Dr Robert Dart

Biography/ Background

Following a successful career in computing, Robert completed a bachelor of Applied Science (Applied Geology) at the University of South Australia in 1999, graduating with honours in 2004. Robert then completed a PhD at The University of Adelaide. His research topic was on the relationship of regolith carbonates (typically referred to as calcrete when indurated) with gold and associated elements, and the landscape and pedological processes controlling this relationship.

Robert is currently employed as a postdoctoral researcher within the Deep Exploration Technologies Cooperative Research Centre (DET CRC), where he is identifying and investigating key interfaces (physical, chemical and biological) within deep sedimentary basins. Of particular interest are the basal Mesozoic sediments (Cadna-owie Formation and Algebuckina Sandstone) within the south western margins of the Eromanga Basin and overlying the Stuart Shelf.

Qualifications

 PhD (The University of Adelaide)

 

Thesis Title: Gold-in-Calcrete: A continental to profile scale study of regolith carbonates and their association with gold mineralisation.

 

Supervisors: Karin Barovich, David Chittleborough & Steve Hill.

Graduated: 2009

 

BAppSc(Applied Geology) Hons (University of South Australia)

 Completed: 2004

Teaching Interests

PhD Student Supervision

Current Students

Byron Dietman (commenced 2010). Regolith expression of Iron Oxide Copper Gold Uranium (IOCGU) mineralisation in Australia.

Verity Normington (commenced 2010). Permian palaeolandscape reconstruction in southern Australia.

Ben Vanderhoek (commenced 2010). Regolith geochemical interfaces within a palaeolandscape catchment, Gawler Craton, South Australia.

 

Honours (4th year) Student Supervision

2011

Oliver Hughes, Landscape evolution of Mesozoic sediments around Andamooka, SA, and the implications for mineral exploration.

Mathew Kavanagh, Surface expression of Mesozoic sediments around Andamooka, SA, and the implication for mineral exploration.

Frank Stamoulis, Geochemical expression of mineralisation in vegetation around the IOCG Olympic Dam area.

2010

Trent Ames: Regolith-landforms and plant biogeochemistry north of Area 223, Tunkillia Gold Prospect, Central Gawler Craton, South Australia (sponsored by Minotaur Exploration).

Andrew Knight: Integrated hyperspectral remote sensing, portable field XRF and plant biogeochemistry for mineral exploration under cover of the Rockwell map area, Broken Hill, NSW (sponsored by NSW Department of Primary Industries).

 

Research Interests

Robert's research interests are regolith geology and landscape processes in relation to mineral exploration. In particular, landscape controls on the dispersion of mineralisation indicators within the regolith, and the improvement of regolith geochemical data interpretation by considering the impact of landscape processes.

Robert is currently investigating how we can extended our understanding of geochemical dispersion within contemporary surfaces to palaeo- (buried) surfaces found within deep sedimentary basins. The aim of this research is to identify potential geochemical signatures that may provide vectors toward hidden mineralisation.

Publications

Conference paper

1. Dart, Robert C; Chittleborough, David J; Barovich, Karin M.
Gold distribution through the regolith profile: examples from the White Dam prospect, Olary, South Australia. Regolith 2006: Consolidation and Dispersion of Ideas: Proceedings of the CRC LEME Regolith Symposium / R. W. Fitzpatrick and P. Shand (eds.):pp.48-52.

2. Dart, Robert C; Barovich, Karin M; Chittleborough, David J.
Pedogenic carbonates, Strontium isotopes and their relationship with Australian dust processes. Regolith 2005: ten years of CRC LEME : proceedings of the CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia / Ian C. Roach (ed.):pp.64-66.

3. Dart, Robert C; Wittwer, Paul D; Barovich, Karin M; Chittleborough, David J; Hill, Steven M.
Strontium isotopes as an indicator of the source of calcium for regolith carbonates. Regolith 2004: proceedings of the CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia / Ian C. Roach (ed.), pp.67-70.

Journal article

1. Reith, Frank; Etschmann, Barbara; Dart, Robert C; Brewe, Dale L; Vogt, Stefan; Schmidt Mumm, Andreas; Brugger, Joel.
Distribution and speciation of gold in biogenic and abiogenic calcium carbonates -Implications for the formation of gold anomalous calcrete. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2011; 75: 1942-1956.

2. Dart, Robert C; Barovich, Karin M; Chittleborough, David Js; Hill, Steven M.
Calcium in regolith carbonates of central and southern Australia: Its source and implications for the global carbon cycle. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2007; 249 (3-4):322-334.

Thesis

1. Dart, Robert C.
Gold-in-calcrete: a continental to profile scale study of regolith carbonates and their association with gold mineralisation.

Regolith Landform Map from PhD of the Area surrounding the Tunkillia Au Prospect, South Australia

Tunkillia Regolith Landform Map

Professional Associations

Member of the Geological Society of Australia (GSA).

Current newsletter and web page editor of the South Australia division

Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG).

Member of The Association of Applied Geochemists

Founding member of the Australian Regolith Geoscientists Association (ARGA)

Currently secretary

Entry last updated: Tuesday, 12 Jul 2011