Dr Samuel Boone
School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
College of Sciences
Dr Samuel C Boone is a geoscience research fellow in tectonics and thermochronology. His work aims to better our understanding of Earth's dynamic evolution by constraining the thermal and tectonic history of the crust in relation to the growth and breakup of continents. To do this, he integrates field observations, low-temperature thermochronology, structural geology, geochronology, and geochemistry. Dr Boone commenced his role at the University of Adelaide as a research fellow in 2022. In collaboration with Associate Professor Stijn Glorie, he aims to investigate the interplay between tectonics, climate, and resources through a megacontinental-scale synthesis of the upper crustal thermal evolution of Gondwana in response to continental breakup over the last 200 million years. He is also a member of the Tectonics and Earth Systems Group (TES) in Adelaide, where he is working with Prof Alan Collins and Dr Morgan Blades to investigate the tectonics of the Neoproterozoic East African Orogen. Sam splits his time between Adelaide and the University of Melbourne where he is a leader of the Melbourne Thermochronology Research Group, specialising in the development and application of fission track and (U-Th)/He analyses of the common accessory mineral apatite and other uranium-enriched minerals, including zircon, titanite, and monazite. They conduct research across all aspects of the development of laboratory techniques, as well as their application to understanding the low-temperature history of continental crust in response to continental extension, sedimentary basin development, orogenesis and continental amalgamation, landscape evolution, and the long-term stability of cratons.Sam is also a leading member of the AuScope Geochemistry Network, an Australian consortium of Earth Science Institutes cooperating to develop national geochemistry infrastructure. Their flagship project is the development of AusGeochem, a FAIR data platform enabling researchers to solve geoscience challenges through geospatial interrogation of geochemistry Big Data on a global scale. To find out more about what Sam does, check out...The Melbourne Thermochronology Research Group: https://www.melbournethermochronology.com/The AuScope Geochemistry Network: https://www.auscope.org.au/agnA preview of the AusGeochem data platform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1uUSV2rShM&t=2sA recent virtual presentation Sam gave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJSxGukB9JQ&t=1sA study of his investigating the onset of the East African Rift System: https://doi.org/10.1130/G46468.1The Rocky Framework of the Rift, an introduction to his work on the Neoproterozoic East African Orogen: https://doi.org/10.1130/G46468.1And here is a recent article he wrote in Eos about the uncertain future of geoscience in Australia: https://eos.org/opinions/australias-unfolding-geoscience-malady
Why do continents break apart?
The breakup of continents along rift systems plays a fundamental role in the theory of plate tectonics, leading to the creation of new oceans and continental margins instrumental in driving the evolution of the Earth’s climate and biosphere. Active rift systems also host important economic resources, such as low-carbon geothermal energy systems. Yet despite the important role of continental breakup in how our planet has evolved and operates, the mechanisms controlling the initiation and localisation of rifting remain enigmatic. Sam's work aims to quantify the natural processes controlling the inception and early evolution of continental rifts by integrating geochemical and field observations of active rift systems, namely in East Africa.
The growth of supercontinents
The distribution of continents, mountain ranges, and oceans associated with the growth of supercontinents is thought to be instrumental in driving the most dynamic periods of evolution for the interior of Earth, the climate, and life. Nevertheless, details of the development of supercontinents often remain poorly constrained. Using a range of geochemistry techniques in combination with structural geology and field observation, Sam aims to restore the amalgamation history and configuration of ancient supercontinents to better understand the most dynamic periods of Earth’s evolution.
