Constraining the Evolution of Continental Cores

Basic data for this project

Description

The margins of old continental cores (cratons) host natural resources such as critical metals upon which our society increasingly depends. Despite this significance, little is known about the dynamical evolution of these regions and how this evolution modulated the localisation of surficial metal deposits. The overarching goal of this project is to unravel the spatio-temporal evolution of cratonic margins, utilising a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach that synthesises geophysical, geodynamical, geochemical and geological constraints. I will achieve this goal by using an innovative framework that integrates novel geochemical modelling of volcanic compositions, legacy geological and geophysical data as well as new geochemical and isotopic constraints, and state-of-the-art geodynamical simulations. This project focuses on Australian cratons, where a unique database of volcanic rock compositions spans a time range of ~3 billion years. The project will yield quantitative estimates of upper mantle structure, such as temperature and plate thickness, throughout Australia's geological history. Once successfully demonstrated, this framework will underpin subsequent applications in Eurasia and more globally. Constraints on varying craton thickness and the physical properties driving craton evolution will inform future research into critical metal deposition and preservation, aiding the shift towards a clean energy future with far-reaching social, economic and environmental ramifications.