Dear All,
The following PhD studentship (among others) may be available for a
student with a good first degree (Hons 1 or 2i or equivalent) and an
interest in hard rock petrology / economic geology, and field work in
South Africa. Funding will depend on obtaining a high quality
applicant. If you know of a suitable candidate, please encourage them
to contact me.
Cheers,
JC
Metamorphic and fluid processes in the southern Barberton Greenstone
Belt, South Africa
Director of Studies: Prof J. D. Clemens, Director CEESR, Kingston
University
Second Supervisor: Dr G. Stevens, Deputy Director, EGRU, University of
Witwatersrand
This study will make a significant contribution to the understanding of
the evolution of Earth's Archæan crust, as well as processes that have
led to the formation of some of the world's major types of gold
deposits. The aim of the project is to resolve the relationships
between deformation, metamorphism and granitoid intrusion in the
Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa. Preliminary investigations
have revealed a poly-metamorphic history with clear evidence for a
mid-crustal regional metamorphic event, followed by a second, lower
pressure metamorphic event, related to the intrusion of granitic magma,
at ~ 3.2 Ga. Detailed data need to be gathered for the rest of the
belt, in order to understand the interplay of tectonic and intrusive
events in shaping the form of the belt and controlling the sites of
formation of the subsequent lode gold deposits. The student will carry
out detailed field mapping of several areas of excellent exposure in
the Barberton Mountain Land (each about 4 by 2 km). In general, theses
are contacts between felsic, pelitic and calc-silicate schists and
intrusive granitoids of various ages. The field data will establish the
structural relations between the rock types and allow collection of
samples for the laboratory work. The student will follow this with
detailed petrography, metamorphic and geochronological analysis of the
greenstones and the granitoids. The student would spend a total of
approximately 9 months in South Africa, based at EGRU in Wits
University, under the supervision of Dr G. Stevens, carrying out the
mapping and some of the whole-rock and mineral analytical work. The
geochronological studies would use the SHRIMP at ANU in Canberra,
Australia, for the few granitoids that have not yet been dated by this
technique. Pb/Pb leaching techniques would be used to date garnets from
the metasedimentary rocks, as well as any metamorphic zircons present.
The University of Witwatersrand will provide funding for travel,
accommodation in the field area and analytical work in South Africa, as
well as the use of the SHRIMP probe and conventional geochronology.
John D. Clemens (Professor of Geosciences, Director - CEESR, Editor in
Chief - Electronic Geosciences
http://link.springer.de/link/service/journals/10069/index.htm)
School of Geological Sciences, Kingston University, Penrhyn Rd,
Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, KT1 2EE, UK
phone: +44 (0)181 547-7023 fax: +44 (0)181 547-7497
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
personal web page:
http://www.kingston.ac.uk/~gl_s041/staff/jdclemens.htm
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