Developing tools to constrain the thermal evolution of Earth’s crust
Dr Boone specialises in the development and application of temperature-sensitive radiometric dating techniques that can be used to constrain the thermal evolution of the crust in relation to mountain building events, continental breakup and landscape evolution. To develop these so-called low-temperature thermochronology methods, he integrates digital microscopy, chemistry, spectrometry, software engineering, and machine learning in laboratory and fieldwork. Below is a preview of the open-access AusGeochem geochemistry data platform which he has worked to develop as part of the AuScope Geochemistry Network.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 - ongoing | Geoscience Research Fellow in Tectonics | University of Adelaide |
| 2019 - ongoing | Geoscience Research Fellow in Thermochronology | University of Melbourne |
| 2019 - 2022 | Data Scientist | AuScope Geochemistry Network |
| 2018 - 2019 | Postdoctoral Researcher | Institute of Geosciences |
| Language | Competency |
|---|---|
| Dutch; Flemish | Can read, write, speak and understand spoken |
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 - 2018 | University of Melbourne | Australia | PhD in Geology |
| 2012 - 2013 | University of Melbourne | Australia | MSc in Geology |
| 2004 - 2009 | University of Massachusetts | United States | BSc in Physics |
| Date | Title | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - 2021 | CS50 Computer Science | Harvard University | United States |
| 2019 - 2019 | NERC Numerical Earth Science Modelling | Durham University | England |
| 2017 - 2017 | Rift Basin Reservoirs: From Outcrop to Model | University Centre in Svalbard | Norway |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Boone, S. C., Chung, L., Faux, N., Nattala, U., Church, T., Jiang, C., . . . Gleadow, A. (2026). Raising the bar: Deep learning on comprehensive database sets new benchmark for automated fission-track detection. Computers and Geosciences, 208, 12 pages. |
| 2025 | Morley, C. K., & Boone, S. C. (2025). Inception and evolution of the Turkana Depression: A review from the perspective of the longest-lived sector of the East African Rift. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 227, 34 pages. Scopus2 WoS2 |
| 2025 | Kukkonen, I. T., Kohn, B., Kirsimäe, K., Jõeleht, A., Chung, L., McMillan, M., . . . Gleadow, A. (2025). Phanerozoic evolution of Fennoscandia: Evidence from apatite fission track, fluid flow and geodynamic data in Finland and Estonia. Gondwana Research, 146, 74-92. |
| 2025 | Gleadow, A., Green, H., Finch, D., Boone, S., Fink, D., Fülöp, R. H., . . . Unghango, A. (2025). The origin, evolution and life cycle of rock art shelters in the Kimberley Basin of NW Australia. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 50(9), 17 pages. |
| 2025 | Quarles, C. D., Manard, B. T., Zirakparvar, N. A., Petrus, J., Paul, B., Douglas, D., . . . McCubbin, F. M. (2025). Exploration of a Combined LIBS and LA-ICP-MS Approach for Apatite Characterisation. Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 17 pages. |
| 2025 | Nixon, A. L., Boone, S. C., Gréau, Y., Kohlmann, F., Theile, M., Noble, W., . . . McInnes, B. I. A. (2025). Volcanoes to vugs: Demonstrating a FAIR geochemistry framework with a diverse application of major and trace element data through the AuScope EarthBank platform. Chemical Geology, 696, 14 pages. Scopus1 WoS1 |
| 2025 | Tu, A., Zahirovic, S., Polanco, S., Boone, S. C., Boyd, M., Mallard, C., . . . Müller, D. R. (2025). Predicting the preservation of buried ore deposits using deep-time landscape evolution modeling. Science Advances, 11(48), eady6244-1-eady6244-16. Scopus1 WoS1 |
| 2025 | Boone, S. C., Glorie, S., Zahirovic, S., Nixon, A., Meeuws, F., & Kohlmann, F. (2025). Deciphering mantle, tectonic and climatic drivers of exhumation. Communications Earth and Environment, 6(1), 14 pages. Scopus1 WoS1 |
