Earth & Environmental Sciences


Romain Vaucher

Romain Vaucher

Natalie Robson

Natalie Robson

Alica Hoess

Alica Hoess

Bethany Smith

Bethany Smith

Brandon Mahan

Brandon Mahan

X-ray tomography of Archean putative trace fossils and microfossils (Old ID 23652)
Ioan Sanislav
01 Sep 2017 - 31 Dec 2017
The 2700 Ma metasediments from the Tanzania lCratpon contain centimeter size structures that resemble Phanerozoic trace fossils. They have a tube-like shape with an s-like curcature and are more than 15 centimeters long. Thin section studies and elemental mapping revealed that the grain size and comp;osition of the 'concretions' are very different from the surrounding matrix. They contain a complex internal structure which is inconsistent with an inorganic origin opening the extraoredinary possibility for the existence of complex life forms 2700 Ma ago.
Timing of Geological Events at Mt Clark Breccia Complex - Honours Project. (Old ID 27184)
Paul Dirks
01 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2021
The proposed Honours project will attempt to establish a relative timing of geological events at the Mt Clark breccia complex by defining of a sequence of geological and hydrothermal events. This should include the characterization of alteration mineralogy and metal zonation within the project area and defining the sequence in which hydrothermal events (veins, breccias and intrusions) occurred. The work should integrate field and drill core observations, sample analysis and any other required methods to produce a paragenetic sequence of events that led to gold mineralisation at the Mt Clark project.
Gamba Grass Effects on Savanna Carbon and Fire (Old ID 22227)
Michael Bird
02 Jul 2015 - 01 Jul 2016
To provide soil analysis and data.
Spatially integrated Portfolio Approach to support a portfolio of livelihoods. (Old ID 27105)
Amy Diedrich
01 Jun 2021 - 30 Jun 2024
The Integrated Livelihoods Approach (ILA) provides an approach to diagnose and help navigate interrelated and cumulative impacts, trade-offs and co-benefits of interacting livelihood activities occurring in spatially defined coastal areas. Participatory and interdisciplinary research, integrated governance, negotiation, trust-building, ongoing conflict management, and cross-sectoral and political engagement are central to the ILA. This project will establish the mechanisms for achieving the strengthened networks, integrated governance and policy, and improved planning required to implement an ILA in Western Province, Solomon Islands, with the potential to scale-up to other locations.
Waters of Jericho Part 2: Refining the Cu isotope characterization of waters overlying IOCG-style deposits in the Mt Isa Block (Jericho and Eloise deposits) (Old ID 27190)
Brandon Mahan
29 Mar 2021 - 29 Jun 2021
The Department and JCU have an ongoing Project Schedule under the existing Umbrella Research Agreement ("Waters of Jericho: Characterizing the Cu isotope composition of waters overlying IOCG-style deposits in the Mt Isa Block (Jericho and Eloise deposits"). This project has produced significant initial results for ~40 borehole water samples that indicate a clear Cu isotope anomaly (higher 65Cu) proximal to known ore deposits within the field area (which drops off distal to deposits). These findings have led The Department and JCU to pursue an expansion of this investigation by re-sampling approximately 60-90% of the same boreholes as previously sampled (depending on field sampling availability/viability), and to characterize their Cu isotope composition, in order to test potential influences on Cu isotope compositions in groundwater by changes in season (e.g. late dry season vs post wet season).
Life and death of Australopithicus sediba: how a potential ancestor ended up dead in a cave in world heritage site in South Africa (Old ID 20796)
Paul Dirks
12 Mar 2014 - 31 Dec 2017
In August 2008 the remarkable Malapa fossil site was discovered with remains of the first and only fossils of Australopithecus sediba - a potential direct human ancestor. The fossils are in an exceptional state of preservation, and excavations will start in late 2013, creating a unique opportunity to develop a detailed understanding of the chemical, physical and biological factors that led to burial and fossilisation. This research will focus on the complex interplay between termites, sediment chemistry, landscape conditions and palaeo-climate as contributing factors to fossil preservation. Results will document the environment in which sediba lived and died, and assist future exploration for hominid fossils.
