Geosciences Honours and Masters projects

Analysis of ophiolites from southeast Australia

Ophiolites (fragments of ocean floor) outcrop in narrow belts across southeast Australia. Projects under this title will examine the geochemistry and petrology of these ophiolites using geochemical, petrographical and/or field techniques.

• Project type: Master of Geoscience one semester research project (25 points)
• Supervisors: Eleanor Green
• Make an enquiry

Petrological modelling of igneous and metamorphic rocks

Using modern methods in computational petrology, we can simulate how the minerals of igneous and metamorphic rocks evolve during magmatic or tectonic events, and then relate our simulations to rocks observed in the field. In projects under this title, you may either model rock samples and make deductions about their geological history, or explore the scope and limitations of the modelling methods themselves. These projects are suitable both for students who only intend to take GEOL90024 Project in Geoscience, and for students interested in taking both GEOL90024 Project in Geoscience and GEOL90025 Research Project in Geoscience.

• Project type: Master of Geoscience one semester research project (25 points)
• Supervisors: Eleanor Green
• Make an enquiry

Origin of subduction zone rocks at Port Macquarie

An ancient subduction zone is preserved in rocks from Port Macquarie, New South Wales. The rocks include both classic products of subduction zone metamorphism, such as lawsonite blueschists, and more exotic rocks such as omphacitites. Projects under this title will use numerical analysis of whole-rock and mineral compositions, combined with optical microscopy, to explore possible relationships between different rock types. Projects are appropriate both for students who only intend to take GEOL90024 Project in Geoscience, and for students wishing to take both GEOL90024 Project in Geoscience and GEOL90025 Research Project in Geoscience.

• Project type: Master of Geoscience one semester research project (25 points)
• Supervisors: Eleanor Green and Melanie Finch
• Make an enquiry

Fluid migration in the Kalinjala shear zone, South Australia

Fluids in shear zones are important for accommodating the movement of tectonic plates, nucleating earthquakes and forming mineral deposits, yet the mechanisms governing fluid migration in shear zones remain poorly understood. This project will investigate the Kalinjala shear zone in South Australia where there is a gradient in deformation (strain) in beautiful mylonites exposed on the coast. We will do field work to understand the strain gradients and collect samples, then use microcomputed tomography and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to understand how fluid migration pathways change as the deformation in rocks increases. We will apply for beamtime at the Australian Synchrotron to do this work. Training will be provided in all necessary techniques.

• Project type: Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisors: Melanie Finch and Alanis Olesch-Byrne
• Make an enquiry

Microstructures hosting mineralisation in shear zone hosted ore deposits

Hydrothermal ore deposits form in brittle-ductile shear zones during deformation. This research project will examine microcomputed tomography data of 3D x-rays of drillcore to determine the structures that host gold or copper mineralisation on the micro scale. The project will involve processing the data and creating movies and images that demonstrate where in the rock gold or copper occur. These data will be interpreted to determine what the microstructural controls on mineralisation can reveal about how the ore deposit formed. Training and the necessary computing facilities will be provided.

• Project type: Master of Geoscience one semester research project (25 points)
• Supervisors: Melanie Finch and Alanis Olesch-Byrne
• Make an enquiry

Earth’s history through sedimentary geology

Sedimentary rocks record four billion years of Earth’s environmental evolution and the evolution of life. Projects may considers aspects of  timing of environmental change, tectonism, past climates, vegetation history, and the evolution of the oceans and atmosphere. Sediment hosted ore deposits and the diagenesis of sediments are also aspects of this research which can be related to industry projects. There are a variety of projects related to sedimentary geology in any of these areas depending on what prospective Masters and Honours students are interested in. Any project would likely be a combination of some fieldwork, petrography and sedimentary geochemistry (laser/isotopes).

• Project type: Honours or Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisors: Ashleigh Hood, Malcolm Wallace
• Make an enquiry

Exploring the mantle through kimberlite-borne mantle xenoliths

Kimberlites are volcanic rocks sourced from the deepest derived magmas on Earth. Kimerblites are the primary host rocks to diamonds and are thought to be emplaced in violent eruptions. In addition to diamonds, kimberlites also transport a vast cargo of lithospheric mantle material, in the form of xenoliths. These xenoliths provide a window into the mantle that would otherwise be inaccessible. This project will involved petrographic and geochemical analyses to understand the evolution  of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath cratonic regions (there is a choice of possible localities).