| 2025 | Kohn, B. P., Ketcham, R. A., Vermeesch, P., Boone, S. C., Hasebe, N., Chew, D., . . . Sobel, E. R. (2025). Interpreting and reporting fission-track chronological data. GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN, 136(9-10), 30 pages. Scopus24 WoS22 |
| 2025 | Sun, Y., Wang, Y., Pang, J., Boone, S. C., Wu, M., Shao, C., & Liu, W. (2025). Exhumation and Preservation of the Yangchuling Porphyry W-Mo Deposit in the Jiangnan Tungsten Ore Belt, South China: Insights from (U-Th)/He and Fission Track Dating. Journal of Earth Science, 36(1), 46-56. Scopus2 WoS2 |
| 2025 | Boone, S. C., McMillan, M., Balestrieri, M. L., Kohn, B., Gleadow, A., Alimanovic, A., . . . Beucher, R. (2025). Phanerozoic thermochronology record of Afro-Arabia through space and time. Scientific Data, 12(1), 17 pages. Scopus1 WoS2 |
| 2024 | McMillan, M., Boone, S. C., Chindandali, P., Kohn, B., & Gleadow, A. (2024). 4D fault evolution revealed by footwall exhumation modelling: A natural experiment in the Malawi rift. Journal of Structural Geology, 187, 78 pages. Scopus4 WoS4 |
| 2023 | Seiler, C., Boone, S. C., Kohn, B. P., & Gleadow, A. J. W. (2023). A grain-by-grain comparison of apatite fission-track analysis by LA-ICP-MS and the External Detector Method. Chemical Geology, 635, 1-16. Scopus15 WoS11 |
| 2023 | Boone, S., Kohlmann, F., Noble, W., Theile, M., Beucher, R., Kohn, B., . . . Nixon, A. (2023). PREPRINT: A global platform solution for Big Data in low-temperature thermochronology. |
| 2023 | Vermeer, J. L. L., Quigley, M. C. C., Boone, S. C. C., Duffy, B. G. G., Langridge, R. M. M., & Kohn, B. P. P. (2023). Tectono-Thermal Evolution of the Hope-Kelly Fault System, Southern Alps, New Zealand: Insights From Topographic Analysis and (U-Th)/He Thermochronology. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH, 128(4), 1-27. Scopus4 WoS2 |
| 2023 | Boone, S. C., Kohlmann, F., Noble, W., Theile, M., Beucher, R., Kohn, B., . . . McInnes, B. (2023). A geospatial platform for the tectonic interpretation of low-temperature thermochronology Big Data. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 8581-1-8581-15. Scopus11 WoS12 Europe PMC1 |
| 2022 | Boone, S. C., Dalton, H., Prent, A., Kohlmann, F., Theile, M., Gréau, Y., . . . Rawling, T. (2022). AusGeochem: An Open Platform for Geochemical Data Preservation, Dissemination and Synthesis. Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 46(2), 245-259. Scopus23 WoS21 |
| 2022 | McMillan, M. F., Boone, S. C., Kohn, B. P., Gleadow, A. J., & Chindandali, P. R. (2022). Development of the Nyika Plateau, Malawi: A Long Lived Paleo-Surface or a Contemporary Feature of the East African Rift?. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 23(8), 31 pages. Scopus13 WoS13 |
| 2021 | Sun, Y., Chen, Z., Boone, S. C., Zhong, F., & Tao, W. (2021). Exhumation history and preservation of the Changjiang uranium ore field, South China, revealed by (U-Th)/He and fission track thermochronology. Ore Geology Reviews, 133, 12 pages. Scopus14 WoS12 |
| 2021 | Boone, S. C., Balestrieri, M. L., & Kohn, B. (2021). Tectono-Thermal Evolution of the Red Sea Rift. Frontiers in Earth Science, 9, 9 pages. Scopus22 WoS20 |
| 2021 | Prent, A., Dalton, H., Boone, S., Florin, G., Greau, Y., McInnes, B., . . . Noble, W. (2021). The AuScope Geochemistry Network and the AusGeochem geochemistry data platform. |
| 2021 | Fraser, R., Boone, S., Prent, A., Klump, J., & Aben, G. (2021). SciDataMover: Moving Geochemistry Data from the Lab through to Publication. |
| 2021 | Boone, S., Kohlmann, F., Theile, M., Noble, W., Kohn, B., Glorie, S., . . . Zhou, R. (2021). AusGeochem and Big Data Analytics in Low-Temperature Thermochronology. |
