Laura Morrissey

Dr Laura Morrissey

Senior Lecturer

School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences

College of Science

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

I am a geologist who applies principles of metamorphic petrology to understand a variety of larger questions relating to tectonics, high temperature processes and ore deposit genesis. Metamorphic petrology involves determining the pressures and temperatures that rocks experienced, based on their mineral assemblages and chemistry. Metamorphic rocks can be used to understand the processes that have shaped the Earth over billions of years.

I was awarded my PhD from the University of Adelaide in 2017. I commenced work at UniSA in 2017 as a post doctoral researcher on an ARC Linkage Project. I now work as a post doctoral researcher in the MinEX CRC.
 
My current research interests include:
-          Tectonics and continental reconstructions of Australia and Antarctica over a billion years ago, including implications for the location of mineral deposits.
-          The generation of highly saline fluids and their role in ore deposit genesis
-          The role of melting and melt loss in the generation of high temperatures in the crust, crustal strength and the ability of rocks to record metamorphic events
-          The role of melting in chemically differentiating the crust, and the role of this in the formation of ore deposits

My current research interest is in combining metamorphic petrology with economic geology to understand the generation of ore deposits. One example of this combination is the use of phase equilibria modelling to highlight the importance of high temperature (>850 °C) metamorphism and melt loss on the formation of Iron Road's magnetite iron ore deposit on Eyre Peninsula. 

Current research interests:

- Tectonic evolution of Australia and Antarctica during the Proterozoic

- The effects of melt and melt loss on the composition and reactivity of the crust, including the enrichment of economic elements such as iron

