Staff Research
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
Kelsie
Dadd, B App Sc (Hons) NSWIT, PhD Macq. Physical volcanology, geochemistry and tectonics of Palaeozoic volcanic rocks in the Lachlan Fold Belt, NSW. The physical volcanology includes aspects such as facies interpretation and analysis, and mapping of facies distribution. This is combined with analysis of the geochemistry of suitable volcanic rocks, and structural analysis to determine the likely tectonic setting and palaeogeography of the depositional environment. This information is then used to further constrain regional tectonic interpretations of the Lachlan Fold Belt and to place mineralisation into this context. Also involved in similar studies in the Canadian Appalachians in New Brunswick.
kdadd@els.mq.edu.au
PROFESSOR IN EARTH SCIENCES & DIRECTOR, NATIONAL KEY CENTRE FOR GEOCHEMICAL EVOLUTION AND METALLOGENY OF CONTINENTS (GEMOC)
Suzanne
Y O'Reilly, BSc, PhD Syd. Fields of research include; the
integration of geophysical, petrological and petrophysical data
to construct realistic lithospheric models; the geochemistry and
evolution of the mantle and lower crust; the geochemistry and origin
of basaltic rocks and their high-pressure xenoliths; trace element
dispersions, residence sites and mineral partitioning in the mantle;
relationship between mantle geochemistry, volcanic activity, tectonic
environment and economic deposits. Currently leader of international
collaborative project with five institutions in China on "4D
Lithosphere mapping, eastern China". Concurrent projects in
Mongolia and Siberia.
sue.oreilly@mq.edu.au
EMERITUS PROFESSOR
John
A Talent, BA, MSc, PhD Melb. Palaeontology, palaeobiogeography.
Victorian Department of Mines, 1955-1967; Research Fellow Institute
Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Bruxelles, 1961-62; Visiting
Professor, California Institute of Technology, 1967; UNESCO Professor
of Geology, University of Dacca, (Bangladesh), 1968-69; Visiting
Professor, University of Roorkee (India), 1980; Research Associate,
USSR Academy of Science (Novosibirsk), intermittently 1981-present.
Corresponding Member, Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft
since 1992. Current research Middle Palaeozoic brachiopods, conodonts,
global extinction events, transgression-regression patterns, and
biogeography in relation to plate tectonics.
john.talent@.mq.edu.au
Trevor
H Green, BSc(Hons) Tas., PhD A.N.U. Research Fellow,
Harvard University, 1967-1969; ANU Post-doctoral Fellow, Mineralogisk-Geologisk
Museum, Norway 1969-1970. Igneous and metamorphic petrology, particularly
high pressure experimental studies on natural and synthetic rock
systems. Presently working on trace element partitioning at high
pressure with particular emphasis on ratios and fluid/melt and
fluid/mineral partitioning. Related experimental studies on the
nature of metasomatic melts in the earth's mantle are in progress.
Publications mainly on high pressure experimental petrology and
geochemistry.
trevor.green@mq.edu.au
John J Veevers, MSc Syd., PhD Lond,. DIC. Regional stratigraphical
and tectonic history of the Australian Plate, other Gondwanaland
fragments and Pangea. Global earth history of the Neoproterozoic
and Phanerozoic.
john.veevers@mq.edu.au
PROFESSORS
William
L. Griffin, BSc, MSc (Stanford), PhD (Minnesota). Elected
Fellow Norwegian Academy of Sciences, Chief Research Scientist,
CSIRO. Petrological and tectonic evolution of the deep crust, geological
evolution of the upper mantle, fluids in magnetic and metamorphic
systems, isotopic systems and their resetting, integration of petrological
and geophysicsl data, geological applications of the proton microprobe
and new applications of trace element analysis, development of
new exploration techniques for the mineral industry, trace element
fingerprinting of mineralized deposits, delineation of prospective
terrains for the mineral industry.
b.griffin@mq.edu.au
SENIOR LECTURERS
Richard
H Flood, BSc(Hons), PhD N.E. Earth Science. Research
interests: Silicic-plutonism and volcanism in eastern Australia.
richard.flood@mq.edu.au
Mark
A. Lackie, BSc(Hons) Melb, PhD Macq. Geophysics.
Palaeomagnetism and magnetism of Palaeozoic and Mesozoic rocks of
eastern Australia, seismic studies of Antarctic ice shelves, gravity
studies of plutons..
