JCU > Research Portfolio > A/Prof Carl Spandler

About

Dr Carl Spandler uses petrology and geochemistry to research many different aspects of Earth Science, including the evolution of the Earth's mantle, the production of basaltic magmas, subduction zone processes, magmatic growth of island arcs and the formation of metalliferous ore deposits.

His current research focuses on:

1. Hydrothermal mobility and concentration of rare earth elements in the crust.

2. Crustal evolution of NE Australia and the SW Pacific

3. Geochemistry of high/ultrahigh pressure metamorphic rocks

4. Earth-scale geochemical cycling

Teaching

EA2220: Minerals and Magmas (Level 2; TSV)
EA2900: Introductory Field Geology (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
EA3100: Igneous Petrology and Processes (Level 3; TSV)
EA3130: Advanced Petrology (Level 3; TSV)
EA3400: Ore Genesis (Level 3; TSV)
EA5041: Igneous Petrology and Processes (Level 5; TSV)
EA5330: Field Techniques (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Research

subduction zone recycling and arc magmatism • high-pressure metamorphism • mantle geochemistry • basaltic magmatism • element diffusion in minerals • magmatic ore deposits • rare earth element ore deposits • experimental petrology • analytical geochemistry • tectonics of the SW Pacific • evolution of the Australian continent

Experience

2015 to present - Associate Professor, James Cook University (Townsville)
2011 to 2014 - Senior Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)
2008 to 2010 - Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)
2006 to 2008 - Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Bern (Switzerland)
2005 to 2006 - APD Postdoctoral Fellow, Australian National University (Canberra, Australia)
2000 to 2005 - PhD student, Australian National University (Canberra, Australia)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2010 - Deans Excellence in Research Prize, Faculty of Science and Engineeering

Fellowships

2012 - Future Fellowship
2005 - Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship

Memberships

2012 - National Committee for Earth Sciences, Australian Academy of Science

Other

2012 - Treasurer/conference organiser for the Specialist Group for Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology, Geological Society of Australia

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Nazari-Dehkordi T and Spandler C (2019) Paragenesis and composition of xenotime-(Y) and florencite-(Ce) from unconformity-related heavy rare earth element mineralization of northern Western Australia. Mineralogy and Petrology, 113 (5). pp. 563-581
Nazari-Dehkordi T, Huizenga J, Spandler C and Oliver N (2019) Fluid inclusion and stable isotope constraints on the heavy rare earth element mineralisation in the Browns Range Dome, Tanami Region, Western Australia. Ore Geology Reviews, 113.
Cheng Y, Spandler C, Chang Z and Clarke G (2018) Volcanic–plutonic connections and metal fertility of highly evolved magma systems: a case study from the Herberton Sn–W–Mo Mineral Field, Queensland, Australia. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 486. pp. 84-93
Janots E, Austrheim H, Spandler C, Hammerli J, Trepmann C, Berndt J, Magnin V and Kemp A (2018) Rare earth elements and Sm-Nd isotope redistribution in apatite and accessory minerals in retrogressed lower crust material (Bergen Arcs, Norway). Chemical Geology, 484. pp. 120-135
Nazari-Dehkordi T, Spandler C, Oliver N and Wilson R (2018) Unconformity-related rare earth element deposits: a regional-scale hydrothermal mineralization type of northern Australia. Economic Geology, 113 (6). pp. 1297-1305
Rosenthal A, Yaxley G, Crichton W, Kovács I, Spandler C, Hermann J, Sándorné J, Rose-Koga E and Pelleter A (2018) Phase relations and melting of nominally 'dry' residual eclogites with variable CaO/Na2O from 3 to 5 GPa and 1250 to 1500 °C; implications for refertilisation of upwelling heterogeneous mantle. Lithos, 314-315. pp. 506-519
Slezak P, Spandler C and Blake K (2018) Ghosts of apatite past: using hyperspectral cathodoluminescence and micro-geochemical data to reveal multi-generational apatite in the Gifford Creek Carbonatite Complex, Australia. Canadian Mineralogist, 56 (5). pp. 773-797
Spandler C, Hammerli J and Pirard C (2018) Neodymium isotope disequilibria in subducted sediments, and potential consequences for subduction-zone recycling. Geology, 46 (9). pp. 815-818
Taetz S, John T, Broecker M, Spandler C and Stracke A (2018) Fast intraslab fluid-flow events linked to pulses of high pore fluid pressure at the subducted plate interface. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 482. pp. 33-43
Babo J, Spandler C, Oliver N, Brown M, Rubenach M and Creaser R (2017) The high-grade Mo-Re Merlin deposit, Cloncurry District, Australia: paragenesis and geochronology of hydrothermal alteration and ore formation. Economic Geology, 112. pp. 397-422
Dirks P, Roberts E, Hilbert-Wolf H, Kramers J, Hawks J, Dossetto A, Duval M, Elliott M, Evans M, Grün R, Hellstrom J, Herries A, Joannes-Boyau R, Makhubela T, Placzek C, Robbins J, Spandler C, Wiersma J, Woodhead J and Berger L (2017) The age of Homo naledi and associated sediments in the Rising Star Cave, South Africa. eLife, 6. pp. 1-59
Nazari-Dehkordi T, Spandler C, Oliver N, Chapman J and Wilson R (2017) Provenance, tectonic setting and source of Archean metasedimentary rocks of the Browns Range Metamorphics, Tanami Region, Western Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 64 (6). pp. 723-741

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 69+ research outputs authored by A/Prof Carl Spandler from 2003 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Australian Research Council - Discovery - Projects

The geochemistry of rare earth elements in carbonate melts.