X-ray fluorescence microscopy of Archean macro and microfossils (Old ID 23649)
Ioan Sanislav
01 Sep 2017 - 30 Nov 2017
The 2700 Ma metasediments from the Archean Tanzania Craton contain centimeter size “concretionary” structures that resemble Phanerozoic trace fossils and unusually large and complexly shaped microfossils. Thin section studies and EPMA elemental mapping revealed that the grain size and composition of the “concretions” are very different from the surrounding matrix. They contain a complex internal structure, which is inconsistent with an inorganic origin suggesting the existence of complex life forms 2700 Ma ago. Herein we ask for beam-time to collect detailed high resolution and high sensitivity compositional data for the macrofossils and the microfossils.
Cairns POM morphology mapping (Old ID 26492)
Rob Beaman
01 Apr 2019 - 30 Jun 2019
This research will generate the most accurate and up-to-date 3D depth model for the Cairns Plan of Management (POM) area, at the 30m pixel resolution, using all the available source bathymetry data for this region. This fundamental dataset will then be used to derive a Morphology-Surface, as per the proposed structure of the national Seafloor GeoMorphology (NSGM) mapping scheme, being developed by Geoscience Australia. This involves the semi-automatic derivation of morphological surfaces from bathymetric data into Plan, Slope and Escarpment classes.
Crowdsourced bathymetry on the Great Barrier Reef (Old ID 26203)
Rob Beaman
05 Nov 2018 - 30 Dec 2019
Crowdsourced bathymetry is the collection of depth measurements from vessels, using standard navigation instruments. Bathymetry and navigation data are logged to a SmartLog USB data logger from the vessel's depth sounder and GPS, then used to improve the accuracy of the high-resolution 3D depth model of the Reef, through Project 3D-GBR. The GBR Foundation is funding a pool of data loggers to enable more partner vessels to collect depth data. This project gives people an increasing role in contributing valuable citizen science data to improve a fundamental dataset that helps the reef.
Survey of users of Cid Harbour regarding shark smart behaviours (Old ID 26325)
Amy Diedrich
29 Jan 2019 - 15 Dec 2019
Project will conduct surveys of tourists and recreational users in Airlie Beach to examine their activities and behaviours, knowledge and awareness of 'shark smart' behaviours. Surveys will also examine local and tourism industry knowledge and preceptions about the history of use and behaviour of tourists and recreational users in the Whitsundays. This project is a rapid response project that has arisen directly from community and industry concerns about recent shark incidents in the Whitsundays. The project team will work closely with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, tourism industry representatives, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and the Local Marine Advisory Committee. JCU is operating under a subcontract from BioPixel Oceans Foundation Limited which won the tender in mid-December 2018.

A snapshot of sediment dynamics on an inshore coral reef

  • 2022
  • Elsevier
  • Researchers:Stephanie DuceVictor Huertas MartinRobert StreitDavid Bellwood
Reseracher: Alana Grech (Professor)
End Date: 01 Jan 2010
Reseracher: Helen McCoy-West (Senior Lecturer, Geology (Igneous Petrology and Critical Resources))
Start Date: 01 Jan 2020
End Date: 01 Jan 2025
Reseracher: Helen McCoy-West (Senior Lecturer, Geology (Igneous Petrology and Critical Resources))
Start Date: 01 Jan 2023
End Date: 01 Jan 2025
Reseracher: Michael Bird (Distinguished Professor)
Start Date: 01 Jan 2010
Start Date: 01 Jan 2012
End Date: 01 Jan 2012
Start Date: 01 Jan 2019
Title: Malayalam
Reseracher: Sminto Augustine (Technical Officer)
Title: English
Reseracher: Sminto Augustine (Technical Officer)
Title: Tamil
Reseracher: Sminto Augustine (Technical Officer)