School of Earth and EnvironmentPotential research projects offered for Level 4 (Honours) and Level 5 (Masters) students commencing in 2016.

Geology

Geophysics

Mineral Geoscience

Petroleum Geoscience

Computational Geoscience

The Projects outlined in this Handbook are NOT necessarily all of those available. Please feel free to talk to supervisors about designing projects around your interests.

Geoscience Projects

This document describes projects suitable for students undertaking a 24 pt research project as part of an Honours or Masters degree.Two key points to note:

We encourage you to consider what geoscience research problems interest you and to choose a project topic that will motivate you to do your best work throughout the year. The aim of the 24 pt project is to provide an opportunity to learn how research works and to begin developing your research skills. The 24-pt project is a pathway to higher degree by research (MSc, MPhil, PhD).

This document does not summarise all available projects and you are welcome to speak with any staff in the School who supervise projects in the areas of interest to you. We recommend that you have a supervisor and a general idea of your project by the end of this year. Do not leave organising a project until the first teaching week of 2016! Remember that many of the staff take leave through January.

Geoscience is a broad discipline that includes Geology, Geophysics1, Geochemistry, Geobiology and Computation/Numerical Modeling. The breadth of research activity in the School of Earth & Environment means that students have opportunities to undertake diverse research projects. Research may be focused on resolving questions related to fundamental Earth processes and knowledge or have various levels of application to specific resources including mineral deposits, petroleum and groundwater.

You are welcome to contact staff directly (contact details are provided in the booklet) to discuss projects where they are listed as the main contact. If you are interested in an MSc (by thesis & coursework) degree, some of the projects outlined in this booklet can be extended into or set up as larger projects (e.g. 36 pt projects). You are welcome to contact supervisors to discuss as required.

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1. Geophysics is the study of Earth and its physical processes using the quantitative methods of physics, math and computer science. Studies include the solid earth, oceans, atmosphere, ionosphere and space. Geophysical data sets such as seismic waves, EM waves including radar, gravity, magnetics etc. are used to image Earth (inside and out). Solid earth applications range from plate tectonics, volcanism and earthquake seismology, to exploration and monitoring of energy resources such as hydrocarbons and geothermal, to mineral exploration, to groundwater, CO2 storage and environmental processes.

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ContentsEmplacement dynamics of the La Balma-Monte Capio intrusion, Ivrea Zone, Italy.................................5

Enhanced predictive capability for targeting high quality magmatic hydrothermal copper, gold and molybdenum deposits..............................................................................................................................5

Thermodynamic modelling of subducting CO2 rich plateaus....................................................................6

3D/4D Geophysical imaging of hydrocarbon and CO2 reservoirs.............................................................6

Analysis of seismic azimuthal anisotropy and tectonic stress..................................................................7

3D/4D environmental geophysics............................................................................................................7

Computational simulation of geologic sedimentation processes.............................................................7

High Resolution seismic imaging of seafloor properties for slope stability and geo-hazard assessment. 8

Geophysical analysis of paleo tsunami deposits in WA............................................................................8

Modelling Seismic Wavefields for Imaging Earth Structure......................................................................8

Time-lapse Geophysical Monitoring of Fresh-Saltwater Interfaces..........................................................9

Imaging the earth with ambient noise fields............................................................................................9

Gravity monitoring of Kings Park hydrology (Mid-year start only)...........................................................9

Australo-Antarctic Geology and the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (Mid-year start only)...............................10

Tracing fluid pathways in komatiite-hosted Ni-PGE deposits.................................................................10

Basin Structure and mineralization in the Capricorn Orogen.................................................................11

A methodology of very large-scale gravity inversion (Mid-year start only)............................................11

How the West was One…The Rodona-Totten Shear Zone (Mid-year start only)....................................12

Geological mapping of Venus – Atalanta Planitia Quadrangle...............................................................12

Instantaneous melts on Venus – Earth analogues..................................................................................13

Neotectonics and strike-slip reactivation in offshore petroleum basins of northern WA......................13

Seafloor bathymetry in the western Timor Sea as evidence of modern tectonic processes..................14

External controls on the architecture and evolution of Paleocene - Eocene carbonate platforms, NW Bonaparte and Browse basins: a seismic stratigraphic approach...........................................................14

3D seismic stratigraphy – Plio-Quaternary analogues for carbonate reservoirs.....................................15

Unravelling tectonic and eustatic controls on shelf-margin and slope sedimentation in the northern Bonaparte Basin.....................................................................................................................................15

Controls on the stratigraphic architecture and evolution of carbonate slope systems of the North West Shelf: analogue study for oil & gas reservoirs........................................................................................16

Shallow-marine seismic stratigraphy and reservoir architecture in the offshore Taranaki Basin (New-Zealand)..................................................................................................................................................16

Depositional history and petroleum reservoir characterisation, North West Shelf basins.....................17

Characterisation of siliciclastic- or carbonate-dominated reservoirs associated with conventional and unconventional resources in onshore WA Basins (e.g. Canning Basin, Perth Basin)..............................17

Geochemical signatures in stratigraphic successions.............................................................................18

Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology.....................................................................................................18

Rare Earth Element mineralisation in granites.......................................................................................19

Modelling hydrothermal alteration and mineralisation in the Abra base metal deposit........................19

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Geochemical evolution of dredge spoils................................................................................................20

Structural Evolution of the AUS-PAC Plate Boundary in Southern New Zealand....................................20

What are the forms of trace elements in sulfidic estuarine sediments? Can we use trace elements as geochemical tracers in these systems?..................................................................................................21

What can we learn from geochemical soil surveys?...............................................................................21

The quantification of hydrothermal mineralising systems.....................................................................22

Empirical Analysis of False Positives in Geophysics and Geochemical Exploration – A ‘Live’ Case Study of Nickel-Copper Exploration in the Fraser Range Region, WA..............................................................22

The Depth Extent of Australia’s Exploration Search Space - Constraints from Existing Mine Developments........................................................................................................................................23

Mineral System analysis to predict the copper metal endowment of Northern Chile...........................23

Can rare earth element (REE) concentrations in vegetation explain enrichment of rare earth elements in some surface soils?.............................................................................................................................24

Magnetic Interpretation of Basement Structure of the Irwin Terrace, northern Perth Basin................24

Radiometric Responses of Mineral Deposits: Are Alteration-Zone Responses Actually Due to Changes in Geochemistry?...................................................................................................................................25

Interpreting Magnetic Data from Sedimentary Basins: Recognising Responses from Evaporites..........25

Petrology and geochemistry of majorite-bearing peridotite as a source of Barberton-type komatiite volcanism...............................................................................................................................................26

Microbialte Ecohydrology and Sedimentology.......................................................................................27

PT constraints on Gold mineralisation in the Archean Agnew Greenstone belt.....................................27

Metamorphic P-T evolution of the Archean Agnew Greenstone belt....................................................28

Hydrothermal alteration mineralogy, texture and zoning at the Petowal deposit, Eastern Senegal, Western Africa.......................................................................................................................................28

U-Pb age distribution of Detrital Zircon populations across the Birimian Terrane / Man Shield boundary, West Africa............................................................................................................................29

Martian impact craters and their potential for melt and ore deposit genesis........................................30

High-Precision Uranium-Lead Geochronology applied to Igneous Processes and Tectonics..................31

Fingerprinting fluid and sulfur sources at the Prairie Downs Pb-Zn deposit: unlocking sphalerite........31

3D modelling of the West African Craton...............................................................................................32

Topological uncertainty in 3D geology...................................................................................................32

Web mapping solutions for pre-competitive geoscientific data distribution.........................................33

Cooling rate, emplacement mechanism and crystallisation of a dolerite sill..........................................33

Palaeobiology - Precambrian fossils.......................................................................................................34

Controlling factors for the spatial distribution of emeralds...................................................................34

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Project: Emplacement dynamics of the La Balma-Monte Capio intrusion, Ivrea Zone, Italy

Majors including:

Geology, economic geology, geochemistry - Honours or Masters project

Supervisor: Marco Fiorentini (marco.fiorentini@uwa.edu.au), 6488 3465, Steve Denyszyn

Description: The study will build new understanding on the emplacement dynamics of mantle derived Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide systems through investigation of key natural examples in the Ivrea Zone of northwest Italy. This domain of deeply exhumed lower crust and mantle rocks hosts the most comprehensive and coherent suite known of deep-level Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide bearing mafic/ultramafic intrusions, providing a unique opportunity to resolve the dynamic emplacement and evolution of such magmatic ore bodies. This research would have three principle aims:

1. Documenting the relationship between size and geometry of the intrusions and structural architecture of the host rocks into which they were emplaced

2. Establishing the role that volatiles (e.g. H2O, CO2, etc.) played in the emplacement of the intrusions and the attainment of sulphide saturation

3. Constraining the physical mechanisms and controls on emplacement and localisation of the intrusion-hosted ore systems.

