Overview
Background
New PhD scholarship in 2025: I have an open PhD position in my group with collaboration opportunities with government and industry partners (Check out this scholarship with this link).
For international applicants: Please get in touch with me with a copy of your CV to discuss potential projects and application timelines for scholarships.
I am a Senior Lecturer in Geochronology and Tectonics. I am also an Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellow working on using geochronology (and thermochronology) and micro-analysis to improve knowledge in geoscience related to critical minerals. This Fellowship project is a key activity in my research group and I am always looking for motivated students and ECRs to join this research. It is sponsored by Queensland State Government and in collaboration with leading companies in the critical minerals industry.
Here's my recent seminar on some of the work in my group: https://youtu.be/twNcLECCqPg?si=501qcfSA2mJdHxUh
Broadly speaking, my research advances fundamentals of Plate Tectonics, the unique and unifying theory for our home planet. My group uses a set of field, laboratory, and computational approaches to reveal the geologic history of modern and ancient plate boundaries, focusing on reconstructing the evolution of plate-margin mountains and basins. Such regions are among the most dynamic in the Earth system: their development alters regional and global climate, impacts biogeographic evolution, triggers earthquakes and other geologic hazards, and determines formation and distribution of natural resources such as critical minerals. I have been fortunate to work in some of the most rewarding areas for geologists, including the Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau, Central Andes, eastern Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands. Check out some of my field photos here. I am the lead of UQ Thermochronology Lab. As an in-depth user of UQ RIF (Radiogenic Isotope Facility), I also work with laser ablation ICP-MS with recent work around laser ablation geochronology and geochemistry.
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Editorial activities: I am a Subject Editor for Journal of the Geological Society and a member of the Editorial Board for Results in Earth Sciences. I am the lead Editor for issue 'Geochronology and Critical Minerals Systems' at Ore Geology Reviews. More information could be found here.
Teaching activities: My teaching duties range from delivering introductory courses, upper-year disciplinary courses, to research training courses. Here's a YouTube video of one of my courses: https://youtu.be/31TV3wUOv1Q
Availability
- Dr Renjie Zhou is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Engineering, Jilin University
- Masters (Research) of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toronto
Works
Search Professor Renjie Zhou’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Conference Publication
Detrital zircon U-Pb ages indicate local sourcing for the Eocene Claron Formation, southwestern Utah: Implications for the Paleogene California River
Tye, Alex, Zhou, Renjie and Lamb, Andrew (2024). Detrital zircon U-Pb ages indicate local sourcing for the Eocene Claron Formation, southwestern Utah: Implications for the Paleogene California River. The Geological Society of America (GSA) Connects 2024, Anaheim, CA United States, 22-25 September 2024.
2024
Journal Article
Kinematics and geochronology of the Lancang metamorphic complex: implications for the evolution of the Paleo-Tethys region
Cui, Ya, Wang, Yang, Zhou, Renjie, Rimando, Jeremy, Qian, Xin, Zhang, Yipeng and Wang, Yuejun (2024). Kinematics and geochronology of the Lancang metamorphic complex: implications for the evolution of the Paleo-Tethys region. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 136 (3-4), 1251-1265. doi: 10.1130/b36812.1
2024
Other Outputs
In situ analysis of apatite and other minerals in IOCG style Cu-Au deposits: The Ernest Henry case study
Zhou, Renjie and Wang, Xin (2024). In situ analysis of apatite and other minerals in IOCG style Cu-Au deposits: The Ernest Henry case study. Brisbane, QLD Australia: Geological Survey of Queensland.
2024
Conference Publication
Textural and compositional complexities of calcite: Impact on results of U-Pb geochronology by laser ablation ICP-MS
Zhou, Renjie, Zhao, Jianxin, Rembe, Johannes, Zheng, Binsong and Howard, Daryl (2024). Textural and compositional complexities of calcite: Impact on results of U-Pb geochronology by laser ablation ICP-MS. The sixteenth biennial symposium, The Australian Microbeam Analysis Society (AMAS) 2024, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 5-9 February 2024.
