Mineral dissolution, transport and deposition in hydrothermal fluids

Supervisor(s): Joël Brugger; Yuan Mei, Barbara Etschmann

Field of study: Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Economic Geology
Projects available: Up to 2 projects available
Collaborating organisation(s): CSIRO Mineral Resources Flagship, Australian Synchrotron

Metals are transported within the deep Earth at high pressure and temperature by fluids possessing a complex chemical makeup; knowledge of the identity, stoichiometry and thermodynamic properties of metals in those fluids is thus essential for modelling the dissolution, transportation and deposition of minerals. This project will investigate metal behaviour in wide range of temperature, pressure and chemistry conditions and the role of environment changes in mineral depositions. The aim of this project is to provide not only macro scale understanding of mineral replacement reactions and metal solubility in hot fluids, but also micro scale insights into metal complexation and molecular structures via state-of-the art synchrotron based X-ray spectroscopy (mAESTRO autoclave system recently commissioned at the Australian Synchrotron) and first principle molecular dynamics. Strong background of geochemistry, chemistry and physics is required; basic knowledge of thermodynamics would be a bonus.

For further information, contact Joël Brugger