Project: Enhanced predictive capability for targeting high quality magmatic hydrothermal copper, gold and molybdenum deposits

Majors including:

Geology, economic geology, geochemistry (Honours or Masters)

Supervisor: Marco Fiorentini (marco.fiorentini@uwa.edu.au), 6488 3465; Cam McCuaig; Tony Kemp; Bob Loucks

Description: Most fertility indicators for magmatic hydrothermal systems available to explorers are currently limited to whole-rock analyses of exposed plutons of mainly calc-alkalic suites. However, a recent pilot project carried out at the Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET), University of Western Australia (UWA), has shown proof of concept that zircon morphology, chemistry and isotopic composition could be successfully used as a detrital indicator. This has the potential to detect new mineral districts in covered or poorly exposed terrains by quickly and cheaply analyzing detritus in covered sequences and/or stream sediments. The proposed study will be integrated within a larger scale project, which aims to seize the opportunity to develop reliable heavy mineral indicators in the exploration for high-quality magmatic-hydrothermal copper-gold mineral systems. The work will mainly focus on unravelling the key link between the morphological features and isotopic signatures of zircon crystals with 1) the evolving nature of the source magma and 2) the relative timing of magma ponding at various stages through the lithosphere during arc related magmatism.

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Project: Thermodynamic modelling of subducting CO2 rich plateausMajors including:

Geology, economic geology, geochemistry; Honours or Masters project

Supervisor: Marco Fiorentini (marco.fiorentini@uwa.edu.au), 6488 3465; Chris Gonzalez, Weronika Gorczyk

Description: Decarbonation during subduction is a topic of much recent interest, with a lot of geological and geochemical data available, very little has been done in terms of numerical modelling. Recent advancement in implementing CO2 degassing into state of the art numerical code (I2VIS) allows studying this phenomenon in depth and is truly innovative with a lot of potential for great discoveries.

Slab derived volatiles, primarily H2O ± CO2 fluids, are a critical component to subduction processes and evolution. Volcanic gas monitoring, melt inclusions and microdiamonds attest to the presence and transfer of carbon during subduction into the overlying mantle wedge and continental crust. CO2 is the second most abundant volcanic gas and contributes to shaping Earth’s climate, therefore it is critical to get a better understanding of processes that may lead to intensive slab decarbonation, like subduction of CO2 rich plateaus.

These projects are best suited towards students with an academic focus as the results are highly publishable and likely to be of high impact if well executed. Some familiarity with linux and computer simulations is well seen, but not required. Enthusiasm and willingness to work hard are essential.

Project: 3D/4D Geophysical imaging of hydrocarbon and CO2 reservoirs Majors including:

Geophysics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science

Supervisor: David Lumley, david.lumley@uwa.edu.au 6488 7331,

Jeff Shragge, Rie Kamei, Nader Issa

Description: Geophysical data sets, especially seismic waves, can be used to image (3D), and monitor in time-lapse mode (4D), subsurface reservoirs for oil and gas resources, or injection and storage of anthropogenic CO2, using techniques such as seismic, gravity and EM (electromagnetics) including radar. These projects may require working with a combination of rock and fluid physics, earth model building software, computational geophysics data simulation, imaging and inversion, field data acquisition and quantitative data analysis. Computer experience and some maths are required. Projects have the potential to follow on to vacation work internships, and MSc or PhD studies.

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Project: Analysis of seismic azimuthal anisotropy and tectonic stress Majors including:

Geophysics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science

Supervisor: David Lumley, david.lumley@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7331, Jeff Shragge, Nader Issa

Description: There is evidence from various types of geophysical data of strong azimuthal anisotropy (subsurface physical properties at a point vary as a function of the compass direction in which they are measured) possibly indicating anomalous horizontal tectonic stress gradients in WA and other parts of the world. These data sets can be analysed to determine information about the stress regime in these rocks, their physical properties, and perhaps make predictions about the nature of fluid flow, fault sealing, rock fractures, and earthquake risk. This project may require working with various geophysical data sets (active/passive seismic, well logs, borehole breakouts, ultrasonic core measurements…) and geophysical modelling/analysis software. Computer experience and some maths are required. Projects have the potential to follow on to vacation work internships, and MSc or PhD studies.

Project: 3D/4D environmental geophysics Majors including:

Geophysics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science

Supervisor: David Lumley, david.lumley@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7331, Jeff Shragge, Nader Issa

Description: Geophysical data sets can be used to image (3D) and monitor (4D) near surface soil and rocks using techniques such as seismic, gravity, GPR (ground penetrating radar) and EM (electromagnetics), with application to groundwater, contaminant flow, and baseline studies for CO2 sequestration projects. These projects may involve geophysical field data surveying, working with rock and fluid physics, earth model building software, computational geophysics data simulation, and quantitative data analysis. Computer experience and some maths are required. Projects have the potential to follow on to vacation work internships, and MSc or PhD studies.

Project: Computational simulation of geologic sedimentation processesMajors including:

Geophysics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science

Supervisor: David Lumley, david.lumley@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7331, Jeffrey Shragge, Julien Bourget.

Description: Reservoir rocks that contain important fluids (hydrocarbons, water, CO2, geothermal) are created by complex geologic depositional systems. This project involves the development of innovative models and running supercomputing algorithms that will simulate the sedimentation processes of marine coastal environments important for understanding WA reservoir rocks. Computer programming experience and some maths are required. Projects have the potential to follow on to vacation work internships, and MSc or PhD studies.

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Project: High Resolution seismic imaging of seafloor properties for slope stability and geo-hazard assessment

Majors including:

Geophysics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science

Supervisor: David Lumley, david.lumley@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7331, Julien Bourget, Beau Whitney

Description: Engineering studies of the seafloor are important to understand the physical properties, slope stability and geo-hazards associated with offshore pipeline and facilities construction. Currently this is done using a collection of sparse geotechnical data samples and sonar scans, and geologic interpretation. This project involves developing new seismic techniques to obtain high-resolution images and material property estimates for the seafloor and shallow mud layers to complement the geo-engineering analysis. Computer experience and some maths are required. Projects have the potential to follow on to vacation work internships, and MSc or PhD studies.

Project: Geophysical analysis of paleo tsunami deposits in WAMajors including:

Geophysics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science

Supervisor: David Lumley, david.lumley@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7331, Beau Whitney, Jeff Shragge

Description: It has recently become evident that there may have been large historical tsunamis generated offshore WA. The main evidence includes so-called “tsunami boulders” and sediment deposits on barrier islands along the NW coast. The source location and timing (every ~5,000 yrs?) of the tsunamis is not well understood, but could have a huge impact on modern day geo-hazard assessments. This project involves gathering data evidence for tsunamis and modelling potential source locations and forces necessary to recreate the observed tsunami data. Computer experience and some maths are required. Projects have the potential to follow on to vacation work internships, and MSc or PhD studies.

Project Modelling Seismic Wavefields for Imaging Earth StructureFor majors including

Geophysics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science

Supervisor: Jeffrey Shragge jeffrey.shragge@uwa.edu.au, 6488 3474

Description: The increasing interest in subsurface gas reservoirs and CO2 geologic storage has led to a rapid increase in 3D and time-lapse (4D) computational seismic modelling of fluid/gas production and injection processes. A central component is modelling 3D acoustic- and elastic-wave propagation through to generate high-resolution maps of the changing subsurface elastic / fluid properties. The computationally demanding 3D elastic-wave modelling is repeated thousands of times during each investigation, and is an ideal candidate for parallelisation using GPU processors. A vacation scholarship is possible, and the project can lead to MSc or PhD studies.

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Project Time-lapse Geophysical Monitoring of Fresh-Saltwater Interfaces Majors including:

Geophysics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science

Supervisor: Jeffrey Shragge jeffrey.shragge@uwa.edu.au, 6488 3474 and Matthias Leopold

Description: Salinisation of superficial freshwater water resources is a problem of increasing importance throughout Western Australia. One approach to characterising this problem is to examine temporal variations of a fresh-saltwater interface through repeat geophysical monitoring surveying (i.e. ground penetrating radar or GPR, and electrical resistivity). These techniques are sensitive to changes in subsurface salinity and can provide a measure diurnal-to-monthly fluctuation. The goal of the study is to use the resulting geophysical images to calibrate hydrogeological models, with particular emphasis on horizontal and vertical hydraulic conductivity.

