*************************************************************************************** 3 PhD projects at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Australia From: "Scott Bryan" scott.bryan@xxxxxxxxxx *************************************************************************************** Applications are invited for 3 PhD projects at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Australia, starting from July 2010. Further information on the projects contact Dr David Murphy david.murphy@xxxxxxxxxx and Dr Scott Bryan scott.bryan@xxxxxxxxxx or see: http://www.earthworks-jobs.com/geoscience/qut10051.html Application process: (Applications Open 1 May Start no later than Sept 2010) The online application is available at http://www.qut.edu.au/research/rhd/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PhD in Igneous Petrology/Geochemistry Project Title: Geochemistry, Geochronology & Tectonics for Research of Hot-Dry Rock Geothermal Systems in Queensland, Australia Project Summary: Queensland University of Technology, Australia in collaboration with the Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence, will coordinate a geoscience research program to define geothermal resources in Queensland. This fully-funded research project will use recent advances in mineralogy, trace element/isotope geochemistry, geochronology, and tectonics to develop innovative scientific methodologies for geothermal research. This project will produce a comprehensive regional geochemical (particularly trace elements and isotopes) and zircon chronochemical dataset for Queensland igneous rocks. The scientific approach developed in this project will help to understand the timing, location, cause and distribution of heat producing igneous rocks in Queensland. This project will additionally provide new insights into the tectonomagmatic evolution of Queensland and the generation of regional high crustal heat flow zones. The PhD program will be based at the Queensland University of Technology, and jointly supervised by staff from the Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence and Queensland Geological Survey. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PhD in Volcanology/Tectonics Project Title: Determining the role of magmatism in the rupturing of continents: The transition from the Sierra Madre Occidental to the Gulf of California of Mexico Project Summary: Continental margins produced by the rupturing of continents yet many of the geological processes involved in the initiation and evolution of continental margins are poorly understood. As much as 90% of the world's rifted continental margins have been characterised by voluminous magmatism during their formation, often termed Volcanic Rifted Margins, but the location, timing and volume of this magmatism can vary substantially during the rupturing process. A recent discovery is that these variations of magma within a rupture or rift system play a major role in controlling the style of rifting. The main question of this research project will confront is: “Can substantial magmatism prior to rupturing affect the rifting process and be an explanation for abrupt variations in observed rifting style?” The project will be based in western Mexico in a region of active rupturing as a natural laboratory where the rift extends across regions with and without substantial pre-rift magmatism. This research will look at the causal effects of the magmatism, and critically, to see what the main differences are between volcanic and non-volcanic rifts and margins. Important outcomes will be identifying the significant feedbacks magmatism has on rift processes and structure, basin architecture, evolution and resource potential. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PhD in Geochemistry Project Title: Radiogenic isotope (Sr, Nd, Pb & He) analysis of basaltic samples from the Shatsky Rise. Testing the Plume versus plate origin for Oceanic Plateaus. Project Summary: The Shatsky Rise is a large volcanic plateau in the northwest Pacific that formed ~140Ma in a relatively short time period on the Pacific oceanic crust. Magnetic lineations in the oceanic crust indicate that the plateau formed along the trace of a triple junction of oceanic spreading ridges. This makes Shatsky the ideal location to test a deep mantle plume origin versus a shallow plate boundary formation for oceanic plateaus. The objective of the project is to use Sr, Nd, Pb & He isotope data of basaltic samples from three of the drill holes that intersected igneous basement during IODP Expedition 324 to characterise the nature and origin of the mantle material that melted to form the plateau volcanism of the Shatsky Rise. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ============================================================== To unsubscribe from the volcano list, send the message: signoff volcano to: listserv@xxxxxxx, or write to: volcano-request@xxxxxxxx To contribute to the volcano list, send your message to: volcano@xxxxxxxx Please do not send attachments. ==============================================================
