Experimental Petrology
Experimental Petrology uses a laboratory-based experimental approach combined with field observations to study the Earths' origin, evolution and mineral wealth.
About
The Experimental Petrology group uses a laboratory-based experimental approach combined with field observations to study the Earth, its origin, evolution and mineral wealth. The group operates a wide range of experimental devices for generating the high temperatures and pressures that are needed to reproduce the natural conditions within the Earth.
The equipment includes:
- High temperature furnaces capable of reaching 1800 ⁰C, equipped for precise control of oxygen and sulphur fugacities by gas mixing;
- Eleven solid-media piston-cylinder devices for generating pressures to 6 GPa and temperatures in excess of 2000 ⁰C;
- A multi-anvil apparatus for achieving pressures of 26 GPa;
- A well-equipped hydrothermal laboratory.
The group has access to and expertise in an array of microbeam analytical techniques, including:
- JEOL 8530F Plus electronprobe microanalyser (hosted in the Centre for Advanced Microscopy, CAM)
- Various scanning electron microscopes and a QEMScan (CAM)
- Laser-ablation ICP-MS for trace element and isotopic analysis;
- FTIR spectroscopy for the determination of H₂0, CO₂ and other volatile species in minerals and glasses;
- X-ray fluorescence microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy at various synchrotron facilities
Projects
Members
Leader
Professor
Head of the Geochemistry Research Area
Researcher
Associate Professor
Research Fellow
Research Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellow
Visiting Fellow
Professor of Economic Geology
Postdoctoral Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellow
Professor of Experimental Petrology
Research support officer
Technical Officer
Student
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
Research Assistant
PhD Candidate
Phd Candidate
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
PhD Candidate
Visitor and affiliate
Emeritus Professor
Emeritus Professor
Emeritus Professor
Emeritus Professor
Honorary Associate Professor
Visiting Fellow
Visiting Fellow
News
Giant mountain ranges rivalling the Himalayas supercharged the evolution of early life on earth, Australian National University researchers say.
Almost all volcanic rocks come from the Earth's upper mantle (or lava).
Volcanism, on the other hand, can have many different chemical and physical effects and can sometimes bring rare things to the surface, like diamonds and various strange rock fragments.
They are in your smartphone, electric vehicles and used widely in renewable energy technology. But what exactly are ‘rare earth’ elements and just how rare are they?
More information
The Australian Rare Earth Conference is the first conference to bring together industry, government and academia to discuss the state of the Australian Rare Earth industry.