SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GEOLOGIST Newsletter of the Geological Society of Australia (South Australia Division) Chair (SA Division) Anna Petts November 2014 Phone 0402 688 406 www.sa.gsa.org.au Email: [email protected] P.O. BOX 295, Kent Town, SA 5071 MEETING OF THE SA DIVISION THIS MONTH Thursday 20th November 6.15 pm (Refreshments from 5.30 pm) A/Prof Nigel Cook University of Adelaide Will speak on Ore Mineralogy for the 21st Century and why you need to know about it Mawson Lecture Theatre, University of Adelaide VISITORS WELCOME Attendees are welcome to join the speaker for dinner at Café Michael 2 after the talk (RSVP on the night) PARKING • • • Victoria Drive, Frome Road, Memorial Drive: meters timed to 6.00 p.m., free thereafter. Meter parking within university grounds via Gate 10, tickets $3 per hour from 4.30 pm to 9.30 pm, and $1 per hour from 9.30 pm to 12 midnight. Coin machine is on the north side of the parking area in front of the Barr Smith Library. "Ezipark" at Royal Adelaide Hospital, enter from Frome Rd. at traffic lights opposite Petroleum Engineering. $250/hour for 3 hours thence $1-00 for each extra hour. Biography – A/Prof Nigel Cook I graduated with a BSc in Geochemistry from Queen Mary College, University of London, U.K., in 1982 and a PhD in mineral deposit geology from Imperial College, University of London, U.K., in 1988. Later (1998), I obtained the Habilitation degree from the University of Würzburg, Germany. My work over the past 20 years has been directed to the geology and mineralogy of sulphide ore deposits. In particular, I have aimed to analyse and interpret mineral assemblages, mineral chemistry and textural evidence to understand the genetic history of mineral deposits, and to discover controls on element partitioning, paragenesis and mineral stabilities. The approach has encompassed major, refractory mineral phases (e.g. pyrite), as well as the trace components such as sulphosalts and tellurides. Studies have been applied to deposits ranging from volcanic-hosted and SEDEX-type massive sulphides, epithermal precious metal, porphyry and skarns, and even liquid-magmatic Cu-Ni-PGE deposits. My research has often been of a generic character, i.e., common problems are applied to deposits across the world and across geological time, rather than to specific deposits or ore provinces. Personal milestones include: · Identification of pyrite as a major host for lattice-bound or sub-microscopic (‘invisible) gold’; work on the role of Bi-chalcogenides as precious metal carriers and on the distribution of trace elements (In, Ge, Ga etc.) in sphalerite. · Demonstrating the role that pyrite textures can play in deciphering the metamorphic history of deformed metamorphosed VMS deposits (Scandinavian Caledonides, Namibia, Romania); identifying the role and mechanisms involved in recrystallization of the major sulphides and the subsequent remobilization of trace elements · Assessment of the role of Cu-Ag-Pb-Bi sulphosalts, tellurides and selenides and the potential of Bi-chalcogenides as petrogenetic indicators in gold deposits ranging from Archean orogenicgold deposits to telluride-rich volcanic-epithermal systems of Tertiary age. · Research on key mineral groups, including the (Fe,Ni,Co,Cu)3S4 thiospinel group, cuprobismutite and related Cu-Bi sulphosalts, and phases in the Bi-Te-Se-S system. Correlation of trace mineralogy and mineral chemistry of the major sulphides has been a central theme. I aim to show how mineralogical study can and should be applied to solve a range of questions in ore geology, and how research on the micro- or nanoscopic scales can be placed in the context of the orefield-scale geologic setting and regional metallogeny. Announcements GSA SA Division General Meetings Thursday 19th February There is no general meeting in December. The next general meeting will take place in February; the speaker and talk title will be confirmed in a forthcoming newsletter. GeoNight at the Pub Thank you all for your support through attending the monthly 'GeoNight at the Pub' evenings at The Griff's, Hindmarsh Square, these past 15 months. The SA Division committee has decided to wind down these social evenings, with a plan to instead hold a special social event quarterly in 2015. The first event will be in February, so stay tuned for your special invite to what should be a great evening. Our last GeoNight will be on Thursday, 4th December (the day before the SA Explorers & Mining Conference). We hope to see both new and