| 2021 | Boone, S. C., Balestrieri, M. L., & Kohn, B. (2021). Thermo-tectonic imaging of the Gulf of Aden-Red Sea rift systems and Afro-Arabian hinterland. Earth-Science Reviews, 222, 19 pages. Scopus20 WoS21 |
| 2021 | Sun, Y., Kohn, B. P., Boone, S. C., Wang, D., & Wang, K. (2021). Burial and exhumation history of the lujing uranium ore field, zhuguangshan complex, south china: Evidence from low-temperature thermochronology. Minerals, 11(2), 1-24. Scopus16 WoS11 |
| 2021 | Boone, S., Quigley, M., Betts, P., Miller, M., & Rawling, T. (2021). Australia’s Unfolding Geoscience Malady. Eos United States, 102(11), 28-30. Scopus6 |
| 2020 | Boone, S., Kohlmann, F., Balestrieri, M. -L., McMillan, M., Kohn, B., Noble, W., . . . Gleadow, A. (2020). Thermo-tectonic imaging of the Afro-Arabian Rift System. |
| 2020 | Prent, A., McInnes, B., Gleadow, A., O'Reilly, S., Boone, S., Kohn, B., . . . Rawling, T. (2020). The AuScope Geochemistry Laboratory Network. |
| 2019 | Boone, S. C., Balestrieri, M. L., Kohn, B. P., Corti, G., Gleadow, A. J. W., & Seiler, C. (2019). Tectonothermal Evolution of the Broadly Rifted Zone, Ethiopian Rift. Tectonics, 38(3), 1070-1100. Scopus17 WoS18 |
| 2019 | Boone, S. C., Kohn, B. P., Gleadow, A. J. W., Morley, C. K., Seiler, C., & Foster, D. A. (2019). Birth of the East African Rift System: Nucleation of magmatism and strain in the Turkana Depression. Geology, 47(9), 886-890. Scopus36 WoS33 |
| 2018 | Boone, S. C., Kohn, B. P., Gleadow, A. J. W., Morley, C. K., Seiler, C., Foster, D. A., & Chung, L. (2018). Tectono-thermal evolution of a long-lived segment of the East African Rift System: Thermochronological insights from the North Lokichar Basin, Turkana, Kenya. Tectonophysics, 744, 23-46. Scopus28 WoS24 |
| 2018 | Boone, S. C., Seiler, C., Kohn, B. P., Gleadow, A. J. W., Foster, D. A., & Chung, L. (2018). Influence of Rift Superposition on Lithospheric Response to East African Rift System Extension: Lapur Range, Turkana, Kenya. Tectonics, 37(1), 182-207. Scopus32 WoS29 |
| 2018 | Hall, J., Glorie, S., Reid, A., Boone, S., Collins, A., & Gleadow, A. (2018). An apatite U-Pb thermal history map for the northern Gawler Craton, South Australia. Geoscience Frontiers, 9(5), 1293-1308. Scopus24 WoS22 |
| 2016 | Boone, S., Seiler, C., Reid, A., Kohn, B., & Gleadow, A. (2016). An Upper Cretaceous paleo-aquifer system in the Eromanga Basin of the central Gawler Craton, South Australia: evidence from apatite fission track thermochronology. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 63(3), 315-331. Scopus22 WoS21 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 1965 | BOONE, S. C., & WAKIL, S. (1965). SYNTHESIS OF LIGNOCERIC AND NERVONIC ACIDS. In TEXAS REPORTS ON BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE Vol. 23 (pp. 643-&). UNIV TEXAS. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Boone, S., Kohlmann, F., Noble, W., Theile, M., Beucher, R., Kohn, B., & Glorie, S. (2023). AusGeochem: An open-access platform for geospatial interrogation of thermochronology Big Data through deep time. Poster session presented at the meeting of Goldschmidt 2023. |
| 2023 | Nixon, A., Boone, S., Vermeesch, P., Glorie, S., Gleadow, A., & Chung, L. (2023). Automated semi-track length measurements as a tool for predicting annealed distributions for thermochronological reconstruction. Poster session presented at the meeting of Thermo 2023. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Boone, S. (2018). A low-temperature thermochronology investigation of the Turkana Depression: Implications for the development of the East African Rift System. (PhD Thesis, The University of Melbourne). |
- Phillips, Hergt, Gleadow, Cerling, Leakey, Boone, Dalton. A high resolution chronological framework for volcanic tuffs in the Turkana Basin to constrain species evolution and paleoclimate/paleoenvironmental change through time. Turkana Basin Institute Research Continuity Award. USD $126,364. 2022-2023.
