Dr. Christopher Nicholas
Assistant Professor, Geology
Biography
Chris Nicholas is an Exploration Field Geologist. Over the last 30 years he has conducted field surveys all around the world from Arctic Canada, eastern Siberia and the snow-covered Japan Alps, to the rainforests of Java, deserts of Kazakhstan, and on to ocean islands such as the Atlantic Cape Verdes and Kilauea volcano on Hawaii. However, his particular speciality for the last 25 years has been exploration across the Equatorial Tropics of Africa, Arabia and the Caribbean, working in collaboration with geologists from Government Ministries, their Corporations and a suite of major Industry exploration companies in those Countries.
Chris graduated with a PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK, followed by Research Fellowships at the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, before joining Trinity College Dublin as a Lecturer in 2001. Chris' current, main research theme is the evolution of African Rift basins from the Neoproterozoic to the modern day East African Rift System (EARS), and in particular, how tectonics coupled with climatic cyclicity have driven sedimentary dynamics in the Pliocene " Recent Albertine Rift in Uganda and DR Congo.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
C. J. Nicholas, Sedimentary Dynamics in the Albertine Rift Valley, Equatorial East Africa, Memoir, Geological Society London, Geological Society London, 2024, 900pppp
C. J. Nicholas, 'Albertine Rift Geological Excursion Guide to the Pakwach Basin & Murchison Falls National Park, Northern Lake Albert.', Petroleum Authority Uganda, Petroleum Authority Uganda, 2023, - 38
C. J.Nicholas, 'Albertine Rift Geological Excursion Guide to the Kaiso-Tonya Area, Southern Lake Albert Basin, Uganda.', Petroleum Authority Uganda, Petroleum Authority Uganda, 2023, - 34pp
McCabe, R., Nicholas, C. J., Fitches, B., Wray, D., and Pearce, T., Chemostratigraphic and Mineralogical Examination of the Kilwa Group Claystones, Coastal Tanzania: An Alternative Approach to Refine the Lithostratigraphy, African Journal of Earth Sciences, 197, 2023, p1 - 22
C. J. Nicholas, 'Albertine Rift Geological Excursion Guide to the Semliki Area, Southern Lake Albert Basin, Uganda.', Petroleum Authority Uganda, Petroleum Authority Uganda, 2023, - 30pp
C. J. Nicholas, Field Report on the Geological Survey of Semliki, northern Lake Albert, Southern Lake Albert and Pakwach Basin, in the Albertine Graben, Entebbe, Uganda, Petroleum Authority Uganda, 2023, p1 - 190
C. J. Nicholas, 3 Day Short Lecture Course: Tectono-sedimentary Evolution of the Albertine Rift, Albertine Rift - Short Lecture Course, Entebbe, Uganda, 14th - 16th Sept 202, 2022, Petroleum Authority Uganda
C. J. Nicholas, Gold concentrations in vein ore samples, Kilima, Rungu-Wamba, DR Congo, October, 2021, 17pp
Coxall, H. K., Dunkley-Jones, T., Jones, A., Lunt, p., MacMillan, I., Marliyani, G. I., Nicholas, C. J., O'Halloran, A., Piga, E., Sanyoto, P., Rahardjo, W. and Pearson, P. N., The Eocene - Oligocene transition in Nanggulan, Java: lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and foraminiferal stable isotopes, Journal of the Geological Society, London, 2021
C. J. Nicholas, Field Geology Handbook, 1st, Department of Geology, TCD, 2020, 1 - 108pp
C. J. Nicholas, Tectono-stratigraphic model for the evolution of onshore Republic of Benin, United Oil & Gas, Dublin, June, 2019, p1 - 38
C. J. Nicholas, Petroleum prospectivity of pre-Tertiary play systems in the Republic of Zambia, Southern Africa, United Oil & Gas, Dublin, February, 2019, p1 - 57
C. J. Nicholas, Geological Field Reconnaissance of the onshore Dahomey Embayment, Republic of Benin, United Oil & Gas, Dublin, March, 2019, p1 - 42
