Research Projects

Standing on the Ruby Mountains with the Blacktail Mountains in the background (summer 2007).

Currently, I am working in the Blacktail and Ruby Mountains of SW Montana along with my former undergraduate advisor, Dr. Peter Muller (SUNY-Oneonta). We have been using a multi-disciplinary approach to resolve the complex geologic history recorded in these rocks which span in age from 2700 million years old to as young as 40-20 million years old and younger. Many BSU undergraduates have been engaged in various research projects as part of the Adrian Tinsley Program or Independent Research.

View o f the Blacktail Mountains, 2009

Areas of interest in the Blacktail and Ruby ranges

Origin, geochemical characterization, and tectonic significance of amphibolites in the Ruby and Blacktail Mountains

Jess Sousa ('08) working on an amphibolite shear zone, southern Ruby Mtns	Close-up of kinematic indicators in amphibolite shear zone showing normal or top-to-the-north movement, southern Ruby Mtns

Origin, geochemical characterization, and tectonic significance of granitic gneisses in the Ruby and Blacktail Mountains

Dillon granitic gneiss	Interlayered amphibolite (top) and granitic gneiss (below)

Kinematic analysis of high-temperature shear zones, Ruby Mountains: Comparsion to the gravitational collapse in the Himalayas

s-porphyroclast in granitic mylonites indicating reverse, or up to the south sense of shear	s-porphyroclast in granitic mylonites indicating normal, or down to the north shear sense	Photomicrograph of sillimanite defining the mineral lineation in mylonitic leucogranites

40Ar/39Ar and U-Pb dating of mylonitic rocks in the Ruby Mountains to establish the timing of deformation and the subsequent cooling history

Origin of ultramafic intrusions within the Blacktail and Ruby Mountains

Large bronze colored orthopyroxene crystals in an olivine matrix, ultramafic body, Ruby Mountains

Significance of Precambrian lower greenshist-facies shear zones within the Blacktail Mountains

Greenschist-facies shear zone in Eagle's Nest ravine, Blacktail Mountains

Tectonic significance of Cenozoic basalt flows in the Ruby, Blacktail, and surrounding ranges

Basalt plug (upper right) at top of Blacktail range; small basalt flow in foreground

Origin of quartz intrusions along the Jake Canyon fault, Blacktail Mountains

Quartz intrusions along the Jake Canyon Fault zone, Blacktail Mountains MT	Quartz intrusions along the Jake Canyon Fault zone, Blacktail Mountains MT	Close-up of quartz intrusion

Price Creek unit, Blacktail Mountains: Igneous or Sedimentary origin?

Price Creek breccia. Fine-grained maroon matrix with 1-10 cm clasts of Archean granitic gneiss	Contact between the Archean granitic gneiss basement and the Price Creek breccia

40Ar/39Ar dating of detrital micas from the Renova Formation: Implications for basin formation and source terrains

Typical exposure of the Renova Formation	Cross-bedding in Renova Sandstone	Contact between the Teddy Creek Group (tan) and Price Creek unit (red)

Timing of deformation & metamorphism of the central Appalachian Piedmont, Maryland

Inclusion trails in garnet porphyroblast from the Setters Formation, Hunt Valley Mall	Monazite inclusion in biotite from the Setters Formation, Hunt Valley Mall	U-Pb and 40Ar/39Ar data from the Setters Formation, Maryland

Miscellaneous Photos

(Click the photo for a larger view)

Dr. Peter Muller (SUNY-Oneonta) photographing sheared granitic gneisses, Ruby Mountains

View up the Ruby Valley from Cone Hill, 2005