familiar faces for our unofficial Christmas drinks. If you haven't had a chance to come to GeoNight this year, make sure you come down and meet your SA Division committee and enjoy some drinks and conversation. Membership New membership applications were received and approved from Kate Robertson and Benjamin Kimpton. GSA/Playford Trust honours scholarship in Earth Sciences The GSA SA Division is very pleased to announce a new partnership with the Playford Trust, through which we are able to offer one scholarship annually, to the value of $5,000, to an outstanding student entering a full time Honours year in Earth Sciences at a South Australian university. Nominations for the GSA Honours Earth Sciences Scholarship are sought each year from the three universities for the consideration of the Trust. It is expected that the universities will select the highest calibre Earth Science students through an internal process that takes account of the selection criteria given below. The key selection criteria are as follows: • • • • • • Nominees must be South Australian residents who are likely to further their career in South Australia or are otherwise likely to be providing a benefit to the State. Nominees must be high achievers with an excellent undergraduate academic record. Nominees should be of good character and preference should be given to students who display leadership potential. Nominees are encouraged to be members of the GSA. Nominees considering further studies/research post-Honours are encouraged to apply. Recipients should not concurrently hold any other major industry-related scholarship, although this does not preclude submission of an application. The deadline for applications is 16 January 2015. A copy of the application form is attached to the end of this months newsletter. We strongly encourage potential supervisors of 2015 Honours students to draw their attention to this fantastic new opportunity. Other Meetings AUSIMM Adelaide Branch AusIMM November Technical Meeting – Thursday 13th November, The Historian Hotel 21st Century Challenges in the Chemistry of Mineral Processing Emeritus Laureate Professor John Ralston AO FAA FTSE Please register here: https://events.ausimm.com.au/getdemo.ei?id=252&s=_4F40N3R3Z Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia PESA SA November Technical Luncheon – Tuesday 11th November, Mercure Grosvenor Russian Black Gold – Petro-Geology and Petro-Politics Prof James Ogg, Purdue University & Geoscience Australia Please register here: https://www.pesa.com.au/events/industry-events/sa-november-technical-meeting University of Adelaide - Centre for Tectonics, Resources and Exploration (TRaX) Please check http://www.adelaide.edu.au/trax/events/seminars/ for details of forthcoming seminars General Meeting Minutes GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION Minutes of the General Meeting held at the Mawson Lecture Theatre, University of Adelaide, Thursday 16th October 2014. Total attendance: 45; The meeting opened at 6:15 pm. Chair: Anna Petts Apologies: Haggis Shackleton, Mary-Anne Binnie, Stephanie McLennan, Simon Van Der Wielen, John Foden, Wolfgang Priess, Bob Major The meeting was opened by Anna Petts, with general GSA business discussed including: Minutes of the previous meeting: The minutes of the special meeting held on September 21st were approved by all. New Membership applications: Kate Robertson, Next meetings: General Meeting: Associate Professor Nigel Cook, Thursday November 21st - Ore Mineralogy for the 21st Century and why you need to know about it' GeoNight at the pub: The Chairman reminded members that the next GeoNight at the pub is Thursday, 5th November, at The Griff’s Head from 5 pm. The last GeoNight for the year, and for now, will be the 4th December. The SA Committee will be having their Christmas drinks and hope that members are able to join them before the end of the year. Next year the SA Division will be looking to host a special event every 3 months, as a new way Lecture: The GSA SA Division Chairperson, Anna Petts, introduced the speaker Dr Paul Heithersay, who presented his talk entitled “South Australian IOCG Mineral Systems; Recent Discoveries and New Insights in the Gawler Craton”. Vote of Thanks: The Chairperson proposed a vote of thanks for the excellent talk, after some great discussion about Dr Heithersay’s presentation. The meeting closed at 730 pm. After the meeting, the speaker was taken to dinner at Café Michael 2, with 8 people enjoying the great food and hospitality. GSA AESC