2024
Conference Publication
The AusGeoChem platform: Caring for and sharing geochemical data
Ananuer, Halimulati, Ware, Bryant, Greau, Yoann, Alard, Olivier, Hodgekiss, Sally Ann, Boone, Samuel, Dalton, Hayden, McInnes, Brent I.A., Kohlmann, Fabian, Theile, Moritz, Noble, Wayne, Gleadow, Andrew, O'Reilly, Suzanne Y., Kohn, Barry P., Nixon, Angus, Zhou, Renjie and McMillan, Malcolm (2024). The AusGeoChem platform: Caring for and sharing geochemical data. The Geological Society of America (GSA) Connects 2024, Anaheim, CA United States, 22-25 September 2024.
2023
Journal Article
Beyond zircon fingerprinting: Zircon and TiO2 polymorphs constrain genealogy and evolution of the New Caledonian ophiolite
Patias, Daniel, Zhou, Renjie, Aitchison, Jonathan C., Cluzel, Dominique, Ireland, Trevor, Lian, Dongyang and Yang, Jingsui (2023). Beyond zircon fingerprinting: Zircon and TiO2 polymorphs constrain genealogy and evolution of the New Caledonian ophiolite. Chemical Geology, 644 121841, 121841. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2023.121841
2023
Journal Article
Geometry and deformation of the sole of a large obducted ophiolitic unit: insights from surface geology and airborne electromagnetics–Peridotite Nappe, New Caledonia
Le Bayon, Benjamin, Maurizot, Pierre, Reninger, Pierre-Alexandre, Lesimple, Stéphane, Iseppi, Marion, Alizert, Lilian, Perrin, José and Zhou, Renjie (2023). Geometry and deformation of the sole of a large obducted ophiolitic unit: insights from surface geology and airborne electromagnetics–Peridotite Nappe, New Caledonia. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 68 (1), 1-19. doi: 10.1080/00288306.2023.2239187
2023
Journal Article
The Late Triassic Longmenshan lateral foreland thrusting: new insights from geological evidence and 3-D particle discrete-element simulation
Zhao, Haonan, Zhang, Yuanyuan, Du, Wei, Zhang, Yang, Zhou, Renjie and Guo, Zhaojie (2023). The Late Triassic Longmenshan lateral foreland thrusting: new insights from geological evidence and 3-D particle discrete-element simulation. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, 135 (9-10), 2219-2236. doi: 10.1130/B36501.1
2023
Conference Publication
AusGeochem: An open-access platform for geospatial interrogation of thermochronology Big Data through deep time
Boone, Samuel, Kohlmann, Fabian, Noble, Wayne, Theile, Moritz, Beucher, Romain, Kohn, Barry, Glorie, Stijn, Danisik, Martin, Zhou, Renjie, McMillan, Malcolm, Nixon, Angus, Zahirovic, Sabin, Müller, R. Dietmar and McInnes, Brent (2023). AusGeochem: An open-access platform for geospatial interrogation of thermochronology Big Data through deep time. Goldschmidt2023, Lyon, France, 9-14 July 2023. Paris, France: European Association of Geochemistry. doi: 10.7185/gold2023.18970
2023
Conference Publication
Developments in AusGeochem: A platform for geochemical data storage, dissemination, visualisation and analysis
Dalton, Hayden, Ware, Bryant, Boone, Samuel, Gréau, Yoann, Ananuer, Halimulati, Nixon, Angus, Hodgekiss, Sally-Ann, Kohlmann, Fabian, Prent, Alexander, Theile, Moritz, Noble, Wayne, Dux, Florian, Koutamanis, Dafne, Wang, Xueying, Chen, Bei, McMillan, Malcolm, Stirling, Jack, Zhou, Renjie, Armistead, Sheree, McInnes, Brent and Kohn, Barry (2023). Developments in AusGeochem: A platform for geochemical data storage, dissemination, visualisation and analysis. Goldschmidt2023, Lyon, France, 9-14 July 2023. Paris, France: European Association of Geochemistry. doi: 10.7185/gold2023.19232
2023
Journal Article
A geospatial platform for the tectonic interpretation of low-temperature thermochronology Big Data
Boone, Samuel C., Kohlmann, Fabian, Noble, Wayne, Theile, Moritz, Beucher, Romain, Kohn, Barry, Glorie, Stijn, Danišík, Martin, Zhou, Renjie, McMillan, Malcolm, Nixon, Angus, Gleadow, Andrew, Qin, Xiaodong, Müller, Dietmar and McInnes, Brent (2023). A geospatial platform for the tectonic interpretation of low-temperature thermochronology Big Data. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 8581, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-35776-3
