Professor Stephen Cox
BSc(Hons) Tasmania, PhD (Monash)
Professor, Research School of Earth Sciences
ANU College of Science
Areas of expertise
- Structural Geology 040312
- Isotope Geochemistry 040203
- Inorganic Geochemistry 040202
Research interests
Stephen Cox conducts research in areas of structural geology and rock deformation, with particular interest in the coupling between deformation, fluid flow and fluid pressure regimes at depth in the Earth's crust. His research involves field-based studies, microstructural work, high pressure-temperature rock deformation experiments, microchemical studies, and some numerical modelling.
Major current interests include (1) the role of fluids in influencing the strength and mechanical behaviour of faults and shear zones, with applications for understanding earthquake nucleation, (2) how deformation processes in the Earth's crust influence fluid pathways and fluid redistribution between fluid reservoirs in the crust, and (3) applications of this research to understanding the formation and distribution of hydrothermal ore deposits, especially those formed in fracture-controlled flow regimes.
Current field activities are focussed on using stable isotopes to map the distribution and intensity of fluid flow in exhumed fault networks in Oman and the Swiss Alps, and studies of fluid-rock interaction, rock deformation processes and localisation of fluid flow in ancient gold-hosting networks of faults and shear zones in Western Australia. Another project is exploring growth of fracture-controlled fluid pathways and impacts on ore grades and distribution in intrusion-related hydrothermal systems.
Publications
- Forsyth, P, Hayward, K, Roberts, L et al. 2022, 'Large dynamic range, high resolution optical heterodyne readout for high velocity slip events', Review of Scientific Instruments, vol. 93, no. 6.
- Hayward, K, Le Losq, C & Cox, S 2021, 'Quantifying dynamic pressure and temperature conditions on fault asperities during earthquake slip', Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 555, pp. 1-12.
- Hayward, K, Hawkins, R, Cox, S et al 2019, 'Rheological Controls on Asperity Weakening During Earthquake Slip', Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, vol. 124, no. 12, pp. 12736-12762.
- Cox, S 2017, 'Rupture nucleation and fault slip: Fracture versus friction', Geology, vol. 45, no. 9, pp. 861-862pp..
- Hayward, K & Cox, S 2017, 'Melt Welding and Its Role in Fault Reactivation and Localization of Fracture Damage in Seismically Active Faults', Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, vol. 122, no. 12, pp. 9689-9713pp.
- Cox, S 2016, 'Injection-Driven Swarm Seismicity and Permeability Enhancement: Implications for the Dynamics of Hydrothermal Ore Systems in High Fluid-Flux, Overpressured Faulting Regimes-An Invited Paper', Economic Geology; Bulletin of the Society of Economic Geologists, vol. 111, no. 3, pp. 559-587.
- Cox, S & Munroe, S 2016, 'Breccia formation by particle fluidization in fault zones: implications for transitory, rupture-controlled fluid flow regimes in hydrothermal systems', American Journal of Science, vol. 316, no. 3, pp. 241-278.
- Hayward, K, Cox, S, Fitzgerald, J et al. 2016, 'Mechanical amorphization, flash heating, and frictional melting: Dramatic changes to fault surfaces during the first millisecond of earthquake slip', Geology, vol. 44, no. 12, pp. 1043-1046pp.
- Arndt, M, Virgo, S, Cox, S et al 2014, 'Changes in fluid pathways in a calcite vein mesh (Natih Formation, Oman Mountains): Insights from stable isotopes', Geofluids, vol. 14, pp. 391-418.
- Barnhoorn, A & Cox, S 2012, 'Fracture network growth for prediction of fracture characteristics and connectivity in tight reservoir rocks', 74th European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers Conference and Exhibition 2012 Incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2012: Responsibly Securing Natural Resources, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, Netherlands, pp. 2849-2853.
- Barker, S & Cox, S 2011, 'Oscillatory zoning and trace element incorporation in hydrothermal minerals: insights from calcite growth experiments', Geofluids, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 48-56.
- Yamaguchi, A, Cox, S, Kamura, G et al 2011, 'Dynamic changes in fluid redox state associated with episodic fault rupture along a megasplay fault in a subduction zone', Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 302, no. 3-4, pp. 369-377.
- Barker, S & Cox, S 2011, 'Evolution of fluid chemistry and fluid-flow pathways during folding and faulting: an example from Taemas, NSW, Australia', Geological Society of London Special Publication, vol. 359, no. 1, pp. 203-227.
