JCU > Research Portfolio > Prof Eric Roberts

About

My primary research focuses on reconstructing the geologic histories of continental basins. My research involves sedimentary facies and provenance analysis (heavy mineral geochronology), coupled with taphonomy, ichnology and geochronology. I maintain close links with industry on a varitety of projects ranging from diamond exploration, to petroleum geology, to helium exploration, to critical minerals research.

My primary research themes include:

1) geological characterisation, resource exploration and dating of vertebrate records, including dinosaurs and hominins, from rift deposits of the East African Rift System.

2) Geological and palaeontological investigation of Jurassic & Cretaceous basins throughout Gondwana (esp., Australia; Africa; Antarctica).

3) Stratigraphy, palaeontology & high-precision geochronology of Upper Cretaceous strata of Western Interior Basin, North America.

4) Industry-linked research collaboration in economic geology and exploration.

****I am moving back to the USA to take on a new role at Colorado School of Mines. Please email me if you are interested in new projects, collaboration, or Msc/PhD opportunities there (eric.roberts@jcu.edu.au).****

Go to my research group website for more information. http://www.gravelmonkeys.org

Teaching

EA2110: Introduction to Sedimentology (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
EA3110: Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
EA3120: The Fossil Record: Dinosaurs and Vertebrates Through Time (Level 3; TSV)
EA3400: Ore Deposits and Critical Mineral Exploration (Level 3; TSV)
EA3650: Energy Resources and Basin Analysis (Level 3; TSV)
EA5120: The Fossil Record: Dinosaurs and Vertebrates Through Time (Level 5; TSV)
EA5650: Energy Resources and Basin Analysis (Level 5; TSV)

Experience

2001 to 2005 - PhD, University of Utah
1997 to 1999 - MSc, University of Montana
1992 to 1996 - BA, Cornell College

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2017 - James Cook University Excellence Award for Research (awarded to the entire Geosciences Group at JCU)
2015 - James Cook University Excellence Award for Research

Other

Associate Editor, GSA Bulletin
Editorial Board Member, Scientific Data
Associate Editor, Palaios
Associate Editor, Frontiers in Earth Sciences

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Forster C, de Klerk W, Poole K, Chinsamy-Turan A, Roberts E and Ross C (in press) Iyuku raathi, a new iguanodontian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Kirkwood Formation, South Africa. The Anatomical Record,
Beveridge T, Roberts E, Ramezani J, Titus A, Eaton J, Irmis R and Sertich J (2022) Refined geochronology and revised stratigraphic nomenclature of the Upper Cretaceous Wahweap Formation, Utah, U.S.A. and the age of early Campanian vertebrates from southern Laramidia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 591.
Foley E, Roberts E, Henderson R, Todd C, Knutsen E and Spandler C (2022) Middle Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous stratigraphy of the northern Great Australian Superbasin: insights from maximum depositional age constraints from the U–Pb detrital zircon record. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 69 (7). pp. 929-952
Foley E, Roberts E and Knutsen E (2022) Deciphering Late Cretaceous palaeo-river catchments in eastern Australia: recognition of distinct northern and southern drainage basins. Basin Research, 34 (2). pp. 590-617
Henderson R, Foley E and Roberts E (2022) Jurassic tectonics of northeastern Gondwana: evidence from the detrital zircon record of the Nambour Basin. Journal of the Geological Society, 179 (6).
Henderson R, Spandler C, Foley E, Kemp A, Roberts E and Fisher C (2022) Early cretaceous tectonic setting of eastern Australia: Evidence from the subduction-related Morton Igneous Association of Southeast Queensland. Lithos, 410.
Lawrence L, Spandler C, Hilbert-Wolf H, Mtelela C, Stevens N, O'connor P and Roberts E (2022) Radiogenic isotope record of magma genesis and lithospheric geodynamics of the Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania, from mid Mesozoic to present. Chemical Geology, 608.
Orr T, Wurster C, Roberts E, Singleton R, Stevens N and O'Connor P (2022) Paleoatmospheric CO2 oscillations through a cool middle/Late Cretaceous recorded from pedogenic carbonates in Africa. Cretaceous Research, 135.
Ramezani J, Beveridge T, Rogers R, Eberth D and Roberts E (2022) Calibrating the zenith of dinosaur diversity in the Campanian of the Western Interior Basin by CA-ID-TIMS U-Pb geochronology. Scientific Reports, 12.
Stevens N, O'Connor P, Mtelela C and Roberts E (2022) Macroscelideans (Myohyracinae and Rhynchocyoninae) from the late Oligocene Nsungwe formation of the Rukwa Rift Basin, southwestern Tanzania. Historical Biology, 34 (4). pp. 604-610
Todd C, Roberts E and Charles A (2022) A revised Permian-Triassic stratigraphic framework for the north-eastern Galilee Basin, Queensland, Australia, and definition of a new Middle-Upper Triassic sedimentary unit. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 69 (1). pp. 113-134
Tucker R, Hyland E, Gates T, King M, Roberts E, Foley E, Berndt D, Hanta R, Khansubha S, Aswasereelert W and Zanno L (2022) Age, depositional history, and paleoclimatic setting of Early Cretaceous dinosaur assemblages from the Sao Khua Formation (Khorat Group), Thailand. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 601.

