Research Professor of International Center for Sedimentary Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry Research
Institute of Sedimentary Geology
Chengdu University of Technology
Mail Address: No.1 East Third Road, Erxianqiao Street, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610059, P.R. China
Email: xiazg@cdut.edu.cn or 991225015@qq.com
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Zhiguang-Xia
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=JERiJZQAAAAJ&hl=en
RESEARCH INTEREST
My research interests focus on investigating the geochemical behavior of evaporites and carbonates. It includes understanding the distribution behavior of trace elements within carbonate minerals, calibrating the isotopic fractionation factors between evaporite minerals and solutions, reconstructing the Mg-K isotope composition of ancient seawater, tracing the evolution of Earth’s surficial Mg-K cycle, and exploring the enrichment patterns and ore-forming mechanisms of K-Li brines in salt lakes system. The research methodologies predominantly involve mineralogy, elemental analysis, isotope analysis, and thermodynamic simulation.
EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION
l 2025.08-present, Research Professor, Chengdu University of Technology (CDUT), China
l 2023.08–2025.07, Postdoctoral Scholar in Geochemistry, Chengdu University of Technology (CDUT), Chengdu, China. Mentor: Prof. Chao Li
l 2017.09-2023.07, PhD, Geochemistry, Nanjing University (NJU), Nanjing, China; Thesis title: Mg-K isotope geochemistry of evaporite strata and preliminary application. Supervisor: Prof. Weiqiang Li
l 2013.09-2017.06, BSc, Geology, East China University of Technology (ECUT), Nanchang, China
ACADEMIC SERVICE
l Journal review: Nature Communications、Geochemistry
RESEARCH PROJECTS
l 2026-2028. The behavior of potassium element distribution and isotope fractionation during carbonate mineral formation. (Youth Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China), PI, CNY 0.3M.
l 2025-2029. Techniques for reconstructing paleosalinity from Carbonates in the Simao Basin. (Deep Earth Probe and Mineral Resources Exploration —National Science and Technology Major Projec), PI, CNY 0.4M.
l 2024-2026. Development of carbonate-associated chlorine as a paleosalinity proxy and its geological applications. (National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents), PI, 0.64M.
l 2022-2023. Magnesium isotope research in evaporites and its geological applications (program B for Outstanding Ph.D. candidate of Nanjing University), PI, CNY 0.042M.
RECENT PRESENTATIONS (SELECTED)
l 12/17/2023, Xian (China), “Mg and K isotope composition in evaporites of the Khorat Plateau and its geological significance”, The 10th Chinese National Conference of ore genesis theory and prospecting methods.
l 07/12/2023，Lyon (France),“Earth’s surficial Mg cycle evolution over the past 2 billion years: evidence from Mg isotopes in halite and dolostone”, Goldschmidt 2023.
l 04/05/2023, Chengdu (China), “Equilibrium Mg and K isotope fractionation between carnallite and saturated brine: calibrations and applications”, the 7th Chinese National Conference of Sedimentology.
PUBLICATIONS (* CORRESPONDING AUTHOR)
First author：
1. Zhiguang Xia, Meng Cheng, Xinyang Chen, Chao Li*. Paleosalinity Proxy: Progress and Challenges. (In Chinese with English abstract). Acta Sedimentologica Sinica. 2025,43(5).
2. Zhiguang Xia†, Shilei Li†, Zhongya Hu, Or Bialik, Tianyu Chen, Mebrahtu F. Weldeghebriel, Qishun Fan, Junxuan Fan, Xiangdong Wang, Shichao An, Feifei Zhang, Haoran Xu, Jiayang Chen, Zhihan Ji, Shuzhong Shen, Tim K. Lowenstein*, Weiqiang Li*. The evolution of Earth’s surficial Mg cycle over the past 2 billion years. Science Advances, (2024).
3. Zhiguang Xia, Yongjie Lin, Dongdong Li, Lars Reuning, Zhongya Hu, Chuan Liu, Jun Mu, Weiqiang Li*. Equilibrium Mg and K isotope fractionation between carnallite and saturated brine: Calibrations and applications. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, (2024)
4. Zhiguang Xia, Yongjie Lin, Haizhen Wei, Zhongya Hu, Chuan Liu and Weiqiang Li*. Reconstruct hydrological history of terrestrial saline lakes using Mg isotopes in halite: A case study of the Quaternary Dalangtan playa in Qaidam Basin, NW China. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 587 (2022), 110804.
