Professor Paulo Vasconcelos
Professor

Paulo Vasconcelos

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 52297

Background

Associate Professor Paulo Vasconcelos' research is in the fields of: Low-T Geochemistry, Economic Geology and 40Ar/39Ar Geochronology. He received his PhD from The University of California (Berkeley).

Paolo Vasconcelos research interests cover

  • Supergene enrichment in ore deposits
  • Isotopic dating of weathering processes
  • Exploration geochemistry
  • Palaeoclimatology and landscape evolution
  • Application of K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar and noble gas systematics to ore deposit genesis
  • Origin and geochemistry of gem deposits

His chief research projects are in the areas of:

  • Weathering Geochronology, Weathering Geochronology and Landscape Evolution
  • Mechanisms and timing of silicification in Australia and the genesis of opal deposits
  • Cenozoic Magmatism in North East Brazil and in South East Queensland
  • U-He, 40Ar/39Ar, and Re-Os as fingerprints of metal sources in orogenic gold deposits
  • U-Th/He dating of iron and manganese oxides
  • Cosmogenic 3He generation and retention in goethite and hematite
  • Hydrothermal vs. supergene origin of orebodies in banded iron formations in the Hamersley iron province, the Quadrilátero Ferrífero iron province, and the Carajás iron province
  • Supergene Enrichment in the Kalahari Manganese Fields, South Africa
  • Timing of topaz, emerald and gold mineralization
  • 40Ar/39Ar geocronological constraints on postulated hominid fossil sites in Cueva Victoria, Spain

Availability

Professor Paulo Vasconcelos is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Geochemistry Geology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, University of Kansas
  • Masters (Coursework), The University of Texas
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of California-Berkeley

Search Professor Paulo Vasconcelos’s works on UQ eSpace

269 works between 1991 and 2025
All (269) Journal Article (168) Book Chapter (3) Conference Publication (90) Other Outputs (4) Edited Outputs (4)

21 - 40 of 269 works

2022

Journal Article

Water/rock interactions, chemical weathering and erosion, and supergene enrichment in the Tapira and Catalão I alkaline‑carbonatite complexes, Brazil

da Conceição, Fabiano T., Vasconcelos, Paulo M., Godoy, Letícia H., Navarro, Guillermo R.B., Montibeller, Cibele C. and Sardinha, Diego S. (2022). Water/rock interactions, chemical weathering and erosion, and supergene enrichment in the Tapira and Catalão I alkaline‑carbonatite complexes, Brazil. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 237 106999, 106999. doi: 10.1016/j.gexplo.2022.106999

Water/rock interactions, chemical weathering and erosion, and supergene enrichment in the Tapira and Catalão I alkaline‑carbonatite complexes, Brazil

2022

Journal Article

Plumbing system architecture of late-stage hotspot volcanoes in eastern Australia

Tapu, A. T., Ubide, T. and Vasconcelos, P. M. (2022). Plumbing system architecture of late-stage hotspot volcanoes in eastern Australia. Journal of Petrology, 63 (3) egac015, 1-24. doi: 10.1093/petrology/egac015

Plumbing system architecture of late-stage hotspot volcanoes in eastern Australia

2022

Journal Article

An outline of Paleoproterozoic-Mesoproterozoic crustal evolution of the NW Amazon craton and implications for the Columbia Supercontinent

Almeida, M. E., Nascimento, R. S.C., Mendes, T. A., Santos, J. O.S., Macambira, M. J.B., Vasconcelos, P. and Pinheiro, S. S. (2022). An outline of Paleoproterozoic-Mesoproterozoic crustal evolution of the NW Amazon craton and implications for the Columbia Supercontinent. International Geology Review, 64 (22), 1-35. doi: 10.1080/00206814.2021.2025158

An outline of Paleoproterozoic-Mesoproterozoic crustal evolution of the NW Amazon craton and implications for the Columbia Supercontinent

2022

Journal Article

A Lagerstätte from Australia provides insight into the nature of Miocene mesic ecosystems