• Project type: Honours, Master of Science (Earth Science), or Master of Geoscience one semester research project (25 points)
• Supervisor: Hayden Dalton
• Make an enquiry

Kimberlites of the Karelian Craton

Kimberlites are volcanic rocks sourced from the deepest derived magmas on Earth and are the primary host rocks to diamonds. A cluster of these enigmatic volcanic rocks has recently been discovered in Finland. This project will involve characterising these samples using petrography, geochronology and geochemistry to understand their evolution, source and emplacement. It is yet to be determined if these rocks are related to kimberlites found elsewhere in Finland or in neighbouring Russia

• Project type: Honours, Master of Science (Earth Science) or Master of Geoscience one semester research project (25 points)
• Supervisor: Hayden Dalton
• Make an enquiry

Floral change during globally warm climates

Using material collected from Antarctica, Australia or the USA, you will document how Cretaceous or Eocene climate influenced palynofloral communities (i.e., microscopic fossil spores and pollen). Using the generated palynological data, you will interpret the paleoclimate and paleoenvironment. This project will be conducted in collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey, Smithsonian Institution and/or New Mexico State University.

• Project type: Honours or Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisor: Vera Korasidis
• Make an enquiry

Investigating "meteorite impact sites" in Tasmania

The Darwin Crater in Western Tasmania, of diameter 1.2 km,  is thought to result from a meteorite impact 0.8 million years ago.  This project will investigate some topographic features that could represent additional impact sites from the same event. The origin of these features will be evaluated using a combined geomorphological (e.g. erosion modelling) and petrological approach. The project involves physically strenuous fieldwork in the Tasmanian Central Highlands, although, in exceptional circumstances, the requirement for the research student to do their own fieldwork could be waived.

• Project type:  Honours
• Supervisors:  Henne May and Eleanor Green
• Make an enquiry

Microfossils climate and environment

Research on Cenozoic ocean sediment from  International Ocean Discovery Program expeditions or other similar projects.

• Project type: Honours or Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisor: Stephen Gallagher
• Make an enquiry

Microfossils of the 12 Apostles

Analyses of microfossils to get the age and environments of the layers of the 12 Apostles.

• Project type: Honours or Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisor: Stephen Gallagher
• Make an enquiry

Reconstructing environmental change, people-environment interactions, and pollution histories from modern and archaeological shell middens in the Dampier Archipelago, WA using geochemistry and sclerochronology

These projects will use high-resolution geochemical records (stable isotopes and trace elements) combined with analysis of growth increments from mollusc shells (sclerochronology) to reconstruct records of past climate change, people-environment interaction, and seasonal shellfish foraging strategies from Holocene archaeological shell middens in the Dampier Archipelago. There are three projects available, one focusing on a modern proxy calibration study using stable isotopes and trace elements from modern mollusc species, one focused on tracing pollution histories back in time using geochemistry and sclerochronology, and another focusing geochemical analysis of shell remains from archaeological shell middens. This research will be undertaken and funded as part of the ARC Centre of excellence for Indigenous and Environmental histories and Futures (CIEHF). All research will be co-designed and in collaboration with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation.

• Project type: Honours or Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisor: Amy Prendergast
• Make an enquiry

Integrated in-situ multi-mineral triple dating of Victorian granites

This project will focus on developing a novel combination of geo-thermochronological methods to characterise and constrain the evolution of under-studied Victorian granites. The student will apply multiple U-isotope dating in-situ methods on apatite, zircon, and monazite accessory minerals. Together with EMPA and LIBS geochemistry, data will be used to investigate the geological evolution of select plutons. This study will provide a unique opportunity to accumulate hands-on lab experience and work with cutting-edge lab equipment.

• Project type: Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisor: Ling Chung, Malcolm McMillan, Brandon Mahan
• Make an enquiry

Independent Mineral Identification from LIBS+OM

This project will use laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and optical microscopy (OM) imaging to explore the development of mineral / mineral-group classification without the need for SEM-EDS or EPMA analyses (which are time- and cost-consuming). LIBS rapidly characterises chemical compositions based on emitted light, and combining this with optical information like crystal shape and reflectance/transmission may provide a way to quickly and independently identify minerals for Geoscience applications. We will explore these capabilities, their automation, and importantly, the development of a probability-based tool for LIBS+OM mineral identification, all providing an amazing opportunity to up-skill across highly relevant lab, analytical and statistical practices in the Geosciences.