- Cox, S 2011, 'The application of failure mode diagrams for exploring the roles of fluid pressure and stress states in controlling styles of fracture-controlled permeability enhancement in faults and shear zones', in Bruce Yardley, Craig Manning and Grant Garven (ed.), Frontiers in Geofluids, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK.
- Cox, S 2010, 'The application of failure mode diagrams for exploring the roles of fluid pressure and stress states in controlling styles of fracture-controlled permeability enhancement in faults and shear zones', Geofluids, vol. 10, no. 1-2, pp. 217-233.
- Halfpenny, A & Cox, S 2010, 'Controls on mineralisation at the Porgera gold deposit, PNG', Australian Earth Sciences Convention (AESC 2010), Geological Society of Australia, Sydney, p. 53.
- Barrie, C, Boyle, A, Cox, S et al 2009, 'Slip systems and critical resolved shear stress in pyrite: An electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) investigation', Mineralogical Magazine, vol. 72, no. 6, pp. 1181-1199.
- Barnhoorn, A, Cox, S, Robinson, D et al. 2010, 'Stress- and fluid-driven failure during fracture array growth: Implications for coupled deformation and fluid flow in the crust', Geology, vol. 38, no. 9, pp. 779-782.
- Barker, S, Bennett, V, Cox, S et al. 2009, 'Sm-Nd, Sr, C and O isotope systematics in hydrothermal calcite-fluorite veins: Implications for fluid-rock reaction and geochronology', Chemical Geology, vol. 268, pp. 58-66.
- Halfpenny, A & Cox, S 2009, 'Development and evolution of fracture-controlled flow regimes and gold mineralisation, Porgera Gold Deposit, PNG', Biennial Meeting of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA 2009), ed. Conference Program Committee, Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits, Townsville, pp. 815-817.
- Rolland, Y, Cox, S & Corsini, M 2009, 'Constraining deformation stages in brittle-ductile shear zones from combined field mapping and 40AR/39Ar dating: The structural evolution of the Grimsel Pass area (Aar Massif, Swiss Alps)', Journal of Structural Geology, vol. 31, no. 11, pp. 1377-1394.
- Giger, S, Cox, S & Tenthorey, E 2008, 'Slip localization and fault weakening as a consequence of fault gouge strenthening - Insights from laboratory experiments', Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 276, no. 1-2, pp. 73-84.
- Barker, S & Cox, S 2008, 'Sm-Nd, Sr, C and O systematics in hydrothermal calcite-fluorite veins: Implicatons for fluid-rock reaction and geochronology', V.M. Goldschmidt Conference 2008, Pergamon Press, United Kingdom, pp. A54.
- Rolland, Y, Rossi, M, Cox, S et al 2008, '40AR/39AR dating of synkinematic white mica; insights from fluid-rock reaction in low-grade shear zones (Mont Blanc Massif) and constraints on timing of deformation in the NW external Alps', in Wibberley, C.A.J., Kurz, W., Imber, J., Holdsworth, R.E., and Collettini, C. (ed.), The Internal Structure of Fault Zones; Implications for Mechanical and Fluid-Flow Properties, Geological Society of London, United Kingdom, pp. 293-315.
- Rolland, Y, Corsini, M, Rossi, M et al 2007, 'Comment on "Alpine thermal and structural evolution of the highest external crystalline massif: The Mont Blanc" by P.H. Leloup, N. Arnaud, E.R.Sobel, and R. Lacassin', Tectonics, vol. 26, pp. TC2015 1-5.
- Giger, S, Tenthorey, E, Cox, S et al. 2007, 'Permeability evolution in quartz fault gouges under hydrothermal conditions', Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 112, pp. B07202 1-17.
- Cox, S 2007, 'Structural and isotopic constraints on fluid flow regimes and fluid pathways during upper crustal deformation: An example from the Taemas area of the Lachlan Orogen, SE Australia', Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 112, no. 2, pp. B08208 1-23.
- Tenthorey, E & Cox, S 2006, 'Cohesive strengthening of fault zones during the interseismic period: An experimental study', Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 111, no. B09202, pp. 1-14.
- Micklethwaite, S & Cox, S 2006, 'Progressive fault triggering and fluid flow in aftershock domains: Examples from mineralized Archean fault systems', Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 250, pp. 318-330.
- Barker, S, Cox, S, Eggins, S et al 2006, 'Microchemical evidence for episodic growth of antitaxial veins during fracture-controlled fluid flow', Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 250, no. 1-2, pp. 331-344.
