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Professor Jonathan Aitchison

Professorial Research Fellow

School of the Environment
Faculty of Science
jona@uq.edu.au
+61 7 336 56527

Overview

Jonathan is a Professorial Research Fellow in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES) at The University of Queensland. Originally from New Zealand, he grew up on an active plate boundary where the rocks and types of landscapes he studies are generated. After graduating with a BSc Hons and MSc at the University of Otago and a stint in Antarctica, he studied in Japan as a Monbusho Schol at Niigata University. Following that he came to Australia where he undertook PhD studies at UNE focussing on the tectonic evolution of the New England orogen using radiolarian microfossils to determine the ages of marine rocks and constrain the timing of tectonic events. On completion of his PhD, he participated in the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Expedition 126 to the Izu-Bonin-Marianas system as a micropaleontologist to investigate intra-oceanic island arc development. He then returned to Japan to take up a JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) postdoctoral fellowship at Kochi University examining radiolarians in subduction complex rocks on the island of Shikoku. After spending five years during the early 1990s at the Department of Geology and Geophysics of the University of Sydney, he moved to the University of Hong Kong in 1995. At HKU he led the HKU Tibet Research Group and has now worked for over two decades on the India-Asia collision system. Most of his work involves using microfossils to constraint the ages of different rocks and thereby deduce the timing of tectonic events. We was Head of the Department of Earth Sciences at HKU from 2003-2009. In 2011, he returned to Australia and the University of Sydney after accepting the Edgeworth David Chair of Geology. Professor Aitchison commenced with UQ as Head of the School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management in February 2015 until the end of 2016 when this school was merged with Earth Sciences to become the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences. He was busy with duties and responsibilities as head of this very large school from 2017 through 2021. Now free to get on with his research, Jonathan maintains active programs in both micropaleontology and tectonics including: Early Paleozoic radiolarian evolution and development of microCT imaging techniques for microfossils, the India-Asia collision system, tectonics of eastern Gondwana, as well as paleobiogeography in Galapagos and the Indian Ocean. He has recently commenced an exciting investigation into deep recycling of organic carbon and the possibility that 'biodiamond's might occur in ophiolites of the SW Pacific region.

Research Interests

  • Patkai-Bum TTF triple junction - India/Myanmar/China border region
    The deep jungles of Namdapha in far NE India conceal a geological treasure trove of information about the migratory evolution of a TTF (trench-trench-fault) triple junction where Indian, Myanmar micro- and Eurasian plates meet. The geology of this are is little studied but its understanding is fundamental to deciphering evolution of the India-Asia collision system. The project involves collaboration between colleagues from Australia, India and Myanmar.
  • India-Asia collision
    This project began in 1997 and is on-going. It involves study of the greatest tectonic collision on Earth - that between India and Asia, which is responsible for uplift of the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau. Prior to this collision other tectonic elements within the Tethyan Ocean also collided with either India or Asia and these enigmatic events are of particular interest.
  • Arc-continent collisions
    The development of collisional systems is an integral part of plate tectonics. many collisional systems are much more complex that initially envisaged. For example the India-Asia collision was preceded one or more arc-continent collisions. Understanding these systems requires detailed and often painstaking field research using basic geological skills such as field mapping that provide the spatial basis for later laboratory based analytical work. Our group is working on tectonic reconstruction of the evolutionary history of collages such as the Tibet-Himalayan system; western and southwestern China, SE Asia, the New England and Lachlan fold belts of eastern Australia and the arc-contient collision system in New Caledonia
  • Early Paleozoic radiolarian evolution
    The origins and evolution of radiolarians from the Cambrian through to the Permian; using microCT as a tool for 3D imaging of radiolarian fossils
  • Radiolarian-bearing shales and unconventional hydrocarbon resources
    It appears that many of the exciting new unconventional hydrocarbon plays involve sedimentary facies that include radiolarian-bearing shales (e.g. Longmaxi Formation in the Silurian of the Sichuan Basin and many of the Upper Devonian to Lower Carboniferous rocks of the US mid west). I am interested in interpretation of the development of this facies as well as the influence that siliceous radiolarian skeletons have on facilitating 'frackability' of these rocks.
  • REE in ancient deep-sea muds
    Anomalous abundances of REE and Yttrium are know from deep-sea muds of the Pacific Ocean. This project seeks to examine inland ancient examples of similar sediments in accretionary complexes as potential REY resources.
  • Diamonds and recycled mantle
    This exciting project related to IGCP project 649 [http://www.igcp649.com] Several ophiolites within the Tibet-Himalayan-Alpine orogenic system that were once part of the extensive Tethyan ocean contain microscopic diamonds. I am interested to investigate whether this is unique to the Tethyan system or common amongst other ophiolites such as those which have collided with, and been emplaced onto, elements of the eastern margin of Gondwana. In particular ophiolitic rocks in New Caledonia, New Zealand and eastern Australia are being targeted.
  • Sedimentary response to intra-oceanic subduction within orogens: A case study of the North Qilian belt
    In collaboration with colleagues at the Institute of Geology of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing I am working on an NSFC-funded project to investigate intra-oceanic subduction is ubiquitous and ongoing in modern oceanic basins, but it is rarely reported in ancient orogenic belts. At present, the identification of ancient intra-oceanic subduction processes is mostly based on the study of igneous rocks, and there has been a lack of sedimentological constraints. As a product of plate convergence, orogenic belts have recorded intra-ocean, ocean-continent subduction and continent-continent collision processes, and are natural laboratories for reshaping ancient subduction processes. The relatively complete Early Paleozoic trench-arc (basin) system outcropped in the North Qilian structural belt was formed in intra-oceanic and ocean-continental subduction, which provides an opportunity for classical research on the sedimentary response to intra-oceanic subduction. This project takes the Cambrian-Ordovician sedimentary basin in North Qilian as the research object, systematically studies the basin filling sequence, sedimentary facies and depositional environment, composition and source area of the filling, and focuses on petrology, clastic mineral structure and age "fingerprint" Combined with regional magmatic, metamorphic, and paleontological data, comprehensively analyze basin types and the evolution of the original Tethys Ocean, reconstruct the history of intraoceanic subduction and sedimentary responses, eliminate the blind spots in the study of intraoceanic subduction sedimentary records in orogenic belts, and try to establish a general The adaptive identification system of paleo-oceanic subduction geological records can make up for the defect that modern oceanic subduction zone studies cannot reveal the complete depositional process of basins, and provide new ideas and methods for the identification of intra-oceanic subduction of orogenic paleo-oceanic basins.

Research Impacts

Professor Aitchison's research interests include the evolution of the the India-Asia collision system. This involves the Himalaya and Tibet-Qinghai Plateau and surrounding regions over a variety of time scales. He has a strong interest in tectonics and collision zones especially those involving intra-oceanic island arcs and ophiolites, subduction initiation, continental collision; the Yarlung Tsangpo, Indus, Bangong-Nujiang and Shyok suture zones, as well as the the role of tecotnics in the climatic evolution of Tibet. Recent fieldwork has concentrated in NW India in Ladakh as well as NE India in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland and Manipur. He has also been working on the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau in the Qinling and Qilian regions. He also investigates the evolution of life on Earth, biogeography and extremophile organisms, radiolarian paleoecology and biostratigraphy, the tectonic evolution of East Asia and the tectonic evolution of eastern Australia through the Phanerozoic and island biogeography and the complex interplay between Darwinian biological evolution, and eustatic and subsidence driven sea-level change especially in the Galapagos. Recent paleobiogeographic work has involved Christmas Island and the Wallace Line.

The main projects he has been working on are as lead CI on an ARC DP funded investigation of "Early Paleozoic radiolarian evolution". This DP is now completed by the research continues and involves examination of incredibly well preserved radiolarian faunas using microCT (and from November 2022) synchrotron technology.

Jonathan is also working on another ARC DP funded project entitled "Diamonds in ophiolite: Recycling deep mantle into supra-subduction zones" examining ophiolitic rocks in New Caledonia, New Zealand and New England. These rocks include diamonds that carry and organic isotopic signature and are unique to supra-subduction zone ophiolites.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of New England

Publications

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Grants

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Supervision

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Available Projects

  • Unlocking the green economy potential of REE in deep marine sediments

    Rare Earth Elements (REE) and ‘new economy’ minerals hold a key to Global Environmental Futures. They have a critical role in attaining the key UN sustainable development goals of renewable clean energy by contributing to new technologies essential to sustainability of Planet Earth. According to the US Geological Survey “among other roles these mineral commodities are vital to renewable energy infrastructure like solar panels, wind turbines and batteries”. Their global supply is heavily influenced by geopolitical factors and known resources are at sub-critical levels. On the 24th of February 2021, when signing an Executive Order on securing America’s critical supply chains the new elected US President Joe Biden noted that, “key minerals and materials, like rare earths, that are used to make everything from harder steel to airplanes.”

