School of Earth Sciences - Theses

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Start date: 2002 × End date: 2007 × Subject: South Australia ×

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    Geologic and geomorphic applications of Aster satellite imagery, northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia
    Harper, Katherine Louise ( 2002)
    Multispectal ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) satellite data has been evaluated for geologic and geomorphic interpretations within the northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia. ASTER is a new remote sensing imaging system on board NASA’s Terra satellite, launched in December, 1999. ASTER measures the reflectance of the Earth’s surface within 14 bandwidths of the visible, near infrared, short wave infrared and thermal infrared sections of the electromagnetic spectrum, with a minimum spatial resolution of 15 m. ASTER has the ability to produce digital elevation models (DEM), important for understanding the dynamics of the landscape by draping false colour images over topography. The northern Flinders Ranges is one of the most diverse geological settings on the Australian continent, making it an ideal ‘test site’ to demonstrate the capabilities of the ASTER instrument. The area contains a range of geology from Precambrian basement to Quaternary desert landforms. The ability of ASTER Level 1B data to discriminate between the large range of lithologies is assessed. Geomorphic interpretations made from exploiting the high resolution ASTER data and DEM has revealed a significant record of post Pliocene landscape development, attributed to a combination of climatic and tectonic factors. Such features as incision morphology and the identification of palaeodrainages have enabled constraints to be placed on the Quaternary degradational and aggradational events. For example, estimates of Quaternary sediment flux rates in some areas of the study area are essentially extracted from ASTER DEM data. ASTER has persisted to be extremely useful in the study of aeolian landform morphology in regions surrounding the northern Flinders Ranges. The short wave infrared has proved useful for identifying areas of high surface moisture, directly relating to the depth to water table. The application of principal component analysis to ASTER short wave infrared data is used to accurately identify specific mineralogical character.
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    Metamorphism of granulite facies metapelites
    Tong, Laixi ( 2004)
    This thesis involves a study of metamorphism and partial melting in granulite facies metapelites from three regions, the Larsemann Hills and the Rauer Group of east Antarctica, and Fishery Bay in southern Eyre Peninsula of South Australia. Along with the metamorphic study, $^40Ar/^39Ar$ thermochronological dating was also undertaken for the first two areas to constrain the timing of tectonothermal events and syn- to post-tectonic cooling history. (From Abstract)
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    Sedimentology of the late Neoproterozoic Patsy Springs Canyon, Flinders Ranges, South Australia
    Mornane, Kate ( 2003)
    The Neoproterozoic Patsy Springs Canyon is located within the northern portion of the Adelaide Geosyncline, South Australia. The sedimentary structures found within the canyon fill are consistent with a deep marine origin, and include syn-sedimentary marine phosphates, marine cements, sandstones with partial Bouma sequences, abundant mudstones and various mass flow deposit types (including grain flows, debris flows and slumps). Structures indicative of tidal activity (previously interpreted to be of shallow water origin) are interspersed with Bouma sequences and mass flow deposits and are here interpreted as having been produced by deep-water tidal bottom currents. Rare structures resembling hummocky cross stratification are here interpreted as similarly being of deep-water origin. This deep water interpretation for the canyon fill contradicts previous shallow water models and alleviates the need for extraordinary changes in base level, required by such shallow water models. A deep-water submarine origin for the canyon is also more consistent with the lack of canyon-synchronous basin-wide unconformity and is more consistent with an open-ocean palaeogeography. This study has resolved some of the ambiguity surrounding the origin of the Wonoka canyons by providing sedimentological evidence to suggest that they may in fact represent ancient submarine canyons.