Prof. Sandy Cruden - Honours Projects

Emplacement and flow within the giant Tasmanian dolerites

Supervisor(s): Sandy Cruden
Field of study: Structural geology, magnetic fabric analysis, microstructure
Projects available: Up to 1 project available

Although sills are a major transport mode of magmas within the lithosphere, there are still many outstanding questions regarding their mechanics of emplacement. This project will involve a detailed structural study of sills in southern Tasmania. Fieldwork may involve detailed structural mapping of sill contacts and collection of oriented samples. Sill flow directions will be determined from measurements of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) and microstructural observations from thin sections will help to characterise the country rock deformation induced during emplacement.

For further information, contact: Sandy Cruden

Analogue modelling of crustal deformation

Supervisor(s): Sandy Cruden
Field of study: Structural geology, experimental tectonics
Projects available: Up to 1 project available

This is a laboratory-based project

Analogue experiments in the laboratory are a powerful tool for investigating the four-dimensional evolution of structures and to test hypotheses on the tectonic evolution of structural systems. The geodynamic modelling laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure for analogue material characterisation and quantitative analysis of progressive deformation within experiments. There are opportunities for honours students to undertake a variety of projects in the laboratory that will involve test new analogue materials and their use in experiments on the evolution of strike slip, thrust and extension fault systems.

For further information, contact: Sandy Cruden