McCurry, Matthew R., Cantrill, David J., Smith, Patrick M., Beattie, Robert, Dettmann, Mary, Baranov, Viktor, Magee, Charles, Nguyen, Jacqueline M.T., Forster, Marnie A., Hinde, Jack, Pogson, Ross, Wang, Helen, Marjo, Christopher E., Vasconcelos, Paulo and Frese, Michael (2022). A Lagerstätte from Australia provides insight into the nature of Miocene mesic ecosystems. Science Advances, 8 (1) eabm1406, eabm1406. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abm1406

A Lagerstätte from Australia provides insight into the nature of Miocene mesic ecosystems

2022

Conference Publication

­An interlaboratory comparison of the goethite (site-specific) oxygen isotope thermometer

Cisneros, Miguel, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Miller, Hayden, Treffkorn, Jonathan, Oerter, Erik, Singleton, Michael, Farley, Kenneth A., Vasconcelos, Paulo M. and Donald, Scott (2022). ­An interlaboratory comparison of the goethite (site-specific) oxygen isotope thermometer. GSA Connects 2022 Meeting, Denver, CO, United States, 9-12 October 2022. Geological Society of America. doi: 10.1130/abs/2022am-380897

­An interlaboratory comparison of the goethite (site-specific) oxygen isotope thermometer

2022

Conference Publication

Improved accuracy and precision of in-situ Sr isotope measurements by LA-MC-ICP-MS: New insights into magma histories

Mulder, Jack, Hagen-Peter, Graham, Ubide, Teresa, Tapu, Al-Tamini, Feng, Yuexing and Vasconcelos, Paulo M. (2022). Improved accuracy and precision of in-situ Sr isotope measurements by LA-MC-ICP-MS: New insights into magma histories. Goldschmidt 2022, Honolulu, HI, United States, 10-15 July 2022. France: European Association of Geochemistry. doi: 10.46427/gold2022.11746

Improved accuracy and precision of in-situ Sr isotope measurements by LA-MC-ICP-MS: New insights into magma histories

2022

Conference Publication

(U-Th)/He geochronology of McGraths flat Lagerstätte

Mueller, Jessica, Farley, Kenneth A., Vasconcelos, Paulo M. and McCurry, Matthew (2022). (U-Th)/He geochronology of McGraths flat Lagerstätte. The Geological Society of America 2022 Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, United States, 9-12 October 2022. Geological Society of America. doi: 10.1130/abs/2022am-382574

(U-Th)/He geochronology of McGraths flat Lagerstätte

2022

Journal Article

Magmatic and hydrothermal evolution of mafic pegmatites and their host basalts, Paraná Large Igneous Province, Brazil

Gomes, Allan Silva, Vasconcelos, Paulo Marcos, Ubide, Teresa and Vasconcellos, Eleonora Maria Gouvêa (2022). Magmatic and hydrothermal evolution of mafic pegmatites and their host basalts, Paraná Large Igneous Province, Brazil. Lithos, 408-409 106547, 1-22. doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2021.106547

Magmatic and hydrothermal evolution of mafic pegmatites and their host basalts, Paraná Large Igneous Province, Brazil

2022

Other Outputs

Geochronological studies of selected Australian mineral deposits, 2003–2020

Huston, D.L., Norman, M., Maas, R., Miggins, D., Thiede, D.S., Vasconcelos, P., Creaser, R., Cross, A.J., Bennett, V., Bottrill, R., Lisitsin, V., Duncan, R., Forster, D., Brauhart, C., Dhnaram, C., Champion, D.C., Czarnota, K. and Whitaker, A. (2022). Geochronological studies of selected Australian mineral deposits, 2003–2020. Canberra, ACT Australia: Geoscience Australia. doi: 10.11636/record.2022.011

Geochronological studies of selected Australian mineral deposits, 2003–2020

2021

Journal Article

Crystallographic and crystallochemical controls on oxygen isotope analysis of hematite by SIMS

White, L., Vasconcelos, P. M., Ávila, J. N., Ubide, T. and Ireland, T. R. (2021). Crystallographic and crystallochemical controls on oxygen isotope analysis of hematite by SIMS. Chemical Geology, 583 120461, 120461. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2021.120461

