Caroline Tiddy

Research Interests

Exploration Geochemistry Resource geoscience Technology

Prof Caroline Tiddy

Associate Professor of Geosciences

Future Industries Institute

Future Industries Institute

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

I have a passion for undertaking applied research that fundamentally impacts and advances practices within the geoscience industry and in developing the next generation of young, balanced scientists who will have the opportunity to engage in a workplace of equality and diversity.
My research priorities lie in addressing the global issue of decreasing rates of discovery of mineral resources that is coupled with an increase in demand of metals.  I am addressing this problem through undertaking applied research into developing new geochemical tools and drilling technologies for mineral exploration and mining that will improve exploration techniques to decrease the risk of targeting and improve the mineral discovery success.  This research is being undertaken under the auspices of the MinEx CRC (Mineral Exploration Cooperative Research Centre: www.minexcrc.com.au) and is a collaborative research venture between industry, government and academia.
I undertake cross-disciplinary research in identifying barriers and implementing enablers for minority groups to participate in a geoscience career, and create diverse and inclusive research groups and organisations across industry, government and academia. I am an active member of several local and international equity, diversity and inclusion groups including the UniSA Gender Equity Advisory Network, Women in Earth and Environmental Sciences Australiasia (WOMEESA), the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Geosciences project in iCRAG (UK).
A brief history: I joined University of South Australia in 2017, and am currently an Associate Professor in Geosciences and Professorial Lead within the Future Industries Institute. I undertake most of my research within the MinEx CRC, and am Coordinator of the MinEx CRC Education and Training Program. I was previously involved with the Deep Exploration Technologies CRC (2010-2018). Prior to joining UniSA, I spent 10 years at the University of Adelaide (2007-2017) in various teaching and research roles. I haven't always been employed in Universities and spent 2 years with the Geological Survey of Western Australia (2005-2007) after completing my undergraduate, Masters and PhD degrees at Monash University (1996-2004).

We all need metals - we wouldn't be looking at this website if we didn't have them as they are in our laptops, mobile phones, in the seat we are sitting on.  This means we need mines so that we can extract metals.  This also means that metals are in demand... and this demand is increasing as we move into a world that has high demand of technologies and within which new technologies such as renewable energies are being developed.

My research priorities and passions lie in addressing the global issue of decreasing rates of discovery of mineral resources whilst also developing more environmentally friendly methods of mineral exploration.  I am addressing this problem by directing my research into developing new geochemical tools and drilling technologies for mineral exploration.  This research is aligned with the MinEx CRC since mid-2018, and prior to then the Deep Exploration Technologies Corporative Research Centre (DET CRC).

I envisage my future research agenda as undertaking applied research into improving exploration and processing techniques across the minerals industry value chain to decrease the risk of targeting and to improve our ability to exploit known resources.  This requires collaborative research between industry and academia and includes focus on processes of geochemical dispersion through integration of currently available and new geological datasets, and integration into exploration criteria and minerals processing.

Date Position Institution name
2021 - ongoing Associate Professor in Geosciences University of South Australia
2017 - 2020 Senior Research Fellow University of South Australia
2015 - 2016 Senior Lecturer/Research Associate University of Adelaide
2011 - 2014 Lecturer/Research Associate University of Adelaide
2007 - 2010 Postdoctoral Fellow University of Adelaide
2005 - 2007 Regional Mapping Geologist Geological Survey of Western Australia

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2023 Award Women in Innovation Awards: Maths and Data Category Women in Innovation Australia -
2023 Recognition 2023-2024 Superstar of STEM Science and Technology Australia Australia -
2021 Award Garry Davidson Medal Geological Society of Australia Australia -
2020 Recognition Fellow Geological Society of Australia Australia -

Date Institution name Country Title
2001 - 2004 Monash University Australia PhD
1999 - 2001 Monash University Australia MSc
1996 - 1998 Monash University Australia Bachelor of Science

Date Title Institution name Country
2024 Sustainable Management in the Extractive Industry EIT RawMaterials Academy Syrian Arab Republic