- The generation of highly saline fluids and their role in ore deposit genesis

Year Citation
2026 March, S., Hand, M., Morrissey, L., & Kelsey, D. (2026). Testing Mesoproterozoic continental suture models for central Australia using Lu–Hf garnet geochronology and mineral equilibria modelling. Gondwana Research, 151, 334-358.
DOI
2025 Yu, J., Hand, M., Gully, D., Brown, D., Morrissey, L. J., Hong, W., & Clark, C. (2025). A New Cu Province in Southern Australia? Geochronological Framework of Potential Iron Oxide Copper-Gold Systems in Northeastern Gawler Craton. Economic Geology, 120(6), 1469-1486.
DOI
2025 Yu, J., Hand, M., Payne, J. L., Morrissey, L. J., Simpson, A., Glorie, S., & Chen, Y. -J. (2025). Innovation in apatite Lu-Hf geochronology opens new opportunity for copper systems in southern Australia during the Nuna destruction. Mineralium Deposita, 60(5), 895-909.
DOI Scopus3 WoS4
2025 March, S., Hand, M., Morrissey, L., & Kelsey, D. (2025). Thermal buffering-controlled temperature variation between Mg-Al-rich rocks and migmatites. Scientific Reports, 15(1, article no. 3038), 3038-1-3038-14.
DOI Scopus3 WoS1
2025 Brown, D. A., Hand, M., Morrissey, L. J., Payne, J. L., & McNeill, A. W. (2025). Warm continental subduction initiated by back-arc collapse: Evidence from remote south-west Tasmania. Geoscience Frontiers, 16(3), 102009.
DOI WoS1
2025 Lister, G., Forster, M., Morrissey, L., Quentin de Gromard, R., & Kelsey, D. (2025). Simulation and modelling of an argon age spectrum from biotite in the Yilgarn Craton immediately adjacent to the Albany–Fraser Orogen, Western Australia. Journal of Structural Geology, 199(105487), 105487.
DOI
2025 Mulder, J., Halpin, J., Morrissey, L., Zoleikhaei, Y., Everard, J., Meffre, S., . . . Cawood, P. (2025). Zircon Inheritance Refines the Cambrian Orogenic Architecture of Southeast Australia. Tektonika, 3(2).
DOI
2025 Zibra, I., Morrissey, L. J., De Paoli, M., Kelsey, D., & Korhonen, F. J. (2025). Transition towards plate tectonics tracked in the metamorphic signature of Neoarchean synmagmatic transpression. Nature Communications, 16(1), 12 pages.
DOI
2024 March, S., Hand, M., Morrissey, L., & Kelsey, D. (2024). The inhibited response of accessory minerals during high-temperature reworking. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 42(2), 257-289.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3
2024 Yu, J., Morrissey, L. J., Hand, M., Payne, J. L., & Chen, Y. J. (2024). The Fe-Cu disconnect: unraveling a composite iron oxide copper-gold deposit in the Olympic Fe-Cu-Au province, Gawler Craton. Economic Geology, 119(1), 189-199.
DOI Scopus2 WoS3
2024 Yu, J., Hand, M., Morrissey, L. J., & Payne, J. L. (2024). A buried gneiss dome in the northern Gawler Craton: The record of early Mesoproterozoic (ca. 1600–1560 Ma) extension in southern Proterozoic Australia. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 42(4), 497-527.
DOI Scopus1 WoS3
2024 Brown, D. A., Morrissey, L. J., Hand, M., Mulder, J. A., Wade, B., & Barrote, V. (2024). The metamorphic footprint of western Laurentia preserved in subducted rocks from southern Australia. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 42(5), 729-765.
DOI Scopus1 WoS3
2024 March, S., Hand, M., Morrissey, L., & Kelsey, D. (2024). Extension during the Liebig Orogeny: Revised tectonic setting of Paleoproterozoic central Australia. Gondwana Research, 134, 365-384.
DOI Scopus5 WoS6
2023 De Vries Van Leeuwen, A. T., Raimondo, T., Morrissey, L. J., Hand, M., Hasterok, D., Clark, C., & Anczkiewicz, R. (2023). Radiogenic heat production drives Cambrian–Ordovician metamorphism of the Curnamona Province, south-Central Australia: Insights from petrochronology and thermal modelling. Lithos, 446-447(article 107137), 107137-1-107137-18.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2023 Bockmann, M. J., Payne, J. L., Hand, M., Morrissey, L. J., & Belperio, A. P. (2023). Linking the Gawler Craton and Mount Isa Province through hydrothermal systems in the Peake and Denison Domain, northeastern Gawler Craton. Geoscience Frontiers, 14(5), 101596-1-101596-18.
DOI Scopus5 WoS6
2023 Morrissey, L. J., Payne, J. L., Hand, M., Clark, C., & Janicki, M. (2023). One billion years of tectonism at the Paleoproterozoic interface of North and South Australia. Precambrian Research, 393(107077), 107077-1-107077-21.
DOI Scopus5 WoS6
2023 Hamisi, J., Etschmann, B., Tomkins, A., Pitcairn, I., Pintér, Z., Wlodek, A., . . . Brugger, J. (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 Scopus9 WoS9
2022 Varga, J., Raimondo, T., Morrissey, L., Kelsey, D. E., & Hand, M. (2022). Pressure-temperature-time constraints on gneiss dome formation in an intracontinental orogen. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 40(3), 457-488.
DOI Scopus9 WoS8
2022 Yu, J., Li, N., Zhang, B., Ulrich, T., Chen, X., Hand, M., . . . Chen, Y. J. (2022). Perspective of Permian porphyry Cu-Au mineralization in Chinese Western Tianshan: Constraints from sulfide Re-Os dating and trace element study of the Kuruer deposit, Xinjiang. Ore Geology Reviews, 142(104707), 1-15.
DOI Scopus9 WoS8
2022 Yu, J., Li, N., Qi, N., Xu, C., Huang, P. C., Hand, M., . . . Chen, Y. J. (2022). Geochemical, geochronological and isotopic studies of the Taishanmiao batholith and the Zhuyuangou Mo deposit it hosted, Qinling, China. Ore Geology Reviews, 142(104711), 1-18.
DOI Scopus4 WoS5
