Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
I am interested in a wide variety of topics in Earth and planetary sciences. I tend to apply the principles of metamorphic petrology, as well as some structural geology and igneous petrology, to fields of geoscience where these principles have been somewhat neglected. This non-traditional application of petrology has allowed me to make unique contributions to the fields of economic geology and meteoritics/planetary science.
My research in Economic Geology has involved investigating:
(1) Redox processes in subduction zones, the mantle wedge and magma mixing zones in the lower crust.
(2) Sulfide partial melting during metamorphism.
(3) Platinum group element behaviour in a range of settings.
(4) The P-T-t-D windows for metamorphic generation of sulfur rich hydrothermal fluids.
(5) The upper P-T limits at which gold deposits can form.
(6) The behaviour of metals during silicate anatexis (melting of the deep crust).
An important aim has been has been to link the results of these studies with tectonic models for the genesis of orogenic gold deposits (relates to points 4 and 5) and felsic magma-related Cu-Au deposits (relates to 1 and and 6).
Meteorites Research: Since 2007 I have been leading meteorite collecting expeditions to Australian deserts, and we have now collected over 300 new meteorites including several rare finds. My students and I have been using some of these finds in our research, which has largely evolved out of my interests in metamorphic influences on sulfide minerals in ore deposits. Our recent research has included investigating:
(a) How ancient fossil micrometeorites preserved in Earth's oldest sedimentary rocks can be used to investigate the early atmosphere.
(b) The effects of post-impact metamorphism and radiogenic metamorphism on metal-sulfide assemblages and silicate partial melting in asteroids.
(c) The role of impacts in generating large accumulations of metal, which might allow rapid core formation in planetesimals. The role of immiscibility between liquid Fe-carbide and Fe-sulfide in controling the chemical evolution of silicate-bearing iron meteorites.
(d) Sulfur isotope systematics on Mars. Possible habitats for life on Mars based on what we see in meteorites and mcirometeorites on Earth.
(e) Thermal modelling of asteroids coupled with metamorphic principles to constrain their evolution.
(f) Redox processes in asteroids.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Geoscience, PhD, Australian National University (ANU)
Award Date: 4 Oct 2002
Research area keywords
- Economic Geology
- Meteoritics
- Planetary Science
- Petrology
Network
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Defining the multi-scale controls on high-grade gold mineralisation
Thebaud, N., Fougerouse, D., Brugger, J., Tomkins, A., Martin, L. A. J., Liu, W., Pearce, M. A. & Rogers, J.
MRIWA - Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia, Newmont Mining (Australia)
12/07/21 → 11/07/24
Project: Research
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Evolution of sub-arc mantle oxidation state over Earth’s history
Australian Research Council (ARC)
1/01/19 → 30/06/23
Project: Research
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Enabling future technology by building light element analysis capability; a light element optimised ultra-high resolution electron microprobe
Tomkins, A., Bhargava, S., Boger, S., Brooks, G., Hutchinson, C., Tardio, J., Weinberg, R., Wen, C., MacRae, C., Pownceby, M. I. & Wilson, N.
Australian Research Council (ARC), Monash University, RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology, CSIRO - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, University of Melbourne
Project: Research
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AuScope Simulation, Analysis & Modelling (SAM) 2017 @ Monash - Underworld towards GeosciencesVL
Quenette, S., Capitanio, F., Micklethwaite, S. & Tomkins, A.
1/07/17 → 30/06/18
Project: Research
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A Global Fireball Observatory
Bland, P., Ireland, T. R., Rushmer, T., Horner, J., Tomkins, A., Macquart, J., Chennaoui, H., Collins, G., Brown, P., Jenniskens, P., Herd, C., Swindle, T. & Pendleton, Y.
20/06/17 → 31/12/18
Project: Other
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Bi/Te control on gold mineralizing processes in the North China Craton: Insights from the Wulong gold deposit
Feng, H., Shen, P., Zhu, R., Tomkins, A. G., Brugger, J., Ma, G., Li, C. & Wu, Y., 2023, In: Mineralium Deposita. 58, p. 263–286 24 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access3 Citations (Scopus) -
Functional basis of primary succession: Traits of the pioneer microbes
Ni, G., Lappan, R., Hernández, M., Santini, T., Tomkins, A. G. & Greening, C., Jan 2023, In: Environmental Microbiology. 25, 1, p. 171-176 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment / Debate › Other › peer-review
Open Access -
Hardness of nano- and microcrystalline lonsdaleite
Huang, X., Salek, A., Tomkins, A. G., Macrae, C. M., Wilson, N. C., McCulloch, D. G. & Bradby, J. E., 20 Feb 2023, In: Applied Physics Letters. 122, 8, 5 p., 081902.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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Incipient metal and sulfur extraction during melting of metasomatised mantle
Rielli, A., Tomkins, A. G., Nebel, O., Brugger, J., Etschmann, B., Evans, K. A., Wykes, J. L., Vasilyev, P. & Paterson, D. J., 1 Dec 2022, In: Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 599, 14 p., 117850.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
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Preservation of Terrestrial Microorganisms and Organics Within Alteration Products of Chondritic Meteorites from the Nullarbor Plain, Australia
Tait, A. W., Wilson, S. A., Tomkins, A. G., Hamilton, J. L., Gagen, E. J., Holman, A. I., Grice, K., Preston, L. J., Paterson, D. J. & Southam, G., 13 Apr 2022, In: Astrobiology. 22, 4, p. 399-415 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus)