Associate Professor Steven Micklethwaite
Program Leader
Resourcing Decarbonisation Program
Program Leader (Acting)
Complex Orebodies Program
Principal Research Fellow – Geology
BRC
61 7 3365 5820
Researcher biography
Associate Professor Steven Micklethwaite focuses on innovative approaches to exploration, mineral systems science and mining.
Steven is Program Lead for the cross-centre, transdisciplinary Resourcing Decarbonisation Program, addressing the minerals industry's role in a sustainable future source. We are examining the supply chain risks, policy frameworks, governance, business readiness and decarbonisation technologies particularly associated with the critical metals required for Australia's net-zero commitments. Steven has expertise in the application of geoscience and innovative technologies across the mining value chain. Selected projects include developing a digital twin of Queensland’s minerals geoscience data, drone sensing and mapping infrastructure, 3D geological interpretation and visualisation and the application of seismic to the minerals industry.
Steven served as Discovery Manager (Australia) for Anglo American where the focus was exploration in challenging undercover environments. He is also a qualified drone pilot and previously established the Drone Discovery Platform at Monash University, which was supported by Science, Engineering, Arts and IT faculties. He served on the Queensland Resources Council working groups for Pristine Rivers legislation and Data Confidentiality, as well as the Industry Advisory Board, for EGRU, James Cook University.
Steven's career has spanned exploration, consultancy and research, involving mapping on four continents and he has an abiding interest in mineral systems, low footprint mining methods like in-situ recovery and what it will take to achieve deep discovery and sustainable extraction of mineral resources under cover.
Publications
Book Chapters
Mortimer, N., Gans, P. B., Meffre, S., Martin, C. E., Seton, M., Williams, S., Turnbull, R. E., Quilty, P. G., Micklethwaite, S., Timm, C., Sutherland, R., Bache, F., Collot, J., Maurizot, P., Rouillard, P. and Rollet, N. (2018). Regional volcanism of northern Zealandia: Post-Gondwana break-up magmatism on an extended, submerged continent. Large igneous provinces from Gondwana and adjacent regions. (pp. 199-226) edited by S. Sensarma and B. C. Storey. London, United Kingdom: Geological Society of London. doi: 10.1144/SP463.9
Micklethwaite, Steven, Ford, Arianne, Witt, Walter and Sheldon, Heather A. (2017). Transient permeability in fault stepovers and rapid rates of orogenic gold deposit formation. Crustal permeability. (pp. 249-259) edited by Tom Gleeson and Steven E. Ingebritsen. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley. doi: 10.1002/9781119166573.ch20
Journal Articles
Lin, Yifei, Seligmann, Benjamin J., Micklethwaite, Steven and Lange, David (2024). Causal network topology analysis: Characterizing causal context for risk management. Risk Analysis, 44 (11), 2579-2615. doi: 10.1111/risa.14337
Samsu, Anindita, Micklethwaite, Steven, Williams, Jack N., Fagereng, Åke and Cruden, Alexander R. (2023). Structural inheritance in amagmatic rift basins: manifestations and mechanisms for how pre-existing structures influence rift-related faults. Earth-Science Reviews, 246 104568, 1-31. doi: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2023.104568
Thiele, Samuel T., Cruden, Alexander R. and Micklethwaite, Steven (2023). Failure of load-bearing dyke networks as a trigger for volcanic edifice collapse. Communications Earth and Environment, 4 (1) 382, 1-8. doi: 10.1038/s43247-023-01046-3
Hamisi, Jonathan, Etschmann, Barbara, Tomkins, Andrew, Pitcairn, Iain, Pintér, Zsanett, Wlodek, Adam, Morrissey, Laura, Micklethwaite, Steven, Trcera, Nicolas, Mills, Stuart and Brugger, Joël (2023). Complex sulfur speciation in scapolite – implications for the role of scapolite as a redox and fluid chemistry buffer in crustal fluids. Gondwana Research, 121, 418-435. doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2023.05.005
Valenta, Rick K., Lèbre, Éléonore, Antonio, Christian, Franks, Daniel M., Jokovic, Vladimir, Micklethwaite, Steven, Parbhakar-Fox, Anita, Runge, Kym, Savinova, Ekaterina, Segura-Salazar, Juliana, Stringer, Martin, Verster, Isabella and Yahyaei, Mohsen (2023). Decarbonisation to drive dramatic increase in mining waste–options for reduction. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 190 106859, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106859
Thiele, Samuel T., Cruden, Alexander R., Zhang, Xi, Micklethwaite, Steven and Matchan, Erin L. (2021). Reactivation of magma pathways: insights from field observations, geochronology, geomechanical tests, and numerical models. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 126 (5) e2020JB021477. doi: 10.1029/2020jb021477
Duan, Gan, Brugger, Joël, Etschmann, Barbara, Ram, Rahul, Frierdich, Andrew and Micklethwaite, Steven (2021). Formation of Mg-carbonates and Mg-hydroxides via calcite replacement controlled by fluid pressure. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 176 (1) 1, 1-14. doi: 10.1007/s00410-020-01755-4
Thiele, Samuel T., Cruden, Alexander R., Micklethwaite, Steven, Bunger, Andrew P. and Köpping, Jonas (2020). Dyke apertures record stress accumulation during sustained volcanism. Scientific Reports, 10 (1) 17335. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-74361-w
Vollgger, Stefan A., Wilson, Christopher J.L., Micklethwaite, Steven, Tomkins, Andrew G. and Cruden, Alexander R. (2020). Ore shoots in folded and fractured rocks – Insights from 3D modelling of the Fosterville gold deposit (Victoria, Australia). Ore Geology Reviews, 118 103272, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2019.103272
Samsu, Anindita, Cruden, Alexander R., Micklethwaite, Steven, Grose, Lachlan and Vollgger, Stefan A. (2020). Scale matters: The influence of structural inheritance on fracture patterns. Journal of Structural Geology, 130 103896, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.jsg.2019.103896
Voisey, Christopher R., Willis, David, Tomkins, Andrew G., Wilson, Christopher J.L., Micklethwaite, Steven, Salvemini, Filomena, Bougoure, Jeremy and Rickard, William D.A. (2020). Aseismic refinement of orogenic gold systems. Economic Geology, 115 (1), 33-50. doi: 10.5382/econgeo.4692
Blundell, Casey C., Armit, Robin, Ailleres, Laurent, Micklethwaite, Steven, Martin, Adam and Betts, Peter (2019). Interpreting geology from geophysics in poly-deformed and mineralised terranes; the Otago Schist and the Hyde-Macraes Shear Zone. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 62 (4), 550-572. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2019.1579741
Seton, Maria, Williams, Simon, Mortimer, Nick, Meffre, Sebastien, Micklethwaite, Steven and Zahirovic, Sabin (2019). Magma production along the Lord Howe Seamount Chain, northern Zealandia. Geological Magazine, 156 (9), 1605-1617. doi: 10.1017/S0016756818000912
Samsu, Anindita, Cruden, Alexander R., Hall, Mike, Micklethwaite, Steven and Denyszyn, Steven W. (2019). The influence of basement faults on local extension directions: Insights from potential field geophysics and field observations. Basin Research, 31 (4), 782-807. doi: 10.1111/bre.12344
Thiele, Samuel T., Grose, Lachlan, Cui, Tiangang, Cruden, Alexander R. and Micklethwaite, Steven (2019). Extraction of high-resolution structural orientations from digital data: a Bayesian approach. Journal of Structural Geology, 122, 106-115. doi: 10.1016/j.jsg.2019.03.001
Dering, Gregory M., Micklethwaite, Steven, Thiele, Samuel T., Vollgger, Stefan A. and Cruden, Alexander R. (2019). Review of drones, photogrammetry and emerging sensor technology for the study of dykes: best practises and future potential. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 373, 148-166. doi: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2019.01.018
Dering, Gregory M., Micklethwaite, Steven, Cruden, Alexander R., Barnes, Stephen J. and Fiorentini, Marco L. (2019). Evidence for dyke-parallel shear during syn-intrusion fracturing. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 507, 119-130. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.10.024
Southall, Scarlett C., Micklethwaite, Steven, Wilson, Siobhan A. and Frierdich, Andrew J. (2018). Changes in crystallinity and tracer-isotope distribution of Goethite during Fe(II)-accelerated recrystallization. ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, 2 (12), 1271-1282. doi: 10.1021/acsearthspacechem.8b00100
Magee, Craig, Stevenson, Carl T.E., Ebmeier, Susanna K., Keir, Derek, Hammond, James O.S., Gottsmann, Joachim H., Whaler, Kathryn A., Schofield, Nick, Jackson, Christopher A.-L., Petronis, Michael S., O'Driscoll, Brian, Morgan, Joanna, Cruden, Alexander, Vollgger, Stefan A., Dering, Greg, Micklethwaite, Steven and Jackson, Matthew D. (2018). Magma plumbing systems: a geophysical perspective. Journal of Petrology, 59 (6), 1217-1251. doi: 10.1093/petrology/egy064
Thiele, Samuel T., Grose, Lachlan, Samsu, Anindita, Micklethwaite, Steven, Vollgger, Stefan A. and Cruden, Alexander R. (2017). Rapid, semi-automatic fracture and contact mapping for point clouds, images and geophysical data. Solid Earth, 8 (6), 1241-1253. doi: 10.5194/se-8-1241-2017
Vasuki, Yathunanthan, Holden, Eun-Jung, Kovesi, Peter and Micklethwaite, Steven (2017). An interactive image segmentation method for lithological boundary detection: A rapid mapping tool for geologists. Computers and Geosciences, 100, 27-40. doi: 10.1016/j.cageo.2016.12.001
Fougerouse, Denis, Micklethwaite, Steven, Ulrich, Stanislav, Miller, John, Godel, Bélinda, Adams, David T. and McCuaig, T. Campbell (2017). Evidence for two stages of mineralization in West Africa's largest gold deposit: Obuasi, Ghana. Economic Geology, 112 (1), 3-22. doi: 10.2113/econgeo.112.1.3
Seton, Maria, Mortimer, Nick, Williams, Simon, Quilty, Patrick, Gans, Phil, Meffre, Sebastien, Micklethwaite, Steven, Zahirovic, Sabin, Moore, Jarrod and Matthews, Kara J. (2016). Melanesian back-arc basin and arc development: constraints from the eastern Coral Sea. Gondwana Research, 39, 77-95. doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2016.06.011
Cruden, Alexander, Vollgger, Stefan, Dering, Greg and Micklethwaite, Steven (2016). High spatial resolution mapping of dykes using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry: new insights on emplacement processes. Acta Geologica Sinica, 90 (s1), 52-53. doi: 10.1111/1755-6724.12883
Dering, Gregory, Micklethwaite, Steven, Barnes, Stephen J., Fiorentini, Marco, Cruden, Alexander and Tohver, Eric (2016). An elevated perspective: dyke-related fracture networks analysed with uav photogrammetry. Acta Geologica Sinica, 90 (s1), 54-55. doi: 10.1111/1755-6724.12884
Fougerouse, Denis, Reddy, Steven M., Saxey, David W., Rickard, William D.A., Van Riessen, Arie and Micklethwaite, Steven (2016). Nanoscale gold clusters in arsenopyrite controlled by growth rate not concentration: Evidence from atom probe microscopy. American Mineralogist, 101 (8), 1916-1919. doi: 10.2138/am-2016-5781CCBYNCND
Fougerouse, Denis, Micklethwaite, Steven, Halfpenny, Angela, Reddy, Steven M., Cliff, John B., Martin, Laure A. J., Kilburn, Matt, Guagliardo, Paul and Ulrich, Stanislav (2016). The golden ark: Arsenopyrite crystal plasticity and the retention of gold through high strain and metamorphism. Terra Nova, 28 (3), 181-187. doi: 10.1111/ter.12206
