DoctorSheree Armistead

Project Total: $0; The ocean basins around Australia are littered with areas of high elevation relative to the surrounding seafloor, such as submarine mountains and plateaus. These features are witnesses to the long and complex history of continental deformation and volcanic eruptions that have shaped the margins of the Australian continent as it emerged from the supercontinent Gondwana over 100s of Millions of years. The origin of many of these features has remained enigmatic, as several mechanisms can generate similar features. In this voyage, we aim to explore plateaus to the north of those targeted in our previous voyages, and for which current sampling is at best poor, in some cases completely lacking. Australias northwest margin was the first to witness continental breakup as part of Gondwana dispersal, forming the deep seafloor still preserved today between Australia and Indonesia (the Argo, Gascoyne and Cuvier Abyssal Plains). Existing observations suggest that this seafloor experienced a complex, multiphase history of divergence between tectonic plates through the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous period. A number of contrasting interpretations have been put forward to explain these observations based on sparse geophysical data. Should this application be successful, GA have agreed to co-fund 2 x PhD scholarships, as detailed in CR223823. Funded by: CSIRO-Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation - Grant-Marine National Facility; University of Tasmania ($35,432).

Project Total: $800,000; The AuScope Geochemistry Network (AGN) is a consortium of eleven university laboratories across Australia that provide specialised analyses of earth and environmental samples. Curtin has been involved with the AGN since 2010 and is specifically involved with the operation of a geospatial data platform AusGeochem which aggregates AGN data at a continental scale. Under the Participant Agreement dated 9 August 2023 between AuScope Pty Ltd and Curtin (the Participant Agreement), Curtin has received funding from AuScope Pty Ltd for a research project entitled EarthBank: An Australian geochemistry network activity enabling the analysis, preservation and discoverability of nationally significant Earth & environmental collections. The Project represents a new phase in AGNs growth, focusing on enhancing the analytical capabilities and accessibility of nationally significant Earth and environmental collections. The Project aims to: Boost the capacity and capabilities of national Earth and environmental laboratories.Facilitate research translation by improving access to research facilities for end users.Increase the user base and impact of the AusGeochem platform Curtin is proposing to fund a postdoctoral position at the University of Tasmania for a promising Early Career Scientist with interests in geochemistry and data science, to be employed as an EarthBank Research Fellow. This person and the project will be supervised jointly by the Chief Investigators on this project. An additional $300000 will be provided as a co-investment towards replacement or purchase of a nominated infrastructure item. Funded by: National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy; Curtin University; University of Tasmania ($300,000).

Project Total: $487,886; Critical minerals are vital for Australias economy and our transition to a net zero future. This DECRA aims to determine the processes required to form sediment-hosted copper and critical mineral deposits over the last billion years of Earth history. This project will integrate global scale plate tectonic models, global ore deposit datasets and regional-scale geochemistry data. Outcomes of this project will be a greater understanding of the interplay between tectonics and climate on ore deposit formation, and the identification of regions in Australia that may be prospective for sediment-hosted ore deposits. The benefits are new potential critical mineral discoveries to ensure Australias sustainable energy into the future. Funded by: Australian Research Council - Fellowship-Discovery Early Career Researcher Award ($487,886); University of Tasmania ($280,173).

Project Total: $60,000; This project will aim to improve our understanding of the paragenesis of mineralisation and alteration at the Akyem gold deposit in order to develop methods for deposit characterisation using hyperspectral imagery and geochemical data, and characterise the mineralogical, textural, and geochemical features of the deposit to optimise mine planning and develop effective tools to aid gold exploration in the district. The outcomes of this project will form an integral part of the AMIRA P1249 research program. Funded by: Monash University; Newmont Australia Ltd ($60,000); University of Tasmania ($75,473).

Project Total: $3,537,047; This research project involves collaboration between STEM and Social Science researchers at the University of Tasmania (UTAS) and academic, industry, and government partners. Through its three research Elements, the project will provide novel tools for characterisation of critical metals deportment, optimise methods, and devise new workflows for critical metals processing, develop new waste management strategies, and deliver innovative community education, training, and outreach strategies that build a local, skilled jobs-ready local workforce for regional industry. Funded by: Department of Education, Skills and Employment - Grant-Regional Research Collaboration ($3,537,047); MMG Australia LImited ($30,000); University of Tasmania ($315,238).

Project Total: $50,000; The project is UTAS contribution to 'The AuScope Geochemistry Network (AGN) Data Partners Expansion Project'. The focus of the project is to expand the AGN to include other Australian institutions, such as UTAS, that host major geochemistry laboratories and/or geochemical assets including sample or data collections. The funding to be used towards supporting the employment of an AGN Data Scientist and upload a minimum of 150 geochemical datasets to AusGeochem. Funded by: AuScope Ltd; Curtin University ($50,000); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $376,364; The exact timing of mineralisation and ore deposits formation are difficult to constrain accurately, as these deposits tend to be affected by multiple episodes of deformation and crystallisation. New techniques currently being developed now make the dating of at least some of these deposits possible. This project will use these techniques to constrain the timing of mineral growth some of the most problematic deposit in Tasmania, eastern and northern Australia to better characterise existing deposit and help with exploration for new ore resources. Funded by: Geoscience Australia ($376,364); University of Tasmania.

Project Total: $40,000; This project will involve the compilation of Pb isotope data from ore minerals, which will be added to the established DepIso database. These data will then be used to understand the spatial and temporal patterns of Pb isotopes in many terranes around the world. Pb isotope anomalies have been recognised in the modern mantle through the analysis of various oceanic basalts, however their origin remains poorly understood. We seek to understand the Pb isotope signatures of ancient (Archean and Proterozoic) mantle and crust, to understand how the evolution of plate tectonics has occurred on Earth and whether these ancient signatures influence modern oceanic basalts. We will develop an R package for dealing with the complicated calculations required for transforming and interpreting Pb isotope data, which will assist the community in using Pb isotope data in a consistent and transparent way. Funded by: University of Saskatchewan ($40,000); University of Tasmania.