Explore UCD

UCD Home >

Othen, Hannah

Tectono-straigraphic evolution of the complexly faulted basin margins in the Irish Carboniferous

 

PhD Candidate:Hannah Othen

Supervisor: Dr. Koen Torremans, Dr. Aline Melo

Funded by: iCRAG

Abstract:

This PhD project will investigate the tectonostratigraphic framework and basin evolution near basin-bounding faults systems in the Irish Mississippian, and link this to the development and distribution of suitable carbonate host rocks for earth resources along the basin margin (such as base metal mineralisation, geothermal, groundwater). It will do this using an integrated methodology combining reflection seismic interpretation, 3D geological modelling, detailed lithological logging, petrophysical characterisation of cores, interpretation of potential field datasets, and geophysical inversion. The
outputs of this project will provide improved constraints on targets for mineral exploration and deep geothermal reservoirs, and it will therefore contribute to de-risking much-needed investments in these area.

References:

Andrew, C. J. (1992) ‘Basin development chronology of the lowermost Carboniferous strata in the Irish north-Central Midlands.’ In: Bowden, A. A., Earls, G., O'Connor, P. G. and Pyne, J. F. (eds) The Irish Minerals Industry 1980-1990. Irish Association for Economic Geology, Dublin, 143-169.

Ashton, J., Beach, A., Blakeman, R., Coller, D., Henry, P., Lee, R., Hitzman, M., Hope, C., Huleatt‐James, S., Philcox, M. and O'Donovan, B., 2018. Discovery of the Tara Deep Zn‐Pb mineralization at the Boliden Tara mine, Navan, Ireland: success with modern seismic surveys. Metal, Mineral and Society. Littleton, CO: Society of Economic Geologists, pp.365-381.

Athmer, W. and Luthi, S.M., (2011) ‘The effect of relay ramps on sediment routes and deposition: A review.’ Sedimentary Geology, 242(1-4), pp.1-17.

Bábek, O., Kalvoda, J., Cossey, P., Šimíček, D., Devuyst, F.X. and Hargreaves, S., (2013). ‘Facies and petrophysical signature of the Tournaisian/Viséan (Lower Carboniferous) sea-level cycle in carbonate ramp to basinal settings of the Wales-Brabant massif, British Isles.’ Sedimentary Geology, 284, pp.197-213.

Broothaers, M., Lagrou, D., Laenen, B., Harcouët-Menou, V. and Vos, D., 2021. Deep geothermal energy in the Lower Carboniferous carbonates of the Campine Basin, northern Belgium: An overview from the 1950’s to 2020. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften, pp.211-225.

Conneally, J., Torremans, K., Güven, J., Walsh, J.J., Doyle, R., Kyne, R., Guo, J. (2019). 3D structure of the Irish Lower Carboniferous from deposit to regional scale modelling. Irish Association for Economic Geology Annual Conference: Mining our future, 11-12 May, Kilkenny, Ireland

Department of Communications, Energy and natural Resources, 2015. Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015 – 2030.

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, 2020. Ireland’s National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030.

Doyle, R., Philcox, M., Murray, J., McGrath, E., Torremans, K., Güven, J., Pracht, M., Walsh, J.J. (2019). The ‘Blue Book’ Revamped: Towards a Tectonostratigraphic Framework of the Tournaisian and Viséan of Ireland. Geoscience 2019 – Geoscience for Climate Action, 5 November, Dublin, Ireland

Hitzman, M.W. and Beaty, D.W., (1996) ‘The Irish Zn–Pb– (Ba) ore-field.’ In: Sangster, D.F. Ed., Carbonate-hosted Lead–Zinc Deposits. Society of Economic Geologists, Special Publication, vol. 4, pp. 112–143.

Lang, J., Meere, P.A., Unitt, R.P., Johnson, S.C., Solferino, G., Torremans, K., Selby, D. and Kyne, R., 2020. The vein-hosted copper deposits of the Allihies mining area, SW Ireland; a new structural and chronological evaluation. Journal of the Geological Society, 177(4), pp.671-685.

Pharaoh, T., Jones, D., Kearsey, T., Newell, A., Abesser, C., Randles, T., Patton, A. and Kendall, R., 2021. Early Carboniferous limestones of southern and central Britain: Characterisation and preliminary assessment of deep geothermal prospectivity. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gesellschaft für
Geowissenschaften, 172(3), pp.227-249.

Philcox, M., Jones, G.L., Somerville, I.D., and Strogen, P., 1995, The Carboniferous limestone of the North Dublin coast and Feltrim Hill, in Irish Carbonate-Hosted Zn-Pb Deposits : Society of Economic Geologists, Guidebook Series 21, p. 173–208.

Poty, E., 2016. The Dinantian (Mississippian) succession of southern Belgium and surrounding areas: stratigraphy improvement and inferred climate reconstruction. Geologica Belgica, 19(1-2), pp.177-200.

Torremans, K., Kyne, R., Doyle, R., Güven, J.F. and Walsh, J.J., 2018. Controls on metal distributions at the Lisheen and Silvermines deposits: insights into fluid flow pathways in Irish-type Zn-Pb deposits. Economic Geology, 113(7), pp.1455-1477.

Torremans, K., Conneally, C., Güven, J., Doyle, R., Kyne, R., Guo, J., Dunlevy, E., Walsh, J.J. (2020a). Fault interactions, fault kinematics, and evolution of the structural framework in the Irish Lower Carboniferous. EGU General Assembly 2020, Online, 4–8 May 2020, EGU2020-4557, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphereegu2020-4557

Torremans, K., Güven, J., Doyle, R., Conneally, J., Vafeas, N., Dunlevy, E., Walsh, J.J. (2020b). Insights into the basin evolution and structural framework of the Carboniferous of South-Central and SE Ireland. Irish Geological Research Meeting 2020, 28 February – 1 March, Athlone, Ireland.

Vozar, J., Jones, A.G., Campanya, J., Yeomans, C., Muller, M.R., Pasquali, R., 2019. A geothermal aquifer in the dilation zones on the southern margin of the Dublin Basin. Geophysical Journal International 220, 1717-1734.

Walsh, J.J., Torremans, K., Güven, J., Kyne, R., Conneally, J. and Bonson, C., 2018. Fault-controlled fluid flow within extensional basins and its implications for sedimentary rock-hosted mineral deposits. Society of Economic Geologists, 21, pp.237-269.