Project: Imaging the earth with ambient noise fieldsMajors including:

Geophysics, Physics, Engineering, Mathematics

Supervisor: Nader Issa, nader.issa@uwa.edu.au, 6488 6872, David Lumley

Description: Usually we design data acquisition systems to enhance signal and reduce noise.... but sometimes the noise in real data is very useful and we wish there was more! A passive seismic measurement is done without intentionally using a man-made source of seismic energy. It records a variety of noise sources, including the ambient seismic noise of such things as: nearby traffic, waves at the beach or even stormy weather. This project involves finding ambient seismic noise in real data and using it (alone) to create images of the subsurface. Such innovative techniques are a promising new way to image the earth, including to monitor subsurface reservoirs or the injection and storage of CO2. Computer experience and some maths are required. Projects have the potential to follow on to vacation work internships, and MSc or PhD studies.

Project Gravity monitoring of Kings Park hydrology (Mid-year start only)Majors including:

Any geoscience related degree

Supervisor: Alan Aitken, alan.aitken@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7147, Gavan McGrath

Description: Gravity data can be used to monitor subsurface storage of water, and can help to understand impacts on ecological change. This project seeks to better understand the hydrology of King’s Park through gravity monitoring (including field data collection) and modelling. This project suits those with an interest in environmental applications of geophysics. Some computing experience and reasonable maths ability are required. The scope of the project lends itself to either BSc or MSc level research.

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Project: Australo-Antarctic Geology and the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (Mid-year start only)

Majors including:

Any geoscience related degree

Supervisor: Alan Aitken, alan.aitken@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7147

Description: The vulnerability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) to climate change is a topic of much recent interest, with several studies showing that it may be more vulnerable to change than is commonly supposed. The EAIS is the biggest uncertainty in projections of future sea-level rise. Geology provides crucial controls on the conditions of the ice sheet bed (e.g. crystalline rock versus sedimentary rock) and its macro-scale structure, dictated by major tectonic elements.

Antarctica’s hot new geophysical datasets from the US-UK-AUS ICECAP program have revealed for the first time the geology of Wilkes Land – the conjugate margin to the western 2/3rds of Australia. Several projects are available that will utilise these brand new data to reconstruct and understand subglacial geology, including key controls on EAIS flow organisation.

These projects are best suited towards students with an academic focus as the results are highly publishable and likely to be of high impact if well executed. Some familiarity with geophysical data interpretation, including gravity, magnetic and radar data, and a willingness to understand cross-disciplinary concepts are essential.

Project: Tracing fluid pathways in komatiite-hosted Ni-PGE depositsMajors including:

Geology, economic geology, geochemistry, Honours or Masters

Supervisor: Crystal LaFlamme, crystal.laflamme@uwa.edu.au, 6488 5805 Stefano Caruso, Marco Fiorentini

Description: The advent of multiple sulfur isotope analysis has the potential to radically improve our understanding of Archean komatiite-hosted Ni-PGE deposits. This project will employ a multi-scale approach, from identifying mineralization phases in drill core and thin section to detailed “within-grain” sulfur isotope analysis by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry. UWA is host to world-leading analytical techniques to analyse the isotopic composition of a wide-range of ore-forming minerals on state-of-the-art equipment. At the regional-scale the main focus will be to investigate emplacement mechanisms of ultramafic magmas by studying their geochemical and isotopic signatures. At the deposit-scale, the focus will be to understand the geochemical and isotopic evolution of the sulfidic liquid during magmatic and post-magmatic processes. This project has the potential to greatly enhance our understanding the role of sulfur and how it can be used as a tracer for fluid pathways in the camp-scale mineralization process. World-class Ni-PGE deposits occurring in Western Australia will be used as case studies. This project will complement on-going investigations into the craton-wide mineral prospectivity.

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Project: Basin Structure and mineralization in the Capricorn OrogenMajors including:

Any geoscience related degree

Supervisor: Sandra Occhipinti, s andra.occhipinti@uwa.edu.au , Alan Aitken, alan.aitken@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7147; , Mark Lindsay

Description: The Proterozoic sedimentary basins of the Capricorn Orogen preserve lareg potential for ore-deposit genesis, and yet relatively few significant ore-bodies are known.

Several projects are available to apply interpretative mapping of magnetic, gravity and remote sensing data to understand basin architecture and its relationship with mineralization. These broad-scale interpretations will, where possible, be ground truthed with drillcore and/or field mapping.

This project suits those with an interest in mineral exploration, geology, remote sensing or geophysics.

Project: A methodology of very large-scale gravity inversion (Mid-year start only)Majors including:

Any geoscience related degree, geophysics, physics, computer science

Supervisor: Alan Aitken, alan.aitken@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7147

Description: The density of the Earth's crust and mantle layers has a profound impact on the planet's tectonic cycles with many follow on implications, e.g. for resource exploration and geological hazards. Gravity modelling has, to date struggled to cope with very large-scale modelling due to model size and resolution limitations, capturing model complexity, and working in spherical co-ordinate systems.

Several projects are available to apply new technologies to regional to large-scale gravity inversion problems. Work will be completed making full use of Pawsey Centre supercomputer infrastructure and will involve testing new codes against existing approaches, assessing performance and helping to further develop the approach.

This project suits those with an interest in geophysics. Software is designed to be used by non-specialists, however, some computing experience and reasonable maths ability are required. The scope of the projects lends themselves to MSc level research.

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Project: How the West was One…The Rodona-Totten Shear Zone (Mid-year start only)

Majors including:

Any geoscience related degree

Supervisor: Alan Aitken, mailto:alan.aitken@uwa.edu.au; 6488 7147

Description: The reconfiguration of Mesoproterozoic Australia occurred between ca. 1400 Ma and ca. 1300 Ma, through a complex series of plate margin processes. The culmination of this was the collision of the South and West Australian continents. Past and recent studies indicate that this collision may have occurred along the Rodona Shear Zone, which lies offshore east of Israelite Bay in WA.

This project involves the use of high-resolution aeromagnetic and gravity data from Australia and Antarctica to understand shear-zone structure and kinematics. This new map of the shear zone will be tied in with new geochronological and isotopic data emerging from beneath the Eucla Basin, from moraine sediments and from the Albany Fraser Orogen.

Project: Geological mapping of Venus – Atalanta Planitia QuadrangleMajors including:

Geology

Supervisor: Myra Keep, myra.keep@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7198

Description: Our record of the early evolution of Earth is limited by erosion, burial, tectonic dismemberment and periods of impact cratering. The Venusian surface preserves a rare and pristine record of terrestrial planet evolution. We aim to map in detail parts of the Atalanta Planitia Quadrangle (V4) of the northern hemisphere. Our proposed area contains vast areas of Venusian “tesserae” that is thought to represent the oldest surviving Venusian landscapes, and which provides a rich and detailed history of the evolution of the Venusian planetary surface. This project will involve interpreting SAR data and using first-order geological relationships to understand the kinematic evolution of the ancient tessera terrains in this block. Students must have a good understanding of structural geology and tectonics to 3rd year level. The scope of the project is compatible with extension to Masters level.

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Project: Instantaneous melts on Venus – Earth analoguesMajors including:

Geology

Supervisor: Myra Keep, myra.keep@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7198,

Description: The Venusian surface, especially in the tesserae regions (the oldest Venusian crust), is covered with areas of instantaneous melt which flood the local geology. These flood areas are local, are not associated with volcanic edifices, and seem to be melting in place. Whilst they may be of roughly the same age, there is no evidence that they all formed at the same time as the result of a single event. Rather, they appear to be spontaneous localized melts, similar to those which occur in high-grade metamorphic rocks on Earth. Granulite facies terrains include numerous areas of various sizes comprising pegmatite from instantaneous, localized melt during deformation. This project seeks to map in detail the number and extent of pegmatite melts in a small area of a granulite terrain, with a view to comparing melt processes from deformation at deep crustal levels on Earth with processes of instantaneous melt formation on Venus. Fieldwork will be conducted in the Bremer Bay area in February 2013.

Project: Neotectonics and strike-slip reactivation in offshore petroleum basins of northern WA

Majors including:

Geology

Supervisor: Myra Keep, myra.keep@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7198 Julien Bourget

Description: The northwest of WA hosts Australia’s largest recorded earthquakes (ML 7.3, Meeberrie, 1941). Identification of modern surface offsets (fault scarps) and drainage capture, together with recently acquired earthquake focal mechanism data for 28 recent events, suggests that modern geomorphology may yield evidence as to recent earthquake activity throughout north-western WA. This project seeks to map modern structural orientations and fault reactivation in offshore areas in the Carnarvon and Browse Basins with a view to understanding the pre-reactivation geometries and timing, and relating them to the modern tectonic setting. Two projects are available, and the scope is compatible for continuation to Masters level.

