Earth Modelling Institute - Research Initiatives

• Geodynamics of the Australian Plate
• Exploration Geodynamics
• Structural Geophysics
• 3D Visualisation & Simulation

Geodynamics of the Australian Plate

Researchers: Prof. Louis Moresi, A/Prof. Roberto Weinberg

Objectives of the initiative include:

• Bringing together scientific communities on and around the Australian plate;
• Developing a critical mass of geodynamics knowledge / applications in diverse and complicated settings;
• Supporting the scientific community in developing countries where geology / geodynamics is of immediate relevance and information is hard to come by;
• Developing a long term programme of regional geodynamics / geophysical focused research.

Research Themes and Practical Consequences of the initiative include:

• Ancient and modern ore deposit systems from the cratons to the margins of the Australian plate;
• The deformation and breakup of plates: what can we learn from the diffuse deformation of the Australian plate and its ancient intraplate orogenies?
• Polarity flips in subduction zones, slab tears and windows and the initiation of subduction: examples from around the Australian plate margin;
• The Naked Plate Boundary of New Zealand — an evolving margin cutting through a “simple” geological history.
• Alpine Fault drilling project.
• Climate and active tectonics: contrasting views from the tropical to temperate extremes of the Australian plate.
• Complexity of a “real plate system” from idealized geodynamic models (e.g. geological processes, hazards, ore resources);