Scholarship Awards The GSA SA Division supported five Honours and Postgraduate students with their travel and registration to the Australian Earth Sciences Convention in Newcastle this year. The successful students were Benjamin Cooke, Michael Dello-Iacovo, Romana Dew, Gilby Jepson, Jarred Lloyd and Funny Meeuws, and all presented their research through a poster or oral presentation. These students have given permission for their research abstracts to be published in this month's SA Division newsletter, below. Romana Dew (Honours, University of Adelaide) - Stratigraphy of deformed Permian carbonate reefs, Saraburi Province, Thailand The Indosinian Orogeny brought together a number of continental blocks and volcanic arcs during the Permian and Triassic periods. Prior to the orogeny, carbonate platforms and minor clastic sediments were deposited on the margins of these continental blocks. The Khao Khwang Platform formed along the southern margin of one continental fragment of the Indochina Block and was deformed in the early Triassic creating the Khao Khwang Fold-Thrust Belt. The palaeogeography of the margin of the Indochina Block prior to this deformation is incompletely known, yet is significant in assisting with structural reconstructions of the area and in assisting with our understanding of the ecology of Permian, fusulinid-dominated habitats. The sedimentology and stratigraphy of the Permian platform carbonates and basin complexes require further analysis. Three main carbonate platform dominated facies have been identified previously as the Phu Phe, Khao Khad and Khao Khwang formations. These platform facies are divided by clastic, mixed siliciclastic and carbonate sequences known as the Sap Bon, Pang Asok and Nong Pong formations. Here, I present a stratigraphic model for the carbonate reefs and intervening clastic sedimentary rocks using the exposed well-developed sections in central Thailand. The model integrates fossil identification, biostratigraphic correlation and palaeoenvironmental analysis, in accordance with structural controls and fieldwork in the Saraburi Province, Thailand. Eleven sections were logged, encompassing units from three thrust sheets. The stratigraphic logs suggest five depositional environments for the middle Permian sequences, dated using foraminifera and algae. Characteristics of mass transport were identified indicating basinal facies receiving turbid debris flows. Furthermore, depositional texture variations indicated energy changes from peritidal, lagoonal through to reef environments. The palaeoenvironmental inferences and fossil identification allow section correlation and assist in unravelling the structure of this fold-and-thrust belt. Fun Meeuws (PhD, University of Adelaide) - Unveiling igneous activity along Australia’s southeastern continental margin The Australian south-eastern continental margin is a classic example of intraplate volcanism and its origin and emplacement has confounded geologists for decades. To date, almost all investigations of this intraplate basaltic province have focused on the preserved, onshore record of magmatism. However, this review shows that an extensive and largely undescribed record of Cenozoic magmatic activity is preserved within the sedimentary successions of the Bight, Otway, Bass and Gippsland rift basins. While continental breakup initiated at 83 Ma in the Bight Basin, seismic reflection surveys show that magmatic activity in the central Ceduna Sub-basin mainly occurred during Middle Eocene times, coinciding with accelerated seafloor spreading and major changes in global tectonics [1]. This activity is expressed as volcanoes and lava flows at the base of the Dugong Supersequence, and is fed by underlying dykes and sills [1]. The Otway Basin on the other hand, has seen breakup at 67 Ma and near continuous volcanic activity with large volumetric peaks at 57-42 Ma and 5-0 Ma [2]. Onshore, this activity is recognized as the various volcanic features of the Older and Newer Volcanic Provinces. Offshore features comprise latest Maastrichtian – Middle Eocene lava aprons, small sills and hydrothermal vents and extrusives of Newer Volcanic age [3]. The Torquay Sub-basin, although part of the Otway Basin but stratigraphically more similar to the Bass Basin, hosts a mid-Oligocene shallow marine volcanic complex, consistent with the onshore Eastern View and Airey’s Inlet lavas and plugs. In contrast to the Bight, Otway and Gippsland basins, the Bass Basin has not undergone breakup. Within the Bass Basin, several