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Project: Seafloor bathymetry in the western Timor Sea as evidence of modern tectonic processes

Majors including:

Geology

Supervisor: Myra Keep, myra.keep@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7198, Julien Bourget

Description: High resolution Seabeam seafloor bathymetric data acquired by an international petroleum company yields details of seafloor topography related to modern collisional deformation. Detailed mapping of an area in the western Timor Sea will yield evidence as to surface processes, sedimentation rates, fluid flux and structural controls on seafloor deformation. Based on Seabeam image interpretations, likely with some high-resolution seismic data across key transects, these interpretations can be compiled with deformation known from seismic data and onshore data from exposures on Timor Island, to further decipher the processes and timing of the Australia/Eurasia collision in the Timor Sea area. Up to 2 projects are available, and are both compatible with extension to Masters level.

Project: External controls on the architecture and evolution of Paleocene - Eocene carbonate platforms, NW Bonaparte and Browse basins: a seismic stratigraphic approach

Majors including:

Geology

Supervisor: Julien Bourget, julien.bourget@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2679

Description: This research project aims to unravel the distribution, architecture, and growth history of isolated carbonate platforms that developed at the boundary between the Browse and Bonaparte basins during the Paleocene and Eocene. Carbonate sedimentation repeatedly alternated with periods of platform exposure and siliciclastic shelf-margin sedimentation, and the external controls at the origin of these sequences will be investigated. The project will be based on 2D and 3D seismic data complemented by well wireline data. Seismic stratigraphy and 3D attribute analysis will be conducted and will allow identifying stratal geometries, stratigraphic surfaces, and high-resolution imaging of depositional geometries. Structural mapping and analysis will be conducted in order to evaluate the potential impact of basement faults on carbonate platforms emplacement/geometries.

This Level 4 project can be complemented by additional datasets and extended as a Level 5 research project.

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Project: 3D seismic stratigraphy – Plio-Quaternary analogues for carbonate reservoirs

Majors including:

Geology

Supervisor: Julien Bourget, julien.bourget@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2679

Description: This research project will use a newly acquired (2012) 3D seismic survey to investigate the seismic stratigraphic evolution of a Plio-Quaternary analogue for carbonate reservoirs forming in intra-shelf basinal settings (i.e., numerous oil and gas fields from the Middle East of Mesozoic age).

You will learn state-of-the-art interpretation techniques of 3D seismic data (volume interpretation, horizon cube generation, attribute analysis) to build a concept model of stratigraphic evolution of the basin during the last 4 million years. The project will also focus on the identification and mapping of potential reservoir geobodies (carbonate build-ups, platforms, and tidal channels) to populate a reservoir database. The identification of changes in carbonate growth patterns will also provide new insights on the sea-level and climate changes that occurred in northern Australia in the Pliocene and Quaternary. This valuable information on the sensitivity of reef systems to environmental modifications will help understanding the future evolution of present-day barrier reefs in Australia and worldwide.

Project: Unravelling tectonic and eustatic controls on shelf-margin and slope sedimentation in the northern Bonaparte Basin

Majors including:

Geology, Petroleum Geoscience, Earth Science

Supervisor: Julien Bourget, julien.bourget@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2679, Myra Keep

Description: The Bonaparte Basin (NW Shelf of Australia, Timor Sea) constitutes a long-lived sedimentary basin supporting important oil and gas exploration and production. The basin forms a very wide continental shelf where sedimentation consisted of silliciclastic supply mixed with outer shelf carbonates. The aim of this project is to integrate very-high resolution two-dimensional and three-dimensional seimic datasets, wireline and shallow cores, in order to investigate the depositional history and architetcure of Pleistocene shelf-margin deltaic sediments on the northern edge of the basin (Sunrise Field). The main aims are (1) to determine the relative importance of local tectonics and global sea-level fluctuations on shelf-margin depocentres and geometries; (2) to establish a correlation between shelf-margin and basin sedimentation during this time span and evaluate the nature of turbidite system architecture and its recent evolution.

This project will be part of a wider research proposal involving academic and industry partners, and could be continued in the form a longer (Msc) project.

Students should have completed EART3344 Basin Analysis.

15

Project: Controls on the stratigraphic architecture and evolution of carbonate slope systems of the North West Shelf: analogue study for oil & gas reservoirs

Majors including:

Geology

Supervisor: Julien Bourget, julien.bourget@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2679

Description: This research project aims to unravel the distribution, architecture, and growth history of the widespread carbonate slope deposits (turbidites and mass-transport deposits) that developed along the margins of the North West Shelf during the Cenozoic. Carbonate margins and slopes represent an important component of the stratigraphic fill of sedimentary basins and an important target for oil and gas exploration. The emphasis on terrigeneous slope and basin deposits during the last two decades was not accompanied by a similar interest for their carbonate counterparts, which have comparatively received little attention. The recent focus of hydrocarbon exploration activities in carbonate slope and basin sequences worldwide has highlighted their economic potential and a need for increasing data collection in analogue settings in order to revise conceptual models that predict slope architecture, reservoir quality, and seal development.

The extensive amount of open-file 2D/3D seismic and well data available along the North West Shelf makes it a unique setting for investigating carbonate margin and slope architecture, geomorphology and prospectivity. This project will use a regional compilation of seismic and well data to investigate the stratigraphic evolution of the Cenozoic sequences of the North West Shelf. The focus of the project can be adjusted to your skills / motivation and more focused on either 2D/3D seismic stratigraphy or side wall core data analysis. However integration of various types of datasets (well biostratigraphy, well log and seismic data) will be a key component to the project.

Project: Shallow-marine seismic stratigraphy and reservoir architecture in the offshore Taranaki Basin (New-Zealand)

Majors including:

Geology

Supervisor: Julien Bourget, julien.bourget@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2679

Description: The Taranaki Basin is a hydrocarbon-bearing sedimentary basin containing Cretaceous to Pliocene reservoir intervals in continental, shallow-marine and deep-marine depositional settings. This project will focus on an Eocene shallow-marine deposit located off the northern Taranaik coast. Three-dimensional seismic data and well data will be used to create a high-resolution sequence stratigraphic framework of the field area. Attribute analysis techniques will help characterizing depositional architecture, identify potential reservoir target(s) and trap(s).

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Project: Depositional history and petroleum reservoir characterisation, North West Shelf basins

Majors including:

Geology, Petroleum Geoscience

Supervisor: Annette George, annette.george@uwa.edu.au, 6488 1923

Description: A wide variety of petroleum reservoirs are encountered in the offshore basins of the North West Shelf of Australia. Petroleum-focused projects can be undertaken in shallow or deep marine depositional systems to reconstruct depositional and tectonic history of specific basins or through specific stratigraphic units (notably reservoirs). These projects typically involve integration of core work (sedimentology, facies analysis ± petrography ± biostratigraphy) with seismic and/or wire line log data in a sequence-stratigraphic framework. There are specific projects focusing on seismic sequence-stratigraphic interpretation of basin-margin history and characterisation of reservoir intervals. These projects are also suitable for 36-42 pt Masters projects.

Project: Characterisation of siliciclastic- or carbonate-dominated reservoirs associated with conventional and unconventional resources in onshore WA Basins (e.g. Canning Basin, Perth Basin)

Majors including:

Geology, Petroleum Geoscience, Geochemistry

Supervisor: Annette George, annette.george@uwa.edu.au, 6488 1923

Description: Understanding reservoir quality is a fundamental aspect of petroleum system analysis. The onshore basins of WA have been the sites of earliest petroleum exploration in WA, and despite the dominance of the NWS as the major petroleum producer, the onshore basins have had some exciting oil discoveries in the last few years (e.g. Cliff Head, Perth Basin, and Ungani in the Canning Basin). Projects will focus on conventional and unconventional reservoir development using core to petrographic-scale description and interpretation to establish depositional setting/environments and major controls on reservoir quality (i.e. principally distribution of porosity and permeability). Some of these projects include Hylogger® analysis and portable XRF analysis of core to obtain geochemical data for characterising facies and diagenetic effects. Some projects could involve application of higher level microscopic techniques (scanning electron, cathode luminescence).

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Project: Geochemical signatures in stratigraphic successionsMajors including:

Geology

Supervisor: Annette George, annette.george@uwa.edu.au, 6488 1923

Description: Interpretation of changes in geochemical composition through stratigraphic successions is increasingly used to understand significant environmental changes in the Earth System in deep time including times of major biotic crisis. In addition, using inorganic geochemical data to correlate stratigraphic successions (‘chemostratigraphy’) is also valuable and increasingly used in the industry alongside other methods to construct better subsurface models. Projects are available that would typically integrate petrography (conventional ± cathode luminescence microscopy) and relevant geochemical analyses (e.g. elemental composition, stable isotopes) to address specific problems of past environmental change and/or basin history. Sample suites may be linked to core logging depending on area for additional sedimentological skill development.