2023
Journal Article
Middle Miocene final demise of remnants of an eastern Neotethyan seaway, Naga Hills, Indo-Myanmar Range
Lokho, Kapesa, Aitchison, Jonathan C., Kumar, Ankit, Zhou, Renjie, Prakasam, Muthusamy and Raju, D. S. N. (2023). Middle Miocene final demise of remnants of an eastern Neotethyan seaway, Naga Hills, Indo-Myanmar Range. Marine Micropaleontology, 181 102243, 102243. doi: 10.1016/j.marmicro.2023.102243
2023
Journal Article
Late Oligocene mountain building of the East Kunlun Shan in northeastern Tibet: impact on the Cenozoic climate evolution in East Asia
Li, Chaopeng, Zheng, Dewen, Yu, Jingxing, Zhou, Renjie, Wang, Yizhou, Pang, Jianzhang, Wang, Ying, Hao, Yuqi and Xu, Yi-Gang (2023). Late Oligocene mountain building of the East Kunlun Shan in northeastern Tibet: impact on the Cenozoic climate evolution in East Asia. Global and Planetary Change, 224 104114, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2023.104114
2023
Journal Article
Magmatic response to the closure of the Proto-Tethys Ocean: a case study from the middle Paleozoic granitoids in the Kunlun Orogen, western China
Li, Ruibao, Pei, Xianzhi, Zhou, Renjie, Li, Zuochen, Pei, Lei, Chen, Guochao, Chen, Youxin and Liu, Chengjun (2023). Magmatic response to the closure of the Proto-Tethys Ocean: a case study from the middle Paleozoic granitoids in the Kunlun Orogen, western China. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 242 105513, 1-19. doi: 10.1016/j.jseaes.2022.105513
2023
Conference Publication
U-Pb dating and trace element analysis of zircon and apatite in chromitite: constraints on the forearc evolution of the New Caledonia Ophiolite
Patias, Daniel, Zhou, Renjie, Aitchison, Jonathan, Ireland, Trevor and Cluzel, Dominique (2023). U-Pb dating and trace element analysis of zircon and apatite in chromitite: constraints on the forearc evolution of the New Caledonia Ophiolite. Goldschmidt2023, Lyon, France, 9-14 July 2023. Paris, France: European Association of Geochemistry. doi: 10.7185/gold2023.19010
2023
Conference Publication
Geochemical and geochronologic investigations into carbonate veins from historical drill cores in undercover Mt Isa, NW Queensland
Chen, Xingyu, Zhou, Renjie, Wood, David, Stirling, Daniel, Jhala, Kamalendra, Friedman, Ira, Valetich, Matt and Philippa, Lizzy (2023). Geochemical and geochronologic investigations into carbonate veins from historical drill cores in undercover Mt Isa, NW Queensland. EGU (European Geosciences Union) General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria and online, 23–28 April 2023.
2023
Journal Article
Hydrothermal alteration and corresponding reservoir significance of the Permian Emeishan basaltic lavas, west Sichuan, China
Sun, Y. B., Zhang, Y. F., Xi, A. H., Tang, Y., Zhang, B. J., Pei, S. Q., Li, R. R., Yin, H., Zeng, Q., Qu, H. Z. and Zhou, R. J. (2023). Hydrothermal alteration and corresponding reservoir significance of the Permian Emeishan basaltic lavas, west Sichuan, China. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 70 (3), 393-410. doi: 10.1080/08120099.2023.2145614
2023
Conference Publication
Petrological, geochemical, and geochronological characteristics of hydrothermal minerals from the Mount Garnet deposit, northeast Queensland, Australia
Wang, Xin, Zhou, Renjie, Belousova, Elena, Dhnaram, Courteney, von Gnielinski, Friedrich and Lisitsin, Vladimir (2023). Petrological, geochemical, and geochronological characteristics of hydrothermal minerals from the Mount Garnet deposit, northeast Queensland, Australia. EGU (European Geosciences Union) General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria and online, 23–28 April 2023.