Crystallographic and crystallochemical controls on oxygen isotope analysis of hematite by SIMS

2021

Journal Article

Geochronology of the Paraná-Etendeka large igneous province

Gomes, Allan Silva and Vasconcelos, Paulo Marcos (2021). Geochronology of the Paraná-Etendeka large igneous province. Earth-Science Reviews, 220 103716, 1-34. doi: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2021.103716

Geochronology of the Paraná-Etendeka large igneous province

2021

Journal Article

Geochronology of mafic magmatism and hydrothermal alteration during early stages of South Atlantic opening

Zuccolan Carvas, Karine, Marcos de Paula Vasconcelos, Paulo, Soares Marques, Leila, Ubide, Teresa, de Oliveira Carmo, Isabela and Babinski, Marly (2021). Geochronology of mafic magmatism and hydrothermal alteration during early stages of South Atlantic opening. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 314, 358-380. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2021.08.017

Geochronology of mafic magmatism and hydrothermal alteration during early stages of South Atlantic opening

2021

Journal Article

Sources of auriferous fluids associated with a Neoarchean BIF-hosted orogenic gold deposit revealed by the multiple sulfur isotopic compositions of zoned pyrites

Liu, Li, Ireland, Trevor R., Holden, Peter, Ávila, Janaina, Vasconcelos, Paulo and Mavrogenes, John (2021). Sources of auriferous fluids associated with a Neoarchean BIF-hosted orogenic gold deposit revealed by the multiple sulfur isotopic compositions of zoned pyrites. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 176 (4) 29, 1-22. doi: 10.1007/s00410-021-01788-3

Sources of auriferous fluids associated with a Neoarchean BIF-hosted orogenic gold deposit revealed by the multiple sulfur isotopic compositions of zoned pyrites

2021

Journal Article

Strategising the bioremediation of Brazilian iron ore mines

Levett, Alan, Gagen, Emma, Paz, Anat, Vasconcelos, Paulo and Southam, Gordon (2021). Strategising the bioremediation of Brazilian iron ore mines. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 52 (15), 2749-2771. doi: 10.1080/10643389.2021.1896346

Strategising the bioremediation of Brazilian iron ore mines

2021

Journal Article

Interpreting and reporting 40Ar/39Ar geochronologic data

Schaen, Allen J., Jicha, Brian R., Hodges, Kip V., Vermeesch, Pieter, Stelten, Mark E., Mercer, Cameron M., Phillips, David, Rivera, Tiffany A., Jourdan, Fred, Matchan, Erin L., Hemming, Sidney R., Morgan, Leah E., Kelley, Simon P., Cassata, William S., Heizler, Matt T., Vasconcelos, Paulo M., Benowitz, Jeff A., Koppers, Anthony A.P., Mark, Darren F., Niespolo, Elizabeth M., Sprain, Courtney J., Hames, Willis E., Kuiper, Klaudia F., Turrin, Brent D., Renne, Paul R., Ross, Jake, Nomade, Sebastien, Guillou, Hervé, Webb, Laura E. ... Singer, Brad S. (2021). Interpreting and reporting 40Ar/39Ar geochronologic data. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, 133 (3-4), 461-487. doi: 10.1130/B35560.1

Interpreting and reporting 40Ar/39Ar geochronologic data

2021

Conference Publication

Understanding the nature of the transition between Late Jurassic formations of the Surat Basin through borehole image logs using cumulative dip plots

Claudio Luiz de Andrade Vieira Filh, Kasia Sobczak, Heinz-Gerd Holl, Suzanne Hurter and Paulo Vasconcelos (2021). Understanding the nature of the transition between Late Jurassic formations of the Surat Basin through borehole image logs using cumulative dip plots. Australian Earth Sciences Convention 2021, Virtual, 2021. Geological Society of Australia.