volcanic phases have been identified, which correlate with observed volcanic activity onshore in Tasmania. A first MidCretaceous phase caused by rifting, consists of lava flows, mounds and cones, followed by a latest Maastrichtian-Palaeocene phase of extrusive flows and intrusive sills [3]. A third and more extensive phase occurred during the Oligocene to Miocene, comprising volcanic mounds, vents, lava flows, sills and dykes [3], which correlates strikingly to an extensive phase of magmatism onshore Tasmania, with a volumetric peak at 20-30 Ma. Breakup of the Gippsland Basin initiated at 80 Ma by a failed rift arm of the Tasman Sea and volcanism consists of offshore Campanian flows and sills along the major northern fault system and mid-Eocene sills near the Bream Field, and a late Oligocene suite onshore [3]. This review signals that the distribution of igneous activity cannot be solely explained by the classic plume model proposed for Cenozoic magmatism in eastern Australia. Unravelling the magmatic signal remains a key challenge and calls for an amalgamation of lithospheric processes, such as stretching and edge convection. References 1. Schofield, A. and J. Totterdell, 2008. Geoscience Australia. Record 2008/4, p. 19 2. Price, R.C., et al, 2003. Geological Society of Australia, p. 361-375. 3. Holford, S.P., et al, 2012. APPEA Journal, p. 229-252 Benjamin Cooke (PhD, University of Adelaide) - A thermobarometrical and petrological study of a cumulate xenolith suite from an oxidised, volatile-rich arc volcano Sangeang Api (Eastern Sunda Arc, Indonesia) is an active, rear-arc volcano, sitting on a major cross-arc structure. Its primary magmatic products are highly oxidised, volatile-rich, silicaundersaturated, shoshonitic lavas. These entrain a suite of mafic and ultramafic cumulate xenoliths, including clinopyroxenite, olivine-clinopyroxenite, gabbro and amphibole-gabbro. Amphibole (Mg-hastingsite) can make up to ~30% of the phenocryst populations within the studied cumulates, implying a high H2O content at crystallisation depths. Major element chemistries of cumulate mineral populations were analysed on the Cameca SX5 and Cameca SX51 microprobes at Adelaide Microscopy, University of Adelaide. A variety of suitable thermobarometers were then applied to the results to calculate the temperatures, pressures and water contents under which the Sangeang Api cumulates crystallised. Calculated temperatures of amphibole crystallisation are in the range of ~980°C (± 20°C) to ~1070°C (± 20°C), whilst pressures range from ~0.4 GPa to ~0.75 GPa. Calculated water content in the melt (H2Omelt) at the time of amphibole crystallisation is in the range of 3.5–5.8 wt%. Clinopyroxenites seem to show a positive correlation between H2Omelt and both temperature and pressure, whereas no correlation is observable in gabbros. Calculated temperatures fall into the range of those suggested by Turner et al. (2003) (1000–1100°C), whilst calculated pressures are at the lower end of the range that Turner et al. (2003) propose (~0.5–1 GPa). However, average water content (4.6 wt%) is significantly higher, and in some cases almost double than that suggested by Turner et al. (2003) (~3 wt%). These results suggest that water contents in Sangeang Api magmas are, in some instances, higher than previously thought. Evidence is provided that the parental mantle melts of Sangeang Api magmas are volatile rich and hydrous. Oxygen fugacities (ƒO2) of amphibole-bearing xenoliths are calculated to be up to 1.2 log units above the NNO buffer. As a function of temperature, calculated ƒO2 seems to show complex, unbuffered behaviour with some suggestion of an early oxidation trend. This trend is interesting given the observation by Lee et al. (2010) that arc magmas may become oxidised after their extraction from the mantle. The Mg# of the amphiboles shows a large range (0.45–0.6), falling towards lower pressures (<550 MPa) and suggesting fractionation occurs at shallow depths. We interpret the Sangeang Api cumulate suite to represent crystallisation from shoshonite melts in a succession of small, stacked crustal magma chambers. References Lee C T A, Luffi P, Le Roux V, Dasgupta R, Albarede F & Leeman W P 2010. Nature 468, 681– 685. Turner S, Foden J, George R, Evans P, Varne R, Elburg M & Jenner G 2003. Journal of Petrology 44, 491–515. Jarred Lloyd (Honours, University of Adelaide) - Testing the existence and evolution of the Ceduna River using zircon U/Pb age and Lu/Hf isotope data The Ceduna Delta represents a vast