Core to cosmos: AuScope at AESC 2021
This year, the Geological Society of Australia (GSA) adopted an online Australian Earth Sciences Convention (AESC) conference format, necessitated by the pandemic, with the theme of ‘Core to Cosmos’. Artwork: AESC 2021
The year 2021 started quickly for the Australian Earth Science community, with the Australian Earth Science Convention (AESC) taking place in February. This year, proceedings took place completely online and with an innovative format including both pre-recorded and live-streamed presentations, allowing participants to take conversations deeper during Q and A sessions. A number of presenters discussed AuScope Programs and Projects, some of which we are pleased to share here.
Dr. Kate Selway on attracting the next generation of Earth scientists
Here, Kate addresses the decline in Earth Science education at Australian Universities and asks the important question: how can we attract the next generation of Earth Science students to help solve Australia’s pressing geoscience questions?
Through a presentation about changing patterns of Earth Science enrolment and an interview with Narelle Underwood, the Surveyor General of New South Wales, Kate considers why young people are not interested in Earth Sciences and how this can be changed. After the presentation, Kate reflects:
“Of all the AESC sessions I was involved in, this Education session inspired by far the most ideas and debate. There are a lot of people in our community who are passionate about inspiring young people to get into geoscience. I think this AESC session will be a really useful step in helping direct all that passion into effective action”
Dr. Samuel Boone on AusGeochem, Big Data And thermochronology
Here Samuel introduces AusGeochem, an open source, cloud-based platform for Australian-produced geochemistry data from around the globe. AusGeochem is developed by the AuScope Geochemistry Network (AGN), an Australian consortium of Earth Science institutes cooperating to develop national geochemistry research infrastructure, and better organise and coordinate Australian geochemistry laboratories and data.
Samuel highlights how this AuScope enabled platform enables users to rapidly upload, synthesise and analyse geochemistry data in a geospatial context and how it is currently being developed to tackle big data in the field of low-temperature thermochronology. Afterwards, he shares some thoughts with us:
“I was fortunate to be given the opportunity at AESC 2021 to present how AusGeochem is changing how thermochronologists tackle big data.
This spurred a very instructive conversation with members of the wider Australian geoscience community about ways in which AusGeochem could be utilised in other geoscience fields, such as to geospatially showcase geological collections and advertise their use as potential research materials to Australian geoscientists.”
Dr. Carsten Laukamp on hyperspectral geology at Osborne in Queensland
In this presentation, Carsten presents a new approach integrating AuScope enabled hyperspectral data with petrophysical data with rock density to identify iron rich rocks. Here, he applies this method to an Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) deposit in the Mount Isa Inlier, Queensland.
Upon reflection, Carsten says:
“I think my presentation was well received. Aside from detailing the analytical method, I aimed to highlight applications of this workflow for modelling geoscience parameters beyond petrophysical, such as geochemical. Also, how the workflow could be applied to any of the more than 3500 drill cores stored in the National Virtual Core Library (NVCL) database.
Of course, mostly colleagues from within Australian joined the session, but I think a number of overseas researchers/industry joined in as well. I’ve received some new requests for presentations via Linkedin and I think it’s because of the presentation at the AESC 2021.”
Hayden Dalton on the AuScope Geochemistry Network (AGN) and AusGeochem
The AGN was set up in response to a need for greater coordination and organisation of Australian geochemistry laboratories and the data that they produce. Here, Hayden introduces the AGN team, activities and goals.
Hayden feels his presentation went well:
“The audience was curious about both the AGN and AusGeochem, and was especially interested in how AusGeochem can expand to encompass a range of geoscience data.
For example: Can AusGeochem include geophysical layers so that researchers can integrate these observations with geochemical and geochronological data? This would be a powerful tool and something we should aspire to.”
Hayden Dalton on the argon-argon (Ar/Ar) geochronology technique for Kimberlites
Kimberlites are the deepest derived magmas on earth and the primary rock host of diamonds, yet they are still largely an enigma to earth scientists. Hayden Dalton suggests that this is partly because of difficulties associated with the geochronology of these rocks. In turn, he offers an evaluation of the argon/argon technique and suggests ways that this technique can be used to improve geochronology of Kimberlites.
In this presentation, Hayden shares his research on applying the Ar/Ar geochronology technique to kimberlites (a volcanic rock that is the principal host rocks to diamonds) as part of the AESC’s Ian McDougall Symposium, a tribute to one of the most pre-eminent scientists in this technique. He reflects:
There was some great discussion following my presentation on the merits of the technique for dating this rock type and some hypotheses for why this geochronometer/geological clock produces slightly different results when compared to rubidium-strontium (Rb/Sr) and uranium-lead (Ur/Pb) techniques.”
Jake Moltzen on combining HyLogger and Roxplorer technologies
Jake Moltzen gives a presentation on using AuScope enabled HyLogger instruments to analyse samples collected from new drill holes drilled using the new MinEX CRC enabled Roxplorer drilling technology. This technology combination will make it cheaper and faster to understand the mineralogy of rocks in new exploration areas.
Jake feels that the AESC provided an excellent platform to showcase the recent work undertaken by the HyLogger team at the Geological Survey of NSW (GSNSW):
“The week prior provided plenty of time for delegates to view presentations and the Q and A forum was filled with a broad range of geoscientists that posed important and relevant questions to encourage discussion.”
Georgina Gordon on white mica chemistry at Vulcan in South Australia
In this presentation, Georgina explains how white mica wavelengths neatly decreases towards economic mineralisation at the Vulcan deposit in South Australia. These white mica wavelengths are be determined using AuScope enabled HyLogger technology which involves semi-autonomous mineralogical scanning of drill core.
“I organised two sessions with Jessica Stromberg from CSIRO Mineral Resources and they were well attended, with circa 30 participants in each. I felt the sessions were well received, there were a series of excellent questions which stimulated further discussions, research and collaborative efforts amongst those attending. The range of topics covered mostly Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) deposits, and discussions also lead to the sharing of research and information between the participants.”
STORY PRODUCERS
Gus Rawling and
Jo Condon, AuScope