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 116+ research outputs authored by Prof Eric Roberts from 2004 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment - Trailblazer Universities Program

Resource Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer

Indicative Funding: $3,800,000 over 4 years (administered by Curtin University), in partnership with Glencore Mount Isa Mines ($5,602,000); Incitec Pivot Ltd ($200,000) and Queensland Pacific Metals ($455,000)
Summary: The Resource Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer is a partnership with Curtin University (Lead), University of Queensland and JCU along with over 25 industry partners. This program has been successful and funded under the Department of Education, Skills and Employment Trailblazer Universities Program. The Trailblazer aims to more effectively commercialise university innovations, accelerate industry technology readiness and open up access to university infrastructure and human resources to support growth of Australian businesses in the field of Resource Technology and Critical Minerals processing.
Investigators: Ioan Sanislav and Eric Roberts (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Resource Technology; Critical Minerals; Innovation; Commercialisation; Transformation; Clean Energy

United Kingdom Falkland Islands Trust - The Shackleton Scholarship Fund

The Wandering Falklands: Insights from New Geologic and Fossil Discoveries

Indicative Funding: $8,757 over 1 year
Summary: This project seeks to shed new light on the enduring geological mystery of where and how the Falkland Islands fit back into the plate-tectonic jig-saw puzzle of ancient Gondwana, while at same time unravelling new information about the evolutionary origins of early jawed fish from the southern hemisphere, whose humble beginnings may be linked to islands. To achieve this, we propose to spend two weeks collecting new Devonian fish fossils and searching for the presence of elusive (unmapped) volcanic rocks along the wave-cut beaches and platforms of Pebble Island and northern end of West Falkland.
Investigators: Eric Roberts (College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Falklands; Detrital zircon; Plate Tectonics; Gnathostomes

Noble Helium Limited - Contract Research

Helium prospectivity analysis of the north Rukwa Rift Basin.

Indicative Funding: $199,641 over 1 year
Summary: The goal of the project is to construct a comprehensive database characterising the reservoir and seal properties in the Rukwa succession. This work will involve compilation of legacy results compiled from past literature, theses and unpublished data, along with a focused analytical campaign on targeted samples designed to fill in gaps developing a robust property distribution database. The analytical campaign will be focus on a combination of techniques to analyse prospective reservoir sandstone samples and mudstone and bentonite seal units.
Investigators: Eric Roberts in collaboration with Cassy Mtelela and John McClelland (College of Science & Engineering, University of Dar-es-Salaam and GMEX)
Keywords: Helium; Critical Resources; Exploration; Clean Energy

Australian Research Council - Discovery - Projects

Jurassic Arc? Reconstructing the Lost World of Eastern Australia

Indicative Funding: $284,390 over 3 years
Summary: This project aims to resolve a long-standing enigma about the geological formation of the Great Artesian Basin ? Australia?s most important onshore reservoir for groundwater and hydrocarbon resources. Specifically, the project will integrate sedimentological and geochemical studies to investigate the geodynamic configuration of Eastern Australia during the Jurassic Period of basin formation. The intended outcomes are an improved understanding of the evolution of the Australian continent and better knowledge of the formation of intercontinental sedimentary basins, which includes better assessment of their potential to contain hydrocarbon resources.
Investigators: Carl Spandler, Eric Roberts, Anthony Kemp and Bob Henderson (College of Science & Engineering and The University of Western Australia)
Keywords: Jurassic; Great Artesian Basin; Zircon; Tectonics

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Spatial modelling of saucer scallop distributions within the southeast Queensland scallop fishery. (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Investigating Global REE ion adsorption deposits to understand their genesis: Investigating trace element and REE stable isotope systematics. (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Investigation and assessment of groundwater quality and conditions for sustainable management in dry tropical coastal plain aquifer(s) (Masters , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Using experiments to constrain stable isotope fractionation in banded iron formations (PhD , Advisor Mentor)
Understanding the geologic connection between Cape York and Zealandia: Insights from the Laura Basin (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Understanding the Genesis and Patterns of Cave Fill across the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Refining Tephrostratigraphic approaches in Deep Time through Glass Melt Inclusion and Isotopic Fingerprinting of Heavy Mineral Separates in Heavy Minerals (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Provenance, Sedimentology and Geomorphology of Coastal Dune Fields in Queensland (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Establishing a Tectonic Framework for the Cretaceous break-up of Eastern Gondwana: Insights from Papua New Guinea and Offshore Geology of the Coral and Tasman Seas. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Vertebrate Palaeontology of the Early-Late Triassic Succession in Central Queensland (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Jurassic Arc? Reconstructing the Lost World of Eastern Australia (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)

Completed

Cave sedimentation processes in the Homo naledi-bearing Rising Star Cave, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa (2021, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Geochemistry and origin of explosive alkaline volcanism in the early Rukwa Rift, southwestern Tanzania (2021, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Sedimentology, stratigraphy, and tectonic reconstruction of the northern Great Australian Superbasin (2022, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Seismic stratigraphy and igneous units of the Canning Basin, Northwest Shelf, Australia (2022, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Mesozoic detrital zircon provenance of Central Africa: implications for Jurassic-Cretaceous tectonics, paleogeography and landscape evolution (2019, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Paleoclimate and paleoenvironment reconstruction of paleosols spanning the Lower to Upper Cretaceous from the Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania (2023, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Shelf-edge Stratigraphy of the Central Great Barrier Reef (2023, PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
The sedimentary evolution of Permian to Cretaceous basins in Queensland, Australia: insights from lithostratigraphy, U–Pb zircon geochronology, sedimentary facies, and provenance analysis (2020, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Bentonite geochronology and tephrostratigraphy for litho- and chronostratigraphic refinement of fossiliferous Campanian strata in western North America (2022, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.