Cretaceous stacked delta system located in the Bight Basin and is currently the focus of considerable petroleum exploration. It has been suggested that the upper part of the delta (Santonian–Maastrichtian) has a different source to the lower Cenomanian delta (MacDonald et al. 2012). The Cenomanian delta is thought to be sourced from a continent scale river system, the Ceduna River, which originated in Queensland and flowed through the centre of the continent. The Santonian–Maastrichtian delta conversely, is thought to have formed after the doming of northern and eastern Australia. This study aims to test the existence and evolution of the Ceduna River by distal provenance, by comparing the detrital zircon U/Pb age distribution and Lu–Hf isotopic composition of samples from the Late Cretaceous Winton Formation with samples from the Gnarlyknots-1 well within the Ceduna Delta of the Bight Basin. Zircon U/Pb data from the Gnarlyknots-1 well shows that the Santonian–Maastrichtian delta has a basin-proximal provenance, which challenges the widely accepted model involving a Ceduna river system. The abundant Permian–Cretaceous zircon U/Pb ages may have sourced from the New England fold-belt, however these ages were also obtained within paleochannels in the Eyre Peninsula, which may be sourced from formerly present, but currently eroded Permian sandstones at the onshore margin. Older zircons mainly indicate Delamerian, Flinders Ranges and Antarctic provenances (MacDonald et al. 2013). New Lu–Hf data will further characterise the sources of the Ceduna Delta sediments. References MacDonald J, Backé G, King R, Holford S & Hillis R 2012. Geomechanical modelling of fault reactivation in the Ceduna Sub-basin, Bight Basin, Australia. In: Healy D, Butler R W H, Shipton Z K & Sibson R H eds. Faulting, Fracturing and Igneous Intrusion in the Earth’s Crust, pp. 71–89. Geological Society, London Special Publications 367. MacDonald J, Holford S, Green P F, Duddy I R, King R C & Backé G 2013. Detrital zircon data reveal the origin of Australia’s largest delta system. Journal of the Geological Society, London 170, 3–6. Gilby Jepson (Honours, University of Adelaide) - In-situ stress and natural fracture networks in the Carnarvon Basin, North West Shelf, Australia Hydrocarbon exploration in the Carnarvon Basin on the North West Shelf of Australia has proven significant reserves, making it Australia’s foremost hydrocarbon province. However, there is little to no understanding of the naturally occurring fracture networks and their impact on the permeability of the basin, which is crucial to resource recovery and future basin development. This study has analysed resistivity image logs from ten petroleum wells in the offshore Carnarvon Basin in order to map the fracture networks and to determine the structural permeability of the basin. A total of 508 naturally occurring fractures are identified on 10 resistivity image logs. There are a range of fracture orientations, with the mean fractures strike approximately NE–SW. The fractures can be divided in to two sets using image logs; electrically conductive fractures and electrically resistive fractures. There are 308 resistive fractures that are considered to be cemented with electrically resistive cements (such as quartz and calcite) and are thus, closed to fluid flow. These resistive fractures dominantly strike E–W. There are 200 conductive fractures that are considered to be uncemented and filled with drilling mud. Thus, the fractures are considered to be open for fluid flow. The conductive fractures have a mean strike of NE–SW. The in-situ stress field is a major control on the ability for fractures to transmit fluid. Recent studies have indicated a strike-slip faulting stress regime in the Carnarvon Basin, with a mean maximum horizontal stress orientation of 107istive cements (such as quarorientations and magnitudes, we are able to predict the fracture sets that are open to fluid flow at present day. Using fracture susceptibility plots created using these calculated in-situ stress values, we show that the majority of NE–SW striking conductive fractures are optimally oriented within the in-situ stress field, demonstrating a high likelihood for fluid transmission. Additionally, several of these fractures demonstrate significant losses of drilling fluids at corresponding depths. Thus, it is likely that the identified conductive fractures are indeed open to fluid flow (and not filled with conductive cement), demonstrating that these fracture networks enhance the natural permeability of rocks in the Canarvon Basin. Geological Society of Australia (South Australian Division) P.O. 