    Traditionally, REE are known to be more common in carbonatites, alkaline igneous systems, ion-absorption clay deposits, monazite-xenotime-bearing placer deposits and hypersaline lake deposits the extent and global distribution of which is limited. Recent discoveries that deep marine sediments on the Pacific Ocean seafloor have high REE abundance suggests other source possibilities. Although REE recovery of such deposits is presently impractical the global plate tectonic conveyor belt that transports oceanic rocks to convergent plate margins at which they are accreted to continental margins offers a possible solution. The same succession of rocks in an Ocean Plate Stratigraphy (OPS) occurs on-land in ancient subduction complexes and offers a potential novel exploration target.

    This project aims to study deep marine sediments (chert) of Paleozoic age from ancient subduction complexes in northern NSW and Queensland in eastern Australia,. These locations preserves OPS successions within which we propose to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of REEs. At macro-scale, the project will determine the REE content within and across geological units, identifying REE “hot spots” and assessing their characteristics. It will also use several in situ techniques to map REE distribution at µm scale and investigate their association with different mineral phases ± microstructures. Results will contribute to fundamental knowledge about accumulation, preservation and transfer of REE in association with marine sedimentary processes. They will also lead towards the establishment of a new type of REE deposit, a key pillar for a sustainable economy future with clean energy.

  • Diamonds in ophiolite: deep recycling of carbon through the mantle

    This project aims to investigate whether the controversial discovery of diamonds in oceanic rocks (known as ophiolites) is a global phenomenon. Even half a century after the introduction of plate tectonic theory, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the fate of subducting lithosphere and Earth processes deep within the mantle. This project will look at Australian, New Zealand and New Caledonian examples to test the hypothesis that diamonds are ubiquitous in the mantle and occur widely in ophiolites. Results will have major implications for our understanding of how ocean crust grows and rocks in the upper mantle form, as well as providing insight into how organic carbon is drawn from the seafloor deep into the mantle before being recycled back to Earth's surface.

    A driving licence and ability to work independantly are essential.

  • Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Terra Australis Orogen

    Understanding of the tectonic evolution of eastern Australia and other parts of the Terra Australis Orogen (which stretches via Antarctica to South America) is less well understood than we like to think. Existing models require rigorous testing that can be achieved by using newly acquirable data.

    Several projects are available ranging from those that involve from microfossils to detrital zircon geochronology to structural geology and geochemistry. Projects will involve arduous fieldwork in remote locations and require physically fit and resourceful students capable of working in areas not reached by the internet.

    A driving licence and ability to work independantly are essential.

View all Available Projects

Publications

Book

  • Aspects of the tectonic evolution of China

    J. Malpas, C. J. N. Fletcher, J. R. Ali and J. C. Aitchison eds. (2004). Aspects of the tectonic evolution of China. Geological Society Special Publication, London, United Kingdom: Geological Society.

Book Chapter

  • Influence of the Frasnian-Famennian event on radiolarian faunas

    Wang, Yu-Jing, Luo, Hui and Aitchison, Jonathan C. (2007). Influence of the Frasnian-Famennian event on radiolarian faunas. Radiolaria. (pp. 127-132) Basel: Birkhäuser Basel. doi: 10.1007/978-3-7643-8344-2_9

  • Upper Permian to Middle Jurassic radiolarian assemblages of Busuanga and surrounding islands, Palawan, Philippines

    Marquez, Edanjarlo J., Aitchison, Jonathan C. and Zamoras, Lawrence R. (2007). Upper Permian to Middle Jurassic radiolarian assemblages of Busuanga and surrounding islands, Palawan, Philippines. Radiolaria: siliceous plankton through time. (pp. 101-125) edited by Peter O. Baumgartner, Jonathan C. Aitchison, Patrick De Wever and Sarah-Jane Jackett. Basel, Germany: Birkhäuser Basel. doi: 10.1007/978-3-7643-8344-2_8

