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Epithermal mineral systems along the inferred final Nuna suture

A lithospheric-scale, west-dipping fault system—termed the Empress Suture Zone—likely marks the final Nuna suture and acted as a long-lived pathway focusing fluids into the shallow crust.
Post-orogenic gold-silver-lead-zinc mineralization occurred at ca. 1550 Ma and was probably reactivated in the Permo–Carboniferous (ca. 330–250 Ma).
Geochemistry and mineralogy reveal characteristics of a low-sulfidation epithermal system, including quartz–sericite alteration and gold-to-silver ratios around 1.

Olierook, H.K.H., Affleck, R.G., Evans, N.J., Jourdan, F., Kirkland, C.L., Volante, S., Nordsvan, A.R., McInnes, B.I.A., McDonald, B., Mayers, C., Frew, R.A., Rankenburg, K., d’Offay, N., Nind, M. & Larking, A. (2021). Mineralization proximal to the final Nuna suture in northeastern Australia. Gondwana Research, 92, 54–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2020.12.017.

Geochemistry

Geochronology

Resource Geoscience

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CFIGS · CFIGS Research Spotlight - Episode 22 (Epithermal Mineral Systems Along the Nuna Suture)

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U–Pb Geochronology

Ar-Ar Geochronology

Whole Rock Geochemistry Interpretation

Rift on the Move - Fault timing repositions northern Perth Basin depocentres

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Rifting along the northern Perth Basin migrated south in pulses from the late Carboniferous to the early Cretaceous, shifting depocentres and fault activity.
Many north–south faults in the south initiated later (Jurassic to early Cretaceous) while east–west faults in the north became continuous in the late Triassic to early Jurassic.
Four time‑slices of sedimentary basin fills show shifting extension directions and segmentation.

Watts, C., Elders, C., O'Mara, M., Timms, N.E. & Olierook, H.K.H. (2025). Fault timing and depocentre development in the northern Perth Basin during the evolution of the East Gondwana rift. Gondwana Research, 147, 147–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2025.06.011.

Regolith and Sedimentology

Resource Geoscience

Structural Geology and Tectonics

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CFIGS · CFIGS Research Spotlight - Episode 21 (Rift on the Move)

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Sediment core processing

Geoscience Research Writing, Editing, and Scientific Support

Hidden Copper Clues: Multi-stage fluid history at Nifty revealed by apatite and monazite chronology

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Two major copper-bearing fluid events identified: ca. 810 Ma and ca. 640 Ma, revealing a complex, multi-phase mineralisation history at the Nifty Cu deposit.
Hydrothermal apatite chemistry suggests Cu-mobilising alkaline, low-salinity fluids enriched in medium rare earth elements—similar to Olympic Dam.
Monazite textures and ages show late-stage Cu remobilisation, potentially linked to regional granitic magmatism during the Ediacaran (ca. 640 Ma).

Ribeiro, B.V., Kirkland, C.L., Hartnady, M.I.H., Martin, E.L., West, E. & Polito, P. (2023). Multi-stage alteration at Nifty copper deposit resolved via accessory mineral dating and trace elements. Precambrian Research, 388, 107018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2023.107018.

Geochemistry

Geochronology

Resource Geoscience

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CFIGS · CFIGS Research Spotlight - Episode 20 (Hidden Copper Clues)

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U–Pb Geochronology

Mineral Trace Element Analysis

Petrochronology

Earth's Permian magnetic memory

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An extensive Permian paleomagnetic dataset from Moroccan basins yields primary magnetizations in 9/10 basins, anchored by radiometric ages and magnetic reversals.
Results place the Meseta block near the paleo-equator ca. 280 million years ago and show minimal inclination shallowing, strengthening reliability of red-bed records.
Based on the new data large continental overlap and an alternative ''Pangea B'' configuration is not required.

Weissbrodt, V., Bachtadse, V., Kirscher, U., Saber, H., Liu, Y. & Ronchi, A. (2024). Tectonic imprints in Permian paleomagnetic data of Morocco. Earth-Science Reviews, 254, 104787. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104787.

Magnetism and Palaeomagnetism

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CFIGS · CFIGS Research Spotlight - Episode 19 (Earth's Permian Magnetic Memory)

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Magnetic Remanence Analysis

Rock Magnetic Characterisation

Tracking heat and time in the Grenville Orogen through rutile

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Rutile U–Pb dating reveals three distinct cooling events (ca. 1158, 1069–1056, and 936–910 Ma) in a Grenville anorthosite complex, highlighting episodic magmatic emplacement.
Zirconium-in-rutile temperatures trace higher apparent temperatures (> 800 °C) in earlier events, capturing a complex crustal thermal evolution.
Findings support a lithospheric architecture enabling bottom-up magma ascent and top-down hydrothermal fluid flow.

Liebmann, J., Barham, M. & Kirkland, C.L. (2023). Rutile ages and thermometry along a Grenville anorthosite pathway. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 24, e2022GC010330. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GC010330.

Geochemistry

Geochronology

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CFIGS · CFIGS Research Spotlight - Episode 18 (Rutile Timekeepers and Ancient Magma Pathways)

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Mineral Geochronology

Mineral Trace Element Analysis

Petrochronology

U–Pb Geochronology

Safeguarding Coastal Aquifers: Understanding freshwater–seawater exchange

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Groundwater discharge into the oceans is vast but difficult to quantify due to complex density and recirculation effects.
Seawater intrusion depends on vertical and lateral hydraulic connectivity near shorelines, not simply average aquifer properties or groundwater throughflow.
Simple analytical models and uncorrected water levels can provide a misleading representation of seawater intrusion; correct groundwater pressure measurements and near‑shore hydraulic properties allow credible, decision‑grade estimates.

Costall, A.R., Harris, B.D., Teo, B., Schaa, R., Wagner, F.M. & Pigois, J.P. (2020). Groundwater throughflow and seawater intrusion in high quality coastal aquifers. Scientific Reports, 10, 9866. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-66516-6.

Environmental Geoscience

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CFIGS · CFIGS Research Spotlight - Episode 17 (Seawater Intrusion: What Really Drives It)

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Multi-hazards Risk Assessment

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Epithermal mineral systems along the inferred final Nuna suture

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Rift on the Move - Fault timing repositions northern Perth Basin depocentres

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Hidden Copper Clues: Multi-stage fluid history at Nifty revealed by apatite and monazite chronology

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Earth's Permian magnetic memory

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Tracking heat and time in the Grenville Orogen through rutile

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Safeguarding Coastal Aquifers: Understanding freshwater–seawater exchange

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