Project: Igneous and Metamorphic PetrologyMajors including:

Geology, Geochemistry

Supervisor: Tony Kemp, tony.kemp@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7846

Description: A range of projects are available in the general fields of igneous and metamorphic petrology. Topics include, and are not limited to - (1) petrology and evolution of Archean granulites, (2) petrology and geochemistry of Proterozoic dolerite dyke swarms, (3) partial melting processes in migmatites from field and geochemical studies, (4) petrogenesis of Paleoproterozoic mafic-ultramafic intrusions, and (5) tin and rare metal mineralization in pegmatites. All projects would involve petrography (optical and secondary electron microscopy) and mineral chemistry (electron microprobe, possibly laser ablation ICPMS), with scope for whole rock geochemistry (major and trace elements) and, potentially, U-Pb isotope geochronology (zircon, monazite). A small fieldwork component may be included. Projects can be tailored to suit individual interests, and may be undertaken over one or two years.

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Project: Rare Earth Element mineralisation in granitesMajors including:

Geology, Economic Geology

Supervisor: Tony Kemp, tony.kemp@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7846

Description: Certain types of granitic rocks are associated with large enrichments in the rare earth elements (REE) - increasingly sought after and strategic commodities of value for sophisticated electronics and renewable energy applications. The purpose of this project is to investigate the controls on these enrichments with reference to study of alkaline granites of the Yilgarn Craton, and peralkaline granites in eastern Australia. These rocks contain unusual REE-rich minerals such as euxenite, fergusonite, samarskite, chevkinite, and bastnaesite. The task is to identify and understand the textural context of REE-rich minerals in the rock, and to relate their distribution to the magmatic evolution of the host granite. There is scope to investigate the effects of alteration and weathering on the mobility and concentration of REE. Involves detailed petrology and electron microscopy.

Project Modelling hydrothermal alteration and mineralisation in the Abra base metal deposit

Majors including:

Geology, geochemistry, structural geology, modelling

Honours or Masters

Supervisor Crystal LaFlamme crystal.laflamme@uwa.edu.au, Mark Pearce (CSIRO), Sam Spinks (CSIRO)

Description The Abra Pb-Ag-(Zn)-Cu-Au deposit is a world class metal accumulation in the Capricorn Orogen, Western Australia. The host rocks for the deposit are a series of shales and sandstones of the Proterozoic Edmund Group with mineralisation located around sedimentary boundaries across which there is a qualitative change in redox state. Mineralisation at Abra is geochemically-blind, obscured by ~300 m of sediment and regolith, and therefore the exact nature of mineralisation is still under debate. Whilst the geology at depth is also poorly constrained, recent studies of fluid inclusions (Pirajno et al, 2015) and modelling of the faulting (Zhang & Schaubs, 2012), combined with ongoing field and analytical investigations provide valuable inputs for thermodynamic modelling of the fluid-rock interaction at Abra. This project will use thermodynamic modelling software, HCh and Geochemists Work Bench, to simulate fluid flow through the stratigraphic sequence and place constraints on fluid chemistry, redox state and potential sources. Using the constraints on the fluid and rock compositions from existing data, the unknown parameters can be explored using forward thermodynamic modelling to match geological constraints. There is also scope to place further constraints on fluid composition by collecting fluid inclusion compositional data using the PIXE nuclear microprobe at the University of Melbourne. The forward modelling approach has previously been used to simulate mineralisation in IOCG deposits where host rock stratigraphy exerts a significant control on location of mineralisation (Cleverley & Oliver, 2005). Work will be completed in collaboration with the Capricorn Distal Footprints team with potential for the intern to interact with industry sponsors of the project.

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Project: Understanding metal contamination of sediments in the Swan-Canning estuary

Majors including:

Environmental Science, Geology, Geochemistry, Environmental Geoscience, Soil Science, Physical Geography

Supervisor: Andrew Rate, andrew.rate@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2500

Description: Potentially toxic elements such as some trace metals may be naturally present in estuarine sediments, or may originate from external sources such as stormwater drains, marinas, or riparian wetlands drying and acidifying as a result of climate variability. In this project we will sample wetland and estuarine sediments to measure the concentrations and mode-of-occurrence of relevant trace elements and associated sediment properties (sulfides, organic matter, clays, etc.). The data will be used to deduce the fate and likely risk of metal contamination.

Project: Geochemical evolution of dredge spoilsMajors including:

Environmental Science, Geology, Geochemistry, Environmental Geoscience, Soil Science, Physical Geography

Supervisor: Andrew Rate, andrew.rate@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2500

Description: The disposal of estuarine or marine dredge material has become very topical with the proposed development of the Abbot Point on the Great Barrier Reef. The Peel-Harvey estuary in WA has examples of both land-based and submarine disposal of dredged sediments. Some consequences are known, but incompletely understood, such as the oxidation of sedimentary sulfides in land-disposed sediment, with consequent acidification and release of metals. The evolution of dredge spoil disposed within the estuary is very poorly understood. The project will involve sampling in one of these scenarios and assessing the geochemical evolution and potential for export of contaminants.

Project: Structural Evolution of the AUS-PAC Plate Boundary in Southern New Zealand

Majors including:

Geology, Geochemistry

Supervisor: Geoff Batt, geoff.batt@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2686, Brent McInnes (Curtin) Noreen Evans (CSIRO)

Description: The relative tectonic simplicity of the obliquely convergent boundary between the Australian and Pacific Plates through southern New Zealand has long seen the region held up as a natural laboratory through which to develop understanding of fundamental orogenic processes. Although deformation in this region is today focused along the Alpine Fault zone to the west of the orogen, the extent of Pliocene-Recent convergence and exhumation has resulted in a low preservation potential for material that directly experienced the early development of the system, leaving its structural evolution incompletely understood. Pilot investigations have recently shown Thermochronological constraint to have the potential to resolve elements of this ambiguous history.

This project will use (U-Th)/He thermochronometry of zircon and apatite to characterize the development and abandonment of fault structures during Miocene evolution of the plate boundary through southern New Zealand from a broad domain of transpressional structures to a coherent, unified fault system –

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the fore-runner of the modern Alpine Fault.

No fieldwork would be required, as samples have already been collected.

The project will involve petrographic and microprobe analysis to characterize samples. Zircon, apatite, and potentially other accessory phases will be selected and prepared for high precision geochemical and isotopic analysis, including thermochronometry.

Full training would be provided in the instrumentation and analytical techniques to be applied

Project: What are the forms of trace elements in sulfidic estuarine sediments? Can we use trace elements as geochemical tracers in these systems?

Majors including:

Geology (environmental), Geochemistry, Environmental Geoscience, Land & Water Management

Supervisor: Andrew Rate, andrew.rate@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2500

Description: Trace elements represent potential contaminants in aquatic sediments, but may also be useful in determining the origin of sulfidic minerals in these systems. You would collect samples of monosulfide-rich sediments from the Peel-Harvey Estuary System or use archived samples. Using these sediments, you would measure the concentrations of different forms of trace elements using a range of chemical and spectroscopic analytical techniques. Normalised trace element concentrations would be related to geographical spatial distribution of the sediments.

Project: What can we learn from geochemical soil surveys?Majors including:

Geology (environmental), Geochemistry, Environmental Geoscience, Environmental Science

Supervisor: Andrew Rate, andrew.rate@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2500

Description: A number of continental-scale soil geochemical datasets are available (e.g., the National Geochemical Survey of Australia, the FOREGS EuroGeoSurveys Geochemical Baseline Database, and the North American ‘Geochemical Landscapes’ project). While these survey have yielded several published studies, the large amount of data collected has the potential to yield significant further findings. This desktop-based project would use robust statistical and multivariate analyses to evaluate interesting and relevant hypotheses about soil and regolith geochemistry based on these large datasets.

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Project: The quantification of hydrothermal mineralising systemsMajors including:

All Geoscience topics

Supervisor: Alison Ord, alison.ord@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2642, Mark Munro, Steve Micklethwaite

Description: This research program is designed as a training project for students and young researchers, with special focus on the analysis of complex geological systems through a combination of structure quantification and modelling.

The non-linearity of many geological systems has been increasingly recognized during the past decades. Processes within such systems act far away from equilibrium and lead to complex structures. A rigorous theoretical and observational foundation for these processes is crucial for understanding the short-term as well as long-term behaviour of our geological environment that provides the basis for our social, cultural and economic life.

Specific projects will focus on mineralisation under hydrothermal conditions – a process that combines fundamental physical and chemical procedures in crystalline matter with fluid flow under various conditions, leading e.g. to economically important mineral deposits and geothermal fields, as well as affecting the long- and short-term response of the lithosphere to stresses, e.g. expressed in the formation of mountain belts and in earthquakes.

The projects will be based on a combination of field-related recording of structures with subsequent quantification and application of numerical modelling. This allows (i) to investigate in detail the effects of various physical and chemical parameters on hydrothermally driven mineralisation, (ii) to compare modelled structures with natural ones and, consequently, (iii) to calibrate and refine the numerical models, which again allows more detailed investigations.

