Undergraduate Science Projects

Description: Earth’s impact cratering record consists of only ~200 impact structures. Of these, many have not been studied in detail. In September 2019 we had the good fortune to collect new sample suites of rocks from two Brazilian impact structures: Vargeao Dome (~12 km diameter), and Vista Alegre (~9.5 km diameter). While both sites are recognized as confirmed impact structures, few studies have been conducted on them, and thus little is known about their history of shock deformation, or the impact conditions recorded in preserved rocks. Both of these sites involve basaltic target rocks, and thus serve as Martin analogue sites for impact cratering. In this project, you will use a combination of petrographic observations and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques to document mineral deformation and transformations in various impactites (shocked rocks and impact melts) from both impact structures. This project will involve looking for the unique ‘tell tale’ signs of damage to minerals (shock deformation) that is caused by high-pressure shock waves. You will also investigate if suitable U-Pb geochronology targets are present. If shock-recrystallized minerals are identified, we will laboratories in the John de Laeter Centre at Curtin to conduct analyses to determine the age of formation of these impact structures using U-Pb geochronology. All of the proposed work represents potential new discoveries and is of broad interest and relevant to Mars exploration.

Supervisors: Dr Aaron Cavosie, Dr Lucy Forman, Dr Morgan Cox

Description: Finding low latitude sources of accessible water ice on Mars is of great importance for future human exploration of the planet and in-situ resource utilisation, and for habitability. However, because of the pressures and temperatures, water ice is only stable on Mars at the surface at high latitudes. At low latitudes water ice is known to occur in some locations in the subsurface regolith – from recent meteorite impacts and unusual hydrogen concentrations – however once exposed to the atmosphere it immediately sublimes back to the gas phase. The role of shadows in reducing the temperature of the surface and promoting ice stability in deep impact craters near the equator, has not been investigated in detail. This project will aim to understand the origin and stability of observed water deposits, as well as identify further locations where water ice may be available at low latitudes where it is accessible near the surface. The student will utilise Mars global elevation maps and impact craters datasets, in conjunction with a shadow length model to chart the length of time that crater floors experience shadow across Mars. They will utilise a GIS to derive maps and will be supported to develop basic coding language, statistical analysis and mathematical modelling skills.

Supervisors: Dr Eriita Jones, Prof Katarina Miljkovic

Description: Evapotranspiration (ET) provides a measure of the total loss of water from the surface through the combined processes of evaporation (from soil or vegetation surfaces) and transpiration (from plants). High frequency, high resolution accurate monitoring of the evapotranspiration of Australian ecosystems is essential for knowledge of their water use over time and for sustainable management of water resources such as irrigation inputs and groundwater. A new model has been developed to provide daily 10 metre per pixel evapotranspiration products however it has not been validated over Western Australian environments. In the absence of field monitoring data, this project aims to understand the potential accuracy of this model by comparing it to other evapotranspiration products and any similar datasets with known error values. The student will implement a state-of-the-art satellite remote sensing model to derive evapotranspiration products from a range of sensors at different spatial and temporal resolutions over Western Australian ecosystems. The student will use GIS spatial datasets, and open-source evapotranspiration products such as CMRSET, IRRISAT, and NASA’s ECOSTRESS to compare to their given model. They will be supported in developing some statistical modelling, spatial analysis, basic coding skills.

Supervisors: Dr Eriita Jones, Joseph Awange, Dr Baden Myers

Description: Meteorites provide a comprehensive snapshot of processes that have occurred within our early solar system, and the conditions under which they formed. We analyse meteorites using a multitude of different techniques; light microscopy, electron microscopy, geochemical experiments and imaging to name a few. These extraterrestrial samples are the key to understanding the history of our solar system, and we can use them to build a geological map of our neighbourhood to better understand how the Earth and other planets came to be, and have evolved over time. Using meteorites collected by the Desert Fireball Network based here at Curtin, the WA Museum, and international collections, this project will delve into the geochemistry and structural analysis of meteorites from Mars, Vesta, and the asteroid belt. The deliverables possible via this project include classification, relative dating, analysis of meteorite origins, and reconstruction of meteorite evolution. During this project, there will also be the opportunity to travel to the Nullarbor and take part in searching for meteorites. Existing structural and geochemical data will be processed and analysed by the candidate to produce a geological history of the rock(s) in the context of our Solar System. Examples of such data in shown in the figure below. Working with experts within the Space Science & Technology Centre, their work will be placed into the wider planetary science field for potential future publication.

Supervisors: Dr. Ellie Sansom, Dr. Lucy Forman

Description: Analysis of lunar rock and soil samples collected by NASA’s Apollo missions have led to an unprecedented understanding of the geological history of the Moon since the 1970s. However, there are still many aspects of lunar geology that remain unresolved. This project investigates the mineralogy, petrography, and petrology of lunar rock and soil samples with the aim of developing automated quantitative petrographic methods for interpreting how they formed. For example, the crystal size distribution of minerals in basaltic samples may help distinguish whether they formed from volcanogenic or impact melts. Furthermore, some breccia samples have complicated textures with breccia and many types of lithic clasts, which suggest complex impact histories. The student may study rocks from various Apollo landing sites. By understanding their geochemistry, mineralogy, and texture, this project aims to constrain how samples fit into lunar volcanic or impact history, identify the potential source region from where they were transported and how they were transported to the Apollo landing sites. This project will involve collection of quantitative mineralogical and microstructural data via scanning electron microscopy and integration with existing geochronology and geochemistry data. It will provide a student with a unique opportunity to work on lunar samples while developing expertise in analytical techniques that are transferable and applicable across a range of industry and academic research areas.

Supervisor: A/Prof Nick Timms

Projects available:
-Analysing Superbolide Impacts using Earth Observation Satellites
-False Positive Mitigation in Drone-Based Meteorite Detection Through Multispectral Imaging
-Fireball Detection and Characterisation Using Light Curve Analysis
-Searching for Fireballs and Re-entries in WA Array seismic data
-Faint Satellite Detection with Synthetic Tracking
-Asteroid shape re-construction using radio occultation events
-Transient events classification to identify daytime fireballs
Click the link below to find out more about each project.

Suited to: Students with a background in physics, computing, science or astronomy.

Supervisors: Dr Hadrien Devlliepoix, Dale Giancono or Iona Clemente