Indicative Funding: $32,705 over 3 years (administered by ANU)
Summary: This project aims to determine why deposits of rare earth elements, which are critical for modern devices and technologies, such as phones, tablet and plasma screens, are associated with carbonate magmas. The global supply of these critical metals is geopolitically unstable and although Australia has significant reserves there is very limited production. By improving our understanding of the geochemical behaviour of the rare earths we aim to develop new reverse-engineering methods for their extraction, which will improve the security of supply of these elements and enhance Australia's role in high-tech industries.
Investigators: Andrew Berry, Greg Yaxley, Andrea Gerson and Carl Spandler (Australian National University and College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Rare Earth Elements; phosphate; experiments; Carbonate

Qld Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy - Contract Research

Magmatic History, Fertility and Metallogenesis of the Mary Kathleen Domain of the Mt Isa Inlier

Indicative Funding: $352,500 over 4 years
Summary: This project aims to highlight the exploration potential in the Mary Kathleen Domain of the Mt Isa Inlier by providing key mineralisation insights that can assist mining companies to plan their exploration strategy for better targeting and enhance the potential for new discoveries. To achieve this, the project has three main objectives: (1) Establish the extent, character and timing of the dominant magmatic epochs in the Mary Kathleen Domain of the Mt Isa Inlier (2) Develop an understanding of the tectono-magmatic history of the Mary Kathleen Domain and its links to metallogenesis; (3) Explore the applicability of magma fertility concepts as a tool for exploration for a variety of deposit types.
Investigators: Paul Dirks, Ioan Sanislav and Carl Spandler (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Mary Kathleen Belt; Metallogenesis; Mineralisation; Magma Fertility; Geochronology

Department of the Environment and Energy - Contract Research

Magmatic History, Fertility and Metallogenesis of the Mary Kathleen Domain of the Mt Isa Inlier

Indicative Funding: $352,500 over 4 years
Summary: This project aims to highlight the exploration potential in the Mary Kathleen Domain of the Mt Isa Inlier by providing key mineralisation insights that can assist mining companies to plan their exploration strategy for better targeting and enhance the potential for new discoveries. To achieve this, the project has three main objectives: (1) Establish the extent, character and timing of the dominant magmatic epochs in the Mary Kathleen Domain of the Mt Isa Inlier (2) Develop an understanding of the tectono-magmatic history of the Mary Kathleen Domain and its links to metallogenesis; (3) Explore the applicability of magma fertility concepts as a tool for exploration for a variety of deposit types.
Investigators: Paul Dirks, Ioan Sanislav and Carl Spandler (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Mary Kathleen Belt; Metallogenesis; Mineralisation; Magma Fertility; Geochronology

Australian Research Council - Discovery - Projects

Jurassic Arc? Reconstructing the Lost World of Eastern Australia

Indicative Funding: $284,390 over 3 years
Summary: This project aims to resolve a long-standing enigma about the geological formation of the Great Artesian Basin ? Australia?s most important onshore reservoir for groundwater and hydrocarbon resources. Specifically, the project will integrate sedimentological and geochemical studies to investigate the geodynamic configuration of Eastern Australia during the Jurassic Period of basin formation. The intended outcomes are an improved understanding of the evolution of the Australian continent and better knowledge of the formation of intercontinental sedimentary basins, which includes better assessment of their potential to contain hydrocarbon resources.
Investigators: Carl Spandler, Eric Roberts, Anthony Kemp and Bob Henderson (College of Science & Engineering and The University of Western Australia)
Keywords: Jurassic; Great Artesian Basin; Zircon; Tectonics

Qld Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy - Contract Research

Characterising IOCG and SEDEX deposits in the Mt Isa block with Cu-Zn isotopes

Indicative Funding: $75,000 over 2 years, in partnership with Anglo American Exploration (Australia) Pty Ltd ($75,000 over 2 yrs) and Glencore Mount Isa Mines ($75,000 over 2 yrs)
Summary: The Economic Geology Research Centre (EGRU) at JCU has proposed to establish Cu and Zn isotope lines at JCU, and build a reference database for Cu-Zn isotopes from mineral deposits in the Mt Isa district, starting witht eh well-known Mt Isa deposit. It is proposed to conduct an exploratory, proof-of-concept study of limited initial scope and time, to assess the usefulness of Zn-Cu isotopes for exploration in the Mt Isa area. If initial results are promising, we intend to extend the study.
Investigators: Paul Dirks and Carl Spandler in collaboration with Helen Degeling, Trevor Shaw and Neil Macalalad (College of Science & Engineering, Geological Survey of Queensland, Mount Isa Mines Exploration and Anglo American Exploration (Australia) Pty Ltd)
Keywords: Copper isotopes; Mount Isa; Zinc isotopes; Pb-Zn ore