Understanding the nature of the transition between Late Jurassic formations of the Surat Basin through borehole image logs using cumulative dip plots

2021

Journal Article

Quantifying the effects of alteration and acid treatment for whole-rock basalt Ar-40/Ar-39 geochronology

Gomes, Allan Silva, Vasconcelos, Paulo Marcos and Carmo, Isabela de Oliveira (2021). Quantifying the effects of alteration and acid treatment for whole-rock basalt Ar-40/Ar-39 geochronology. Chemical Geology, 560 119998, 119998. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2020.119998

Quantifying the effects of alteration and acid treatment for whole-rock basalt Ar-40/Ar-39 geochronology

2021

Journal Article

Billion-year exposure ages in Gale crater (Mars) indicate Mount Sharp formed before the Amazonian period

Martin, Peter E., Farley, Kenneth A., Malespin, Charles A., Mahaffy, Paul R., Edgett, Kenneth S., Gupta, Sanjeev, Dietrich, William E., Malin, Michael C., Stack, Kathryn M. and Vasconcelos, Paulo M. (2021). Billion-year exposure ages in Gale crater (Mars) indicate Mount Sharp formed before the Amazonian period. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 554 116667. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116667

Billion-year exposure ages in Gale crater (Mars) indicate Mount Sharp formed before the Amazonian period

2021

Journal Article

Titanium mobility preserved in association with microfossils in an iron-rich duricrust capping an iron ore deposit

Levett, Alan, Vasconcelos, Paulo M., Jones, Michael M. W., Rintoul, Llew, Paz, Anat, Gagen, Emma J. and Southam, Gordon (2021). Titanium mobility preserved in association with microfossils in an iron-rich duricrust capping an iron ore deposit. Chemical Geology, 559 119955, 119955. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2020.119955

Titanium mobility preserved in association with microfossils in an iron-rich duricrust capping an iron ore deposit

2021

Journal Article

Petrogenesis of the early Cretaceous intra-plate basalts from the Western North China Craton: implications for the origin of the metasomatized cratonic lithospheric mantle

Zhang, Junjie, Guo, Pengyuan, Sun, Pu, Niu, Yaoling, Xiao, Yuanyuan and Vasconcelos, Paulo M. (2021). Petrogenesis of the early Cretaceous intra-plate basalts from the Western North China Craton: implications for the origin of the metasomatized cratonic lithospheric mantle. Lithos, 380-381 105887. doi: 10.1016/j.lithos.2020.105887

Petrogenesis of the early Cretaceous intra-plate basalts from the Western North China Craton: implications for the origin of the metasomatized cratonic lithospheric mantle