- Boone. Why Do Continents Rupture? University of Melbourne Early Career Researcher Grant. AUD $36,000. 2021-2022.
- Boone. AI-powered automated digital microscopy techniques for the Earth Sciences. Melbourne Data Analytics Platform Collaboration Scheme. AUD $50,000 in-kind. 2021-2022.
- Boone. Paleogeography and tectonics of Gondwana amalgamation. German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Short-Term Research Grant. EUR $8,550. 2018-2019.
- 2022 - The University of Adelaide, Department of Earth Sciences 3rd-year undergraduate Arkaroola Field Trip
- 2022 to present - Victorian Institute of Earth and Planetary Sciences Geochronology and Thermochronology Honours and MSc course
- 2019 - The University of Adelaide, Department of Earth Sciences 2nd & 3rd-year undergraduate Oman International Study Tour
- 2018 - Victorian Institute of Earth and Planetary Sciences' Basin Evolution and Stratigraphy Honours and MSc course
- 2016, 2017 - The University of Melbourne, School of Earth Sciences 2nd-year undergraduate subject Structural & Metamorphic Geology
- 2016 - The University of Melbourne, School of Earth Sciences 3rd-year undergraduate subject Tectonics & Geodynamics
- 2013 - The University of Melbourne, School of Earth Sciences 1st-year undergraduate subject Understanding Planet Earth
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Location | Program | Supervision Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 - ongoing | Principal Supervisor | Compositional Control of Fission-Track Annealing in Apatites from The Otway Basin | University of Melbourne | - | Master | - | Matthew Winefield |
| 2022 - ongoing | Co-Supervisor | AI-powered automated digital microscopy techniques for the Earth Sciences | University of Melbourne | Master of Computer Science | Master | - | Chenghao Jiang |
| 2018 - ongoing | Co-Supervisor | Tectonothermal evolution of the Malawi Rift | The University of Melbourne | - | Doctorate | - | Malcolm McMillan |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - ongoing | Member | Environmental, Health and Safety Committee | University of Melbourne, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences | Australia |
| 2021 - 2022 | Member | Seminar Series Committee | University of Melbourne, School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences | Australia |
| 2015 - 2015 | Member | AAPG International Conference & Exhibition (ECE) 2015 Student sub-committee | American Association of Petroleum Geologists | Australia |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - ongoing | Member | European Geosciences Union | Germany |
| 2016 - ongoing | Member | Royal Society of Victoria | Australia |
| 2016 - ongoing | Member | Geological Society of Australia | Australia |
| 2015 - ongoing | Member | American Geophysical Union | United States |
| Date | Title | Engagement Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - 2021 | Science Meets Parliament Delegate 2021 | Public Community Engagement | Science Meets Parliament | Australia |
| Date | Topic | Presented at | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 - ongoing | Thermochronological Insights into Continental Breakup Process. From AI to Big Data: Multi-scale thermal evolution constraints on the rifting history of East Africa | Institute of Geological Sciences | Polish Academy of Sciences | Poland |
| 2020 - ongoing | Why do continents break apart? Insights into early-stage rift processes from the upper crustal thermal evolution of East Africa | Department of Earth Sciences | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2018 - ongoing | The application of low-temperature thermochronology in intracontinental rift settings | School of Geographical & Earth Sciences | University of Glasgow | United Kingdom |
