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Project List

Major Initiatives

BIF-hosted high-grade iron ore in the central Southern Cross Domain: Ore genesis and conceptual targeting

Southern Cross, Western Australia

This two-year postdoctoral project (2008-2010 with ongoing research) is one of the first detailed scientific investigation on BIF-hosted high-grade iron ore systems in the Yilgarn craton. These so far underexplored systems are increasingly of interest for the local and international mining industry.

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Character and controls of alteration assemblages and mineralization styles related to high-grade iron ore in the eastern Hamersley province, Western Australia

Hamersley province, Western Australia

This two-year postdoctoral project will widely extend (and possibly revise) the knowledge of iron ore genesis and controls in the eastern Hamersley basin. The study is desiged to integrate the extensive, but unpublished, database of BHPB Iron Ore with new data obtained from field and laboratory work. It aims to test the present genetic model, and eventually generate revised genetic and new conceptual exploration models.

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Contrasting styles of high-grade iron mineralisation at Weld Range, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia

Weld Range, Yilgarn Craton, Western Australia

This two-year study on the genesis of BIF-hosted iron ore deposits in the Weld Range district was completed in mid-2011. Sponsored by Sinosteel Midwest Corporation Ltd., the goal of the project was to understand the main controls on the genesis of the ore bodies and to improve the exploration strategy for the district.

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Research Projects

Genesis of the hypogene iron ore mineralization at the Serra Norte deposits at Carajas

Carajas, Brazil

This PhD project investigated the mineralogy, zonation and fluid chemistry of the hypogene high-grade iron ore bodies at the Serra Norte deposits at Carajas Brazil which represents the world’s largest high-grade (>65% Fe) iron ore resource. These investigations were the first undertaken at Carajas and thus instrumental in defining the P-T-X conditions of hypogene ore formation at this giant iron ore system. A three stage genetic model was postulated which has subsequently been applied in the exploration for deep extensions or concealed iron ore bodies.

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Genesis of the hypogene iron ore mineralization at Tom Price and Paraburdoo, Hamersley province, Western Australia

Hamersley province, Western Australia

This PhD project centers on the Tom Price and Paraburdoo BIF-hosted iron deposits in the Hamersley province of Western Australia, which is one of the world’s premier iron ore regions. Mineralogical and geochemical investigations revealed a complex three stage hydrothermal origin for hypogene martite-microplaty hematite ore.

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Geological history and genesis of the high-grade iron ore deposits of the Joyner's Find greenstone belt

Joyner's Find, Western Australia

The project consisted of 1:2000 scale field mapping of the iron formations of the Joyner's Find Greenstone belt (JFG) and associated petrographic studies of iron ore and BIF. Numerous ore types including microplaty hematite and specular hematite and a detailed geological history involving folding, thermal metamorphism and crustal scale shearing followed by two marine transgressions are described.

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Hypogene mineralization and fluid flow in selected high-grade BIF hosted iron ore deposits

Sao Francisco Craton, Minas Gerais, Brazil

This PhD project will investigate a variety of high-grade BIF-hosted iron ore deposit in the Iron Quadrangle (IQ) which is located at the southern border of the Sao Francisco Craton, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Despite over 100 years of mining and exploration of iron ore in the IQ, there is still a distinct dearth of information on the exact geological and geochemical environment in which the different hypogene iron ore types (e.g. massive magnetite, martite, granoblastic hematite, microplaty hematite, specularite) formed.

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Identification and characterization of dateable hypogene minerals in BIF-hosted iron ore deposits, Yilgarn craton, Western Australia.

Yilgarn craton, Western Australia

This MSc project will attempt to date hydrothermal alteration minerals associated with the upgrade of BIF (about 30% Fe) to high-grade iron ore (>55% Fe) in BIF-hosted iron ore deposits in the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia.

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Multi-stage structural controls and hypogene alteration of high-grade iron mineralisation at Matthew Ridge prospect, Jack Hills greenstone belt, Yilgarn craton

Jack Hills greenstone belt, Yilgarn craton, Western Australia

This honours project dealt with the characterization of structures and iron ore types ate the Matthew Ridge BIF-hosted high grade (>55% Fe) iron ore prospect in the Jack Hills greenstone belt of the southeast Narryer terrane, Yilgarn Craton.

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