The University of Western Australia
Res/Asst/Prof Arianne Ford
Research Assistant Professor
Contact details
| Address | School of Earth and Environment The University of Western Australia (M006) 35 Stirling Highway CRAWLEY WA 6009 Australia |
|---|---|
| Phone | 6488 5805 |
| Fax | 6488 1178 |
| arianne.ford@uwa.edu.au | |
| Personal homepage | http://www.segs.uwa.edu.au/ford_cv |
Key research
- I am interested in mathematical/statistical techniques and their computational application to exploration targeting and resource classification. My PhD research undertaken at James Cook University under the supervision of Dr Thomas Blenkinsop applied fractal and multifractal techniques, as well as GIS analysis and numerical modelling to various geological and mineral deposit datasets, primarily from the Mount Isa Inlier in NW Queensland. This work presents new methods for (a) reducing terrain scale exploration targets to smaller regional scale exploration targets, and (b) describing the characteristics of the distribution of mineral production data using new theoretical models. The results of this research suggests that fractal and multifractal techniques can be applied to various aspects of a mineralized system and has practical applications in terms of exploration targeting and resource evaluation.
- Upon completion of my PhD, I worked on the preliminary stages of a numerical modelling project of the Drummond Basin in collaboration with the Geological Survey of Queensland and other researchers at James Cook University. The project aimed to understand the relationship between the fluid flow and gold mineralization in the region. This work utilized the coupled fluid flow, deformation and thermal capabilities of the FLAC3D numerical modelling package.
- Since taking up a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position at the University of Western Australia, I have been working on a GIS based country scale prospectivity analysis for gold in Mongolia in collaboration with Dr Craig Hart. We are aiming to produce prospectivity maps highlighting areas with high potential for gold mineralization. This project presents new challenges in terms of understanding and quantifying uncertainty in geological datasets and how this might affect outputs from different prospectivity mapping methods.
Publications
Blenkinsop, T.G., Huddlestone-Holmes, C.R., Foster, D.R.W., Edmiston, M.A., Lepong, P., Mark, G., Austin, J.R., Murphy, F.C., Ford, A., and Rubenach, M.J. 2008. The crustal scale architecture of the Eastern Succession, Mount Isa: the influence of inversion. Precambrian Research. 163, 31-49.
Ford, A. and Blenkinsop, T.G. 2008. Evaluating geological complexity and complexity gradients as controls on copper mineralisation, Mt Isa Inlier. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences. 55, 13-23.
Ford, A. and Blenkinsop, T.G. 2008. Combining fractal analysis of mineral deposit clustering with weights of evidence to evaluate patterns of mineralization: Application to copper deposits of the Mount Isa Inlier, NW Queensland, Australia. Ore Geology Reviews. 33, 435-450.
Ford, A. and Blenkinsop, T.G. 2008. Evaluating geological complexity and complexity gradients as controls on copper mineralisation, Mt Isa Inlier. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences. 55, 13-23.
Ford, A. and Blenkinsop, T.G. 2008. Combining fractal analysis of mineral deposit clustering with weights of evidence to evaluate patterns of mineralization: Application to copper deposits of the Mount Isa Inlier, NW Queensland, Australia. Ore Geology Reviews. 33, 435-450.
Funding received
2005 – 2007: James Cook University, School of Earth Sciences - PhD Scholarship
2005 – 2007: Predictive Mineral Discovery CRC - PhD top-up scholarship
2006: James Cook University Graduate Research School – Research grant for computing equipment
2005 – 2007: Predictive Mineral Discovery CRC - PhD top-up scholarship
2006: James Cook University Graduate Research School – Research grant for computing equipment
Research profile