• Project type: Either Honours or Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisor: Brandon Mahan, Bence Paul, Malcolm McMillan, Joe Petrus (External)
• Make an enquiry

Determining Micro-Geospatial Coordination Accuracy in Hardware- Software Systems

This project will use multiple automated systems that rely on micro-geospatial referencing for ultra-high precision location determination and re-determination. These software-hardware systems are critical for cutting-edge analyses using X-ray and laser-based analyses in geological materials. We will test the accuracy and precision of these ‘recoordination’ systems to find, and then re-find, sampling positions at the micron-scale, while determining how many geo-referencing points are needed to get accurate results. Being both software and hardware based, and deploying statistical analyses, this project will provide a valuable and well-rounded opportunity to upskill in several highly sought after Geoscience strengths.

• Project type: Master of Science preferred but Honours considered
• Supervisor: Brandon Mahan, Bence Paul, Ling Chung
• Make an enquiry

Feasibility study into subsurface leaching of limestone coupled to carbon mineralisation

This project builds on a current project on the integration of Direct Air Capture and Carbon Mineralisation (DAC-MIN), where CO2 is extracted from air, calcium is leached from waste concrete and the two streams (CO2, dissolved Ca2+) are combined to form solid calcium carbonate. In this Honours / MSc study, we want to simulate a slightly modified approach by injecting CO2-saturated water into limestone. The limestone will dissolve along the travel path of the injected water due to the low pH. A second well will produce the water, which will be highly enriched in Ca2+ and HCO3- / CO32-. Similar to natural travertine formation, remaining CO2 in solution will degas under surface conditions, the pH will go up and CaCO3 will precipitate.

• Project type: Either Honours or Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisor: Ralf Haese
• Make an enquiry

Conditions for travertine formation

This project will take a deep dive in thermodynamic and kinetic conditions of CaCO3 formation. Travertine is a highly valuable natural stone made up of CaCO3, but it has not been possible to replicate travertine formation in the laboratory. This project will explore the conditions of travertine formation through a literature review and relatively simple geochemical (thermodynamic and kinetic) modelling. A 2-years MSc project on this topic will also include laboratory experiments.

• Project type: Either Honours or Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisor: Ralf Haese
• Make an enquiry

Mapping critical minerals to faults

Critical minerals are known to cluster around fault surfaces, but how the formation of deposits relates to tectonic reactivation is not well understood. This project reconstructs continent-scale stress orientations and strain rates back through time to understand how they map to major faults and critical mineral formation. There are a variety of projects on offer ranging from plate tectonic reconstructions to constrain the tectonic regime at the time of fault and mineral emplacement, constraining the permeability along faults, and modelling fluid flow into and out of fault zones which can form mineral deposits. These projects will help to inform prospective regions for critical mineral exploration which is essential to build the green energy economy.

• Project type: Either Honours or Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisors: Ben Mather
• Make an enquiry

Constraining fluid flow rates to build critical mineral deposits in sedimentary basins

Sediment-hosted mineral deposits are formed by fluids redistributing mobile elements such as copper from an enriched source rock through major aquifers and concentrating them within sedimentary basins. While each sedimentary basin is unique, and possess unique formation histories, there are some fundamental questions which govern sed-hosted mineral deposit formation. This project aims to untangle (i) how long does it take to form a mineral deposit, (ii) how much fluid volume is required to form a deposit, (iii) how does fluid pH influence their formation, (iv) and over what distances from the source region can these deposits form. Each of these concepts can be addressed from fluid modelling using simple geological models which can be adapted to complex sedimentary basins. This project will provide fundamental knowledge to inform the exploration of sediment-hosted mineral deposits.

• Project type: Either Honours or Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisors: Ben Mather
• Make an enquiry

Groundwater flow modelling in the Great Artesian Basin

The Great Artesian Basin is one of the largest aquifer systems in the world covering a third of the total landmass of Australia. With surface water supplies at risk of depletion from agricultural and industrial water demands, and the increased risk of droughts due to climate change, Australia must turn to groundwater to supply its future water needs. Despite this, very little is known about the groundwater flow rates and capacities within deep aquifers of the Great Artesian Basin. This project aims to model how much water can be sustainably extracted from different groundwater aquifers, and identify suitable locations for managed aquifer recharge (MAR) which can help to buffer wet and dry seasons.