- Rossi, M, Rolland, Y, Vidal, O et al 2005, 'Geochemical variations and element transfer during shear-zone development and related episyenites at middle crust depths: insights from the Mont Blanc granite (French-Italian Alps)', in D. Bruhn and L. Burlini (ed.), High-Strain Zones: Structure and Physical Properties, Geological Society of London, London, pp. 373-396.
- Cox, S 2005, 'Coupling between Deformation, Fluid Pressures, and Fluid Flow in Ore-Producing Hydrothermal Systems at Depth in the Crust', Economic Geology; Bulletin of the Society of Economic Geologists, vol. 100, pp. 39-75.
- Micklethwaite, S & Cox, S 2004, 'Fault-segment rupture, aftershock-zone fluid flow, and mineralization', Geology, vol. 32, no. 9, pp. 813-816.
- Cox, S & Ruming, K 2004, 'The St Ives mesothermal gold system, Western Australia - a case of golden aftershocks?', Journal of Structural Geology, vol. 26, pp. 1109-1125.
- Zwingmann, H, Offler, R, Wilson, T et al 2004, 'K-Ar dating of fault gouge in the northern Sydney Basin, NSW, Australia - implications for the breakup of Gondwana', Journal of Structural Geology, vol. 26, pp. 2285-2295.
- Braun, J, Munroe, S & Cox, S 2003, 'Transient fluid flow in and around a fault', Geofluids, vol. 3, pp. 81-87.
- Tenthorey, E, Cox, S & Todd, H 2003, 'Evolution of strength recovery and permeability during fluid-rock reaction in experimental fault zones', Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 206, pp. 161-172.
- Tenthorey, E & Cox, S 2003, 'Reaction-enhanced permeability during serpentinite dehydration', Geology, vol. 31, pp. 921-924.
- Rolland, Y, Cox, S, Boullier, A et al 2003, 'Rare earth and trace element mobility in mid-crustal shear zones: insights from the Mont Blanc Massif (Western Alps)', Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 214, pp. 203-219.
- Cox, S 2002, 'Fluid flow in mid- to deep crustal shear systems: Experimental constraints, observations on exhumed high fluid flux shear systems, and implications for seismogenic processes', Earth, Planets and Space, vol. 54, pp. 1121-1125.
- Streit, J & Cox, S 2002, 'Evolution of fracture networks in shear zones: Insights from see-through experiments on biphenyl aggregates', Journal of Structural Geology, vol. 24, pp. 107-122.
- Streit, J & Cox, S 2001, 'Fluid pressures at hypocenters of moderate to large earthquakes', Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 106, pp. 2235-2243.
- Zhang, S, Paterson, M & Cox, S 2001, 'Microcrack growth and healing in deformed calcite aggregates', Tectonophysics, vol. 335, pp. 17-36.
- Cox, S, Knackstedt, M & Braun, J 2001, 'Principles of Structural Control on Permeability and Fluid Flow in Hydrothermal Systems', Reviews in Economic Geology, vol. 14, pp. 1-24.
- Zhang, S & Cox, S 2000, 'Enhancement of fluid permeability during shear deformation of a synthetic mud', Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, vol. 22, pp. 1385-1393.
- Streit, J & Cox, S 2000, 'Asperity interactions during creep of simulated faults at hydrothermal conditions', Geology, vol. 28, pp. 231-234.
- Kanagawa, K, Cox, S & Zhang, S 2000, 'Effects of dissolution-precipitation processes on the strength and mechanical behavior of quartz gouge at high-temperature hydrothermal conditions.', Journal of Geophysical Research, vol. 105, pp. 11115-11126.
- Zhang, S, Fitzgerald, J & Cox, S 2000, 'Reaction-enhanced permeability during decarbonation of calcite+quartz=wollastonite + carbon dioxide.', Geology, vol. 28, pp. 911-914.
Projects and Grants
Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.
- Immersive Visualisation for Field-Based Sciences (Primary Investigator)
- The impact of reactive fluids on fault mechanics near the seismic-aseismic transition in the continental crust and subduction zones (Primary Investigator)
- Dynamic permeability and the evolution of fluid pathways in fracture-controlled hydrothermal systems (Primary Investigator)
- A high performance stable-isotope microanalytical facility for environmental Earth science and climate change research (Secondary Investigator)
- ARC Centre of Excellence - in Ore Deposits (Primary Investigator)
- Exploration Potential and Implications for Stress Transfer Modelling in Fault-related Mineral Deposits (Primary Investigator)
- Deformational Controls on the Dynamics of Fluid Flow, Hydrothermal Alteration and Gold Mineralisation, Argo Gold Deposit, WA (Primary Investigator)
