Eric Roberts
- eric.roberts@jcu.edu.au
- Adjunct Professor
- Earth & Environmental Sciences
Projects
5
Publications
37
Awards
0
Biography
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
Research
Projects
The Wandering Falklands: Insights from New Geologic and Fossil Discoveries (Old ID 27745)
01 Jun 2022 - 30 Mar 2023
Helium prospectivity analysis of the north Rukwa Rift Basin. (Old ID 27645)
12 May 2022 - 01 Nov 2023
Heritage Oil Rukwa (TZ) PhD Scholarship for Cassy Mtelela (Old ID 20298)
15 Jul 2012 - 14 Jan 2016
Teaching
Research Advisor Accreditation
Advisor Type
Mentor
Research Advisor Accreditation
Role
Chair; Independent Academic
Current JCU Research Students
Improving efficacy of Clastic Reservoir charaterisation by Quantitative Hierarchical analysis of Geochemical metrics
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
Refining tephrostratigraphic approaches in deep time through glass melt inclusion and isotopic fingerprinting of heavy mineral separates of volcanic ash beds.
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
Tectono-sedimentary investigation of the Triassic system, northern Bowen basin, Australia
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
Spatial modelling of saucer scallop distributions within the southeast Queensland scallop fishery.
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
Investigating rare earth element (REE) ion adsorption clay deposit formation through REE geochemistry and stable neodymium isotopes
Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences)
Output
Yule, C.T.G.; Daniell, J.; Edwards, D.S.; Rollet, N.; Roberts, E.M. (2023) 'Reconciling the onshore/offshore stratigraphy of the Canning Basin and implications for petroleum prospectivity'. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 70 (5):691-715. [DOI]
Roberts, Eric M.; O’Connor, Patrick M.; Clarke, Julia A.; Slotznick, Sarah P.; Placzek, Christa J.; Tobin, Thomas S.; Hannaford, Carey; Orr, Theresa; Jinnah, Zubair A.; Claeson, Kerin M.; Salisbury, Steven; Kirschvink, Joseph L.; Pirrie, Duncan; Lamanna, Matthew C.; (2023) 'New age constraints support a K/Pg boundary interval on Vega Island, Antarctica: Implications for latest Cretaceous vertebrates and paleoenvironments'. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 135 (3/4):867-885. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Forster, Catherine A.; de Klerk, William J.; Poole, Karen E.; Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya; Roberts, Eric M.; Ross, Callum F. (2023) 'Iyuku raathi, a new iguanodontian dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous Kirkwood Formation, South Africa'. The Anatomical Record, 306 (7):1762-1803. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Orr, Theresa J.; Roberts, Eric M.; Bird, Michael I.; Mtelela, Cassy; O'Connor, Patrick M.; Stevens, Nancy J. (2023) 'Paleosol-derived paleoclimate and paleoenvironment reconstruction of the Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania: implications for faunal dispersal in the Miocene–Pliocene'. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 93 (5):309-326. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Orr, Theresa J.; Wurster, Christopher M.; Roberts, Eric M.; Singleton, Russell E.; Stevens, Nancy J.; O'Connor, Patrick M. (2022) 'Paleoatmospheric CO2 oscillations through a cool middle/Late Cretaceous recorded from pedogenic carbonates in Africa'. Cretaceous Research, 135 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Stevens, Nancy J.; O'Connor, Patrick M.; Mtelela, Cassy; Roberts, Eric M. (2022) 'Macroscelideans (Myohyracinae and Rhynchocyoninae) from the late Oligocene Nsungwe formation of the Rukwa Rift Basin, southwestern Tanzania'. Historical Biology, 34 (4):604-610. [DOI]