  • Conglomerates record the tectonic evolution of the Yarlung-Tsangpo suture zone in southern Tibet

    Davis, Aileen M., Aitchison, Jonathan C., Badengzhu and Hui, Luo (2004). Conglomerates record the tectonic evolution of the Yarlung-Tsangpo suture zone in southern Tibet. Aspects of the tectonic evolution of China. (pp. 235-246) edited by J. Malpas, C. J. N. Fletcher, J. R. Ali and J. C. Aitchison. London, United Kingdom: Geological Society.

  • Evidence for the multiphase nature of the India-Asia collision from the Yarlung Tsangpo suture zone, Tibet

    Aitchison, Jonathan C. and Davis, Aileen M. (2004). Evidence for the multiphase nature of the India-Asia collision from the Yarlung Tsangpo suture zone, Tibet. Aspects of the tectonic evolution of China. (pp. 217-233) edited by J. Malpas, C. J. N. Fletcher, J. R. Ali and J. C. Aitchison. London, United Kingdom: Geological Society.

  • Problem of positioning Paleogene Eurasia: a review, efforts to resolve the issue, implications for the India-Asia collision

    Ali, Jason R. and Aitchison, Jonathan C. (2004). Problem of positioning Paleogene Eurasia: a review, efforts to resolve the issue, implications for the India-Asia collision. Continent–ocean interactions within the East Asia marginal seas. (pp. 23-35) edited by P. Clift, W. Kuhnt, P. Wang and D. Hayes. USA: American Geophysical Union Monograph Series. doi: 10.1029/149GM02

  • Tectonic evolution of Palaeozoic terranes in West Junggar, Xinjiang, NW China

    Buckman, Solomon and Aitchison, Jonathan C. (2004). Tectonic evolution of Palaeozoic terranes in West Junggar, Xinjiang, NW China. Aspects of the tectonic evolution of China. (pp. 101-130) edited by J. Malpas, C. J. N. Fletcher, J. R. Ali and J. C. Aitchison. London, United Kingdom: Geological Society.

  • Devonian palaeobiogeography of Australia and adjoining regions

    Talent, J. A., Mawson, R., Aitchison, J. C., Becker, R. T., Bell, K. N., Bradshaw, M. A., Burrow, C. J., Cook, A. G., Dargan, G. M., Douglas, J. G., Edgecombe, G. D., Feist, M., Jones, P. J., Long, J. A., Phillips-Ross, J. R., Pickett, J. W., Playford, G., Rickards, R. B., Webby, B. D., Winchester-Seeto, T., Wright, A. J., Young, G. C. and Zhen, Y. Y. (2000). Devonian palaeobiogeography of Australia and adjoining regions. Palaeobiogeography of Australasian faunas and floras. (pp. 167-257) Canberra: Association of Australasian Palaeontologists.

  • Status of Ordovician and Silurian radiolarian studies in North America

    Noble, Paula J. and Aitchison, Jonathan C. (1995). Status of Ordovician and Silurian radiolarian studies in North America. Siliceous Microfossils. Paleontological Society Short Courses in Paleontology. (pp. 19-30) edited by Blome, C. D., Whalen, P. M. and Reed, K. M.. Tennessee, United States: The Paleontological Society, University of Tennessee. doi: 10.1017/S2475263000001409

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Other Outputs

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Advanced microCT application in radiolarian studies

    Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

  • Cenozoic deformation in the South Tienshan and Tarim basin: constraints from geochronologhy and low-temperature thermochronology

    Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor

    Other advisors:

Completed Supervision

Possible Research Projects

Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.

  • Unlocking the green economy potential of REE in deep marine sediments

    Rare Earth Elements (REE) and ‘new economy’ minerals hold a key to Global Environmental Futures. They have a critical role in attaining the key UN sustainable development goals of renewable clean energy by contributing to new technologies essential to sustainability of Planet Earth. According to the US Geological Survey “among other roles these mineral commodities are vital to renewable energy infrastructure like solar panels, wind turbines and batteries”. Their global supply is heavily influenced by geopolitical factors and known resources are at sub-critical levels. On the 24th of February 2021, when signing an Executive Order on securing America’s critical supply chains the new elected US President Joe Biden noted that, “key minerals and materials, like rare earths, that are used to make everything from harder steel to airplanes.”

