Overview
Topic status: We're looking for students to study this topic.
A study of the vulcanology, petrology, and radiogenic isotope (Sr, Nd, Pb & Hf) systematic of bimodal and non bimodal Cainozoic volcanism in southeast Queensland assessing the relative roles of mantle versus crustal magma sources. The volcanism is interpreted to be due to the northward passage of the Australian continent over a static mantle plume with the mafic volcanism assumed to be mantle plume derived and the silicic volcanism being derived from the melting of the lower crust.The project will involve, firstly, the volcanostratigraphic and petrological characterisation of a series of well exposed stratigraphic sections through lavas from the Tweed Shield Volcano, the eroded remnant of a large shield volcano with tholeiites, alkali basalts and peralkaline volcanics, and the Main Range volcanics, a complex succession of bimodal lavas with a maximum thickness of 900 m.
Secondly the project will look to understand the nature of the sources of the lavas and how they have interacted. Are the mafic volcanics derived from a single unique mantle plume source? What is the age and origin of the crustal source of the silicic volcanics and does it vary in age and space. Why do you get bimodal volcanism in certain localities and not other?
- Study level
- PhD, Masters
- Supervisors
- QUT
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Keywords
- volcano, vulcanology, radiogenic isotope, Cainozoic
- Contact
- Please contact the supervisor.
Dr David Murphy
