Research

The MESH expedition collected an exceptional sample suite from the 2012 deep submarine silicic eruption of Havre, Kermadec arc. Sediment cores sampled a well-preserved pumice-rich volcaniclastic sequence deposited by unknown sedimentary processes during the 2012 eruption. The core also contains older pumiceous deposits that have never been identified before. This project aims at understanding how these sediments were emplaced off-dispersal axis, and reconstruct from which eruptive phase they belong. The student will carry out facies description, componentry, grain shape and grains size analysis, geochemistry fingerprinting, and collaborate on sampling for ¹³C dating. Both sedimentology and volcanology approaches will be used, and results will be compared with the large dataset and eruption models currently built by numerous students worldwide.

This study is part of a huge effort from UTAS researchers and international colleagues to unravel eruption and transport behaviour in submarine eruptions. This study will allow to expand our understanding of the eruption from a different perspective, and using deposits that are not yet linked to a specific phase of the eruption. The project has the potential of a standalone scientific paper.

The project focuses on an epithermal prospect a few km from the Cargo copper porphyry mineralisation on the edge of the Cargo Intrusive Complex, 30km from the NSW town of Orange and 14km west from Newcrest Mining’s Cadia Valley Operations.

The primary goal of the study is to characterise the mineralisation, document with volcanic facies that host the deposit within the Cargo Volcanic Complex and determine the age of mineralisation.

Multiple thin basaltic beds were cored during ODP Expedition 126 in the Sumisu intra-oceanic rift, Izu-Bonin arc. Study of this beautiful basaltic succession will allow answering critical questions for the understanding of submarine volcanism and marine sedimentation of volcanic particles. Are these basaltic beds related to large subaerial stratovolcanoes 60 km away, or from a local deep seamount? Are these facies derived from fall deposits onto water, or turbidity currents? If from a subaqueous origin, can we reconstruct the water depth at the vent? This study will characterise lateral facies variations in several ODP cores to interpret transport and depositional processes in deep basins. Glass composition and volatile content of the volcanic glass (and possibly melt inclusions in olivine) by FTIR will give insights on the geochemical signature and eruption water depth, and contribute to interpretation on possible provenances. This study includes sedimentology, volcanology, and geochemistry.

Lode gold mineralisation at the world class Dead Bullock Soak (DBS) mining camp is hosted within a sequence of Paleoproterozoic meta-turbidites of the Dead Bullock Formation. The Dead Bullock Formation has been divided into several stratigraphic units composed of meta-siltstones, sandstones, and chert; some of these units are preferential hosts to vein-hosted gold mineralisation. The Upper Blake Beds (UBB) typically occur stratigraphically above the recognized most prospective host units and have not been described in detail. Recent insights into the controls on gold mineralisation at DBS indicate that some facies within the UBB could be prospective to host gold mineralisation within a favourable structural framework.

The primary goal of this study is to carry out an analysis of the sedimentological characteristics and produce a detailed stratigraphy of the Upper Blake Beds, with the intention to sub-divide/classify the UBB into constrained depositional facies. Some of the new units may exhibit traits considered favourable for hosting gold mineralisation, or at least, provide a more robust stratigraphy for geological modelling.

The researcher will have access to a large repository of high-resolution photos of drill core photos, hyperspectral scanning imagery, and a database of multielement geochemistry and logging data. Ideally the researcher will be able to spend time at the Granites DBS mine site to work with and log type sections of drill core; subject to logistical considerations. It is expected that the researcher may choose to collect samples for petrographic, mineralogical, and/or geochemical analysis.

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, Paul Olin, 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 and Paul Olin.

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.