Lawrence, L.; Spandler, C.; Hilbert-Wolf, H.L.; Mtelela, C.; Stevens, N.J.; O'connor, P.M.; Roberts, E.M. (2022) 'Radiogenic isotope record of magma genesis and lithospheric geodynamics of the Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania, from mid Mesozoic to present'. Chemical Geology, 608 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Foley, E.K.; Roberts, E.M.; Henderson, R.A.; Todd, C.N.; Knutsen, E.M.; 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):929-952. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Todd, Christopher; Roberts, Eric; Charles, Adam (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):113-134. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Foley, Elliot K.; Roberts, Eric M.; Knutsen, Espen M. (2022) 'Deciphering Late Cretaceous palaeo-river catchments in eastern Australia: recognition of distinct northern and southern drainage basins'. Basin Research, 34 (2):590-617. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Henderson, Robert A.; Foley, Elliot K.; Roberts, Eric M. (2022) 'Jurassic tectonics of northeastern Gondwana: evidence from the detrital zircon record of the Nambour Basin'. Journal of the Geological Society, 179 (6). [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Ramezani, Jahandar; Beveridge, Tegan L.; Rogers, Raymond R.; Eberth, David A.; Roberts, Eric M. (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 . [DOI]
Beveridge, Tegan L.; Roberts, Eric M.; Ramezani, Jahandar; Titus, Alan L.; Eaton, Jeffrey G.; Irmis, Randall B.; Sertich, Joseph J.W. (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 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Henderson, Robert; Spandler, C.; Foley, E.K.; Kemp, A.I.S.; Roberts, E.M.; Fisher, C. (2022) 'Early cretaceous tectonic setting of eastern Australia: Evidence from the subduction-related Morton Igneous Association of Southeast Queensland'. Lithos, 410 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tucker, Ryan T.; Hyland, Ethan G.; Gates, Terry A.; King, M. Ryan; Roberts, Eric M.; Foley, Elliot K.; Berndt, David; Hanta, Rattanaphorn; Khansubha, Sasa-on; Aswasereelert, Wasinee; Zanno, Lindsay E. (2022) 'Age, depositional history, and paleoclimatic setting of Early Cretaceous dinosaur assemblages from the Sao Khua Formation (Khorat Group), Thailand'. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 601 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Titus, Alan L.; Knoll, Katja; Sertich, Joseph; Yamamura, Daigo; Suarez, Celina A.; Glasspool, Ian J.; Ginouves, Jonathan E.; Lukacic, Abigail K.; Roberts, Eric (2021) 'Geology and taphonomy of a unique tyrannosaurid bonebed from the upper Campanian Kaiparowits Formation of southern Utah: implications for tyrannosaurid gregariousness'. PeerJ, 9 . [DOI]
Foley, Elliot K.; Henderson, R.A.; Roberts, E.M.; Kemp, A.I.S.; Todd, C.N.; Knutsen, E.M.; Fisher, C.; Wainman, C.C.; Spandler, Carl (2021) 'Jurassic Arc: reconstructing the lost world of eastern Gondwana'. Geology, 49 (11):1391-1396.
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Orr, Theresa J.; Roberts, Eric M.; Wurster, Chris M.; Mtelela, Cassy; Stevens, Nancy J.; O'connor, Patrick M. (2021) 'Paleoclimate and paleoenvironment reconstruction of paleosols spanning the Lower to Upper Cretaceous from the Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania'. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 577 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Foley, Elliot K.; Roberts, Eric M.; Knutsen, Espen M.; Hannaford, Carey (2021) 'Cryptic Middle to Late Jurassic marine incursions into northeastern Gondwana: an integrated sedimentological, ichnological and geochronological approach'. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 569 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Lawrence, L.; Spandler, C.; Roberts, E.M.; Hilbert-Wolf, H.L. (2021) 'Mineralogy and origin of the alkaline Nsungwe Formation tuffs of the Rukwa Rift Basin, southwestern Tanzania'. Lithos, 380-381 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Elliott, Marina C.; Makhubela, Tebogo V.; Brophy, Juliet K.; Churchill, Steven E.; Peixotto, Becca; Feuerriegel, Elen M.; Morris, Hannah; Van Rooyen, Dirk; Ramalepa, Maropeng; Tsikoane, Mathabela; Kruger, Ashley; Spandler, Carl; Kramers, Jan; Roberts, Eric; Dirks, Paul H.G.M.; Hawks, John; Berger, Lee R. (2021) 'Expanded explorations of the Dinaledi Subsystem, Rising Star Cave System, South Africa'. PaleoAnthropology, 2021 (1):15-22. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Claeson, Kerin M.; Ngasala, Sifa; Gottfried, Michael D.; Roberts, Eric M.; O'Connor, Patrick M.; Stevens, Nancy J. (2021) 'A new assemblage of Cenozoic lungfishes (Dipnoi: Lepidosirenidae) from the late Oligocene Nsungwe Formation, Rukwa Rift Basin, southwestern Tanzania'. Geobios, 66-67 :7-14.