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2026
    Determining fossilisation processes of a rare iron-rich Lagerstätte (ARC Linkage Project administered by The University of New South Wales)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2022
    Ultra-precise dating in Earth, planetary and archaeological science (ARC LIEF project administered by University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    The Paraná-Etendeka Magmatic Province in Brazil: temporal and petrologic relationships between the tholeiitic and alkaline magmatism and geodynamic implications
    Shell Global Solutions International BV
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Timing, chemical characteristics and links between magmatism and hydrothermal alteration in Brazilian sedimentary basins
    Petrobras SA
    Open grant
  • 2019
    The Parana-Etendeka Manmatic Province in Brazil: temporal and petrologic relationships between the tholeiitic and alkaline magmatism and geodynamic implications
    Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Tectonic and provenances studies in the Sumatra Seismic Zone
    Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (Unisinos)
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Geodynamics and Tectonic Evolution of the Atlantic Equatorial Margin (segment between Potiguar and Ceara Basins - Northeast Brazil)
    Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Origins of the ore-forming materials and geochronology of typical deposits in the Xiaoqinling gold district in the southern margin of the North China Craton
    Guizhou Tongwei Analytical Technology Co Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    40Ar/39Ar and (U-Th) He geochronology of supergene minerals and the geomorphological evolution of southeastern Goias State
    Sao Paulo State University
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Centre for Geoanalytical Mass Spectrometry (CGMS) - Achieving excellence in isotope geochemistry and geochronology
    UQ Research Facilities Infrastructure Grants
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2021
    Australian Membership of the International Ocean Discovery Program (ARC LIEF project administered by The Australian National University)
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Next-generation multi-collector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) with laser-ablation capability for in situ high-throughput and high resolution isotope dating and characterizat
    UQ Major Research Facility Fund
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    The paleoenvironmental evolution of Earth and Mars
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2020
    Biogeochemistry of ferruginous duricrusts
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2020
    Bioleaching of copper in tropical systems
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Detection of organic compounds within iron-cemented duricrusts (canga)
    Australian Synchrotron Access Program
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Australian Membership of the International Ocean Discovery Program (ARC LIEF Grant administered by the Australian National University)
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2016
    Precise cross-calibration of 40Ar/39Ar, Rb-Sr and U-Pb chronometers: towards an integrated geochronology toolbox
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2013
    Australian Synchrotron Access Program - AS133/XFM/7225: Implications for biosphere in major and trace element distributions in terrestrial Fe-oxide deposits and oceanic Fe-Mn-oxide accumulations
    Australian Synchrotron Access Program
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    ITV Mining VTC Project - Process Integration and Optimisation
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2019
    Geochronological and thermochronological investigation of rock samples recovered from the Brazilian sedimentary basins
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    A world-class rock magnetic facility to support Australian palaeomagnetic and environmental research (ARC LIEF Grant administered by ANU)
    ARC LIEF Collaborating/Partner Organisation Contributions
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Events through time: eruptions, extinctions, impacts, orebodies and orogenies - upgrading the national argon geochronology network (ARC LIEF Grant administered by ANU)
    ARC LIEF Collaborating/Partner Organisation Contributions
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Instrumentation for elemental analysis of geological and environmental samples
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Innovatiove approach to teaching and learning in field-based capstone geology courses
    UQ Teaching & Learning Strategic Grants
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Fully automated and OH&S compliant geological, biological, and environmental preparation facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2009
    The future of palaeoclimate and archaeological research in Australia: next generation instrumentation for chronology and environmental reconstruction
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2009
    UQ Virtual Facility for Thermochronology, Noble Gas Geochemistry and Geochronology
    UQ School/Centre Co-Funding
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2012
    Geochemistry, mineral geochemistry and geochronology of rock masses in Queensland based on outputs from University of Queensland Department of Earth Sciences Queensland
    Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Investigating the structure and evolution of the Continental Crust: A Virtual Facility for thermochronology, noble gas geochemistry and geochronology
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2012
    Australian membership of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) (ARC LIEF Administered by Australian National University)
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Aseismic ridge subduction and the formation of ore deposits: tracking porphyry mineralisation in space and time
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    Weathering on Mars and Australian Analogues: Developing Suitable Chronological Tools and Theoretical Approaches
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2008
    Mineral Physics and Crystal Chemistry of Ni-Co-Laterite Deposits
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2004
    Structural controls on sulphide-gold mineralisation in the Quadrilatero Ferrifero, Brazil
    AngloGold Peru
    Open grant
  • 2002
    Weathering history and cenozoic landscape evolution in Northern Queensland and New Caledonia
    ARC Australian Research Council International F/S
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Structure of non-linear optic LB films (ISIS); Hydrogen location and water mobility in jarosites (ILL)
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Developing new geochronological techniques to constrain time scales for the operation of weathering processes: U-Pb and Rb-Sr dating of manganese oxides and coexisting autunite
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1997 - 1998
    The enrichment of banded iron formations: a microanalytical study
    Hammersley Iron Pty Limited
    Open grant
  • 1997 - 1999
    Weathering history, landscape evolution, and paleoenvironmental conditions deduced from K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar dating of weathering profiles in Queensland
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Electrical resistivity techniques in regolith characterisation, the study of regolith evolution, and exploration of lateritic deposits
    Queensland Nickel Industries Limited
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Ages and paletemperatures of continental weathering reaction from Isotopic analysis of supergene silica minerals
    University of Queensland New Staff Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 1995 - 1996
    Construction of a laser-heating and resistance furnace extraction line for the regional 40Ar/39Ar Istope facility at the University of Queensland; K-Ar and 40 Ar dating of laterites and deep weatherin
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 1995
    Travel only to Berkeley Geochronology Centre, California, USA
    UQ Travel Grants Scheme
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Paulo Vasconcelos is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

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