Student projects available

(Most projects can be tailored, get in touch to explore possibilities)

Geology of the New England Orogen

Late Permian magmatism and super eruptions (multiple projects)

The late Permian period in the New England Orogen experienced a significant spike in magma production. The local region is now host to large tracts of granite plutons and thick sequences of volcanics and calderas. These catastrophic eruptions produced air fall spread as far as central Queensland and Wollongong.  Several projects exist in exploring the processes that produced the heightened magma production and super-eruptions. These include mapping out poorly understood volcanics and plutons, establishing the timing, extent, drivers, and linking the volcanics to the batholith and related tin deposits. The projects can involve geological mapping and geophysical interpretation, petrography, geochronology and geochemistry. Opportunities to work with NSW Geological survey. We can tailor a project to you! We have numerous opportunities.

Contact: Luke Milan (lmilan@une.edu.au) and Tim Chapman (timothy.chapman@une.edu.au)

Great Serpentinite Belt (multiple projects)

The Great Serpentinite Belt is a unique belt of interesting rocks that represent fragments of ophiolites. Ophiolites represent rare segments of oceanic crust that have been thrust onto a continent. These research projects represent a unique chance to work on well preserved oceanic crust on land. The serpentinite belt is also host to high-pressure fragments of subduction zone complexes such as eclogites, blueschist and diamonds which may be of interest as little is known about their genesis and links to the broader tectonic history of the region. Little detailed mapping of the Great Serpentinite Belt has been undertaken in recent decades. We have lots of projects available to investigate the serpentinite belt, including a focus on the processes that formed the oceanic crust (ophiolite) blocks or high-pressure metamorphism. We can tailor a project to suit you – typical aspects may include field mapping, petrology, rock and mineral geochemistry, geochronology and isotope geochemistry. We have numerous opportunities and this is part of ongoing research with geology staff!

Contact: Luke Milan (lmilan@une.edu.au), Tim Chapman (timothy.chapman@une.edu.au), Paul Ashley

Tracking the evolution of a Devonian-Carboniferous arc

Does tracking the evolution of an ancient Devonian to Carboniferous arc over time sound exciting? These projects will refine and re-evaluate the evolution of the Tamworth belt of rocks. This belt preserves a diverse suite of strata shedding off volcanic arcs. Their strata and fossil record change over time reflecting the changing tectonic setting and geological record over time. This project will work to refine key periods in the belts history to reveal and expand on the geological processes that have been ascribed to the belt. There are multiple projects available, and they typically involve a multifaceted approach that starts with field mapping, sampling, and a wide variety of laboratory work.

Contact: Luke Milan (lmilan@une.edu.au), Tim Chapman (timothy.chapman@une.edu.au), Paul Ashley

Macrofossils and microfacies of the Kyndalyn Member, Somerton

Limestones in the Tamworth Belt record evidence of fluctuating tropical marine palaeoenvironments that were influenced by island-arc volcanism on the margin of Gondwana. Apply classic and cutting-edge laboratory and imaging techniques to rock, mineral and fossil samples you collect in the field in order to reconstruct big-picture sedimentation processes in an early Carboniferous basin.

Contact: Marissa Betts (marissa.betts@une.edu.au), Luke Milan (lmilan@une.edu.au), Tim Chapman (timothy.chapman@une.edu.au)

Nymbodia and its secrets

This projects is based In the Southern end of the Clarence Moreton Basin. Little recent work has been done on this Triassic sedimentary basin. The basin is important and covers the recovery of the forests post the end Permian extinction. Projects could involve geological mapping on the margins of the basin to understand sedimentology, stratigraphy and age, and ultimately the provenance and tectonic setting of the rocks. Possible drill core inspection at Londonderry to obtain additional samples through the known coal measures.  

Contact: Luke Milan (lmilan@une.edu.au), Marissa Betts (marissa.betts@une.edu.au)

Stratigraphy and the fossil record

Early Cambrian chronostratigraphy of South Australia

This interdisciplinary project will primarily use small shelly fossils to determine the ages of key lower Cambrian successions in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Build your palaeontological knowledge of early Cambrian fossil fauna and their biostratigraphic applications, and complement this work with stable isotope chemostratigraphy and lithologic data. This is a great opportunity to contribute to building the geological timescale, and regionally and globally correlate rocks from South Australia during the Cambrian Explosion of life. Skills acquired via this project are widely used in both academia and industry. 

Contact: Marissa Betts (marissa.betts@une.edu.au)

Reconstructing the skeletons of some of the earliest armoured animals

Use cutting-edge 3D scanning technologies to reconstruct the oldest complex skeletons in the fossil record and resolve the functional morphology, palaeoecology and evolutionary relationships of the enigmatic animals who made them. 

Contact: Marissa Betts (marissa.betts@une.edu.au)

Carbonate microfacies and early Cambrian palaeoenvironmental reconstructions

This project aims to reconstruct the kinds of ancient marine environments in which early animals evolved and diversified. This includes the world's oldest animal-built reefs and the palaeoenvironments that flanked them. This work is key for understanding the interplay between ancient marine environments and the evolution of early animals. This multi-faceted project will also incorporate investigation of how fossils are preserved in carbonates, and the effects preservation style has on fossil recovery and ecosystem reconstructions. 

Contact: Marissa Betts (marissa.betts@une.edu.au)

Tuffs and Trilobites; high-resolution zircon dating of the lower Cambrian Billy Creek volcanics

In the Flinders Ranges, the Billy Creek Formation contains a series of (up to 12) individual volcanic ash deposits interleaved within fossiliferous siliciclastics. This is a very exciting interdisciplinary project that incorporates regional chronostratigraphic development with volcanology (quantifying eruption style and duration), tectonics (assembly of Gondwana) and palaeontology (early Cambrian trilobites). 

Contact: Marissa Betts (marissa.betts@une.edu.au), Luke Milan (lmilan@une.edu.au)

Mineralisation and environmental projects

Gold in the Bundarra pluton

This project is focussed on a poorly understood granite related mineralised system. A key focus would be to define the age and source of the mineralisation, is it related to the Bundarra pluton or could it be something else.  With very little work done the project would require updating the field maps of granites and sediments that they intrude into, detailed petrography, geochemistry and also geochronology. This project is industry supported.

Contact: Luke Milan (lmilan@une.edu.au), Tim Chapman (timothy.chapman@une.edu.au) Paul Ashley

Hillgrove mine and Uralla Gold projects

Good opportunities exist locally with the Hillgrove Mine (Red River Resources) and also gold projects in Uralla. We have local contacts in industry in both instances. The honours project available will update and evolve over time as the companies continue their exploration activities. Contact us to find out more! These projects are industry supported. 

Contact: Luke Milan (lmilan@une.edu.au), Tim Chapman (timothy.chapman@une.edu.au), Paul Ashley