The project will focus on the development of knowledge concerning quartz raw material used for metallurgical production of ferrosilicon and silicon metal.

Main objective: By using systematic investigations and modern analytical equipment, give a basic knowledge about the properties of quartz raw material that are important for the production of silicon, and further develop methods to test these properties.

The project is carried out in cooperation with Elkem ASA, Silicon Division, a major producer of FeSi and Si-metal.

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Introduction:
Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) have been linked in cause-effect relationships to continental rifting and break up, genesis of ocean floor, buoyant uplift of the lithosphere, mass extinctions and climate change and hot spots. These links and their consequences have been suggested primarily on the basis of detailed studies of the massive volumes of flood basalts that are characteristic features of all LIPs, and which are documented to have been extruded within very short geologic time periods (on the order of 1-2 m.y. or less). Because LIPs have erupted through continental crust, ocean crust, or both, they are also markers with which to study large-scale plate motion, stretching and rupture of the crust, and thermal and chemical evolution of the mantle through time. However, the general tendency in LIP research to emphasize collection of data to quantify the rates and volumes of production of the short-lived flood basalt eruptions has left a paucity of data for much of a LIP's history that otherwise can last >10 to more than 100 m.y. Several LIPs are located in the Atlantic province. These include the North Atlantic Igneous Province (NAIP), the Central Atlantic Margin Province (CAMP), the Paraná-Etendeka Province (P-E), and the Karoo Igneous Province (KIP). These LIPs, and especially the flood basalt phases of their histories, are often suggested to have played direct roles in the break-up of Pangea and opening of the Atlantic and southern Indian Oceans. However, the timing of eruption of the flood basalts, well constrained for three of the four LIPs through high-precision 40Ar/39Ar geochronology, relative to production of the first sea-floor magnetic anomalies in the vicinity of each province differs significantly from LIP to LIP. Clearly, a direct connection between massive outpouring of flood basalt and continental break up cannot be universally applied on the basis of temporal relationships alone. The lithospheric settings and spatial evolution of these provinces also differ, thus requiring 'LIP-specific' models to establish the relationship between asthenosphere melting, lithospheric stretching and continental break up. The focus in this study will be the NAIP.

Project description and objectives:
The fieldwork of this study will focus on the easily accessible rocks of NW Scotland and the north of Ireland. Previously published work on the geochronology of Mull lavas will be combined with modern paleomagnetic studies of these rocks, complemented by supplementary 40Ar/39Ar geochronology on Mull. In the north of Ireland, the extensive basalt province of Antrim has not been dated with modern isotope geochronology methods, nor has a detailed, modern paleomagnetic study been conducted on the Antrim lava stratigraphy. Thus, a complete magnetostratigraphic study with 40Ar/39Ar geochronology is planned for this area. In Northern Ireland, dikes will also be mapped and dated to attempt to constrain time of their emplacement. Dikes are good markers of stress orientation, but have different significance if emplaced prior to, during or after flood basalt volcanism. The objectives of the project are to quantify the complete temporal and plate motion history recorded by the North Atlantic LIP through application of two primary tools: 40Ar/39Ar geochronology and paleo-magnetism. Together, the two methods can give constraints on the paleolatitudinal position of a rock at a precise time. This study would address the complete history of the NAIP, of which the flood basalt phase is only one part, in an effort to gain regional understanding about:
- change in rates of plate motion over time as LIP magmatism evolves;
- timing of rapid plate motion relative to flood basalt volcanism;
- temporal relationship of flood basalt volcanism to continental break up (if any);
- causal mechanisms for continental rifting and break up in presence/absence of LIPs.

The PhD-project will focus on the stability of high, natural rock slopes. The failure mechanisms of such slopes are often poorly understood, and a main goal therefore is to try to reach a better understanding of the engineering geological and rock mechanical factors used in models for analysing rock slope stability and for risk assessment. Among the key issues will be to study time dependent deformation and creep, and to develop a model for probability analysis of large-scale rock slope failures. Field investigation of relevant Norwegian cases (?kerneset, Tafjord, Aurland, Nordnes) will be an important part of the project. The PhD-project will be carried out in close co-operation with the "International Centre for Geohazards" (ICG) and the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU).

