petrogenesis of mafic-ultramafic intrusions in the giles complex, wa

Petrogenesis of mafic-ultramafic intrusions in the Giles Complex, WA Supervisor Dr Wolf Maier Research Affiliations Centre for Exploration Targeting Degree Type/Name Ph.D, Honours projects could also be organised Pre-requisites Degree in Geology, Geochemistry or Mineralogy Student Support All research costs associated with this project will be covered by supervisor's research funds. Collaboration This project is a collaboration with Dr. H Smithies (Geological Survey of Western Australia). Skills The project provides the opportunity to obtain skills in petrography, geochemistry, and economic geology, particularly related to the origin of Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits. Project Description The Mesoproterozoic Musgrave block remains one of the least studied areas of Australia. It consists mainly of granulite facies quartzofeldspathic metasedimentary and metaigneous rocks. It also contains a suite of layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions (collectively referred to as the Giles Complex), comprising peridotites (e.g. Wingellina Hills, Murray intrusions), pyroxenites (e.g. Kalka intrusion), gabbronorites (e.g. Cavenaugh intrusion), and troctolites (e.g. Blacktone, Jameson, and Bell Rock intrusions). This represents one of the largest suites of this type on Earth. Their composition and petrogenesis remain mostly poorly known, but have received renewed interest after the discovery of economically important Ni-Cu- PGE sulfide ores in what appears to be a feeder conduit to the Giles Complex, at Nebo-Babel. The Centre for Exploration Targeting at UWA has recently started to investigate the intrusions in collaboration with the Geological Survey of Western Australia who is presently mapping the area. GSWA has established good working relationships with the Ngaanjatjarra Aboriginal Council, providing access to field areas that have never been studied in detail. GSWA also provides logistic support and accommodation in their field camps.

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Petrogenesis of Mafic-ultramafic Intrusions in the Giles Complex, WA

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Petrogenesis of mafic-ultramafic intrusions in the Giles Complex, WA

Supervisor

Dr Wolf Maier

Research Affiliations

Centre for Exploration Targeting

Degree Type/Name

Ph.D, Honours projects could also be organised

Pre-requisites

Degree in Geology, Geochemistry or Mineralogy

Student Support

All research costs associated with this project will be covered by supervisor's research funds.

Collaboration

This project is a collaboration with Dr. H Smithies (Geological Survey of Western Australia).

Skills

The project provides the opportunity to obtain skills in petrography, geochemistry, and economic geology, particularly related to the origin of Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits.

Project Description

The Mesoproterozoic Musgrave block remains one of the least studied areas of Australia. It consists mainly of granulite facies quartzofeldspathic metasedimentary and metaigneous rocks. It also contains a suite of layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions (collectively referred to as the Giles Complex), comprising peridotites (e.g. Wingellina Hills, Murray intrusions), pyroxenites (e.g. Kalka intrusion), gabbronorites (e.g. Cavenaugh intrusion), and troctolites (e.g. Blacktone, Jameson, and Bell Rock intrusions). This represents one of the largest suites of this type on Earth. Their composition and petrogenesis remain mostly poorly known, but have received renewed interest after the discovery of economically important Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide ores in what appears to be a feeder conduit to the Giles Complex, at Nebo-Babel.

The Centre for Exploration Targeting at UWA has recently started to investigate the intrusions in collaboration with the Geological Survey of Western Australia who is presently mapping the area. GSWA has established good working relationships with the Ngaanjatjarra Aboriginal Council, providing access to field areas that have never been studied in detail. GSWA also provides logistic support and accommodation in their field camps.

Fig.1. (A) Landing at Uluru, from where the field area is reached via a 350 km dirt track. (B) The Olgas along the road to the Musgraves. (C) The Blackstone Range troctolites. (D) Field camp in the Musgraves. (E) Blackstone Range. (D) Thorny Devil.

The present project involves mapping in the Murray, Blackstone and Cavenaugh Ranges (in July-August 2007) and the Jameson Range (in 2008), and analytical work (comprising petrographical examination of thin sections, lithophile and chalcophile element analysis, microprobe analysis of minerals, and isotopic work including SHRIMP dating and Oxygen and Sm-Nd isotope analysis. The analytical costs and travel expenses are fully covered. The aim of the project is to constrain the petrogenesis of the intrusions, and to evaluate its potential for hosting PGE and Ni deposits.