An Isotopic Atlas of Australia: a window into the geological evolution of the Australian continent
Channel: GeoscienceAustralia
Date: 2020-08-14

Speaker: Dr Kathryn Waltenberg


Topic:
Australia as it exists today is a product of geological processes that have occurred over its 4.5 billion year history.  Isotopic studies are one approach to understanding the history and evolution of the Australian continent.  Isotope geochronology tells us about the timing of a wide range of geological processes like crystallisation, deformation and cooling of rocks.  Isotope geochemistry informs on the precursor components from which the rocks formed, and can act as ‘paleogeophysical’ sensors to tell us more about the subsurface.

The Isotopic Atlas of Australia brings together five of the most widely used isotopic systems in geology and delivers publicly available maps and datasets in a consistent format. This work is unlocking the collective value of decades of investment in data collection, and facilitating qualitative and quantitative comparison and integration with other datasets such as geophysical images. This talk will be an introduction to the world of isotopes as applied to understand geology, and an overview of the Isotopic Atlas recently produced as part of the Exploring for the Future Program.

About the speaker:
As a student at the University of Queensland, Kathryn Waltenberg was attracted to geology because of the combination of field and laboratory work it offered.  She completed her BSc (Hons) in 2006 and her PhD thesis in 2012.

Dr Waltenberg joined Geoscience Australia (GA) the following year as a Graduate Geoscientist, and later joined the Geochronology team.  Her work specialises in geochronology – particularly absolute dating by measuring the radioactive decay of isotopes – by which the ages of geological events as varied as volcanic eruptions, the deposition of major ore bodies, and even the formation of our solar system can be determined.  Kathryn is currently the Activity Leader, Age and Isotopic Mapping, in the Minerals, Energy and Groundwater Division of GA.