Resources are available in 2014 for collaborative research in Germany through a Go8/DAAD project. The project may lead to MSc or PhD studies.

Project: Empirical Analysis of False Positives in Geophysics and Geochemical Exploration – A ‘Live’ Case Study of Nickel-Copper Exploration in the Fraser Range Region, WA

Majors including:

Any Geoscience background (Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, GIS or Economic Geology), or Geoscience/Commerce double degree

Supervisor: Allan Trench (CET) allan.trench@crugroup.com; 0437 092 466

John Sykes (CET) john.sykes@greenfieldsresearch.com,

Mike Dentith michael.dentith@uwa.edu.au

Description: Studies that examine the probabilities of success in mineral exploration are still in their infancy in terms of influencing exploration decision-making across the broader minerals sector. Very few data-points are available as to the number and nature of exploration targets that are drill-tested – the number of targets that then progress to follow-up drilling – and conversely the number of targets that are considered not worthy of further follow-up activity due to initially negative exploration outcomes.

This study will look at the current exploration efforts of around 20 listed

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exploration companies in the Fraser Range region of WA. Heightened exploration activity has followed the 2012 world-scale discovery of the Nova-Bollinger nickel-copper deposits in the area by Sirius Resources (SIR). The project will involve examining the exploration strategies of these companies, estimating the number of targets identified and tested in the period 2012-2014 and assessing the success rates for targets to progress beyond initial exploration based upon the source of anomalism (e.g. whether electromagnetics, magnetics, geochemistry, geology/structural targeting etc.).

Empirical results will be placed into context using a False Positive/True Positive exploration framework. The study is likely to be high-profile given the extreme exploration interest in the region for new nickel-copper sulphide discoveries.

Project: The Depth Extent of Australia’s Exploration Search Space - Constraints from Existing Mine Developments

Majors including:

Any Geoscience background (Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, GIS or Economic Geology), or Geoscience/Commerce double degree

Supervisor: Allan Trench (CET) allan.trench@crugroup.com; 0437 092 466 ; John Sykes (CET) john.sykes@greenfieldsresearch.com, Cam McCuaig(CET) campbell.mccuaig@uwa.edu.au ; Robbie Rowe (Industry Consultant - UNCOVER initiative)

Description: The exploration of Australia’s large areas of covered terrain is widely perceived as the next frontier of exploration search space. A multidisciplinary initiative is being co-ordinated across a number of Universities and research organisations to commence preparation for the coming decades of exploration through cover rocks to locate the next generation Olympic Dam-like discoveries. Surprisingly, data as to the depth extent of current mining in Australia is not readily available in an easily accessible form - in order to empirically determine the costs of mining for deeper orebodies. This study will aim to achieve the following 3 aims:

Provide a compilation of the depths of Australian mines by key commodities, focused on gold and base metals.

Collate public domain cost information as to the impact of greater depth upon production costs

Provide a first-pass screening of broad areas of Australia’s covered terrain as to the volume of area likely to be first targeted for next generation discoveries.

Project: Mineral System analysis to predict the copper metal endowment of Northern Chile

Majors including:

Any Geoscience background (Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, GIS or Economic Geology), or Geoscience/Commerce double degree

Supervisor: Cam McCuaig(CET) campbell.mccuaig@uwa.edu.au; Jon Hronsky (CET Adjunct Professor, Western Mining Services); John Sykes (CET) john.sykes@greenfieldsresearch.com,

Description: Northern Chile is the world’s greatest copper province. Although explored, a large percentage of the region (and therefore potential mineral wealth) is under post-mineralisation cover sequences. This study will:

(1) combine existing databases from northern Chile on mineral deposit size, location, timing, and intrusive/volcanic rock chemistry and timing;

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(2) map these data spatially and temporally to determine:

(a) size-frequency distributions of deposits in space and time

(b) variations in established chemical ‘fertility indicators’ for copper-fertile magmatism in space and time

(c) compare these maps to established geodynamic history of the western margin of South America

The study will test whether the patterns reflect those self-organised critical systems, and whether the size-frequency distribution of deposits can be used to predict the residual endowment and potential value in this world-class district.

Project: Can rare earth element (REE) concentrations in vegetation explain enrichment of rare earth elements in some surface soils?

Majors including:

Geochemistry, Environmental Geoscience, Land & Water Management, Soil Science

Supervisor: Andrew Rate, andrew.rate@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2500

Description: Trace elements represent potential contaminants in aquatic sediments. The biogeochemical cycling of trace elements in terrestrial ecosystems is a surprisingly poorly-researched topic. You would sample vegetation growing on regolith profiles that are geochemically well-characterised. Plant tissues would be analysed for REE concentrations, and mass balances calculated to assess the significance of plant uptake on REE cycling in these systems. It will likely be necessary to measure other REE pools (such as regolith pore water) to complete the mass balance.

See also: Du, X., Rate, A.W. and Gee, M. 2011. Mineralogical Magazine 75, 784.

Project: Magnetic Interpretation of Basement Structure of the Irwin Terrace, northern Perth Basin

Majors including:

Suitable for M.Sc (5th yr) research project

Geoscience degree including EART3353 Geological Mapping and GEOS4412 Petroleum Systems

Supervisor: Mike Dentith, michael.dentith@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2676, Annette George

Description: New government aeromagnetic data from the northern Perth Basin shows basement structure in the tectonically significant, but poorly exposed, region where the Urella Fault joints the basin-bounding Darling Fault. Existing tectonic models involving a major accommodation zone in this area can be tested using the new data. The Irwin Terrace is a major tectonic element of the northern Perth Basin and exposes Permian stratigraphic units that form important conventional and unconventional reservoirs in the basin.

The research will be based primarily on aeromagnetic data, which will be interpreted in association with magnetic property data (collected on a short field trip) and the limited seismic reflection data from the area.

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Project: Radiometric Responses of Mineral Deposits: Are Alteration-Zone Responses Actually Due to Changes in Geochemistry?

Majors including:

Suitable for Hons (4th yr) or M.Sc (5th yr) research project; Geoscience degree including EART3353 Geological Mapping and GEOS4411 Mineralising Systems

Supervisor: Mike Dentith, michael.dentith@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2676

Description: Several common types of mineral deposits are associated with alteration haloes where the concentration of the three radioelements (K, U, Th) is known to vary. Examples include VMS, epithermal precious metal and porphyry-style deposits. Some important kinds of host rocks for diamonds and REE are also anomalous with respect to radioelement content, notably carbonatites and kimberlites.

An initial assessment of the extensive database of geochemical data suggests that measured changes in radioelement concentrations are often too small to be detected by radiometric surveys. Further data needs to be compiled and modelling of radiometric responses undertaken to investigate whether, for example, responses are being significantly affected by supergene enrichment, density variations or topography.

There is no significant database of the radiometric responses from alteration haloes or mineralisation. A literature search is needed to address this problem, with the dimensions of these anomalies compared with common survey configurations, allowing for the effects of ‘system footprints’, to determine the probability of detection of these responses during reconnaissance exploration.

This project is laboratory based and involves data compilation and geophysical data modelling in a geological context.

Project: Interpreting Magnetic Data from Sedimentary Basins: Recognising Responses from Evaporites

Majors including:

Suitable for M.Sc (5th yr) research project; Geoscience degree including EART3353 Geological Mapping, EART 3344 Basin Analysis and GEOS4412 Petroleum Systems

Supervisor: Mike Dentith, michael.dentith@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2676, Annette George

Description: Recently compiled aeromagnetic data from the Canning Basin show responses which, based on their geometry, are possibly related to salt diapirs. Although rarely reported, the ‘textbook’ magnetic response of salt is a negative anomaly, however these responses are mostly positive anomalies.

Core from two drillholes from the study area is available on which to make magnetic property measurements. Limited seismic data is also available. The research project comprises an integrated interpretation of the available data, including qualitative and quantitative interpretation of the magnetic data.

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Project: Petrology and geochemistry of majorite-bearing peridotite as a source of Barberton-type komatiite volcanism

Majors including:

Suitable for Hons (4th yr) or M.Sc (5th yr) research project (Geoscience)

Supervisor: Marco Fiorentini, marco.fiorentini@uwa.edu.au, 6488 3465, Laure Martin

Description: Komatiites are ultrabasic magmas that formed through high degrees of partial melting of the mantle and therefore provide the most reliable information on bulk mantle compositions. Komatiites have been subdivided into two main groups: Barberton-type komatiites are Al-depleted and have trace element patterns that are undepleted in the most incompatible elements, whereas Munro-type komatiites are Al-undepleted and show incompatible-element-depleted trace element patterns. It is also notable that Barberton-type komatiites are generally depleted in platinum-group element (PGE) contents in relation to Munro-type komatiites.

