Frequently Asked Questions

Geochron Services
FAQs

  • Our services are highly tailored, which also means tailored quotes depending on scope, complexity, and analytical costs. To get a quote, reach out to us at info@zirkyrie.com.

    For complex projects, we will also arrange a complementary 30-minute virtual meeting to help prepare the quote.

    In general, a simple consultation on any one step may start at AUD$500. At the other end of the spectrum, we handle multifaceted projects with complex interpretation whereby fees may exceed AUD$50,000.

  • Fees are separated into consultation and laboratory charges. Consultation fees are due on delivery of the content/data (at the end). Laboratory fees are due prior to analysis (mid-project).

  • Yes, within reason. We always try our best to prioritize time-sensitive projects, provided it does not cause undue delay to ongoing contracts. Specify when you reach out if your project is urgent and we will let you know if we can meet your deadline. Laboratory services are often the main constraining factor and rush fees may apply.

  • No, we partner with world-class analytical facilities to produce the best results every time. This approach allows us to offer a larger range of options to suit your project needs.

  • Absolutely! Bayesian age-stratigraphic modelling is our speciality and we are one of only a few services globally with this capability. We create rigorous, reproducible, and transferable age frameworks including consideration of tephra eruption-age recalculation as needed.

  • Yes, we have experience contributing to age calibration for fossil localities with controlled access and strict confidentiality. In general, all project information and data are handled confidentially between our staff and your principal investigator or nominated contact person. If your project is particularly sensitive, please let us know when you reach out for a quote.

  • Our primary area of expertise is U-Pb zircon dating (best for igneous crystallisation ages plus detrital studies; includes both bulk and high-precision approaches), and we are rapidly expanding our capabilities in other mineral systems suited to mineralisation and metamorphic geochronology including apatite and garnet dating. Contact us to discuss how we can match our capabilities to your project.

  • Yes! We are excited to offer a first-time client benefit of half price consultation fees. This includes any range of services from a simple consultation through to total-package, large-scale projects.

    Note this offer applies only to geochronology services. For offers regarding our education packages and publishing support, get in touch at info@zirkyrie.com.

  • Please feel welcome to email info@zirkyrie.com at any time for a quote or information on our services. Once in contact, you will be in the hands of one of our expert geochronologists.

Education Packages
FAQs

  • Yes, we can tailor an educational product or service to suit your needs, within the framework of our technical expertise ranging from entry-level STEM content through to highly technical geochronology. See our Education page for more info or reach out to us at info@zirkyrie.com.

  • We presently do not host courses direct to students. We work with education providers and professional organisations, who host the courses internally for their staff and students.

  • Yes, we have a record of collaborating with multidisciplinary experts in the design of geoscience content to supplement related training with course loads ranging from a few days to several weeks.

  • We do both! The majority of our offerings are provided online for convenience and accessibility although in-person attendance can be arranged in some cases, particularly for longer periods of teaching. In-person sessions may incur an additional fee.

  • Yes, we offer one-off tutoring sessions for exactly this purpose. Multi-session packages are the best value in both cost and impact, and a trial is a great way to find out how to make the sessions work best for you.

  • Yes, we facilitate groups sessions of up to 10 people studying the same course. This is generally recommended for university-level courses. For senior secondary tutoring, we recommend sticking with one or two students per session to maximize impact.

  • Please feel welcome to email info@zirkyrie.com at any time for a quote or information on our products and services. Once in contact, you will be in the hands of one of our expert educators.

Publication Support
FAQs

  • No, we accept requests across all STEM disciplines. For work close to our expertise in geochronology, we may provide additional advice on content, design, and presentation. For most other disciplines, we may ask you to share a design example (e.g., link to an existing publication to use for inspiration).

  • Completion timelines depend on the scope of requested work. Simple visuals or document formatting are ideally completed within 5 to 10 working days, whereas short text requiring research may take longer. If your request is time-sensitive, let us know when you reach out.

  • We will provide an up-front quote based on your initial details. Work will begin after you accept the quote. When the work is completed, you will receive a draft (partial excerpt or watermarked version) to approve plus a formal invoice. After payment is confirmed, we can share the final product.

  • We provide tailored quotes depending on your needs. In general, the quote includes a baseline administration fee plus a fixed cost calculated using an hourly rate and estimated workload. Rarely, extra fees may be incurred for requests requiring non-standard software.

  • Yes, of course! If the adaptions are broadly within the scope of the initial quote, changes are made promptly with no additional cost. If you want to expand upon the initial work, we will discuss any additional costs with you before proceeding.

  • If cost increases are incurred by additional requests after the initial quote, we will clear them with you before proceeding with the extended work. This means the final cost will never be a surprise.

  • Our figure preparation team enhance your basic outputs to suit professional formats for publication. We do not handle raw data in isolation, but can certainly take on raw data alongside basic outputs (e.g., Excel graphs and similar).

    If you are in need of further support to model and interpret data, particularly age data, you may be interested in our Geochronology Services.

  • We do not produce content for student assessments. As such, all undergraduate student requests will be declined.

    We may contribute to visual elements of post-graduate student work; for example, figures for publications led by PhD and Masters students. If the work is to be used in a thesis, you may need to include a statement of contributions in the acknowledgements or CRediT table (Contributor Role Taxonomy), depending on the scope of the work.