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PRISE Annual Report 2003

PRISE was established in 1989 as a joint venture between Anutech and the Research School of Earth Sciences. Initially, the aim was for a research scientist to establish and carry out U-Pb zircon single grain TIMS analyses as supported by external funds. Over the years the role of PRISE has grown to encompass the handling of disparate externally funded projects in the areas of geochronology, isotope geochemistry and trace element geochemistry and to provide external access to the Research School's specialised equipment and expertise in these areas. In May 2001 PRISE was transferred from Anutech to the ANU, with the staff and operation forming a unique entity within RSES. 

During 2003 PRISE has continued to function successfully in an increasingly competitive market.  SHRIMP projects still comprise by far the largest proportion of the work undertaken by PRISE staff, although LA- and solution ICPMS components have been significant and TIMS analyses have also contributed.

Collaborative research has been undertaken with colleagues from Europe, southeast Asia, southern Africa and both North- and South America as well as that conducted with staff of other Australian universities and institutions.  A small proportion of purely commercial work has been carried out, mainly for Australian clients.

PRISE hosted the following visitors to the School during 2003:

• Dr P. Link, Idaho State University, USA
• Prof. S. Harley and Dr N. Kelly, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
• Dr I. Millar, British Antarctic Survey, Keyworth, United Kingdom
• Prof. L.J. Robb, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
• Dr J-J. Peucat, Lab. de Géochimie isotopique et de Géochronologie, Univertite de Rennes, France
• Dr J. Aleinikoff, Branch of Isotope Geology, US Geological Survey, Denver, USA 
• Dr R. Hough, CRC LEME, CSIRO Exploration and Mining, Perth, Western Australia
• Dr B. Bene, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa
• Dr D-L. Cho, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Korea
• Prof. M.J. Bertrand, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France
• Drs A Cocherie & P Rossi, Bureau de Recherche Géologique et Miniere, Orleans, France
• Ms G. Peressini, Max Planck Institut für Chemie, Mainz, Germany
• Dr U. Poller & Dr W. Todt, Max Planck Institut für Chemie, Mainz, Germany
• Dr R. Scheepers, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
• Mr A. Roache, James Cook University, Queensland
• Mr H. van Niekerk, Rand Afrikaans University, South Africa
• Dr R. Pankhurst, British Antarctic Survey, Keyworth, United Kingdom
• Prof. C. Noce, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
• Dr W. Taylor, Elkedra Diamonds, Northern Territory
• Dr L. Glass, Striker Resources, Western Australia
• Mr T. Carter, University of Melbourne, Victoria
• Mr S. C. Peverell, Queensland Department of Fisheries, Queensland
• Mr K. Howard, University of Tasmania, Tasmania

Research Projects

Detrital Zircon Ages from the Yellowjacket, Apple Creek and Gunsight Formations, Blackbird Mining District, Salmon River Mountains, Central Idaho

Unravelling complex SHRIMP U-Pb zircon ages for palaeozoic and mesozoic magmatic rocks; Fact or Artefact

Geochronological and isotopic constraints on the Mesoproterozoic Namaqua-Natal Belt: evidence from deep borehole intersections in South Africa

SHRIMP U-Pb age and Sr-Nd isotopes of the Morro do Baú mafic intrusion: implications for the evolution of the Arenópolis volcano-sedimentary sequence, Goiás Magmatic Arc.

Improved Methods for Re-Os dating of Molybdenite using Multi-collector ICPMS

Detrital zircon ages from Early Proterozoic quartzites of the Midcontinent, North America: Rapid Weathering and Deposition of Supermature Quartz Arenites

Compositional Heterogeneity in Olivine-hosted Melt Inclusions from the Baffin Bay Picrites

Petrological Constraints on Carbonated Eclogite as a source of Carbonatites and Kimberlites

High pressure partial melting of gabbro and the preservation of "ghost plagioclase" signatures.