Research

The student will conduct ground-magnetic and gravity surveys over the Scotia Mine area. The results may be combined with 3D passive seismic and TEM datasets to better understand the groundwater architecture at Scotia. This data will inform Mineral Resources Tasmania and engineering contractors in their ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the Scotia Mine.

The Rocky Cape Region in northwest Tasmania is host to Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks that formed during one of Earth’s most chaotic climatic periods, termed ‘Snowball Earth’. In the Central African Copperbelt, these same aged rocks host world-class sediment-hosted Cu-Co deposits, which suggests this time period or these rock types may be important for mineralisation. The age of the Tasmanian glacial rocks is poorly constrained. Available age data contradict the established stratigraphic correlations to the type localities in the Adelaide Superbasin (Sturtian and Marinoan glacial events).

This honours project will involve field work and core sampling at MRT to collect samples of glacial diamictite and cap carbonates from northwest Tasmania. Geochronology data will be collected from detrital zircons, and calcite U-Pb data will be collected to constrain the age of Tasmanian Neoproterozoic glacial events. This project has the potential to produce significant results that will contribute to global studies of Neoproterozoic glacial events. These studies are important in understanding Earth’s climate tipping points and how climate is impacted by geological processes.

Mineral species from the tourmaline supergroup show remarkedly diversity in their geological environments. They have complex major, minor and trace element compositions, variable isotopic signatures and are stable under most conditions (Testa, 2019). Tourmalines can form in wide range of P–T conditions, encompassing diagenesis, low-grade metamorphic settings, and low temperature, low-pressure hydrothermal fluids (e.g., Henry and Dutrow, 2012). Whilst they cannot precipitate at Earth’s surface condition, they can likely form below 150ºC and 0.06 GPa (Dutrow and Henry, 2011). Tourmaline is also stable at high temperatures depending on pressure and chemical composition, with a melting point between 725 and > 950ºC (van Hinsberg et al., 2011). Tourmaline can be stable at ultra-high pressures such as those occurring in subduction zones (e.g., the dravite structure breaks down between 6 and 8 GPa; Krosse, 1995). Tourmaline can provide constraints on the temperature range of ore formation, either through analysis of fluid inclusions or stable isotopes, as well as understanding of co-existing mineral assemblage stability (Testa, 2019). Additionally, it can record the redox conditions in the source fluids which will influence ferric/ferrous and Mn³⁺/Mn²⁺ ratios in tourmaline. In terms of acidity, tourmaline is stable under highly acidic to neutral conditions in aqueous fluids (e.g., Henry and Dutrow, 1996).

The broad P-T-X conditions where tourmaline is stable, along with its compositional and textural sensitivity to diverse geological environments, and the negligible intracrystalline element diffusion in its structure make tourmaline an exceptionally valuable mineral for reconstructing geological history (e.g., Testa, 2019). This honours project will primarily focus on ore-related magmatic-hydrothermal, metamorphic, and pegmatitic tourmalines. By means of microanalytical techniques (e.g., EMPA, LA-ICP-MS, Raman spectroscopy) and geothermometry analyses (fluid inclusions) the candidate will study the correlation between the original fluid responsible for tourmaline formation and the resulting mineral chemistry. From a research perspective, this honour projects represents a step closer to understanding the origin and evolution of magmatic-hydrothermal, metamorphic and pegmatitic fluids. From an applied perspective, this project will aid monitor physicochemical conditions that control ore precipitation in magmatic-hydrothermal systems (e.g., fluid flux, fluid compositions, fluid mixing and boiling), and thus supporting mineral exploration. This study involves mineralogy, geochemistry, and economic geology.

This general category is specifically provided to encourage students who have an interest in applied geophysics, but are not keen on the advertised projects. There are several potential projects that can be arranged. Generally we do not arrange sponsor-supported projects in years with low numbers of expected geophysics students. Potential supervisors are: Michael Roach and Mathew Cracknell.

This general category is specifically provided to encourage students to directly contact Michael and Matthew if they have an interest in geophysics, but are not keen on the advertised projects. There are many potential projects that can be arranged. Generally we do not arrange sponsor-supported projects in years with low numbers of expected geophysics students.

This general category is specifically provided to encourage students who have an interest in economic geology (ore deposit geology), but are not keen on the advertised projects. There are several potential projects that can be arranged. Potential supervisors are: David Cooke, Lejun Zhang, Michael Baker, Robert Scott.

Find out more about supervisors here.

This general category is specifically provided to encourage students who have an interest in environmental geochemistry, but are not keen on the advertised projects. There are several potential projects that can be arranged. Potential supervisors are: Owen Missen, David Cooke, Matthew Cracknell and Sebastien Meffre.

Find out more about supervisors here.

This general category is specifically provided to encourage students who have an interest in igneous petrology and geochemistry, but are not keen on the advertised projects. There are several potential projects that can be arranged. Potential supervisors are Francisco Testa, Ivan Belousov, and Sebastien Meffre.

Find out more about supervisors.

This general category is specifically provided to encourage students who have an interest in LA-ICP-MS methods, mineral chemistry or geochronology, but are not keen on the advertised projects. There are several potential projects that can be arranged. Potential supervisors are: Ivan Belousov.

This general category is specifically provided to encourage students who have an interest in submarine or subaerial volcanology and/or sedimentology, but are not keen on the advertised projects. There are several potential projects that can be arranged. Potential supervisors are: Rebecca Carey, Martin Jutzeler, and Karin Orth.