    Traditionally, REE are known to be more common in carbonatites, alkaline igneous systems, ion-absorption clay deposits, monazite-xenotime-bearing placer deposits and hypersaline lake deposits the extent and global distribution of which is limited. Recent discoveries that deep marine sediments on the Pacific Ocean seafloor have high REE abundance suggests other source possibilities. Although REE recovery of such deposits is presently impractical the global plate tectonic conveyor belt that transports oceanic rocks to convergent plate margins at which they are accreted to continental margins offers a possible solution. The same succession of rocks in an Ocean Plate Stratigraphy (OPS) occurs on-land in ancient subduction complexes and offers a potential novel exploration target.

    This project aims to study deep marine sediments (chert) of Paleozoic age from ancient subduction complexes in northern NSW and Queensland in eastern Australia,. These locations preserves OPS successions within which we propose to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of REEs. At macro-scale, the project will determine the REE content within and across geological units, identifying REE “hot spots” and assessing their characteristics. It will also use several in situ techniques to map REE distribution at µm scale and investigate their association with different mineral phases ± microstructures. Results will contribute to fundamental knowledge about accumulation, preservation and transfer of REE in association with marine sedimentary processes. They will also lead towards the establishment of a new type of REE deposit, a key pillar for a sustainable economy future with clean energy.

  • Diamonds in ophiolite: deep recycling of carbon through the mantle

    This project aims to investigate whether the controversial discovery of diamonds in oceanic rocks (known as ophiolites) is a global phenomenon. Even half a century after the introduction of plate tectonic theory, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the fate of subducting lithosphere and Earth processes deep within the mantle. This project will look at Australian, New Zealand and New Caledonian examples to test the hypothesis that diamonds are ubiquitous in the mantle and occur widely in ophiolites. Results will have major implications for our understanding of how ocean crust grows and rocks in the upper mantle form, as well as providing insight into how organic carbon is drawn from the seafloor deep into the mantle before being recycled back to Earth's surface.

    A driving licence and ability to work independantly are essential.

  • Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Terra Australis Orogen

    Understanding of the tectonic evolution of eastern Australia and other parts of the Terra Australis Orogen (which stretches via Antarctica to South America) is less well understood than we like to think. Existing models require rigorous testing that can be achieved by using newly acquirable data.

    Several projects are available ranging from those that involve from microfossils to detrital zircon geochronology to structural geology and geochemistry. Projects will involve arduous fieldwork in remote locations and require physically fit and resourceful students capable of working in areas not reached by the internet.

    A driving licence and ability to work independantly are essential.

  • Early Paleozoic radiolarian evolution

    Several possible research projects are available working on amzaingly well preserved Paleozoic radiolarians. We are using 3D imaging technology to further understand the evolution of this fossil group. The over-arching project will apply a new transformative technology; X-ray micro computed tomography (3D micro-CT) to the study of Early Paleozoic (530-300 million year old) radiolarian microfossils. This will for the first time allow non-destructive examination to elucidate the internal skeletal architecture of these fossils that is critical to understanding their evolution. Computer reconstruction of 3D images will reveal details upon which an understanding of early phylogenetic relationships within this phylum can be developed. This in turn will allow realization of the full biostratigraphic potential of this important long-ranging group of marine protozoans that commonly occur in great abundance in deep marine sedimentary rocks.

    The aim of this project is to unlock the biostratigraphic potential of Early Paleozoic (530-300 m.yr. old) radiolarians using 3D micro-CT technology to elucidate skeletal architecture evolution.

This staff member is a UQ Expert for media in the following fields:

ladakh geology, tibet geology, himalayan geology, earthquakes, biogeography, plate tectonics, galapagos, paleozoic, cambrian, ordovician, silurian, devonian, carboniferous

They are happy to lend their expertise to your articles or broadcasts and share their research discoveries and insights with the community via media channels.

For additional assistance with story ideas, general advice and information or help with seeking further experts, please email the UQ Media Team or telephone (07) 3365 1120.

Links

ResearcherID: D-3046-2009

ORCID: 0000-0002-3659-5849

Scopus ID: 56562544800

Personal Profile: Link

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