Dover Castle Metals Pty Ltd - Contract Research

Geology and ore genesis of the Dover Castle Sn + polymetallic ore field, North Queensland

Indicative Funding: $36,532
Summary: Recent exploration work in the Dover Castle mining district in North Queensland has defined economically significant polymetallic (Sn-W-Zn-Ag-Pb-In) resources. Geological understanding of how these diverse metal associations occur at economic levels is currently poor, as is the knowledge of potential for further minerlisation at depth. This project will provide crucial baseline geological data, including geochronology, mineralogy, geochemistry, and igneous and hydrothermal alternation characterisation, to better understand the origin of the mineralisation, and the geological controls on its location. This project outcomes will allow more focussed mineral exploration targeting to improve the probability of discovery of further economically significant resources.
Investigators: Carl Spandler, Paul Dirks and Yanbo Cheng (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Tin-tungsten; Mineral Exploration; Ore Deposit; Geology

Australian Research Council - Discovery - Future Fellowships

Rare earths unearthed: Resolving the mystery of how rare earth elements are mobilised and concentrated in continental crust

Indicative Funding: $711,098 over 5 years
Summary: Shifts towards green energy and technology in modern society are dependant on continuing supplies of rare earth elements. Nevertheless, we know little about how these elements concentrate to form economically viable ore bodies, and there remain fundamental holes in our knowledge of how these elements interact with fluids in the Earth's crust. This project combines experiments and novel geochemical studies of natural ores to address these knowledge deficiencies. The results will aid exploration for new rare earth element resources and will contribute to an improved understanding of how continents grow and evolve through time.
Investigators: Carl Spandler (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Rare Earth Elements; mineral solubility; Ore Deposit

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Bentonite Tephrostratigraphy and High-Precision Geochronology of Richly Fossiliferous Upper Cretaceous Continental Strata in the Western Interior Basin, North America (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Fluids in the lower crust: storage and mobilization (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Zonation, paragenesis and fluid evolution from the root to the top of the Far Southeast porphyry deposit, Mankayan district, Philippines (Masters , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Establishing a Tectonic Framework for the Cretaceous break-up of Eastern Gondwana: Insights from Papua New Guinea and Offshore Geology of the Coral and Tasman Seas. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Revealing the Enigmatic Alkaline Volcanism of the Rukwa Rift through Weather Resistant Minerals and their Inclusions (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Base Metal Genesis, Geology, and Structural Evolution of the Central Tommy Creek Domain, Mt Isa Inlier (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Basin Analysis of Queensland's Jurassic to Cretaceous Basins, and the application of U-Pb Detrital Zircon Geochronology to Reconstruct Tectonic History and Palaeodrainage Evolution. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Completed

The high grade Mo-Re Merlin deposit, Cloncurry district, Australia (2014, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Using microanalysis of minerals to track geochemical processes during metamorphism: examples from the Mary Kathleen fold belt, Queensland, and the Eastern Mt. Lofty Ranges, South Australia (2014, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Gold-bismuth occurrences in the Kennedy igneous province, North Queensland: constraints on tectonic, magmatic and hydrothermal processes in intrusion-related gold deposits (2015, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Magma fertility related to Au - Cu mineralisation: evaluating the potential for linked porphyry Cu - Au deposits at depths, North Queensland, Australia (2018, Masters , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
The Origin and Evolution of Heavy Rare Earth Element Mineralisation in the Browns Range Area, Northern Australia (2018, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
The Giant Antamina Deposit, Peru: Intrusive Sequence, Skarn Formation, and Mineralisation (2018, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Millennial-scale rates of erosion and change in relief in north Queensland using cosmogenic nuclide ¹⁰Be (2019, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Tectono-metamorphic evolution of the high-temperature low-pressure (HTLP) Cooma Metamorphic Complex, Lachlan Fold Belt, S. E. Australia (2014, PhD , Associate Advisor)
Mesozoic detrital zircon provenance of Central Africa: Implications for Jurassic-Cretaceous tectonics, paleogeography and landscape evolution. (2019, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Petrology of the Gifford Creek Carbonatite Complex and the Yangibana LREE district, Western Australia: New insights from isotope geochemistry and geochronology (2019, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)

Data

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit the JCU Research Data Catalogue.

Spandler, C. (2015) Experimental study of trace element release during ultrahigh-pressure serpentinite dehydration. James Cook University
Holm, R. (2015) Hafnium isotope data for the Simuku Igneous Complex, New Britain, Papua New Guinea. James Cook University
Spandler, C. (2012) Carbonate assimilation during magma evolution at Nisyros (Greece), South Aegean Arc: evidence from clinopyroxenite xenoliths data. James Cook University
Spandler, C. (2011) Rates of element diffusion in olivine and implications for the deep structure of the Earth. James Cook University
Spandler, C. (2011) Fluid flow in metamorphic rocks from the Western Alps, Italy. James Cook University

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.