2022 Morrissey, L. J., Card, C. D., & Reid, A. J. (2022). Pressure-temperature-time constraints on metamorphism in the southeastern Taltson Domain, Saskatchewan, Canada. Precambrian Research, 373(article no. 106643), 106643-1-106643-20.
DOI Scopus3 WoS3
2022 Brown, D. A., Simpson, A., Hand, M., Morrissey, L. J., Gilbert, S., Tamblyn, R., & Glorie, S. (2022). Laser-ablation Lu-Hf dating reveals Laurentian garnet in subducted rocks from southern Australia. Geology, 50(7), 837-842.
DOI Scopus22 WoS19
2022 Clark, A. D., Morrissey, L. J., Doublier, M. P., Kositcin, N., Schofield, A., & Skirrow, R. G. (2022). A newly recognised 1860–1840 Ma tectono-magmatic domain in the North Australia Craton: Insights from the Tennant Region, East Tennant area, and the Murphy Inlier. Precambrian Research, 375(article no. 106652), 106652-1-106652-17.
DOI Scopus7 WoS7
2022 Snape, J. F., Nemchin, A. A., Johnson, T., Luginbühl, S., Berndt, J., Klemme, S., . . . van Westrenen, W. (2022). Experimental constraints on the long-lived radiogenic isotope evolution of the Moon. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 326, 119-148.
DOI Scopus10 WoS9
2022 De Vries Van Leeuwen, A. T., Morrissey, L. J., Raimondo, T., & Hand, M. (2022). Prolonged high thermal gradient metamorphism in the Curnamona Province, south-central Australia, during the latter stages of Nuna assembly. Precambrian Research, 378(106775), 1-24.
DOI Scopus6 WoS8
2022 Bockmann, M. J., Hand, M., Morrissey, L. J., Payne, J. L., Hasterok, D., Teale, G., & Conor, C. (2022). Punctuated Geochronology within a Sustained High-Temperature Thermal Regime in the Southeastern Gawler Craton. Lithos, 430-431(106860), 1-18.
DOI Scopus10 WoS11
2021 Johnson, T. E., Morrissey, L. J., Nemchin, A. A., Gardiner, N. J., & Snape, J. F. (2021). The phases of the Moon: Modelling crystallisation of the lunar magma ocean through equilibrium thermodynamics. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 556(article no. 116721), 116721.
DOI Scopus44 WoS44
2021 De Vries Van Leeuwen, A. T., Hand, M., Morrissey, L. J., & Raimondo, T. (2021). Th‐U powered metamorphism: thermal consequences of a chemical hotspot. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 39(5), 541-565.
DOI Scopus11 WoS11
2021 Brown, D. A., Hand, M., & Morrissey, L. J. (2021). Zircon petrochronology and mineral equilibria of the eclogites from western Tasmania: Interrogating the early Palaeozoic East Gondwana subduction record. Gondwana Research, 93, 252-274.
DOI Scopus6 WoS7
2021 Brown, D. A., Morrissey, L. J., Goodge, J. W., & Hand, M. (2021). Absence of evidence for Palaeoproterozoic eclogite-facies metamorphism in East Antarctica: no record of subduction orogenesis during Nuna development. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 6717-1-6717-11.
DOI Scopus10 WoS9 Europe PMC1
2021 Payne, J. L., Morrissey, L. J., Tucker, N. M., Roche, L. K., Szpunar, M. A., & Neroni, R. (2021). Granites and gabbros at the dawn of a coherent Australian continent. Precambrian Research, 359(106189), 106189.
DOI Scopus18 WoS18
2020 Alessio, K. L., Hand, M., Hasterok, D., Morrissey, L. J., Kelsey, D. E., & Raimondo, T. (2020). Thermal modelling of very long-lived (>140 Myr) high thermal gradient metamorphism as a result of radiogenic heating in the Reynolds Range, central Australia. Lithos, 352-353(105280), 105280-1-105280-14.
DOI Scopus13 WoS12
2020 Brown, D. A., Hand, M., Morrissey, L. J., & Goodge, J. W. (2020). Cambrian eclogite-facies metamorphism in the central Transantarctic Mountains, East Antarctica: extending the record of early Palaeozoic high-pressure metamorphism along the eastern Gondwanan margin. Lithos, 366-367(105571), 1-19.
DOI Scopus15 WoS15
2020 Brown, D. A., Tamblyn, R., Hand, M., & Morrissey, L. J. (2020). Thermobarometric constraints on burial and exhumation of 2-billion-year-old eclogites and their metapelitic hosts. Precambrian Research, 347(105833), 105833-1-105833-33.
DOI Scopus11 WoS10
2020 Tamblyn, R., Hand, M., Morrissey, L., Zack, T., Phillips, G., & Och, D. (2020). Resubduction of lawsonite eclogite within a serpentinite-filled subduction channel. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 175(8), 1-22.
DOI Scopus21 WoS18
2020 Tamblyn, R., Brown, D., Hand, M., Morrissey, L., Clark, C., & Anczkiewicz, R. (2020). The 2 Ga eclogites of Central Tanzania: directly linking age and metamorphism. Lithos, 380-381(105890), 105890-1-105890-13.
DOI Scopus15 WoS14
2020 Morrissey, L. J., & Tomkins, A. G. (2020). Evaporite-bearing orogenic belts produce ligand-rich and diverse metamorphic fluids. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 275, 163-187.
DOI Scopus33 WoS30
2019 Mulder, J. A., Halpin, J. A., Daczko, N. R., Orth, K., Meffre, S., Thompson, J. M., & Morrissey, L. J. (2019). A Multiproxy provenance approach to uncovering the assembly of East Gondwana in Antarctica. Geology, 47(7), 645-649.
DOI Scopus53 WoS48
2019 Prent, A. M., Beinlich, A., Morrissey, L. J., Raimondo, T., Clark, C., & Putnis, A. (2019). Monazite as a monitor for melt-rock interaction during cooling and exhumation. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 37(3), 415-438.
DOI Scopus17 WoS15
2019 Tamblyn, R., Zack, T., Schmitt, A. K., Hand, M., Kelsey, D., Morrissey, L., . . . Savov, I. P. (2019). Blueschist from the Mariana forearc records long-lived residence of material in the subduction channel. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 519, 171-181.
DOI Scopus45 WoS41