C. J. Nicholas, SONAHYDROC: Upstream hydrocarbon exploration in the Democratic Republic of Congo 2018-2023, SONAHYDROC SA, DR Congo, April, 2018, p1 - 85
Nicholas, C. J, Geology and stratigraphy of the south-eastern Lake Edward basin (Petroleum Exploration Area 4B), Albertine Rift Valley, Uganda, Journal of Maps, 12, (2), 2016, p237-248
C. J. Nicholas, Paleogene Clastics in East, Central and West Jamaica, Tullow Oil, Dublin, August, 2015, p1 - 71
Pearson, P. N., and Nicholas, C. J. , Layering in the Paleocene/Eocene boundary of the Millville core is drilling disturbance, Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences., 111, (2), 2014, pE1064-E1065
Hudson, W. E. and Nicholas, C. J. , The Pindiro Group (Triassic to Early Jurassic Mandawa basin, southern coastal Tanzania): Definition, Palaeoenvironment, and stratigraphy, Journal of African Earth Sciences, 92, 2014, p55 - 67
C. J. Nicholas, The onshore geology of Exploration Area 1: Murchison Falls National Park & Pakwach Basin, northern Lake Albert, Uganda, Entebbe, Uganda, Tullow Oil, London, August, 2013, p1 - 110
Nicholas, C. J. and Gold, S. E. P., Ediacaran - Cambrian Sirab Formation of the Al Huqf region, Sultanate of Oman, GeoArabia, 17, (1), 2012, p49 - 98
Luke Handley, Aoife O'Halloran, Paul N. Pearson, Elizabeth Hawkins, Christopher J. Nicholas, Stefan Schouten, Ian K. McMillan, Richard D. Pancost, Changes in the hydrological cycle in tropical East Africa during the Paleocene- Eocene Thermal Maximum, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 329-330, 2012, p10-21
Hellawell, J & Nicholas, C. J., Acid Treatment effects on the stable isotopic signature of fossils, Palaeontology, 55, (1), 2012, p1 - 10
Nicholas, C. J., Abeinomugisha, D. & Newth, I. R., Petroleum Exploration in the Lake Edward - Lake George basins, Albertine Graben, Uganda, EAPC 2009 Conference Papers, East African Petroleum Conference 2009, Mombasa, Kenya, edited by East African Community Secretariat , East African Community Secretariat, 2009
C. J. Nicholas & I. R. Newth, Summary Technical Evaluation of Exploration Area 4B, Ugandan Lake Edward, Dominion Petroleum Limited, June, 2009, p1 - 125
Bown, P. R., Dunkley Jones, T., Lees, J. A., Pearson, P. N., Randell, R., Coxall, H. K., Mizzi, J., Nicholas, C. J., Karega, A., Singano, J. M., Wade, B. S., A Paleogene calcareous microfossil Konservat-Lagerstatte from Kilwa Group of coastal Tanzania, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 120, 2008, p3 - 12
Pearson, P. N. and Nicholas, C. J., 'Marks of extreme violence': Charles Darwin's geological observations at St Jago (Sao Tiago), Cape Verde islands, Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 287, 2007, p239 - 253
Nicholas, C. J. and Pearson, P. N., Robert Jameson on the Isle of Arran, 1797-1799: in search of Hutton's 'Theory of the Earth', Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 287, 2007, p31-47-
MacGabhann, B. A., Murray, J. & Nicholas, C. J., Ediacaria booleyi - weeded from the Garden of Ediacara?, Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 286, 2007, p277 - 295
Nicholas, C. J., Pearson, P. N., Ditchfield, P. W., Singano, J. M. , Structural evolution of southern coastal Tanzania since the Jurassic, Journal of African Earth Sciences, 48, 2007, p273 - 297
Pearson, P. N., van Dongen, B. E., Nicholas, C. J., Pancost, R. D., Schouten, S., Singano, J. M., Wade, B. S., Stable warm tropical climate through the Eocene epoch, Geology, 35, (3), 2007, p211 - 214
Nicholas, C. J., Cenozoic petroleum geology of southern onshore coastal Tanzania, Extended abstracts, conference proceedings, 21st Colloquium on African Geology, Maputo, Mozambique, July, 2006, 2006