Fougerouse, Denis, Micklethwaite, Steven, Tomkins, Andrew G., Mei, Yuan, Kilburn, Matt, Guagliardo, Paul, Fisher, Louise A., Halfpenny, Angela, Gee, Mary, Paterson, David and Howard, Daryl L. (2016). Gold remobilisation and formation of high grade ore shoots driven by dissolution-reprecipitation replacement and Ni substitution into auriferous arsenopyrite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 178, 143-159. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2016.01.040
Warren, James D., Thébaud, Nicolas, Miller, John M. and Micklethwaite, Steven (2015). Distinguishing between local versus regional extension as a control on orogenic gold mineralisation: The new 2.4Moz Castle Hill Camp, WA. Precambrian Research, 269, 242-260. doi: 10.1016/j.precamres.2015.08.008
Fisher, Louise A., Fougerouse, Denis, Cleverley, James S., Ryan, Christopher G., Micklethwaite, Steven, Halfpenny, Angela, Hough, Robert M., Gee, Mary, Paterson, David, Howard, Daryl L. and Spiers, Kathryn (2015). Quantified, multi-scale X-ray fluorescence element mapping using the Maia detector array: application to mineral deposit studies. Mineralium Deposita, 50 (6), 665-674. doi: 10.1007/s00126-014-0562-z
Thiele, Samuel T., Micklethwaite, Steven, Bourke, Paul, Verrall, Michael and Kovesi, Peter (2015). Insights into the mechanics of en-échelon sigmoidal vein formation using ultra-high resolution photogrammetry and computed tomography. Journal of Structural Geology, 77, 27-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jsg.2015.05.006
Baumgartner, R. J., Fiorentini, M. L., Baratoux, D., Micklethwaite, S., Sener, A. K., Lorand, J. P. and McCuaig, T. C. (2015). Magmatic controls on the genesis of Ni-Cu±(PGE) sulphide mineralisation on Mars. Ore Geology Reviews, 65 (P1), 400-412. doi: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2014.10.004
Micklethwaite, S., Ford, A., Witt, W. and Sheldon, H. A. (2015). The where and how of faults, fluids and permeability - insights from fault stepovers, scaling properties and gold mineralisation. Geofluids, 15 (1-2), 240-251. doi: 10.1111/gfl.12102
Bemis, Sean P., Micklethwaite, Steven, Turner, Darren, James, Mike R., Akciz, Sinan, T. Thiele, Sam and Bangash, Hasnain Ali (2014). Ground-based and UAV-Based photogrammetry: a multi-scale, high-resolution mapping tool for structural geology and paleoseismology. Journal of Structural Geology, 69 (PA), 163-178. doi: 10.1016/j.jsg.2014.10.007
Vasuki, Yathunanthan, Holden, Eun-Jung, Kovesi, Peter and Micklethwaite, Steven (2014). Semi-automatic mapping of geological structures using UAV-based photogrammetric data: an image analysis approach. Computers and Geosciences, 69, 22-32. doi: 10.1016/j.cageo.2014.04.012
Moir, H., Lunn, R. J., Micklethwaite, S. and Shipton, Z. K. (2013). Distant off-fault damage and gold mineralization: The impact of rock heterogeneity. Tectonophysics, 608, 461-467. doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2013.08.043
Micklethwaite, Steven, Sheldon, Heather A. and Baker, Timothy (2010). Active fault and shear processes and their implications for mineral deposit formation and discovery. Journal of Structural Geology, 32 (2), 151-165. doi: 10.1016/j.jsg.2009.10.009
Micklethwaite, Steven (2009). Mechanisms of faulting and permeability enhancement during epithermal mineralisation: Cracow goldfield, Australia. Journal of Structural Geology, 31 (3), 288-300. doi: 10.1016/j.jsg.2008.11.016
Kirkpatrick, James D., Shipton, Z. K., Evans, J. P., Micklethwaite, S., Lim, S. J. and McKillop, P. (2008). Strike-slip fault terminations at seismogenic depths: The structure and kinematics of the Glacier Lakes fault, Sierra Nevada United States. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 113 (4) B04304. doi: 10.1029/2007JB005311
