?Earth?? Sciences
Structural Geology and Tectonics
Research is mainly field based and revolves around two broad themes, including (1) the geology of mid-crustal, high-grade terrains and associated partial melting and granite plutonism, and (2) the controls of deformation on hydrothermal fluid flow, with applications in economic geology and lode-gold mineralisation, in particular.
The first theme focuses on the interplay between regional deformation and the transport and/or emplacement of granitic melts in the continental crust. This also includes the assembly and internal structure of granite plutons and the role of granite plutonism in regional tectonics. Recent research has focused on the Pan-African Damara and Saldania Belts, Archaean provinces such as the Barberton granitoid-greenstone terrain or the North Atlantic Craton of Greenland and the Mesoproterozoic granulite terrain of Namaqualand. All projects involve post-graduate students at Honours-, MSc- and PhD-level. Projects are partly funded through research organizations such as the NRF, but mostly through industry.
The second research theme focuses on the structural controls of fluid flow in crustal rocks, both on a regional as well as on a more local or mine scale. Pas?t and present projects have focused on shear-zone hosted lode-gold, but also base-metal deposits, mainly in Sub-Saharan Africa. These projects involve students at Honours-, MSc- and PhD-level and are mainly in collaboration with industry partners.
contact: Prof Kisters, send e-mail