2019 De Vries Van Leeuwen, A. T., Morrissey, L. J., Kelsey, D. E., & Raimondo, T. (2019). Recognition of Pan-African-aged metamorphism in the Fisher Terrane, central Prince Charles Mountains, East Antarctica. Journal of the Geological Society, 176(4), 785-798.
DOI Scopus14 WoS13
2019 Morrissey, L. J., Barovich, K. M., Hand, M., Howard, K. E., & Payne, J. L. (2019). Magmatism and metamorphism at ca. 1.45 Ga in the northern Gawler Craton: the Australian record of rifting within Nuna (Columbia). Geoscience Frontiers, 10(1), 175-194.
DOI Scopus37 WoS38
2018 Williams, M., Kelsey, D., Hand, M., Raimondo, T., Morrissey, L., Tucker, N., & Dutch, R. (2018). Further evidence for two metamorphic events in the Mawson Continent. Antarctic Science, 30(1), 44-65.
DOI Scopus8 WoS9
2018 Bhowany, K., Hand, M., Clark, C., Kelsey, D., Reddy, S., Pearce, M., . . . Morrissey, L. (2018). Phase equilibria modelling constraints on P-T conditions during fluid catalysed conversion of granulite to eclogite in the Bergen Arcs, Norway. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 36(3), 315-342.
DOI Scopus44 WoS45
2018 Alessio, K., Hand, M., Kelsey, D., Williams, M., Morrissey, L., & Barovich, K. (2018). Conservation of deep crustal heat production. Geology, 46(4), 335-338.
DOI Scopus40 WoS35
2018 Williams, M. A., Kelsey, D. E., Hand, M., Raimondo, T., Morrissey, L. J., Tucker, N. M., & Dutch, R. A. (2018). Erratum: Further evidence for two metamorphic events in the Mawson Continent (Antarctic Science (2017) 30 (44-65) DOI: 10.1017/S0954102017000451). Antarctic Science, 30(3), 149.
DOI
2018 Tucker, N. M., Morrissey, L. J., Payne, J. L., & Szpunar, M. (2018). Genesis of the Archean-paleoproterozoic tabletop domain, Rudall Province, and its endemic relationship to the West Australian Craton. Australian journal of earth sciences, 65(6), 739-768.
DOI Scopus13 WoS13
2018 He, X., Hand, M., Santosh, M., Kelsey, D., Morrissey, L., & Tsunogae, T. (2018). Long-lived metamorphic P–T–t evolution of the Highland Complex, Sri Lanka: Insights from mafic granulites. Precambrian Research, 316, 227-243.
DOI Scopus34 WoS30
2018 Payne, J., Raimondo, T., Morrissey, L., Hand, M., Lilly, R., Tomkins, A., . . . Janicki, M. (2018). Source to spectrum: project update. MESA journal, 88(3), 12-14.
2017 Payne, J., Raimondo, T., Morrissey, L., Hand, M., Lilly, R., Tomkins, A., . . . Wade, C. (2017). Source to Spectrum: a new project investigating the range of mineral deposits in the Gawler Craton. MESA Journal, 83(2), 8-10.
2017 Morrissey, L., Payne, J., Hand, M., Clark, C., Taylor, R., Kirkland, C., & Kylander-Clark, A. (2017). Linking the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica and the Albany-Fraser Orogen: insights from U–Pb zircon geochronology and Hf isotopes. Precambrian Research, 293, 131-149.
DOI Scopus61 WoS56
2017 Alessio, K., Hand, M., Morrissey, L., Kelsey, D., & Payne, J. (2017). Melt reintegration modelling: Testing against a subsolidus reference assemblage. Geosciences, 7(3), 75-1-75-21.
DOI Scopus11 WoS10
2017 Kelsey, D., Morrissey, L., Hand, M., Clark, C., Tamblyn, R., Gaehl, A., & Marshall, S. (2017). Significance of post-peak metamorphic reaction microstructures in the ultrahigh temperature Eastern Ghats Province, India. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 35(9), 1081-1109.
DOI Scopus20 WoS20
2017 Morrissey, L., Hand, M., & Kelsey, D. (2017). A curious case of agreement between conventional thermobarometry and phase equilibria modelling in granulites: new constraints on P-T estimates in the Antarctica segment of the Musgrave-Albany-Fraser-Wilkes Orogen. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 35(9), 1023-1050.
DOI Scopus25 WoS22
2016 Morrissey, L., Hand, M., Lane, K., Kelsey, D., & Dutch, R. (2016). Upgrading iron-ore deposits by melt loss during granulite facies metamorphism. Ore Geology Reviews, 74, 101-121.
DOI Scopus21 WoS19
2016 Morrissey, L., Hand, M., Kelsey, D., & Wade, B. (2016). Cambrian high-temperature reworking of the Rayner-Eastern ghats terrane: constraints from the Northern Prince Charles Mountains region, East Antarctica. Journal of Petrology, 57(1), 53-91.
DOI Scopus56 WoS47
2015 Morrissey, L., Hand, M., & Kelsey, D. (2015). Multi-stage metamorphism in the Rayner-Eastern Ghats Terrane: P-T-t constraints from the northern Prince Charles Mountains, east Antarctica. Precambrian Research, 267, 137-163.
DOI Scopus71 WoS62
2015 Wong, B., Morrissey, L., Hand, M., Fields, C., & Kelsey, D. (2015). Grenvillian-aged reworking of late Paleoproterozoic crust of the southern North Australian Craton, central Australia: implications for the assembly of Mesoproterozoic Australia. Precambrian Research, 270, 100-123.
DOI Scopus19 WoS18
2014 Morrissey, L., Hand, M., Raimondo, T., & Kelsey, D. (2014). Long-lived high-T, low-P granulite facies metamorphism in the Arunta Region, central Australia. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 32(1), 25-47.
DOI Scopus63 WoS60
2013 Morrissey, L., Hand, M., Wade, B., & Szpunar, M. (2013). Early Mesoproterozoic metamorphism in the Barossa Complex, South Australia : links with the eastern margin of Proterozoic Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 60(8), 769-795.
DOI Scopus23 WoS22
2011 Morrissey, L., Payne, J., Kelsey, D., & Hand, M. (2011). Grenvillian-aged reworking in the North Australian Craton, central Australia: Constraints from geochronology and modelled phase equilibria. Precambrian Research, 191(3-4), 141-165.
DOI Scopus35 WoS33

