Stratigraphy, tectonics and natural resources

Our research covers many aspects of the Pacific region’s diverse tectonic settings and natural resources, including hydrocarbons, geothermal energy, mineral deposits and aggregates.

Strata map in close up

Our projects integrate structural, sedimentological, geophysical and petrophysical studies and span the fundamental and applied Earth sciences.

We use state-of-the-art experimental, modelling and interpretation tools on a wide range of outcrop and subsurface data sets. Some of our interests include hydrocarbon and geothermal reservoir characterisation, gas hydrates, basin evolution, mineralisation and the effects of fluid flow in the crust, and New Zealand aggregate resources.

Our research topics

  • Seismic imaging of the Ross Ice Shelf
  • Patterns of seismicity of the Hauraki Rift
  • Stratigraphic and tectonic evolution of the Reinga-Northland basins, NZ using high-resolution seismic stratigraphy
  • Sediment transport and dispersal on the Bay of Islands
  • Structural geology, sub-surface geophysics and geochemistry of the Waitemata Basin
  • Physical controls an epithermal mineralisation
  • Textures, mineralogy, paleoecology and geologic context of active and extinct hot springs
  • Formation and evolution of seafloor pockmarks on the Chatham Rise
  • Analysis of submarine landslides using 3D seismic data
  • Quantifying 3D pore geometry and mineralogy in basalts from computerised tomography-scan data
  • Measuring rock wave velocity under pressure using lasers
  • CO2-rock alteration in young basalts using elastic (seismic) waves
  • Marginal aggregate weathering and the production of aggregates in New Zealand basalt and greywacke

Our researchers