous (A-type) systems/ IOCG mineralisation Then speak to me!

USING GEOCHEMICAL TECHNIQUES IN CLEVER NEW WAYS

Simon Turner

22

Isotope geochemistry, especially Uranium-series isotopes to constrain physical processes through time scales: • Magma generation and transport in the

mantle • Time scales of magma differentiation and

degassing • Time scales of erosion and soil

production

ISOTOPE GEOCHEMISTRY

Possible projects starting in 2016: 1. Magmatic evolution in the Tonga-Kermadec island arc

2. Time scales of alteration of CM chondrite meteorites


Yingjie Yang 3D IMAGING OF THE EARTH USING NOISE FROM OCEAN WAVES

My research topics include ambient noise tomography, extracting seismic wave from noise generated by ocean waves to image 3D structure of Earth in understanding the structure, dynamics and deformation of the Earth, and more specifically, questions such as: • how deep dynamic processes shape our

topography, • how volcanoes get fed by magma, why and

how intraplate earthquakes take place.


eps research overview 2015 - macquarie university · 2015-10-22 · eps research overview 2015 1...

Documents