• Project type: Either Honours or Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisors: Ben Mather
• Make an enquiry

Searching for mantle plumes

Mantle plumes are buoyant upwellings inside Earth’s molten interior which produce intraplate volcanoes. The canonical model of a mantle plume extends from the core-mantle boundary to the surface and produces a chain of volcanoes as the tectonic plates move above the relatively stationary plume conduit. However, there are numerous exceptions to this model found in nature, where a single plume conduit can produce multiple volcanic chains. This project aims to untangle some of the bizarre volcanic trails produced by mantle plumes, which may be attributed to plume splitting, tilted plumes, plume ponding, among many other mechanisms. A variety of projects are available focussing on the geochemistry of eruption products, interrogating numerical simulations of mantle plumes, and linking mantle plumes to mineral deposit formation.

• Project type: Either Honours, Master of Science (Earth Science) or Master of Geoscience one semester research project
• Supervisors: Ben Mather
• Make an enquiry

Linking the deep water cycle with sea level change

Vast quantities of water are known to enter the molten interior of the Earth at subduction zones. Much of this water is spewed out of the Earth’s interior along volcanic arcs and mid-ocean ridges, but some water is ultimately mixed deeper into the Earth and stored within the mantle transition zone. This project aims to quantify how much subducted water is partitioned to the Earth’s surface versus carried deeper into the mantle over deep geological time using tectonic plate reconstructions. Multiple projects are available which explore (i) the feedback between sea level changes, ocean basin volume and the return of mantle water to the surface; (ii) how much water can be stored in the transition zone; (iii) how free water in the mantle can enhance convective upwellings and volcanic eruptions through mantle melting. These projects fill a void in our understanding of Earth’s deep water cycle over ~ 2 billion years.

• Project type: Either Honours or Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisors: Ben Mather
• Make an enquiry

Constraining geothermal heat flow in Antarctica

Geothermal heat flow is one of the most important boundary conditions for glaciologists to predict ice sheet collapse. However, the geothermal heat flow in Antarctica is poorly constrained due to sparse data. This project aims to improve geothermal heat flux estimates by assimilating multiple datasets (including gravity, magnetics, seismic, and more) within a coupled heat flow – fluid flow model. This will produce a self-consistent simulation combining fluid flow and heat flow into a single model, which has never been done before in Antarctica. This project will ultimately help to predict the collapse of major glaciers in Antarctica.

• Project type: Either Honours, Master of Science (Earth Science) or Master of Geoscience one semester research project
• Supervisors: Ben Mather
• Make an enquiry

Interpretation and restoration of thrust structures

Using MOVETM software, field and/or seismic thrust structures (Shaw et al 2005) will be interpreted, balanced and restored to illustrate their evolution. See previous projects by Shuang Liu and Thiwaporn Phonsit.  One or two projects available.

• Project type: Master of Geoscience one semester research project (25 points)
• Supervisors: Kevin Hill, Melanie Finch
• Make an enquiry

Nature and timing of the Bell Point Shear zone, Cape Liptrap

This project involves field mapping of the Bell Point Shear zone using onshore and offshore high-resolution imagery tied to petrography and potential geochemical analyses of samples in the shear zone to determine the timing and nature of offset and of mantle overthrusting.

• Project type: Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisors: Kevin Hill, Melanie Finch, Eleanor Green
• Make an enquiry

The age and nature of mafic intrusions in the Cape Paterson area

This project involves mapping, dating, petrography and geochemical analysis of up to five mafic intrusions with mantle xenoliths that intrude the Aptian-Albian Strzlecki Formation. The area is covered by new high-resolution drone imagery.

• Project type: Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisors: Hayden Dalton, Kevin Hill
• Make an enquiry

Investigating Distal Volcanic Products from Turkana Basin, Kenya

Distal volcanic deposits, such as tephra layers and pumice, preserve valuable information about their source volcanoes and the processes occurring within the magma system prior to eruption. In this project, you will use a range of microanalytical and geochemical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), to investigate the compositions and textures of volcanic glass and crystals preserved within tephra deposits from the Turkana Basin, Kenya. These data will be used to reconstruct dynamic magmatic processes, such as magma mixing, crystallisation and magma recharge, and investigate the potential triggers of ancient explosive eruptions in an active continental rift, the East African Rift System. M.Geo one semester or two semester research projects can also be conducted on sub-topics related to volcanic products in Turkana Basin.