Year Citation
2025 Tylkowski, L., Tiddy, C., Giles, D., Cayley, R., Brotodewo, A., Thorne, R., & Edgar, W. (2025). Investigating detrital apatite from the Castlemaine Group, central Victoria, to unravel sources and multi-cycle sedimentation. Gondwana Research, 146, 146-162.
DOI
2024 Bamforth, T. G., Xia, F., Tiddy, C. J., González Álvarez, I., Brugger, J., Hu, S. Y., . . . Putnis, A. (2024). High-Grade REE accumulation in regolith: insights from supergene alteration of an apatite-rich vein at the Kapunda Cu mine, South Australia. Mineralium Deposita, 59(7), 1479-1503.
DOI Scopus12 WoS10
2024 Batch, T., Tiddy, C., Brotodewo, A., Giles, D., Little, G., Belperio, A., . . . Metelka, V. (2024). REE-bearing phosphate mineral chemistry for iron sulfide‑copper‑gold exploration: A study at Jericho, NW Queensland, Australia. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 267, 15 pages.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2
2023 van der Hoek, B., Blaine, F., Giles, D., Tiddy, C., Mostofi, M., & Soe, S. (2023). A method to collect representative samples from water-driven percussion drilling techniques: examples from RoXplorer® coiled tubing drill rig. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 70(8), 1035-1053.
DOI
2023 Hill, E. J., Fabris, A., Uvarova, Y., & Tiddy, C. (2023). Improving geological logging of drill holes using geochemical data and data analytics for mineral exploration in the Gawler Ranges, South Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 70(8), 1067-1093.
DOI Scopus12 WoS11
2023 Fontana, F. F., van der Hoek, B., Tassios, S., Tiddy, C., Stromberg, J., Francis, N., . . . Lancaster, D. G. (2023). Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for whole rock geochemistry. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 246(107160), 1-13.
DOI Scopus15 WoS11
2023 Tiddy, C. J., Hill, S. M., Giles, D., van der Hoek, B. G., Normington, V. J., Anand, R. R., . . . Wolff, K. (2023). Utilising geochemical data for the identification and characterisation of mineral exploration sample media within cover sequence materials. Australian journal of earth sciences, 70(8), 1094-1122.
DOI Scopus3 WoS2
2021 Baudet, E., Tiddy, C., Giles, D., Hill, S., & Gordon, G. (2021). Diverse provenance of the Lower Cretaceous sediments of the Eromanga Basin, South Australia: constraints on basin evolution. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 68(3), 316-342.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3
2021 Caruso, A. S., Clarke, K. D., Tiddy, C. J., & Lewis, M. M. (2021). Airborne hyperspectral characterisation of hydrothermal alteration in a regolith-dominated terrain, southern Gawler Ranges, South Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 68(4), 590-608.
DOI Scopus7 WoS6
2021 Brotodewo, A., Tiddy, C., Zivak, D., Fabris, A., & Giles, D. (2021). Geochemical discrimination of igneous zircon in the Gawler Craton, South Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 68(4), 557-579.
DOI Scopus2 WoS3
2021 Tiddy, C., Zivak, D., Hill, J., Giles, D., Hodgkison, J., Neumann, M., & Brotodewo, A. (2021). Monazite as an exploration tool for iron oxide‐copper‐gold mineralisation in the Gawler Craton, South Australia. Minerals, 11(8), 1-27.
DOI Scopus7 WoS7
2021 Brotodewo, A., Tiddy, C., Zivak, D., Fabris, A., Giles, D., Light, S., & Forster, B. (2021). Recognising mineral deposits from cover; a case study using zircon chemistry in the gawler craton, South Australia. Minerals, 11(9), 916.
DOI Scopus1 WoS1
2021 Fontana, F. F., Tassios, S., Stromberg, J., Tiddy, C., van der Hoek, B., & Uvarova, Y. A. (2021). Integrated laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and multivariate wavelet tessellation: a new, rapid approach for lithogeochemical analysis and Interpretation. Minerals, 11(3), 1-21.
DOI Scopus11 WoS7
2020 Handley, H. K., Hillman, J., Finch, M., Ubide, T., Kachovich, S., McLaren, S., . . . Tiddy, C. (2020). In Australasia, gender is still on the agenda in geosciences. Advances in Geosciences, 53, 205-226.
DOI Scopus16
2020 Tiddy, C. J., & Giles, D. (2020). Suprasubduction zone model for metal endowment at 1.60-1.57 Ga in eastern Australia. Ore Geology Reviews, 122(103483), 1-30.
DOI Scopus18 WoS18
2020 Zuber, A., Bachhuka, A., Tassios, S., Tiddy, C., Vasilev, K., & Ebendorff-Heidepriem, H. (2020). Field deployable method for gold detection using gold pre-concentration on functionalized surfaces. Sensors, 20(2), 492-1-492-14.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC1
2020 Tiddy, C. J., Betts, P. G., Neumann, M. R., Murphy, F. C., Stewart, J., Giles, D., . . . Jourdan, F. (2020). Interpretation of a ca. 1600-1580 Ma metamorphic core complex in the northern Gawler Craton, Australia. Gondwana Research, 85, 263-290.
DOI Scopus14 WoS14
2020 Baudet, E., Giles, D., Tiddy, C., Asamoah, R., & Hill, S. (2020). Mineralogy as a proxy to characterise geochemical dispersion processes: a study from the Eromanga Basin over the Prominent Hill IOCG deposit, South Australia. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 210(106447), 1-37.
DOI Scopus5 WoS5
2019 Betts, P., Armit, R., Tiddy, C., Armistead, S., & Ailleres, L. (2019). Tectonic analysis of regional potential field data. Exploration Geophysics, 2019(1), 1-5.
DOI Scopus1
