Mr Eric Vandenburg
ARC Grant-Funded Researcher B
School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
College of Sciences
Dr. Eric Vandenburg is an isotope geochemist whose research focuses on igneous systems, magmatic ore deposits, and the processes that generate them. He combines trace element geochemistry, stable and radiogenic isotope geochemistry, geochronology, and geochemical and phase equilibrium modelling to investigate the evolution of magmatic systems from mantle source to ore deposit.
Eric completed his BSc (Hons) at the University of British Columbia, where he studied the petrogenesis of a Mesozoic convergent margin-hosted Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposit in the Canadian Cordillera. He went on to undertake a PhD at Monash University, using trace element geochemistry, radiogenic and non-traditional stable isotopes, and petrogenetic trace element modelling to explore the evolution of Earth’s early continental crust and the origins of subduction-like processes in the Archean, particularly in the Pilbara Craton.
He has experience across academia, government, and industry, including work with the Ontario Geological Survey, collaborations with the Geological Survey of Western Australia, and roles in mineral exploration.
His research interests include Ni-Cu-(PGE-Cr), pegmatite-hosted Li-Nb-Ta, and porphyry Au-Cu mineral systems, as well as novel stable isotope method development and applications, subduction zone volcanism, and ocean island basalts.
My research is currently focused on the development and application of non-traditional stable isotopes (Mg, Ca, Sr, Cr, Zn, Cu, Mo, Fe) to a) elucidate the source components, magmatic processes and ore-forming processes required to generate porphyry Au-Cu, Ni-Cu (PGE-Cr), pegmatite-hosted Li-Nb-Ta, and IOCG deposits; and b) trace element cycling in subduction zones.
| Language | Competency |
|---|---|
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| French | Can read and write |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - 2025 | Monash University | Australia | PhD |
| 2016 - 2020 | University of British Columbia | Canada | BSc. (Hons.) |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Baggott, K., Jacobsen, Y., Nebel, O., Mulder, J., Raveggi, M., Wang, X. Y., . . . Jennings, L. (2024). On the virtues and pitfalls of combined laser ablation Rb–Sr biotite and U–Pb monazite–zircon geochronology: an example from the isotopically disturbed Cape Woolamai Granite, SE Australia. Geological Society Special Publication, 537(1), 435-454. Scopus3 |
| 2024 | Nebel, O., Vandenburg, E. D., Capitanio, F. A., Smithies, R. H., Mulder, J., & Cawood, P. A. (2024). Early Earth “subduction”: short-lived, off-craton, shuffle tectonics, and no plate boundaries. Precambrian Research, 408, 107431. Scopus11 |
| 2023 | Vandenburg, E. D., Nebel, O., Cawood, P. A., Smithies, R. H., Capitanio, F. A., Miller, L. A., . . . Jacobsen, Y. (2023). The stability of cratons is controlled by lithospheric thickness, as evidenced by Rb-Sr overprint ages in granitoids. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 621, 118401. Scopus4 |
| 2023 | Vandenburg, E. D., Nebel, O., Smithies, R. H., Capitanio, F. A., Miller, L., Cawood, P. A., . . . Nebel-Jacobsen, Y. (2023). Spatial and temporal control of Archean tectonomagmatic regimes. Earth Science Reviews, 241, 104417. Scopus17 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Vandenburg, E., Nebel, O., Cawood, P., Capitanio, F., Miller, L., Millet, M. -A., & Smithies, H. (2025). A widespread, short-lived, off-craton subduction source for hidden crustal growth in Earth’s infancy. DOI |
| 2025 | Churchus, A., Nebel, O., Wang, X., Tomkins, A., Vandenburg, E., & Foden, J. (2025). Fe-Sr-Pb isotope variations in Sunda arc lavas: Where on Earth is the subducted Fe?. In Goldschmidt2025 abstracts. European Association of Geochemistry. DOI |
| 2023 | Vandenburg, E., Nebel, O., Cawood, P., Smithies, H., Capitanio, F., Miller, L., . . . Nebel-Jacobsen, Y. (2023). <i>The thickness of diversely constructed lithosphere controls the ages of isotopic reset in Archean cratons</i>. In Goldschmidt2023 abstracts. European Association of Geochemistry. DOI |
| 2022 | Vandenburg, E., Nebel, O., Millet, M. -A., Bruand, E., McCoy-West, A., Cawood, P., . . . Nebel-Jacobsen, Y. (2022). <i>Insights into Secular Changes in Archean Crustal Formation Processes: The necessity for representative databases</i>. In Goldschmidt2022 abstracts. European Association of Geochemistry. DOI |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Vandenburg, E. (2025). The formation of Archean lithotectonic blocks in non-plume environments inferences on craton assembly and stabilization from the Pilbara Craton Western Australia. (PhD Thesis, Monash University). |
| 2020 | Vandenburg, E. (2020). The E&L magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposit, northwestern British Columbia: Preliminary sulfide petrology, platinum-group element mineralogy and lead isotope systematics. (Undergraduate Dissertation, University of British Columbia). |
Amount: CAD$1,000 2019-2020
Title: “Constraints on the Petrogenesis of the E&L Magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) Deposit, Northwestern British Columbia, from LA-ICP-MS Lead Isotope Systematics of Sulfides”
Society of Economic Geologists Canada Foundation Undergraduate Research Grant
PI: E. Vandenburg, Co-PI: J. Scoates
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