Micklethwaite, S. (2008). Optimally oriented "fault-valve" thrusts: Evidence for aftershock-related fluid pressure pulses?. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 9 (4) Q04012, n/a-n/a. doi: 10.1029/2007GC001916
Sheldon, Heather A. and Micklethwaite, Steven (2007). Damage and permeability around faults: Implications for mineralization. Geology, 35 (10), 903-906. doi: 10.1130/G23860A.1
Micklethwaite, Steven (2007). The significance of linear trends and clusters of fault-related mesothermal lode cold mineralization. Economic Geology, 102 (6), 1157-1164. doi: 10.2113/gsecongeo.102.6.1157
Micklethwaite, Steven and Cox, Stephen F. (2006). Progressive fault triggering and fluid flow in aftershock domains: Examples from mineralized Archaean fault systems. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 250 (1-2), 318-330. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2006.07.050
Micklethwaite, Steven and Cox, Stephen F. (2004). Fault-segment rupture, aftershock-zone fluid flow, and mineralization. Geology, 32 (9), 813-816. doi: 10.1130/G20559.1
Conference Papers
Seligmann, Benjamin J., Lin, Yifei, Micklethwaite, Steven and Lange, David (2024). Does knowledge of causal context help optimize risk treatment?. Hazards Australasia, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 29-30 September 2024.
Micklethwaite, S., Verster, I., Seligmann, B.J., Antonio, C., Hilden, M., Hernandez-Santin, L., Ghoreishi-Madiseh, S.A., Kuyuk, A., Kalantari, H.B., Sasmito, A.P., Cote, C., Ziemski, M., Car, M., Lamb, A., Erskine, P., Runge, K. and Valenta, R.K. (2023). Complex Orebodies Analysis: A Multidisciplinary Application to the Izok Lake Corridor Project in the Canadian Arctic. 26th World Mining Congress, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 26-29 June 2023. Brisbane, QLD Australia: 26th World Mining Congress.
Seligmann, B.J., Micklethwaite, S., Forbes, G., Lin, Y., Trendle, J., Bowdidge-Calvert, C., Verster, I., Antonio, C., Ziemski, M. and Hernandez-Santin, L. (2023). Integration will take you forward: causal networks as a new approach to address inherent problems with risk management practice in mining organisations. 26th World Mining Congress, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 26-29 June 2023. Brisbane, QLD Australia: 26th World Mining Congress.
Verster, I., Antonio, C., Hilden, M., Ziemski, M., Seligmann, B., Micklethwaite, S., Ghoreishi-Madiseh, S.A., Lamb, A., Qian, B., Car, M. and Valenta, R. (2022). Novel ‘Complex Orebodies Approach’ to assess deposit feasibility in minerals processing design. Integration, Optimisation and Design of Mineral Processing Circuits '22, Online, 13-14 June 2022.
Lewis, P., Micklethwaite, S., Harrington, J., Dixon, M., Brydson, R. and Hondow, N. (2015). Exploring backscattered imaging in low voltage FE-SEM. Institute of Physics Publishing. doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/644/1/012019
Bangash, H. A., Micklethwaite, S., Bourke, P. and Kovesi, P. (2015). Development of digital techniques for mapping an open pit at Coolgardie, Western Australia. 77th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2015: Earth Science for Energy and Environment 2015, Madrid, Spain, 1 - 4 June 2015. Houten, the Netherlands: European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, EAGE. doi: 10.3997/2214-4609.201413405
Ford, Arianne, Micklethwaite, Steven, Devi, Bernadetta and McKenna, Phillip (2015). A GIS-based exploration initiative to help steer sustainable development. 13th SGA Biennial Meeting on Mineral Resources in a Sustainable World, Nancy, France, 24-27 August 2015. France: Association Scientifique pour la Géologie et ses Applications.