Year Citation
2021 Brown, D., Simpson, A., Hand, M., Morrissey, L., Gilbert, S., Tamblyn, R., & Glorie, S. (2021). Mesoproterozoic high-grade metamorphism of Laurentian crust recorded in the subducted crustal rocks of western Tasmania: decoding an obscured polymetamorphic record using garnet laser ablation ICP–MS/MS Lu–Hf geochronology. In Goldschmidt Abstracts. online: Goldschmidt.
2019 Brown, D., Tamblyn, R., Hand, M., & Morrissey, L. (2019). Palaeoproterozoic eclogites: exhumation and burial convolution of P-t
histories. In Abstracts of the 21st European Geosciences Union General Assembly, as published in Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 21. Vienna, Austria.
2017 Bockmann, K., Hand, M., Morrissey, L., Kelsey, D., Williams, M., Hatch, K., & Kemp, C. (2017). Th-U redistribution during fluid-absent partial melting of the crust. In S. Martens (Ed.), 19th EGU General Assembly, EGU2017, proceedings from the conference held 23-28 April, 2017 in Vienna, Austria., p.622 Vol. 19 (pp. 622). Vienna, Austria: Elsevier Procedia.

  • PhD stipend - Jasmin Hiller - Developing a model for the exploration of clay-hosted rare earth elements, MinEx CRC, 19/02/2024 - 19/08/2027