Pearson, P. N., Nicholas, C. J., Singano, J. M., Bown, P. R., Coxall, H. K., van Dongen, B. E., Huber, B. T., Karega, A., Lees, J. A., Msaky, E., Pancost, R. D., Further Paleogene and Cretaceous sediment cores from the Kilwa area of coastal Tanzania: Tanzania Drilling Project Sites 6 to 10, Journal of African Earth Sciences, 45, 2006, p279 - 317
Nicholas, C. J., Pearson, P. N., Bown, P. R., Dunkley Jones, T., Huber, B. T., Karega, A., Lees, J. A., McMillan, I. K., O'Halloran, A., Singano, J. M., Wade, B. S., Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Upper Cretaceous to Paleogene Kilwa Group, southern coastal Tanzania, Journal of African Earth Sciences, 45, 2006, p431 - 466
Nicholas, C. J., Onshore geology of southern coastal Tanzania: Lessons for offshore exploration, 2nd Conference on the Petroleum Potential and Investment Opportunities in East Africa - EAPC '05, Entebbe, Uganda, East African Community Secretariat, 2005, pp25 - 25
Pearson, P. N., Nicholas, C. J., Singano, J. M., Bown, P. R., Coxall, H. K., van Dongen, B. E., Huber, B. T., Karega, A., Lees, J. A., Msaky, E., Pancost, R. D., Pearson, M., and Roberts, A. P., Paleogene and Cretaceous sediment cores from the Kilwa and Lindi areas of coastal Tanzania: Tanzania Drilling Project Sites 1 - 5, Journal of African Earth Sciences, 39, 2004, p25 - 62
Nicholas, C. J., Murray, J., Goodhue, R. & Ditchfield, P. W., Nitrogen and carbon isotopes in conodonts: Evidence of trophic levels and nutrient flux in Paleozoic oceans, 48th Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting, Lille, 2004, pp126 - 126
Pearson, P. N., Ditchfield, P. W., Singano, S., Harcourt-Brown, K. G., Nicholas, C. J., Olsson, R. K., Shackleton, N. J., and Hall, M. A., Warm tropical sea surface temperatures in the Late Cretaceous and Eocene epochs, Nature, 413, 2001, p481 - 487
Nicholas, C. J., Exploring Geology on the Isle of Arran, 1st Edition, UK, Cambridge University Press, 2000, 1 - 234pp
Evans, S. E., Manabe, M., Cooke, E., Hirayama, R., Isaji, S., Nicholas, C. J., Unwin, D. and Yabumoto, Y., An Early Cretaceous tetrapod assemblage from Japan, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 14, 1998, p183 - 186
Butterfield, N. J. and Nicholas, C. J., Burgess Shale-type preservation of both non-mineralizing and 'shelly' Cambrian organisms from the Mackenzie Mountains, northwestern Canada, Journal of Paleontology, 70, 1996, p893 - 899
Nicholas, C. J., The Sr isotopic evolution of the oceans during the 'Cambrian explosion', Journal of the Geological Society, London, 153, 1996, p243 - 254
Nicholas, C. J., New stratigraphical constraints on the Durness Group of NW Scotland, Scottish Journal of Geology, 30, 1994, p73 - 85
Clarke, N. D. L., Nimmo, F. and Nicholas, C. J., A new occurrence of Scottish plesiosaurian remains from the Island of Skye, Scottish Journal of Geology, 29, 1993, p197 - 199
Nicholas, C. J., Henwood, A. A. and Simpson, M., A new discovery of early Cretaceous (Wealden) amber from the Isle of Wight, Geological Magazine, 130, 1993, p847 - 850
Pearson, P. N. and Nicholas, C. J., Defining the base of the Cambrian: the Hicks - Geikie confrontation of April 1883, Earth Sciences History, 11, 1992, p70 - 80
Research Expertise
Description