The compositional differences between Barberton- and Munro-type komatiites reflect the conditions under which the melts separated from their plume sources. Barberton-type komatiites formed by 30% batch melting of a mantle source enriched or slightly depleted in Ca–Al at a depth exceeding 300km, and are depleted in Al owing to majorite garnet retention in the source, whereas Munro-type komatiites formed by 50% fractional melting of a Ca–Al-depleted mantle source at a shallower depth. However, the genesis of komatiite magmatism is still highly debated as very few reliable mantle sources have been identified.

The aim of this study is to determine the petrological and geochemical features of a series of majorite-bearing peridotites from the Otroy Complex in western Norway. These peridotites are thought to represent the mantle restite of Archean Barberton-type komatiite volcanism. Hence, through this study it will be possible to investigate further the genesis of komatiite volcanism and address the question whether majorite garnet plays a role in PGE fractionation and concentration during magmatic processes.

Methods: This research will build on existing material that was collected during previous studies combining:

Petrology using optic and electronic microscopic methods. Microprobe analysis (depending on results) Laser Ablation ICPMS (depending on results) Ion probe (depending on results)

Requirements: This project does not include a fieldwork component and requires a high quality student comfortable with detailed analytical work. A successful outcome has the potential to result in a publication.

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Project: Microbialte Ecohydrology and SedimentologyMajors including:

Hydrogeology, Geology, Geography, Environmental Science

Supervisor: Ryan Vogwill ryan.vogwill@uwa.edu.au, 6488 2680

Description: South West Western Australia contains a large number of microbialte bearing wetlands which are under threat from climate change, anthropogenic water use and landuse change. Microbialites (stromatolites, thrombolites and tufas) are all formed by the presence of microbial communities which form CaCO3 deposits. Multiple project opportunities exist at multiple sites to assess microbialite formation, microbialite sedimentology, microbialite evotuion, wetland surface and groundwater interaction, links between microbial assemblage and water quality to contribute towards developing environmental water requirements.

Project: PT constraints on Gold mineralisation in the Archean Agnew Greenstone belt

Majors including:

Suitable for M.Sc (5th yr) research project; Geosciences, Economic Geology

Supervisor: Nicolas Thébaud, nicolas.thebaud@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7139, Kati Katy Evans and Alistair White

Description: In the Agnew Gold Camp recent investigation delineated the structural framework and mineral paragenesis of four differing deposits: the Crusader, Songvang, New Holland-Genesis, and Waroonga deposits. Results from these studies indicate that mineralisation in the Agnew Gold Camp was structurally controlled by the formation of the Lawlers Antiform during a regional E-W contraction. Mineralisation expression in the Agnew Gold Camp shows vastly different alteration styles. These include atypical magnetite-rich, quartz- and sulphide-poor Au mineralisation at Crusader, a Au/Ag rich system with biotite-fluorite-amphibole-chalcopyrite in Songvang, and typical quartz-arsenopyrite-pyrite-biotite-amphibole orogenic gold-style alteration in the New Holland-Genesis and Waroonga deposits. Structural and paragenetic relationships, combined with geochronological data, indicate that mineralisation developed during a two-stage process involving contrasting fluid sources. The initial event is related to the onset of folding and presents the characteristics of magmatic intrusion related mineralisation. The second mineralisation event is more akin to typical Archean orogenic-like gold mineralisation, and has developed at a late stage of the Lawlers anticline formation. Although the use of geochronology permitted the definition of at least two mineralisation events, the genetic process leading to the range of mineralisation styles present in the Agnew Camp remain poorly constrained. The key challenge that still remains is to place these extremely different alteration and mineralisation styles into the now well-defined regional spatial and temporal context. Further understanding of the P-T condition of formation of each individual deposit may in turn help guide resource delineation and exploration strategies.

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Project: Metamorphic P-T evolution of the Archean Agnew Greenstone belt Majors including:

Suitable for M.Sc (5th yr) research project

Geoscience

Supervisor: Nicolas Thebaud, nicolas.thebaud@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7139, Michael Gazeley and Alistair White

Description: The understanding of the structural relationship between Archean greenstone belts and adjacent granitoids is critical for understanding crustal evolution during the Archean and is the subject of ongoing debate. Our ability to propose and test geodynamic models, strongly depends on our capacity to gather accurate information on the pressure, temperature, and timing of a given tectonometamorphic event. In Archean cratons this exercise is complicated by the fact that greenstone belts are largely metamorphosed in the greenschist facies or less (T≤450ºC) for which existing mineral thermometer and barometers lack accuracy. This project aims at using the complex mineral metamorphic mineral assemblage in the mafic succession to evaluate the P-T evolution at the time of deformation of the structuraly well constrained Agnew domain in the Yilgarn craton, Western Australia.

Project: Hydrothermal alteration mineralogy, texture and zoning at the Petowal deposit, Eastern Senegal, Western Africa

Majors including:

Suitable for Hons (4th yr) research project

Economic Geology

Supervisor: Nicolas Thebaud, nicolas.thebaud@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7139, Quentin Masurel

Description: Hydrothermal alteration mineralogy and zonation of the orogenic gold Petawol in Eastern Senegal (Western Africa) using detailed petrography, mineral chemistry and whole rock, trace element and REE geochemistry. This new data will be used to establish the hydrothermal footprint and P-T-X conditions of gold mineralization at this deposit; in addition mineralogical and geochemical vectors towards gold mineralization will be established.

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Project: U-Pb age distribution of Detrital Zircon populations across the Birimian Terrane / Man Shield boundary, West Africa

Majors including:

Suitable for Hons (5th yr) research project; Economic Geology

Supervisor: Nicolas Thébaud, nicolas.thebaud@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7139, Luis Parra Avilla and Elena Belousova

Description: The West African Craton consists of an Archean core, the so-called Man Shield, and a Paleoproterozoic Birimian Terrane that is essentially composed of volcanic belts and intervening sedimentary basins. The overall relation and the boundary between the Man Shield and the Birimian Terrane further to the North remains poorly constrained. In order to understand the regional tectonostratigraphic evolution and associated mineralisation of the Birimian Terrane in Western Africa, it is important to develop a good understanding of the timing of emplacement of the various litho-stratigraphic pakages and intrustions forming the Craton. At present, very little is known about the stratigraphic variation within the Birimian Sedimentary Basins, which forms a large portion of the Birimian Sequence and even less is known about the relation of this basin with the underlying Archean Man Shield. In 2012 a field campaign was conducted in Guinea across the boundary between the Proterozoic and Archean Terranes. During this field campaign, sediments from streams and rivers were collected with the purpose of conducting a TerraneChron® reconnaissance study over the area. TerranChron® is a unique methodology integrating in situ analysis of zircons for U-Pb age, Hf-isotope composition and trace-element composition using LAM-ICPMS, LAM-Multi-Collector (MC) ICPMS and electron microprobe (EMP) providing a powerful tool for the study of crustal evolution and evaluation of the metallogenic potential of terranes. The methodology will be applied to detrital zircons recovered from drainage samples. The use of drainage samples has many advantages: nature has separated and concentrated a statistically more meaningful sample than is achievable by conventional single rock sampling and methods, and this can provide a more comprehensive coverage of rock types particularly in the areas where the rock outcrops are scarce.

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Project: Martian impact craters and their potential for melt and ore deposit genesisMajors including:

Suitable for Hons (4th yr) or M.Sc (5th yr) research project; Geoscience

Supervisor: Marco Fiorentini, marco.fiorentini@uwa.edu.au, 64883465, Steve Mickelthwaite, Raphael Baumgartner, David Baratoux

Description: Observations on the size, structure and morphology of impact craters on the planetary bodies of the inner solar system provide invaluable information about their crustal composition, structure and physical properties. The impact process itself is usually characterised by the formation of impact melt due to the release of thermal energy and instantaneous melting of the target rocks. Small impacts (crater diameter <25 km) usually form low amounts of impact melt, most of which occurs as small bodies of glass in (polymict) breccias within and outside the crater. Large impact structures, on the other hand, usually host large amounts of impact melts deposited as melt layers at the crater floors.

The Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC), Canada, which represents a thick differentiated mafic- to ultramafic melt layer, represents the best example of an impact related melt sheet on Earth. Intriguingly, the SIC also hosts the world’s largest Ni reserves in the form of basal horizons of polymetallic (Ni-Cu-PGE) sulphide mineralisation. Their genesis is recognised to be directly linked to cooling and closed system magmatic differentiation of the melt body. The Martian crust is largely dominated by impact craters, which range in diameter from <1 km to the enormous dimension (~2200 km diameter) of the Hellas Planitia impact structure, suggesting the potential presence of large amounts of impact melt in individual impact structures. The primary aim of this project is to investigate whether individual Martian impact crater host large amounts of differentiated and potentially mineralised (i.e. Ni-Cu-PGE sulphides) impact melt layers.