mlackie@els.mq.edu.au
Glenn A Brock, BSc,
MSc, PhD Macq. Palaeobiology. The taxonomy, evolution, palaeobiogeography
and biostratigraphy of Cambrian-Ordovician shelly fossils and Devonian
articulate brachiopods and conodonts.
gbrock@els.mq.edu.au
Nathan R. Daczko, BSc,(Hons, 1997) and PhD (2001) Sydney. Post-doctoral
Fellow, Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin, USA
(2001-2003). My research interests focus on tectonics and regional
structural synthesis, including the generation, evolution and recycling
of crust in the context of evolving plate boundaries and plate margin
processes. I integrate the structural and petrologic analysis of rocks
with field mapping to examine the interplay between deformation, metamorphism,
partial melting and magmatism.
ndaczko@els.mq.edu.au
Simon George, BSc (Hons) (St Andrews, Scotland); PhD (Newcastle upon Tyne, England). I have more than 20 years experience in organic geochemistry, including 15 years specialising in petroleum geochemistry at CSIRO. Organic geochemistry involves the study of the chemical and isotopic signatures in rocks and sediments, which tell us information about the past. We can reconstruct the nature and timing of important events in the evolution of life. Biomarkers are hydrocarbons that retain the structural information from the original lipids from which they were derived. Biomarkers and other hydrocarbons in oils, rocks and sediments provide us the ability to understand source inputs, subsequent burial and heating history (thermal maturity) and alteration events (such as oil biodegradation). The chemistry of insoluble fractions of organic matter, such as kerogen and asphaltenes, provides further useful information.
Simon.George@mq.edu.au
Craig O'Neill,
coneill@els.mq.edu.au
Tracy Rushmer, I am an experimentalist who works with both hydrostatic (piston-cylinders) and deformation (Griggs) equipment to investigate mineral interactions under pressure and temperature. My research interests include partial melting processes in zones of active plate convergence; the chemical and physical interplay between deformation and fluid flow; extraction and migration of partial melt in different tectonic environments; core formation (metal-silicate separation) and dynamics at the core – mantle boundary.
trushmer@els.mq.edu.au
Bruce Schaefer, BSc (Hons) PhD Adel. I am an isotope geochemist who
looks to apply high precision geochemical and isotopic analysis to a
wide range of geological problems. Recent research interests have been
focussed upon applying Re-Os isotopes to aspects of plume related
magmatism, planetary differentiation, mantle convection and the growth
and stabilisation of lithospheric mantle. I have also been involved
with understanding processes involved in Precambrian Basin evolution,
hydrocarbon mobility and weathering and erosion rates in ground and
river water systems.I have extensive experience with Sr, Nd Hf and Os
isotopic systems, and am increasingly involving in applying novel (U-
series, O, Li, B) to solving problems related to Earth evolution.
bschaefe@els.mq.edu.au
Simon Turner, Federation Fellow, Isotopic Geochemistry. I am a geochemist and geochronologist. My research concerns the processes of partial melting and magma formation within the Earth. I approach this through the analysis of elemental concentrations and isotope ratios in silicate rocks and minerals. My particular strength lies in having worked on a broad range of problems and having utilized a large range of techniques. These include orogenic and post-orogenic magma petrogenesis, sediment provenance, crustal growth and erosion, continental flood basalts, potassic lavas associated with high plateau formation, ocean island basalts and island arc lavas. For the last 10 years, my research has largely concentrated on the application of short-lived, U-series isotopes to constraining the time scales of magma formation, transport and differentiation. This relatively new approach requires demanding analytical techniques but has been at the forefront of a revolution in our understanding of the physical processes of magma petrogenesis.
sturner@els.mq.edu.au
Bernard Wood, Experimental petrology. My research interests are focussed on the origin of the Earth, differentiation of the planet into crust mantle and metallic core and the current composition and structure of the deep interior. I address these questions using a combination of high pressure-high temperature experiments, thermodynamic analysis of relations between the stable high pressure phases, elastic properties and seismological data. I have a high pressure laboratory with apparatus capable of generating pressures and temperatures up to 27 GPa and 2500K, enabling simulation of conditions within the earth to depths of about 700 km. This capability means, for example, that we are able to simulate directly the reactions responsible for the major 410 and 660 km seismic discontinuities in the Earth.
bwood@els.mq.edu.au
RESEARCH FELLOWS
John Adam, BSc(Hons) NEng, PhD Tas. The geochemistry and experimental petrology of igneous rocks. Recent work has focused on the partitioning of trace elements between igneous minerals and melts. Current studies are directed at fluid/melt and fluid/mineral partitioning and their role in the genesis of continental crust and volcanic are magmas.
