Chris FERGUSSON

Position: Associate Professor
Room: 41.159
Phone No: +61 2 4221 3860
Email: cferguss@uow.edu.au

Research Interests

Chris Fergusson is an earth scientist with interests in structural geology, tectonics, regional geology, sedimentology and oceanography. His research interests have concentrated on the regional geology and tectonics of the Tasman Fold Belt System of eastern Australia. He has also conducted research into the Appalachians of western Newfoundland and the Zagros Mountains of Iran. He was a sedimentologist on Leg 190 Nankai Trough (off Southwest Japan) of the Ocean Drilling Project. He is undertaking active research in the following areas:

 IODP Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment Stage 1 Expedition 316 "Shallow Megasplay and Frontal Thrusts" on the Chikyu.  (pdf)

Subduction zones in the Lachlan Fold Belt of southeastern Australia

Extensional and contractional deformation in the ancient Gondwanan margin of northeastern Australia

Lapstone Structural Complex – Sydney Basin structures

Leg 190 Nankai Trough

Representative Publications

Fergusson C. L. 2009. Tectonic evolution of the Ordovician Macquarie Arc, central New South Wales: arguments for subduction polarity and anticlockwise rotation. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 56, 179-193.

Fergusson C. L., Offler R. and Green T. J. 2009. Late Neoproterozoic passive margin of East Gondwana: geochemical constraints from the Anakie Inlier, central Queensland, Australia. Precambrian Research 168, 301-312. DOI information: 10.1016/j.precamres.2008.10.007.

Fergusson C. L., Henderson R. A., Fanning C. M. and Withnall I. W. 2007. Detrital zircon ages in Neoproterozoic to Ordovician siliciclastic rocks, northeastern Australia: implications for the tectonic history of the East Gondwana continental margin. Journal of the Geological Society, London 164, 215-225. (pdf – note Copyright © 2007 The Geological Society of London see The Geological Society's on-line journals at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/) This material has been published in the Journal of the Geological Society, London, Volume 164(1), pp. 215-225, the only definitive repository of the content that has been certified and accepted after peer review. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by The Geological Society of London.

Fergusson C. L. 2006. Review of structure and basement control of the Lapstone Structural Complex, Sydney Basin, eastern New South Wales. Sydney Basin Symposium. In: Hutton A. and Griffin J. (eds), Proceedings of the Thirty Sixth Sydney Basin Symposium, Advances in the study of the Sydney Basin, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, pp. 45-50. (pdf)

Fergusson C. L., Henderson R. A., Lewthwaite K. J., Phillips D. and Withnall I. W. 2005. Structure of the Early Palaeozoic Cape River Metamorphics, Tasmanides of north Queensland: evaluation of the roles of convergent and extensional tectonics. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 52, 261–277.

Underwood M. B. and Fergusson C. L. 2005. Late Cenozoic evolution of the Nankai trench-slope system: evidence from sand petrography and clay mineralogy. In Hodgson D. M. and Flint S. S. eds Submarine Slope Systems: Processes and Products. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 244, 113-129.

Fergusson C. L. 2003. Ordovician–Silurian accretion tectonics of the Lachlan Fold Belt, southeastern Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 50, 475-490.

Mohajjel M., Fergusson C. L. and Sahandi M. R. 2003. Cretaceous-Tertiary convergence and continental collision, Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone, western Iran. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 21, 397-412.

Fergusson C. L. and Frikken P. 2003. Diapirism and structural thickening in an Early Palaeozoic subduction complex, southeastern New South Wales, Australia. Journal of Structural Geology, 25, 43-58.

 Full list of publications (1979-2007) (PDF 50k)

Searchable Publication List

Students

List of Past Research Students

Suggested Topics for Future Students

Abbreviated CV

1984 PhD University of New England, Armidale, N.S.W. "Structure and tectono-stratigraphy of the central Coffs Harbour Block, eastern New England Fold Belt."
1977 BA(Hons) Macquarie University, North Ryde, N.S.W.

Positions

2000-present. Associate Professor, School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong.

Research, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in structural geology, tectonics and oceanography. Undergraduate service teaching of geology for engineers.

1991-1999 Senior Lecturer, Department of Geology/School of Geosciences, University of Wollongong.
1986-1990 Lecturer, Department of Geology, University of Wollongong.
1984-1986. Research Fellow – Department of Earth Sciences, Monash University.

Australian Research Grants Scheme project "Tectonic Style and Significance of the Ordovician System, eastern Victoria" with Drs R.A.F. Cas and D.R. Gray as principal investigators.

1979-1982. PhD student – Department of Geology, University of New England. Australian Government Commonwealth Research Award.
1977-1978. Research Assistant – School of Earth Sciences, Macquarie University.

Field work in structural geology and regional geology associated with the Australian Research Grants Scheme project "The Nature of Orogeny in eastern Australia as exemplified by mid-Palaeozoic events in the Lachlan Fold Belt", headed by Associate Professor C. McA. Powell, and with Drs R. A. F. Cas and J. G. Jones.

Chris Fergusson was the Honorary Secretary (July 2000 - July 2002) of the Geological Society of Australia Incorporated.