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Peaks of the Zanskar Ranges in the High Himalaya of NW India

⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology is a key geochronometer for structural geoilogy and tectonics, because we can date the formation of fabrics and microstructures, and determine when shear zones move.

The Ladakh Batholith in NW India

Dating movement zones is a important part of understanding the timing and processes of how the Earth deforms and changes.
Methodology used to date different scales of and types of shear zones changes depending on their character and the tectonic conditions.

Microstructurally controlled dating and geospeedometry

One of our main research programs is not only to unravel the timing of tectonic sequences but to model the duration of events within complex systems.

Orogenic listening posts

The Cycladic high pressure eclogite-blueschist belt, one of five locations being examined along the Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt.
Using ⁴⁰Ar/ ³⁹Ar geochronology to date shear zones and metamorphic events, we show how the timing of processes links on the large scale.

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Dating deformation

Dating deformation and complex multiply deformed and metamorphosed grains is one of the focusses of our laboratory.
One of our main research programs is to unravel the timing of events within the tectonic sequences in complex systems.

Eclogite boudins in the Tso Morari gneiss and schist dome in NW India

Refolded folds on the headland at Bermagui, NSW

Dating deformation and complex multiply deformed and metamorphosed grains is one of the focusses of our laboratory.
We can unravel the timing of events within tectonic sequences in such complex systems.

Indus Formation in Ladakh, India

A field project in the Himalaya is being undertaken to better understand the processes and the timing of events during the India-Asia collision.

Structure Tectonics

The Structure and Tectonics Team @ ANU is engaged broadly with two lines of research:
I) using computers to take Structural Geology to the large scale, with 3D + time tectonic reconstructions, examining how slabs behave and the seismotectonics of particular regions, and how mineralisation is related to large-scale structure;
II) using ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology to determine the timing of different events, including the timing and duration of microstructural processes, dating using Arrhenius plots, and the timing and duration of movement in ductile shear zones.

Current Research Projects:

Research

We are involved in research with scientists from the USA, England, Indonesia, India, Greece, The Netherlands and Australia.

Students

PhD, MSc and Honours students from Australia and overseas.

See the list of new projects and read the instructions how to apply.

Outreach

Resources for teachers and information for interested readers without specialist knowledge.

Nepal earthquake 7.9

Updated: 7 July 2020/ Responsible Officer: Structure Tectonics Team Leader/ Page Contact: WebAdmin