• Project type: Honours, Master of Science (Earth Science) or Master of Geoscience one semester research project (25 points)
• Supervisor: Saini Samim and Hayden Dalton
• Make an enquiry

The Megalithic Jars of Laos

Laos is home to one of SEAsia’s most mysterious archaeological cultures. The ‘Plain of Jars’ is a megalithic landscape, comprising more than 2,500 hollowed, stone jars spread over more than 120 documented sites, 11 of which were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage in 2019 (www.plain-of-jars.org). The jars vary in height from 1 to 3m and are placed alone or in groups numbering several hundred. They appear to be part of a complex burial ritual and were transported from quarries several km away.

This Honours/Masters project focusses on petrographic/geochemical characterisation of the various jar materials and of samples from potential sources.

• Thin sections of the samples, prepared either locally or commercially, will be examined using the petrographic microscope, electron microscopy (SEM-BSE imaging) and the electron microprobe. Microscopic observations will establish the mineralogy and texture of the rocks, while SEM imaging will provide mineralogical and intergrowth detail at the sub-microscopic scale, as well as mineral identification via SEM-EDS analysis.
• Electron microprobe analyses will be used to obtain quantitative mineral chemical compositions which – together with the mineralogy and textures – can be used to support potential matches with source materials.

Additional instrumental techniques may also be utilised (e.g. XRF and ICP-MS to obtain major/trace element abundances in whole rocks; laser ablation ICP-MS to obtain trace element concentrations; isotopic analyses of strontium and neodymium).

• Project type: Honours or Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisors: Louise Shewan and John Webb
• Make an enquiry

The timing and origin of intrusive bodies in the Cape Conran area - insights into Victoria's tectonic history

This project involves mapping, dating, petrography and geochemical analysis of up felsic and mafic intrusions that cross-cut turbidite sequences at Cape Conran. These intrusions are poorly studied, yet may relate to larger scale tectonic processes associated with the evolution of the southeastern margin on Australia. The area is covered by new high-resolution drone imagery.

• Project type: Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisors: Hayden Dalton, Kevin Hill
• Make an enquiry

Building a forensic geochemistry approach to source-authentication for food and agricultural products such as coffee, tea, wine and grains

Economic goods, especially those with significant considerations regarding their  specific geological/geographical regions (e.g. Fair Trade coffee/tea, high-end wine), require modernisation of methods for tracing them back to their source (provenance). This project will focus on a selection of economic goods for which literature already exists for geographical provenance, and work to further advance laboratory and analytical methodologies towards (1) refining the geochemical "fingerprint" of such goods and (2) refine/streamline workflows towards scalability of this technique in the industry and commercial research sectors.

• Project type: Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisors: Brandon Mahan, Louise Shewan
• Make an enquiry

Geochemical characterisation of cultural mineral pigments

Mineral-based pigments are culturally significant around the world and in Australia for cultural and artistic expression for venues such as rock art and material culture. In collaboration with Indigenous research partners, this project will investigate the mineralogy, microscopy, characterisation and analysis of model and cultural pigments towards understanding their uses in the archaeological past.

• Project type: Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisor: Rachel Popelka-Filcoff
• Make an enquiry

Tracing the Provenance of Shipwrecked Ceramics from the Belitung

The Belitung shipwreck (Indonesia) is a significant underwater archaeological site and the oldest known shipwreck in Southeast Asia. In collaboration with Indonesian and university partners, this project focuses on the mineralogical and geochemical analysis of the ceramics in the Belitung cargo, towards understanding cross-cultural trade routes across land and sea. Data from this project will support international and interdisciplinary projects in earth and archaeological science and underwater cultural heritage.

• Project type: Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisor: Rachel Popelka-Filcoff
• Make an enquiry

Finding needles in the haystack: Using x-ray tomography (micro-CT) to find 2D sections in 3D images for geoscience applications

• Project type: Honours or Master of Science (Earth Science)
• Supervisor: Jay Black, Brandon Mahan and Paul Gregory
• Make an enquiry