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GSA/PLAYFORD TRUST APPLICATION FOR HONOURS SCHOLARSHIP IN EARTH SCIENCES APPLICANT’S NAME: HOME ADDRESS: PHONE NO: EMAIL ADDRESS: UNIVERSITY: DEPARTMENT: MOBILE: Outline: The Playford Trust in collaboration with Geological Society of Australia, South Australian Division [GSA (SA Div)] is offering one Honours Scholarship in Earth Sciences. The Geological Society of Australia (GSA) was established as a non-‐profit organisation in 1952 to promote, advance and support Earth sciences in Australia. The Society’s members represent all Earth science professions, including geologists, geophysicists, geochemists, palaeontologists, geotechnical and engineering geologists, environmental geologists, and associated professions. Members come from the minerals and petroleum industries, government departments, research and education institutions and consultancy groups. Key strategies for the Geological Society of Australia are to: cater for a wide diversity of members. influence the decision making processes of government, particularly to support geoscience research and teaching. encourage and promote wider community awareness and application of Earth sciences. provide media and forums for communication in the Earth sciences. Nomination Process: The Playford Trust calls for nominations for the GSA/Playford Trust Honours Scholarship in Earth Sciences. The Scholarship awards the recipient $5,000. The Trust reserves the right to accept or reject any or all of the nominations made if it considers that such nominees do not reflect the objectives of the Trust or do not meet the high standards that are consistent with the status of this award. The Scholarship Sub-‐Committee of the Board of the Playford Trust will approve the final selection on advice from the Geological Society of Australia {SA Div} selection panel. Please note: It is important that all the information requested is provided to assist in the selection process. Failure to do so may mean the nominee or applicant will not be fully considered. Where universities are making the nomination it is considered important to obtain a personal statement from the student regarding aspirations for the future with respect to study intentions and career goals.. Similarly, the student should respond to the information requested on extra curricula activities such as sport or community activities. It is also important to have some information on the project to be undertaken in the Honours program. It is recognised that in some cases a final decision on the project may not have been made by the closing date of scholarship nominations, however, some discussion of the likely project options is required to assist the assessment process. Disclosure of any other awards or scholarships held by the nominee is also required. Please set out details of any other awards or scholarships here: Selection Criteria: Please address each criteria note in the boxes provided: Nominees must be South Australian residents who are likely to spend a significant part of their career in South Australia or are otherwise likely to be providing a benefit to the State. Is the nominee a South Australian resident and is he/she expecting to further their career [employment or study] in South Australia after his/her degree is completed? Nominees must be high achievers, with an excellent undergraduate academic record and an official transcript of results should be attached to the application. Please include a summary of the nominees achievements and attach an official transcript of their results to this application: • Nominees should be of good character and preference will be given to students who display leadership potential. General comments regarding the student’s character, their community and sporting activities along with their leadership potential and involvement with GSA are to be made here: PROPOSED HONOURS EARTH SCIENCES PROJECT UNIVERSITY SUPERVISORS CONTACT DETAILS NAME: UNIVERSITY: DEPARTMENTAL ADDRESS: DIRECT PHONE LINE: EMAIL ADDRESS: Signature: (Student) Signature: (Supervisor) Date: Date: Post Nominations to: The Playford Memorial Trust Inc. c/-‐Mary Anne Fairbrother, Corporate Services Dept. of Premier and Cabinet GPO Box 2343 ADELAIDE SA 5001 Or email: [email protected] APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON 16 JANUARY 2015
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