2018 Wolff, K., Hill, S., Tiddy, C., Giles, D., & Smernik, R. (2018). Biogeochemical expression of buried iron-oxide‑copper‑gold (IOCG) mineral systems in mallee eucalypts on the Yorke Peninsula, southern Olympic Domain; South Australia. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 185, 139-152.
DOI Scopus7 WoS7
2018 Caruso, A., Clarke, K., Tiddy, C., Delean, S., & Lewis, M. (2018). Objective regolith-landform mapping in a regolith dominated terrain to inform mineral exploration. Geosciences, 8(9), 1-19.
DOI Scopus15 WoS13
2018 Wolff, K., Tiddy, C., Giles, D., & Hill, S. M. (2018). Pedogenic carbonate sampling for Cu exploration on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. Journal of geochemical exploration, 194, 239-256.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4
2018 Brotodewo, A., Tiddy, C. J., Reid, A., Wade, C., & Conor, C. (2018). Relationships between magmatism and deformation in northern Yorke Peninsula and southeastern Proterozoic Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 65(5), 619-641.
DOI Scopus10 WoS9
2018 Baudet, E., Giles, D., Tiddy, C., & Hill, S. (2018). Evaluation of cover sequence geochemical exploration sample media through assessment of element migration processes. Ore geology reviews, 102, 449-473.
DOI Scopus7 WoS7
2018 Plavsa, D., Reddy, S. M., Agangi, A., Clark, C., Kylander-Clark, A., & Tiddy, C. J. (2018). Microstructural, trace element and geochronological characterization of TiO<inf>2</inf> polymorphs and implications for mineral exploration. Chemical Geology, 476, 130-149.
DOI Scopus50 WoS50
2017 Wolff, K., Tiddy, C., Giles, D., Hill, S. M., & Gordon, G. (2017). Distinguishing pedogenic carbonates from weathered marine carbonates on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia: implications for mineral exploration. Journal of geochemical exploration, 181, 81-98.
DOI Scopus7 WoS6
2016 Zuber, A., Purdey, M., Schartner, E., Forbes, C., Van Der Hoek, B., Giles, D., . . . Ebendorff-Heidepriem, H. (2016). Detection of gold nanoparticles with different sizes using absorption and fluorescence based method. Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical, 227, 117-127.
DOI Scopus179 WoS158
2016 Forbes, C., Giles, D., Freeman, H., Sawyer, M., & Normington, V. (2016). Using REE chemistry of glacially dispersed hydrothermal monazite to target IOCG deposits in the Gawler Craton. MESA journal, 81(2), 18-29.
2015 Forbes, C., Giles, D., Freeman, H., Sawyer, M., & Normington, V. (2015). Glacial dispersion of hydrothermal monazite in the Prominent Hill deposit: An exploration tool. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 156, 10-33.
DOI Scopus14 WoS13
2014 Henderson, B., Collins, A. S., Payne, J., Forbes, C., & Saha, D. (2014). Geologically constraining India in Columbia: the age, isotopic provenance and geochemistry of the protoliths of the Ongole Domain, Southern Eastern Ghats, India. Gondwana Research, 26(3-4), 888-906.
DOI Scopus89 WoS80
2012 Forbes, C., Giles, D., Jourdan, F., Sato, K., Omori, S., & Bunch, M. (2012). Cooling and exhumation history of the northeastern Gawler Craton, South Australia. Precambrian Research, 200-203, 209-238.
DOI Scopus38 WoS38
2011 Forbes, C., Giles, D., Hand, M., Betts, P., Suzuki, K., Chalmers, N., & Dutch, R. (2011). Using P-T paths to interpret the tectonothermal setting of prograde metamorphism: an example from the northeastern Gawler Craton, South Australia. Precambrian Research, 185(1-2), 65-85.
DOI Scopus47 WoS46
2009 Betts, P., Giles, D., Foden, J., Schaefer, B., Mark, G., Pankhurst, M., & Forbes, C. (2009). Mesoproterozoic plume-modified orogenesis in eastern Precambrian Australia. Tectonics, 28(3, article no. TC3006), C3006-1-C3006-28.
DOI Scopus91 WoS93
2008 Forbes, C., Betts, P., Giles, D., & Weinberg, R. (2008). Reinterpretation of the tectonic context of high-temperature metamorphism in the Broken Hill Block, NSW, and implications on the Palaeo- to Meso-Proterozoic evolution. Precambrian Research, 166(1-4), 338-349.
DOI Scopus37 WoS34
2008 Halpin, J., Crawford, A., Direen, N., Coffin, M., Forbes, C., & Borissova, I. (2008). Naturaliste Plateau, offshore Western Australia: A submarine window into Gondwana assembly and breakup. Geology, 36(10), 807-810.
DOI Scopus60 WoS57
2007 Forbes, C., Betts, P., Weinberg, R., & Buick, I. (2007). A structural metamorphic study of the broken hill block NSW Australia: Reply. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 25(6), 719-723.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6
2007 Forbes, C. J., Giles, D., Betts, P. G., Weinberg, R., & Kinny, P. D. (2007). Dating prograde amphibolite and granulite facies metamorphism using in situ monazite U-Pb SHRIMP analysis.. The Journal of Geology, 115, 691-705.
2005 Forbes, C. J., Betts, P. G., Weinberg, R., & Buick, I. S. (2005). A structural metamorphic study of the Broken Hill Block, NSW, Australia. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 23(8), 745-770.
DOI Scopus35 WoS34
2004 Forbes, C. J., Betts, P. G., & Lister, G. S. (2004). Synchronous development of Type 2 and Type 3 fold interference patterns: Evidence for recumbent sheath folds in the Allendale Area, Broken Hill, NSW, Australia. Journal of Structural Geology, 26(1), 113-126.
DOI Scopus47 WoS40
2004 Forbes, C. J., & Betts, P. G. (2004). Development of Type 2 fold interference patterns in the Broken Hill Block: Implications for strain partitioning across a detachment during the Olarian Orogeny. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 51(2), 173-188.
DOI Scopus22 WoS22