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
McCartney, Jacob A.; Bouchard, Sierra N.; Reinhardt, Josephine A.; Roberts, Eric M.; O'connor, Patrick M.; Mtelela, Cassy; Stevens, Nancy J. (2021) 'The oldest lamprophiid (Serpentes, Caenophidia) from the late Oligocene Rukwa Rift Basin, Tanzania and the origins of African snake diversity'. Geobios, 66-67 :67-75. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Robbins, Jessie L.; Dirks, Paul H.G.M.; Roberts, Eric M.; Kramers, Jan D.; Makhubela, Tebogo V.; Hilbert-Wolf, Hannah; Elliott, Marina; Wiersma, Jelle P.; Placzek, Christa J.; Evans, Mary; Berger, Lee R. (2021) 'Providing context to the Homo naledi fossils: Constraints on the age of sediment deposits in the Rising Star Cave, South Africa'. Chemical Geology, 567 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Tobin, Thomas S.; Roberts, Eric M.; Slotznick, Sarah P.; Biasi, Joseph A.; Clarke, Julia A.; O'connor, Patrick M.; Skinner, Steven M.; West, Abagael R.; Snyderman, Lucia S.; Kirschvink, Joseph L.; Lamanna, Matthew C. (2020) 'New evidence of a Campanian age for the Cretaceous fossil-bearing strata of Cape Marsh, Robertson Island, Antarctica'. Cretaceous Research, 108 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Wiersma, Jelle P.; Roberts, Eric M.; Dirks, Paul H. G. M. (2020) 'Formation of mud clast breccias and the process of sedimentary autobrecciation in the hominin-bearing (Homo naledi) Rising Star Cave system, South Africa'. Sedimentology, 67 (2):897-919. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Foley, Elliot; Baty, Mason; Knutsen, Espen M.; Lignum, John S.; Roberts, Eric M. (2020) 'Jurassic - Early Cretaceous paleogeography and paleoenvironments of the north-eastern margin of Gondwana: insights from the Carpentaria Basin, Australia'. Gondwana Research, 88 :126-149. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Miller, Case; O'Gorman, José P.; Salisbury, Steven W.; Coria, Rodolfo A.; Roberts, Eric M.; O'connor, Patrick M.; Reguero, Marcelo A.; Lamanna, Matthe W.C. (2020) 'A new plesiosaur (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) specimen from the Upper Cretaceous of West Antarctica, with comments on the ontogeny and morphological diversity of the elasmosaurid pelvic girdle'. Annals of Carnegie Museum, 86 (2):93-106. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Beveridge, Tegan L.; Roberts, Eric M.; Titus, Alan L. (2020) 'Volcaniclastic member of the richly fossiliferous Kaiparowits Formation reveals new insights for regional correlation and tectonics in southern Utah during the latest Campanian'. Cretaceous Research, 114 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
O'leary, Maureen A.; Bouaré, Mohamed L.; Claeson, Kerin M.; Heilbronn, Kelly; Hill, Robert V.; McCartney, Jacob; Sessa, Jocelyn A.; Sissoko, Famory; Tapanila, Leif; Wheeler, Elisabeth; Roberts, Eric M. (2019) 'Stratigraphy and paleobiology of the Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene sediments from the Trans-Saharan Seaway in Mali'. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 436 . [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Blackburn, David C.; Paluh, Daniel J.; Krone, Isaac; Roberts, Eric M.; Stanley, Edward L.; Stevens, Nancy J. (2019) 'The earliest fossil of the African clawed frog (Genus Xenopus) from Sub-Saharan Africa'. Journal of Herpetology, 53 (2):125-130. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
A new mammal from the Turonian-Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) Galula Formation, southwestern Tanzania
2019
O'Connor, Patrick M.; Krause, David W.; Stevens, Nancy J.; Groenke, Joseph R.; Macphee, Ross D. E.; Kalthoff, Daniela C.; Roberts, Eric M. (2019) 'A new mammal from the Turonian-Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) Galula Formation, southwestern Tanzania'. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 64 (1):65-84. [DOI]
Owusu Agyemang, Prince C.; Roberts, Eric M.; Downie, Bob; Sertich, Joseph J. W. (2019) 'Sedimentary provenance and maximum depositional age analysis of the Cretaceous? Lapur and Muruanachok sandstones (Turkana Grits), Turkana Basin, Kenya'. Geological Magazine, 156 (8):1334-1356. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Todd, Christopher N.; Roberts, Eric M.; Knutsen, Espen M.; Rozefelds, Andrew C.; Huang, Hui-Qing; Spandler, Carl (2019) 'Refined age and geological context of two of Australia’s most important Jurassic vertebrate taxa (Rhoetosaurus brownei and Siderops kehli), Queensland'. Gondwana Research, 76 :19-25. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Owusu Agyemang, Prince C.; Roberts, Eric M.; Bussert, Robert; Evans, David; Müller, Johannes (2019) 'U-Pb detrital zircon constraints on the depositional age and provenance of the dinosaur-bearing Upper Cretaceous Wadi Milk formation of Sudan'. Cretaceous Research, 97 :52-72. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Lamanna, Matthew; Case, Judd A.; Roberts, Eric; Arbour, Victoria M.; Ely, Ricardo C.; Salisbury, Steven W.; Clarke, Julia A.; Malinzak, Dale Edward; West, Abagael; O'Connor, Patrick M. (2019) 'Late Cretaceous non-avian dinosaurs from the James Ross Basin, Antarctica: description of new material, updated synthesis, biostratigraphy, and paleobiogeography'. Advances in Polar Science, 30 (3):228-250. [DOI]
Journal Publication
ResearchOnline@JCU
Yule, C.T.G.; Daniell, J.; Edwards, D.S.; Rollet, N.; Roberts, E.M. (2023) 'Reply to Discussion of Yule, C. T. G., Daniell, J., Edwards, D. S., Rollet, N., & Roberts, E. M. (2023). Reconciling the onshore/offshore stratigraphy of the Canning Basin and implications for petroleum prospectivity. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 70(5), 691–715' Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 70 (8) :1189-1190. [DOI]