Chris" research focus over the past 17 years has been on the structural evolution and sedimentary dynamics of the Albertine Rift, which is the northern sector of the EARS Western Arm, investigating how tectonics and glacial " interglacial driven climatic cyclicity in East Africa together form a coupled dynamo that drives and controls the sedimentary fill of an early continental rift basin. Chris has conducted many geological field surveys and mapping in the Albertine Rift, both in Uganda and DR Congo (DRC). Chris was also Chief Geologist for Dominion Petroleum Uganda, during its hydrocarbon exploration of the Lake Edward basin and has worked with most of the Industry Companies, Government Ministries and Corporations operating across East, Central and West Africa. From 2015 to 2019, Chris helped and advised in the restructuring of the state oil company in DR Congo, SONAHYDROC (formerly COHYDRO), and provided a strategic exploration plan for the next 5 years. With the drive now away from hydrocarbon investment in the Developed World, this has opened opportunities for Exploration Field Geologists to apply their expertise to prospecting for other natural resources in the Equatorial Tropics, and Africa in particular. Thus, 2018 saw the first involvement of Chris in the mining of precious minerals, devising a detailed mining and financial plan for placer diamond and gold mining in Banalia Province, central DRC. This was followed more recently, in 2021, with another project on gold ore concentrations in hydrothermal veins at Kilima, Rungu-Wamba, DR Congo, and an appraisal of the Alia Gemstone mine in southern Kenya, where there is the occurrence of the rare emerald-like precious gemstone, Tsavorite.Projects
- Title
- Sedimentary response to coupled East African climate change and active rifting in the Lake Edward basin, Albertine Rift, Uganda
- Funding Agency
- Ministry of Energy, Uganda
- Date From
- 2010
- Date To
- 2012
- Title
- Selous Basin Project
- Funding Agency
- Dominion Petroleum Ltd
- Date From
- 2007
- Date To
- 2009
- Title
- Geological evolution of the southern Tanzanian continental margin
- Funding Agency
- European Science Foundation / IRCSET
- Date From
- 2007
- Date To
- 2011
- Title
- Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Ara Group in outcrop and its implications for play development in the South Oman Salt Basin
- Funding Agency
- Petroleum Development Oman/Shuram Oil & Gas
- Date From
- 2006
- Date To
- 2010
- Title
- Structural evolution and petroleum geology of the Mandawa Basin, southern coastal Tanzania
- Funding Agency
- Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (with Dominion Petroleum)
- Date From
- 2006
- Date To
- 2010
- Title
- Major global climate fluctuations recorded at low latitude on the Indian Ocean margin during the Paleogene (65-24 million years ago)
- Funding Agency
- Science Foundation Ireland (Research Frontiers Programme)
- Date From
- 2006
- Date To
- 2010
- Title
- Nitrogen and carbon isotopes in modern and fossil aquatic ecosystems
- Funding Agency
- Science Foundation Ireland (Basic Research Grant)
- Date From
- 2004
- Date To
- 2009
- Title
- Rifting, sea level and environmental history of the East African margin during the past 300 million years
- Funding Agency
- Enterprise Ireland (Basic Research Grant)
- Date From
- 2001
- Date To
- 2005
- Title
- Geology of Kidumba & Mihambia, Mandawa Basin, southern coastal Tanzania
- Funding Agency
- Dominion Petroleum Ltd.
- Date From
- 2006
- Title
- Geology of Exploration Area 4B, SE Lake Edward, Uganda
- Funding Agency
- Dominion Petroleum Ltd.
- Date From
- 2007
- Date To
- 2009
- Title
- Geology of southern Lake Edward, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Funding Agency
- Soco International plc.
- Date From
- 2010
- Date To
- 2013
Recognition
Representations
Former Chief Geologist for Dominion Petroleum Ltd., now acting as Geological Advisor
Memberships
Member of the Board of the National Museum of Ireland
Member of the Science & Technology Committee, Royal Dublin Society
Member of the Royal Dublin Society
Member of the Geological Society of Africa