Dr. Laurent Ailleres

Supervisors: Peter Betts & Laurent Ailleres

Laurent Ailleres and Pete Betts will offer up to 4 projects in the discipline of “Structural Geophysics”. Most of the projects will use combination of field data (structural and petrophysical data), interpretation of regional gravity and magnetic data, forward and inverse modeling to solve problems pertaining to crustal architecture. We will also consider students interested in projects combining geophysics with volcanology in collaboration with Professor Ray Cas. We can cater the project to suit your interests, with projects varying from geologically dominated to inversion theory and software development. Likely study areas will include several along the eastern margin of Gondwana, one in the Curnamona Province (Weekeroo Inlier), and potentially one in the northern Gawler Craton..
 

Supervisors: Peter Betts & Laurent Ailleres

Field of study: Structural Geophysics
Support Offered: Field expenses

Collaborating organisation/s: Geoscience Victoria
Preferred Program: Honours

High resolution geophysical data throughout western Victoria reveal a complex structural and magmatic pattern related to the onset of the evolution of the margin of Gondwana.  This project will involve geophysical mapping of the Lachlan Fold Belt structure beneath the Murray Basin to constrain the structural architecture of the belt.  Seismic data will be available to constrain the interpretation.  The methodologies to be utilised in the project will include geophysical interpretation, forward and inverse modelling of gravity and magnetic data.  There may be a minor field component to collect rock property data and samples.
For further information, contact Pete Betts or Laurent Ailleres.
 

Supervisors: Peter Betts & Laurent Ailleres
Field of study: Structural Geophysics
Support Offered:  
Collaborating organisation/s: PIRSA
Preferred Program:  Honours

This project is the continuation of a MSc project which involved high resolution mapping of the Weekeroo Inlier.  This project will utilise this mapping to construct a 3D map of the area utilising high resolution magnetic and gravity datasets. The methodologies to be utilised in the project will include geophysical interpretation, forward and inverse modelling of gravity and magnetic data, construction of a 3D model based on mapping constraints. For further information, contact Pete Betts or Laurent Ailleres.
 

Supervisors: Laurent Ailleres & Peter Betts 

Field of study: Structural Geophysics
Support Offered:
Collaborating organisation/s: Intrepid Geophysics
Preferred Program: Honours

Implicit modelling techniques allow the construction of geological models in a reproducible way. However, these are based on the interpolation of structural data and only one model is produced. This “a-priori” model can then be refined during inversion of potential field data. Eventually one most likely model (based on millions of geophysically satisfying models) is produced. This project will investigate the sensibility of the model building algorithm by introducing variations in the input structural data (both location and values of strike and dip will be varied within reasonable levels of error). Each model will be then utilised as a-priori models for inversion. Statistical methods will be used to analyse the differences between the resulting inverted models. A most probable model should be proposed from the set of geologically & geophysically acceptable models. Basic programming skills (in C or C++ or Java) would be a bonus but are not necessary. For further information, contact Laurent Ailleres.
 

Supervisor(s): Ray Cas & Laurent Ailleres
Field of Study: Physical volcanology
Support Offered: Field support, analytical costs
Preferred Program: Honours or MSc

The Newer Volcanics Province of Victoria and South Australia is the youngest volcanic province in Australia, and is still active. Some volcanoes have experienced only phreatomagmatic activity, others have experienced magmatic activity (explosive and/or lava forming) throughout activity, and others both. The project will involve the reconstruction of the eruption styles, the factors controlling eruption styles, and history of a volcano based on studying the preserved deposits. Field mapping, section logging, sampling, sieving, petrography for textural studies and mineralogy, and geochemistry to characterize the types of magmas will be involved. In addition, for those interested, study of regional geophysical data sets to use aeromagnetics, radiometrics and gravity to assess the regional framework of the field area and as first order mapping tool for lavas and eruption centres (you don’t have to be a geophysical wiz kid for this!) can be used. And there’s more!! Gravity and magnetic surveys can be undertaken to model the subsurface structure of the vent system of some volcanoes. More than one project in the NVP may be available.
For further details contact: Ray Cas