  • Stability of accessory minerals during low temperature geological processes, ARC - Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, 08/02/2021 - 31/12/2025

  • Barcoding Metallogenesis, MinEx CRC, 01/07/2023 - 31/12/2024

  • Mass spectrometry for mass geochronology, ARC - Linkage Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities Grant, 01/01/2022 - 31/12/2022

  • MinEx CRC Project 8 Geological Architecture and Evolution, MinEx CRC, 01/01/2019 - 31/12/2021

Courses I teach

  • EART 3012 Engineering and Environmental Geology (2025)
  • EART 3012 Engineering and Environmental Geology (2024)

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2024 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Philip Adu
2022 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Justine Flahaut
2020 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Stacey Ophelia Curtis

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2021 - 2025 Co-Supervisor An Exploration of the Metamorphic Responses of Crustal Rocks to Tectonic Reworking Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Samantha Nicole March
2019 - 2024 Co-Supervisor An exploration of the obscured metamorphic expression of subducted polytectonic rocks Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Dillon Albert Brown
2018 - 2023 Co-Supervisor The early Mesoproterozoic tectonic and thermal evolution of the eastern Gawler Craton: implications for mineral systems in eastern Proterozoic Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Mitchell Jae Bockmann
2018 - 2023 Co-Supervisor The early Mesoproterozoic tectonic systems and IOCG mineralisation in the northern Gawler Craton Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jie Yu
2017 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Subduction zone metamorphism: Timescales and emergence in the geological record Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Renee Jade Tamblyn
2017 - 2019 Co-Supervisor The Effects of High Temperature Metamorphic and Melting Processes on Granulite-Facies Rocks Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Kiara Louise Alessio

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