Year Citation
2017 Caruso, A. S., Tiddy, C. J., Clarke, K. D., & Lewis, M. M. (2017). Hyperspectral characterisation of alteration zones in the southern Gawler Range Volcanics margin. Poster session presented at the meeting of 10th International Mining Geology Conference. Hobart, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
DOI

  • Geostatistics and Machine Learning applied to LIBS geochemical data, MinEx CRC, 02/12/2024 - 02/06/2028

  • MinEx Project 3 Phase 2: Real-time downhole assay, MinEx CRC, 01/01/2022 - 31/12/2027

  • Resistate mineral chemistry for Cu-Au exploration - Ernest OPoko, MinEx CRC, 19/06/2024 - 19/12/2027

  • MinEx CRC Project 3: Real-time downhole Assay, MinEx CRC, 01/01/2019 - 31/12/2021

  • MinEx CRC Project 8 Geological Architecture and Evolution, MinEx CRC, 01/01/2019 - 31/12/2021

  • MinEx CRC - Adrienne Brotodewo Geochemical signature of zircon in relation to mineral systems, MinEx CRC, 03/07/2019 - 31/12/2020

  • FIA021 Ind Ptnr – Characterisation and dispersion of hydrothermal monazite related to iron oxide-copper-gold mineralisation in South Australia, OZ Minerals Prominent Hill Pty Ltd, 31/10/2017 - 13/03/2019

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2024 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Adnan Haider
2024 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Ernest Boamah Opoku
2022 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Andreas Bjork
2022 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Chryselle Ultima Mancenido
2022 Principal Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Andres Sifuentes Chamochumbi
2021 Co-Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Victoria Sheree Lazenby
2021 Principal Supervisor - Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Luke Tylkowski

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2016 - 2020 External Supervisor Integration of advanced remote sensing and geospatial methodologies to enhance mineral exploration: An example from the southern Gawler Ranges, South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Alicia Sophia Caruso
2014 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Process Constraints on the Giant IOCG Mineral System of the Eastern Gawler Craton, Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Cheng Yang
2014 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Characterisation of Late Palaeozoic Glacigene Sedimentary Rocks of the Troubridge and Arckaringa Basins and Implications for Palaeogeographic Reconstructions of Late Palaeozoic South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Verity Jayne Normington
2013 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Stratigraphy, Sedimentology & Geochemistry of the Pandurra Formation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Laura Anne Rollison
2013 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Regional Carbonate Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry for Cu Exploration on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Keryn Dianne Wolff

Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
2017 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Mineralogy and geochemical footprint of the Bulldog Shale and the Cadna-owie Formation, Eromanga Basin, South Australia: an example from the Prominent Hill deposit University of South Australia - Doctorate Full Time Eline Baudet

Date Role Board name Institution name Country
2025 - ongoing Director AuScope AuScope Australia
2025 - ongoing Vice-President Australian Geoscience Council Australian Geoscience Council Australia

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2022 - ongoing Member Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee Americal Geophysical Union United States
2021 - ongoing Member WOMEESA Women in Earth and Environmental Sciences Australasia Australia
2021 - ongoing Member Equity Diversity and Inclusion in Geosciences (EDIG) University College Dublin Ireland

Date Role Membership Country
2022 - ongoing Member Society of Economic Geologists -
1997 - ongoing Member Geological Society of Australia -

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