5. Zhiguang Xia，Zhongya Hu，Chuan Liu，Haizhen Wei，Weiqiang Li*. Non-traditional stable isotopes in evaporite system: A research review (In Chinese with English abstract). Earth Science Frontiers. 2021, 28 (6).
6. Zhiguang Xia, Juske Horita, Lars Reuning, Or M. Bialik, Zhongya Hu, Nicolas D. Waldmann, Chuan Liu, Weiqiang Li*. Extracting Mg isotope signatures of ancient seawater from marine halite: A reconnaissance. Chemical Geology 552 (2020), 119768.
Co-author
7. MiaoMiao Zhang, HaiZhen Wei*, JianJun Lu, A.E. Williams Jones, C.J. Eastoe, Weiqiang Li, Zhiguang Xia, S.V. Hohl, Jing Ma, Yue Cai, ShaoYong Jiang, Junlin Wang. Estimates of chlorine isotope fractionation factors using density functional theory: applications to ore-forming systems, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta (2024).
8. Zhongya Hu*, Zhong Han, Anlin Ma, Zhiguang Xia, Lichao Wang, Weiqiang Li. The covariation between Mg-C isotopes and trace elements in dolostones: Implications for reconstructing the seawater chemistry. Sedimentary Geology, 459 (2024) 106552.
9. Mebrahtu F. Weldeghebriel*, Tim K. Lowenstein, Zhiguang Xia, Weiqiang Li. Plate tectonic control of strontium concentration in Phanerozoic and Neoproterozoic seawater: evidence from fluid inclusions in marine halite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 346 (2023), 165-179.
10. Yongjie Lin*, William Knapp, Weiqiang Li, Mianping Zheng, Chuanyong Ye, Jiaxin She, Zhiguang Xia, Ian M Power, Yue Zhao, Edward Tipper. Magnesium isotope constraints on the Holocene hydromagnesite formation in alkaline Lake Dujiali, central Qinghai-Tibetan. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth surface, 128(3), (2023), 1-19.
11. Zhongya Hu, Zhiqiang Shi, Gaojun Li, Zhiguang Xia, Liang Yi, Chuan Liu, Weiqiang Li*. The Cenozoic Seawater Conundrum: New constraints from Mg isotopes in island dolostones. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 595(2022), 117755.
12. Zhongying Miao, Mianping Zheng, Weiqiang Li, Qihui Xu, Zhiguang Xia, Pengcheng Lou, Xuefei Zhang, Jiayang Chen. Sr, S and K isotopes to tracing material sources of the deep potassium-bearing salt body in the Simao basin, southwestern China (In Chinese with English abstract). 2022, Acta Geologica Sinica, (96).
13. Zhongya Hu, Or M. Bialik*, Simon V. Hohl, Zhiguang Xia, Nicolas D.Waldmann,Chuan Liu, Weiqiang* Li. Response of Mg isotopes to dolomitization during fluctuations in sea level: Constraints on the hydrological conditions of massive dolomitization systems. Sedimentary Geology 420 (2021) 105922.
14. Zhongya Hu, Weiqiang Li*, Hua Zhang*, Karl Krainer, Quan-feng Zheng, Zhiguang Xia, Wenxuan Hu, Shu zhong Shen. Mg isotope evidence for restriction events within the Paleotethys ocean around the Permian-Triassic transition. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 556(2021), 116704.
15. Chunjing Shao, Huan Hu, Hongwei Yin, Zhongying Miao, Xuefei Zhang, Weiqiang Li, Zhiguang Xia. Characteristics of situ elemental composition of rock salt from the Simao Basin: New metallogenic insights (In Chinese with English abstract). Earth Science Frontiers. 2021, 28 (6).
16. Lihua Fang, Zhiguang Xia, Weiqiang Li*, Hongwei Yin, Zhongying Miao, Bin Liu, Chunjing Shao. Sr Isotope Characteristics of Salt Rocks in Simao Basin, Southwestern Yunnan and Its Implications (In Chinese with English abstract). Geological Journal of China Universities, 2019, 25 (5).