Objective: Improve well correlation and seismic interpretation in heterolithic reservoir units by examining the effect of sedimentary facies, diagenesis and differential compaction on stratigraphic continuity and seismic signatures at reservoir scale. The project will be executed in collaboration with the NTNU-SOP Project "Sub-seismic reservoir description" that focuses on modelling seismic patterns of layered sequences.

Background: Heterogeneous sandstone formations offer great challenges for correlation and optimal petroleum production. Flow units and properties are controlled by complex facies variations, but also by diagenesis and compaction. This study deals with the interplay between all these parameters, with emphasis on the role of early/differential compaction on the formation properties. The Lower ?re Formation at Heidrun of alternating sandstones, mudstones and coal-beds is selected as study area as it is heterogeneous and well covered by well logs and various petrophysical data, and as there are still several challenges in sandstone correlation between the wells. A comparative study from another setting (turbidites) may be included optionally, in collaboration with the above-mentioned SOP Project.

Project work: The project is multidisciplinary with the following main tasks and questions:

1) Sandstone correlation (reservoir scale) based on sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy.
2) Interpretation and distribution of diagenesis and compaction.
3) Examine role of diagenesis and differential compaction on reservoir properties and lithology correlation.
4) Examine the possibility of distinguishing and model seismic response of selected characteristic facies intervals.

Task 1 and 2 are based on core study, petrophysical well log data and optical petrography. Task 3 includes literature survey of compaction. Sediment back-stripping will be attempted using improved compaction algorithms. The SBED program will be tested on these rocks for upscaling of sediment properties. Task 4 will use tools (SeisWorks) and procedures developed at IPT (A. Stovas & M. Landr?) as part of the SOP Project for interpretation and modelling of relevant seismic data from Heidrun (2D, 3D?).

Study area and data/materials: The Heidrun Field, Lower ?re Formation has been suggested as study area in collaboration with Statoil who is asked to provide/give access to the following data and material:

Cores, core data, core photos, petrographic thin-sections, petrophysical logs 1:200 and 1:50 including image logs, seismic data, report list, relevant core reports with supplementary data (XRD etc.). Access to relevant OpenWorks database and SBED (Statoil, Rotvoll).

The PhD project is organised at Inst. Geol. & Bergteknikk with M.B.E. M?rk as supervisor and in collaboration with participants of the SOP Project (Enclosure) and Statoil: A. N?ss and K. Nordahl.

Contact persons:
Erik Hammer (PhD student, Tel. 73594825), erik.hammer@geo.ntnu.no
Mai Britt E. Mørk (supervisor, Tel. 73594812), mai.britt.mork@geo.ntnu.no

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The project is a part of the NFR- (The Research Council of Norway) project "Environmental friendly tunnels", which is focused mainly on the problems experienced with large uncertainties concerning the permeability of the rockmass. Often when planning tunnels, the greatest uncertainty is connected to where and how much water leakage will appear, and will the water lead to instability and/or large pre-grouting efforts.

Introductorily a selection of completed tunnel projects and projects under construction (The Romeriksporten, T-bane ringen, Asker-Jong, Fr?ya and Lunner tunnels and others) will be systematically analysed with respect to the relationship between water leakage and regional- and structural geology.Based on the data from the selected tunnel projects an effort will be done to establish an explanatory model for water leakage in tunnels.

The main target for this dr.ing. project is to recommend procedures and/or guidelines to achieve better prognosis regarding water leakage for future tunnel projects. A special target is to consider the connection between regional- and structural geology and water leakage.

The motivation is clear: to avoid unforeseen problems with water leakage in future tunnel projects.