Data Collection
Micklethwaite, Steven, Verster, Lizette, Antonio, Christian, Ziemski, Marcin, Hilden, Marco, Ghoreishi-Madiseh, Ali, Kuyuk, Ali, Kalantari, Hossein, Sasmito, Agus, Hernandez-Santin, Lorna, Erskine, Peter, Cote, Claire, Lebre, Eleanor and Seligman, Benjamin (2022). Data relating to the Complex Orebodies Review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project (Izok-Dataroom-UQ). The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/9a95ed5
Research Reports
Micklethwaite, Steven, Cook, Nicholas and Rybak, Nikodem (2023). Bowdens Silver - Research Review and Recommendations. Brisbane, Queensland: The University of Queensland, Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Micklethwaite, Steven, Vellacort, Ethan and Ufer, Natasha (2023). Final Report: Digital Earth Phase 2 - GeoResGlobe Integration. Brisbane, Queensland: The University of Queensland, The Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Bohman, Axel Fredrik, Koerting, Friederike, Paulsen, Andreas Werner, Sivertsen, Agnar, Stødle, Daniel, Buckley, Simon, Trim, Simon, Micklethwaite, Steven, Savinova, Ekaterina, Kanellakis, Christoforos, Nikolakopoulos, George, Sumathy, Vidya and Vidman, Andreas (2023). Hardware and software specification report. Nygårdstangen, Bergen: NORCE Norwegian Research Centre.
Koerting, Friederike, Asadzadeh, Saeid, Savinova, Ekaterina, Micklethwaite, Steven, Nikolakopoulos, Konstantinos, Kouzeli, Evlampia, Lindblom, David, Buckley, Simon and Hildebrand, Justus Constantin (2023). Selection of HSI and MSI analysis approaches based on review-study available: Milestone report. Nygårdstangen, Bergen: NORCE Norwegian Research Centre.
Mitjanas, Gemma and Micklethwaite, Steve (2023). From Fold to Gold: Reinterpretation, 3D Visualisation and Mineral Systems Analysis of Pine Creek, Northern Territory. REPORT 1. Northern Territory Geological Survey: Northern Territory Geological Survey.
Mitjanas, Gemma and Micklethwaite, Steve (2023). From Fold to Gold: Reinterpretation, 3D Visualization and Mineral Systems Analysis of Pine Creek, Northern Territory. Report 2. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
e Abreu, Susana Brito, Southam, Gordon, Villa Gomez, Denys, Ma, Xiaodong, Vaughan, James, Micklethwaite, Steven, Forbes, Liza and Parbhakar-Fox, Anita (2022). Review of mineral processing technologies suitable for arsenic recovery from sulphidic ores and wastes. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland.
Micklethwaite, Steven (2021). A Complex Orebodies review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project. Project Final Report Executive Summary. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Seligmann, Benjamin and Micklethwaite, Steven (2021). A Complex Orebodies Review of the Izok Lake Corridor Project: Final Report 5. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute.
Seton, M., Williams, S., Mortimer, N., Meffre, S. and Micklethwaite, S. (2016). Voyage report for SS2012V06 Eastern Coral Sea Tectonics (ECOSAT), R/V Southern Surveyor. Clayton, VIC Australia: CSIRO.
Doutre, Raphael, Micklethwaite, Steven, Ford, Arianne, Hayward, Nicholas and McCuaig, Campbell (2015). Multiscale analysis of deposit spacing and endowment using wavelet analysis: A case study on orogenic gold deposits. Crawley, WA Australia: Centre for Exploration Targeting.
Newspaper Articles
Micklethwaite, Steven (2012, 09 01). Earthquakes with the Midas Touch Centre for Exploration Targeting Newsletter 5-7.
Micklethwaite, Steven (2011, 01 01). Earthquakes with the Midas Touch Australasian Science