Methodology: Martian impact crater will be investigated for impact melt sheets based on two individual approaches:

Various high-resolution imagery (e.g. CTX, HIRISE, HRSC, MOC; up to 0.25 m/pixel) and global topography (e.g. MOLA, HRSC; up to 50 m/pixel) datasets will be used to map individual Martian impact craters for the presence of large layers of impact melt sheets.

Numerous studies have shown that impact crater diameter scale with impact melt volume. State of the art calculation/modelling techniques about impact melt generation will be used to calculate potential melt volumes present in individual crater on Mars.

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Project: High-Precision Uranium-Lead Geochronology applied to Igneous Processes and Tectonics

Majors including:

Geology, Geochemistry

Supervisor: Steve Denyszyn, steven.denyszyn@uwa.edu.au, 6488 7329

Description: The use of thermal-ionisation mass spectrometry to determine the isotopic composition of uranium and lead in minerals such as zircon and baddeleyite can provide high-precision ages for igneous events. This enables the determination of the timing, rate, and correlation of all sorts of geological processes, such as magma chamber development, ore-forming events, tectonic activity from the local to continental scales, or global biotic events such as mass extinctions.

A variety of projects are available that will use this methodology, which involves careful laboratory practice, in combination with petrography and geochemistry to answer important questions in these fields using rocks already collected (so work can begin right away).

Most projects involve the study of mafic intrusive rocks and the timing of their emplacement, with implications for ore-deposit genesis, and the reconstruction of past climate and plate motion. If other rock types interest you, there are also projects available to study granites and their mode of emplacement, and metamorphic rocks to determine the timing of formation and metamorphism.

Project: Fingerprinting fluid and sulfur sources at the Prairie Downs Pb-Zn deposit: unlocking sphalerite

Majors including:

Geology, economic geology, geochemistry, structural geology

Honours or Masters project

Supervisor Crystal LaFlamme, crystal.laflamme@uwa.edu.ca, 6488 5805; Johannes Hammerli, Marco Fiorentini

Description This project will seek to understand the nature and source of metal-transporting fluids and sulfur in the poorly understood Prairie Downs Pb-Zn deposit within the Capricorn Orogen, Western Australia. Mineralization at Prairie Downs is multi-phase and hosted within temporally-distinct units. Preliminary petrographic work has identified at least two generations of sphalerite mineralization in the deposit. This project will utilize a number of state-of-the-art analytical techniques pertaining to the analysis of sphalerite, used here as a critical tracer for metal and sulfur source. In situ multiple sulfur isotope analysis to place constraints on the source of sulfur will be developed and determined using world-leading techniques by Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry at UWA. Coupled to constraining the source of sulfur, fluid inclusion analysis will provide valuable information on the temperature and potentially the source(s) of the fluid-transporting metals. This work has the potential to provide valuable information on the controls and localisation of mineralization. As a Master’s project, the student could potentially perform some field work component at the deposit itself.

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Project: 3D modelling of the West African CratonMajors including:

Geology Geophysics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science

Supervisor: Mark Jessell, mark.jessell@uwa.edu.au, 6488 5803, Mark Lindsay

Description: A number of global and regional geophysical datasets exist for the West African Craton (WAC), however the signatures of major lithospheric-scale features (Lithosphere-Asthenosphere Boundary, Moho, Major Structural boundaries…) remain under-constrained. This project will critically examine the available datasets in order to build a full 3D model of the WAC that characterises and then visualises the uncertainty associated with each interpreted feature.

This project is supported by the CET-led West African Exploration Initiative, an industry-funded consortium with 10 industry partners, and the scope is compatible for continuation to Masters or PhD level. Computer experience and some maths are required.

Project: Topological uncertainty in 3D geologyMajors including:

Geology Geophysics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science

Supervisor: Mark Jessell, mark.jessell@uwa.edu.au, 6488 5803, Mark Lindsay

Description: The geometry of geological models has long been recognised to be an important constraint on the validity of forward process modelling and geophysical inversions, however in many instances the topology of the model is as important if not more so, especially in situations where the continuity of lithologies, or the connectivity of structures controls the outcome, such as in fluid flow or some types of electrical measurements. This project will examine methods to characterise the 3D topology of geological models as a pathway to classifying end-member models that can be used in geophysical inversion schemes.

This project is supported by the WA government-funded WA_In3D project, and the scope is compatible for continuation to Masters or PhD level. Computer experience and some maths are required.

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Project: Web mapping solutions for pre-competitive geoscientific data distributionMajors including:

Computer Science, Environmental Science: Geographic Information Science and Environmental Management

Supervisor: Vaclav Metelka, vaclav.metelka@uwa.edu.au, 6488 1871; David Glance; Mark Jessell

Description: Web mapping applications are now a standard tool for delivering, sharing, analysing, or distributing spatial data worldwide. During the WAXI (West African Exploration Initiative) project a web-mapping tool called “waxiexplorer” was developed. This tool was also used for an open-access system called the IM4DC Open Data accessible at http://opendata.im4dc.org. Both of these web applications enable users to visualize and download any spatially enabled data that were gathered through the life of the particular project. These applications build on open-source web mapping solutions such as Geoserver and PostgreSQL with the PostGIS extension as well a number of JavaScript libraries like ExtJS, OpenLayers, GeoExt, and GXP.

The proposed project will aim at upgrading the current platform with new functionalities and improving the platform efficiency and architecture mainly using newly developed tools available in the open source community. The potential students will gain knowledge of open source web mapping solutions and their application to the distribution of geoscientific data.

This project would be suitable for Master students with an interest in web mapping, database applications and open-source software. Programming experience in JavaScript, HTML, is required (experience with Python would be a benefit).

Project: Cooling rate, emplacement mechanism and crystallisation of a dolerite sill.Majors including:

Geology, Geochemistry

Supervisor: Mary Gee, Mary.Gee@uwa.edu.au 6488 1243

Description: Projects will be developed after discussion with the student. Key outcomes can be achieved within a year, and then either written up or developed for a second year; a ‘cool’ example is given below.

Proxy cooling rates of dolerite sills as recorded by mineral shapes and relationships is a very current topic in the literature (search Marion B. Holness 2012 - 2015) and, coupled with studies of the country rock, they can provide a wide range of information about magmatic emplacement and differentiation, as well as the local and regional crustal/tectonic environment. We have an excellent local (South Coast of WA) example awaiting a student who wants to develop their field and microscopy (optical and SEM/EMP) skills. Depending on the student’s interests and the project’s life, other techniques can be applied. Alternatively, a project could focus on the cause of gabbro and pegmatite sized mafic segregations within the dolerite. Note that these projects could also be carried out by two students working independently.

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Project: Palaeobiology - Precambrian fossilsMajors including:

Suitable for Hons (4th yr) or M.Sc (5th yr) research project

Geoscience

Supervisor: David Wacey, david.wacey@uwa.edu.au 6488 8074 and colleagues in CMCA

Description: A range of projects are available in the general fields of early life on Earth and evolution of Precambrian life. Topics include, and are not limited to - (1) Advanced microscopic analysis of Precambrian organic material, (2) Differentiating life from mineral artefacts in Precambrian rocks, (3) 3D analysis and reconstruction of early microbial communities, (4) Detailed studies of renowned Precambrian fossil deposits including the 1.9 billion year old Gunflint Formation, 1 billion year old Torridon Group, and others. Projects would expose the student to state of the art analytical techniques and would include one or more of: transmission electron microscopy, secondary electron microscopy, 3D serial sectioning using a focused ion beam, X-ray CT, laser Raman, infrared spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry. Projects can be tailored to suit individual interests, and may be undertaken over one or two years.

Project: Controlling factors for the spatial distribution of emeraldsMajors including:

Geology, Geochemistry, Gemology

Supervisor: Johannes Hammerli johannes.hammerli@uwa.edu.au, Tony Kemp

Description: Emerald, the green variety of beryl (Be3Al2[Si6O18]), is one of the most sought after gemstones, after ruby and diamond. However, we only have a general idea about what governs its formation and which geochemical factors control its spatial distribution. The proposed study site will be the Poona pegmatite field in the Cue District of Western Australia – Australia’s most productive emerald district. The pegmatite-rich Poona area sits on greenstone and is part of the Archean Yilgarn Craton. This project aims to better understand emerald formation during the interaction of igneous fluid/melt with ultrabasic host rocks, now biotite-phlogopite schist, and during subsequent metamorphism. The mass balance of emerald forming elements in hydrothermal systems will be monitored using the chemical signatures of emerald and associated mineral phases. Additionally, the study of fluid inclusions in quartz and emerald in pegmatite as well as in biotite-phlogopite schist will help to unravel the properties of the mineralizing fluids. This project will involve a few days fieldwork and an array of analytical methods (LA-ICP-MS, EPMA, Microthermometry).

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