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Major Initiatives

From core to ore: emplacement dynamics of nickel sulphide systems

Ivrea Zone, Italy

Unlike many mineral resources, nickel and platinum are concentrated in either the core or mantle of our planet. In rare episodes throughout Earth history, cataclysmic magmatic events have had the capacity to transport these metals from their deep reservoirs to upper crustal levels. Through this work, I will unravel the complex emplacement mechanism of these magmas and the role played by volatiles such as water and carbon dioxide in the metal endowment of these systems.

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Tectonostratigraphic controls on the localisation of Archaean komatiite-hosted nickel-sulfide deposits and camps in the Yilgarn Craton

Yilgarn Craton, Australia

This is one of the largest nickel project initiatives ever undertaken in Australia. The project looks into the lithospheric framework in which komatiites were emplaced after forming at depth in the mantle. Therefore, the study investigates how to predict the localisation of mineralised komatiite clusters or camps in different terranes.

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The early evolution of the Earth system and the first life from multiple sulphur isotopes

Pilbara, WA

The primary goal of this project is to understand the nature of different Archean sulphur reservoirs in terms of their multiple isotopic signature. This knowledge would be of primary significance for the application of multiple sulphur isotopes to ore genetic models for a wide range of magmatic systems.

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Research Projects

4D evolution of the Proterozoic Ntaka Hill mafic-ultramafic complex and associated Ni-Cu-PGE mineralisation, south-east Tanzania

South-east Tanzania

This project aims to constrain the multi-scale 4D evolution of the Ntaka Hill mafic-ultramafic complex using a variety of geochemical, isotopic and geochronological methods. This data will be integrated to understand the setting and context of the complex within Africa and Gondwana, as well as the architecture of the intrusion itself and controls on high tenor Ni-Cu mineralisation.

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Geochemical and isotopic constraints on the genesis of the Jueluotage native copper mineralized basalt

Eastern Tianshan, Northwest China

This project looks at a native copper mineralised basalt (NCMB) occurrence located in the Jueluotage Carboniferous Rift Belt, Eastern Tianshan, Northwest China. The goal is to establish the geological, geochronological and geochemical architecture of the area and define its spatial and genetic relationships with a wide range of magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE systems.

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Morphology and microstructures of chromite crystals in the Merensky Reef

Bushveld Complex, South Africa

The Merensky Reef of the Bushveld Complex consists of a lower chromitite layer, a coarse-grained melanorite and upper chromitite layer. Detailed microstructural analysis of the chromitite layers using electron backscatter diffraction analysis (EBSD), high-resolution X-ray microtomography and crystal size distribution analyses distinguished two populations of chromite crystals: fine grained idiomorphic and large silicate inclusion bearing crystals.

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Ore deposits of the future: Exploring for magmatic mineral systems on the Red Planet

Western Australia

This project wants to unravel the prospectivity of different Martian magmatic provinces to host large quantities of metals at exploitable depths (<1 km). An unprecedented opportunity exists to look at previously collected geophysical and geochemical datasets from Mars and apply new exploration targeting techniques developed on Earth.

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The geological, geochronological and geochemical architecture of the Speewah Dome

East Kimberley, WA

This study will provide new insights into the geological, geochronological and geochemical architecture of the Speewah Dome, East Kimberley, Western Australia. This area is poorly documented and hosts significant potential for a wide range of mineral systems.

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The hydrothermal footprint of nickel sulphide mineral systems

Western Australia and Kevitsa, Finland

The ultimate goal of this project is to enlarge the detectable footprint of magmatic nickel sulphide deposits. In this study, the research team will focus on the mineralogical and lithogeochemical footprints around syngenetic magmatic nickel sulphide deposits, which arise from the interaction of these deposits with later hydrothermal fluids.

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The role of secondary processes on the mobilization of nickel sulfides at the high-grade komatiite-hosted Ni-Cu-PGE Flying Fox deposit, Forrestania Greenstone Belt, WA

Forrestania Greenstone Belt, WA

The aim of this project is to constrain the post-depositional (secondary) controls recognised at the Flying Fox deposit - including structural, metamorphic, hydrothermal, and magmatic processes - in order to define an integrated deposit model which can be used for exploration.

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