2023
Other Outputs
Mt Garnet project: Fingerprinting mineralising fluids with hydrothermal minerals
Zhou, Renjie and Wang, Xin (2023). Mt Garnet project: Fingerprinting mineralising fluids with hydrothermal minerals. Brisbane, Queensland: Geological Survey of Queensland.
2023
Conference Publication
Dating and characterizing carbonate rocks in Upper Permian reef-dolostone reservoir systems in Sichuan Basin, southwest China: implications for porosity evolution
Zheng, Binsong, Zhou, Renjie, Zhao, Jianxin and Howard, Daryl (2023). Dating and characterizing carbonate rocks in Upper Permian reef-dolostone reservoir systems in Sichuan Basin, southwest China: implications for porosity evolution. EGU (European Geosciences Union) General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria and online, 23–28 April 2023.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Renjie Zhou is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Research Projects
I have projects available for Honours and PhD students. Please email me for details.
UQ offers a competitive scholarship package, including full tuition support, stipends, and additional opportunities for tutoring or teaching assistantship. PhD students could commence their studies at UQ in January, April, July, or October. Get in touch if you’re interested in learning more about possible projects with our team.
-
Research Projects
I have projects available for Honours, MPhil, and PhD students. Please email me for details.
UQ offers a competitive scholarship package, including full tuition support, stipends, and additional opportunities for tutoring or teaching assistantship. PhD students could commence their studies at UQ in January, April, July, or October. Get in touch if you’re interested in learning more about possible projects with our team.
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Fingerprinting critical minerals development in continental margins
This is an exciting PhD opportunity involving industry and government collaboration in Queensland. It aims to develop new workflows in supporting the discovery of critical minerals (tungsten and other related minerals) in Paleozoic (~542 to 252 Ma) magmatic units in NE Queensland. Outcomes will enhance our understanding of magmatic and hydrothermal events associated with mineral deposits in eastern Australia by undertaking research in multi-system geochronology and geochemistry. Multi-laboratory workflows for mineral system characterisation will be developed and tested. Get in touch to learn more about this position.
-
Research Projects
I have projects available for Honours, MPhil, and PhD students. Please email me for details.
UQ offers a competitive scholarship package, including full tuition support, stipends, and additional opportunities for tutoring or teaching assistantships. PhD students could commence their studies at UQ in January, April, July, or October. Get in touch if you’re interested in learning more about possible projects with our team.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Continental exhumation of Northeast Queensland: Implications on the exposure and preservation of critical minerals systems
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jianxin Zhao
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Doctor Philosophy
Geochronological and geochemical constraints on models for convergent Gondwana margins: Delamerian, Mossman and Variscan Orogens
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Aitchison
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Doctor Philosophy
Cenozoic deformation in the South Tienshan and Tarim basin: constraints from geochronologhy and low-temperature thermochronology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Aitchison
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Master Philosophy
Structural architecture of South DAguilar-Beenleigh Subprovinces: Implications for development of critical infrastructure in Southeast Queensland
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mojtaba Rajabi
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Master Philosophy
Structural architecture of South DAguilar-Beenleigh Subprovinces: Implications for development of critical infrastructure in Southeast Queensland
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mojtaba Rajabi
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Doctor Philosophy
Geochronological and geochemical constraints on models for convergent Gondwana margins: Variscan, Delamerian and Mossman orogens
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Aitchison
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Doctor Philosophy
Diamonds in Ophiolites: recycling deep mantle into supra-subduction zones
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Aitchison
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Doctor Philosophy
Advanced microCT application in radiolarian studies
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Aitchison
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding early radiolarian evolution: taxonomy, phylogeny and taphonomy through Micro-CT
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Aitchison
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Geochronological and geochemical constraints on models for convergent Gondwana margins: Delamerian, Mossman and Variscan Orogens
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Aitchison
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding New Zealand and New Caledonia forearc ophiolites using rare accessory minerals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jonathan Aitchison
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Renjie Zhou directly for media enquiries about:
- earthquake
- geological hazard
- geological resource
- geology
- mountain building
- plate tectonics
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