Theresa
M Winchester-Seeto, BSc(Hons) Dip Ed. Macq., PhD Macq. Palaeozoic
biostratigraphy; with special emphasis on organic-walled microfossils,
dominantly chitinozoans, the linings of agglutinated foraminfera
, and scolecodonts. Other research interests include investigating
Microproblematica (eg Cambrian melanosclerites), Tertiary foraminifera,
and the theoretical basis of field-teaching. Recent work has centred
on studies of Ordovician and Silurian chitinozoans in Australia,
in order to establish their potential for interregional and global
correlation.
theresa.winchesterseeto@mq.edu.au
HONORARY
ASSOCIATES
Patrick Conaghan, BSc, PhD Q'ld. Broad interest in sedimentary geology, publications in the areas of sedimentology, palaeogeography and Himalayan geology.
David
W Durney, MSc, PhD Lond., DIC. Structural geology and rock
mechanics. Two years in base metals exploration industry. Visiting
Lecturer and Visiting Scientist: RSM London, ETH Zurich, Universidad
Complutense Madrid (1979), CSIRO Mineral Physics & Mineralogy
and Monash University (1985), Invited Speaker, J G Ramsay Conf.
Zurich (1991), Visiting Professor, Barcelona University (1992-1993),
Visiting Lecturer, Barcelona University (1995). Current interests:
relations between cleavage, strain and fabric (Spain, Australia
and US); multiple deformation and structural mapping very-low grade
metamorphic terrains (Eastern NSW); methods of strain analysis;
GIS; microscopic image analysis; low-pressure petrophysics.
ddurney@els.mq.edu.au
Jing-Feng
Guo, BSc Nanjing, MSc(Hons) PhD Macq. Experimental investigations
of elements partitioning in silicate systems. Geochemistry and petrogenesis
of magacrysts and their inclusions associated with basaltic volcanism,
especially corundum (sapphire). Studies on the geochemistry of mantle
sulphides and the evolution of the Earth's crust-mantle-core system.
jingfeng.guo@mq.edu.au
Ruth Mawson, BA(Hons), PhD Macq. Palaeontology. Teacher with the NSW Department of Education, 1955-71. Research principally on conodonts and refinement of Silurian-Carboniferous correlations, Middle Palaeozoic dacryoconarids and brachiopods, global extinction events, palaeocommunities, fusulinid foraminifers and Quaternary non-marine molluses.
ruth.mawson@mq.edu.au
Stirling
E Shaw, BSc W.Aust, PhD N.E. Petrology, geochemistry. Research
includes the geochemistry and Sr isotopes of some granites and associated
volcanics in the New England Batholith and the relationship of metamorphism/deformation
and plutonism in the northern part of the Lachlan Fold Belt. Joint
research with the United States Geological Survey on granitoids of
south western U.S.A. including the Peninsular Ranges batholith and
Mojave Desert. Publications on the New England Batholith, the Lachlan
Fold Belt, the Mojave Desert and Peninsular Ranges Batholith, California.
stirling.shaw@mq.edu.au
Malcolm R Walter, BSc(Hons), PhD Adel. Neoproterozoic history of Australia, palaeobiology of ancient thermal springs (as part of a NASA project directed to the exploration of Mars) and the petroleum prospectivity of Proterozoic and Palaeozoic basins.
malcolm.walter@mq.edu.au
Ming
Zhang, BSc Shanxi Min. Col, MSc China Univ. Geoscs, PhD Lond.
Petrology and geochemistry of basaltic and potassic rocks, mantle
and crust xenoliths in East China and East Australia and their tectonic
implications. Chemical evolution of disintegrated Gondwana continent
and its role in generating the Dupal anomaly and other large-scale
mantle heterogeneities.
ming.zhang@mq.edu.au
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
Norm
J Pearson, BSc, PhD Syd, Nature of the lower continental crust
and crustal evolution. Petrology, mineralogy and geochemistry
of mafic igneous rocks and their high-grade metamorphic equivalents.
Magnetic properties of lower crust and upper mantle rocks.
Quantification of pressure-temperature conditions from mineral equilibria.
Development and application of geochemical analytical techniques:
electron microprobe microanalysis; XRF; Laser ablation ICP-MS.
norm.pearson@mq.edu.au