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The PhD research topic will be related to applied structural geology and engineering geology/rock mechanics for development of improved methods and models for analysing the stability of natural rock slopes. This includes improved field-mapping methods, laboratory testing directed towards shear strength of failure planes and numerical modelling including methods to handle uncertainties in the input data (sensitivity analysis). The work thus will increase the knowledge about individual unstable rock slopes and will be useful for evaluation of risk for human life and infrastructure. The research will focus on the stability of selected natural rock slopes in Norway. Related topics such as run-out distances, generation of tsunamis, etc. is not a research topic in this study. For the research the following main methods will be used:

• Detailed bedrock and fracture mapping of unstable rock slopes, mainly in Norway.
• Laboratory testing for characterising mechanical properties of potential failure planes and gouge/filling materials.
• Numerical modelling of natural rock slopes.

The PhD-project will be carried out in close co-operation with the "International Centre for Geohazards" (ICG) and the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU).

Besides economical development, the Safety, Health and Environmental aspects are of considerable importance to all industrial activity due to existing rules and regulations, employees, authorities and public interests.

The subjects connected to Safety, Health and Environment varies widely, and the objectives of this project are to investigate different problems connected to critical limitations within the Mineral Industry. Some examples of critical limitations for mineral production may be the official requirements for mineral waste disposals, mineral contamination remediation costs, content of minerals dangerous to health like quartz and asbestos, neighbour relations, general public interest, authorities interest, new rules and regulations and changes in the existing rules and regulations.

Mineral products, size and production lines may be quite different from company to company within the mineral Industry. With regards to this project it?s important to get information on which factors are critical for the individual company within the Mineral Industry in order to influence their future development positively.

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The study will concentrate on the characterization of dust in suspension from wear on pavements. There is a problem related to the air quality in Nordic cities where the use of studded tires causes relatively high wear on pavements mainly during the winter season. A new EU-directive regarding air quality will be introduced from January 2005, and there will be further stringent regulations from 2010. The wear on pavements results in high costs of renovation, maintenance and rehabilitation. It represents an environmental problem and is a potential health problem for the population in and around Norwegian cities.

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen) is financing the study, and it is a part of a larger R&D-project at the Centre for Road and Traffic Technology.

A large clay slide involving quick-clay occurs statistically every fourth year. Mapping shows that the slides potentially occur in 1200 areas, which together are bigger than 500 square kilometres. More than 100 000 people live in such areas. Slides can be triggered naturally, but today human activity is also an important factor. There is a great potential for improving methods for geological and geotechnical investigations, related to risk mapping in areas with marine clay. In Norway marine clay has its greatest extent in Tr?ndelag and ?stlandet, but there are also some areas with marine clay in Northern Norway, Vestlandet and S?rlandet. The marine clay develops to quick-clay over long time in pockets or layers. The quick-clay can be relatively firm as long as it lies undisturbed, but flows like water when it is overloaded and remoulded. This project will be a cooperation between NTNU, NGU (Geological Survey of Norway), ICG (International Centre for Geohazards) and NVE. The project will investigate the relationship between landslide occurrence and geological development. It will also be an analysis of the relationship between stratigraphy, the composition of clay, geotechnical properties and hydrological conditions. Use of modern geophysical methods in the investigation of stratigraphy, sensitive clay, slide planes and slide deposits will also be important.

The primary goal is to evaluate if igneous and sedimentary quartz through multiple episodes of metamorphic recrystallization obtain qualities commensurable with industrial high purity quartz, i.e. quartz with low abundances of fluid inclusions and low concentrations of structural impurities. To reach this goal, it is suggested to study quartz from quartzites and acid meta-igneous rocks that experienced granulite facies metamorphism. Probably the only geological environment which on a large scale may produce such high impurity quartz is high-grade metamorphic terrains and in particular, granulite facies terrains. Two areas in South Norway are selected; the high grade belt of the Bamble shear zone in the Aust-Agder District and the high grade metamorphic envelope of the Rogaland intrusive complex in the Rogaland District.

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