VOL. 17, No. 1 A PUBLICATION OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA JANUARY 2007

John Perry’s Neglected Critique of Kelvin’s Age for the Earth: A Missed Opportunity in Geodynamics

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50% Total Recovered Fiber 45 Groundwork—Advocates for cold-blooded dinosaurs: 10% Postconsumer The new generation of heretics John Perry’s neglected critique of Kelvin’s age for the Earth: A missed opportunity in geodynamics

Philip England, Department of Earth Sciences, Oxford Stacey (2000) for other geophysical perspectives on Kelvin’s University, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PR, UK; Peter Molnar, calculations. Department of Geological Sciences and Cooperative Institute Fourier laid the groundwork for the mathematical analysis of for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, the flow of heat in his treatise Théorie Analytique de la Chaleur Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA; Frank Richter, Department of (Fourier, 1822), and he made arguments that the Earth must be the Geophysical Sciences, 5734 S. Ellis Ave. Chicago, Illinois cooling (Fourier, 1827), with which Lyell was certainly familiar 60637, USA (Lyell, 1830, p. 140–141). Kelvin first wrote on heat when he was 16, clarifying some of Fourier’s mathematics, and he first addressed the age of the Earth in 1844 when he showed that, if one were to assume that the Earth is a solid body cooling from ABSTRACT an initially high temperature, measurement of the rate of heat Many readers know the tale of how William Thomson (later loss from its surface would place bounds on its age. Lord Kelvin) calculated the age of the Earth from physical prin- Kelvin imagined the Earth to have solidified from an origi- ciples and adhered for over 50 years to an estimate that was far nally molten state, such that its initial condition was of uniform younger than geologists’ estimates, despite the virtually unani- temperature, T0, with its surface maintained at a constant tem- mous opposition of the geological community of the time. The perature for all time. Under these assumptions, temperature prevalent version of this tale alleges that the discovery of radio- depends upon depth, z, below the Earth’s surface, and upon activity simultaneously provided the demonstration (through time, t, since the initial state. Fourier had shown that the dif- radiometric dating) that Kelvin had greatly underestimated the fusion of heat in a solid is described (in one spatial dimension age of the Earth and the explanation of why he was wrong and in the absence of heat sources) by (radioactivity being a source of heat that invalidated Kelvin’s calculation). We show this popular story to be incorrect; intro- , (1) ducing the known distribution of radioactivity into Kelvin’s cal- culation does not invalidate its conclusion. In 1895, before the where T is temperature, and κ is the thermal diffusivity (Table 1). discovery of radioactivity, John Perry showed that convection We take the surface of the Earth (z = 0) to be at a tempera- in the Earth’s interior would invalidate Kelvin’s estimate for the ture of 0 °C; given that any plausible estimate for T0 is several age of the Earth, but Perry’s analysis was neglected or forgot- thousand such degrees, the small deviations of the Earth’s ten, with the consequence that a powerful argument in favor surface temperature from 0 °C may be neglected. With the of mobilism was overlooked during the first few decades of stated initial and surface conditions, and with the condition debate about continental drift. that the temperature tends to T0 at infinite depth, the solution to Equation 1 is INTRODUCTION The story of Kelvin and the age of the Earth is often told as , (2) a David-and-Goliath struggle, with the geologists in the role of the underdog armed only with the slender sword of geo- where erf(x) is the error function (e.g., Carslaw and Jaeger, logical reasoning, while Lord Kelvin bludgeoned them with the 1959). The temperature gradient at the Earth’s surface is full force and prestige of mathematical physics. Kelvin’s come- uppance is often taken as evidence that simple physics ought (3) not to be applied to geological problems, but there have been numerous occasions when simple physical models have had (Fourier, 1822; Kelvin, 1863a). An excellent introduction to ther- great explanatory power in geology. Perry’s critique of Kelvin’s mal diffusion is given by Carslaw and Jaeger (1959), and all solu- calculation reminds us that even well-posed physical models tions to the diffusion problems we discuss can be found there. can sometimes be misleading, but recognition of their flaws The expressions of Equations 2 and 3 are familiar to many as may lead to major advances. the solution for the cooling of the oceanic lithosphere when it KELVIN’S CALCULATION OF THE AGE OF THE EARTH is treated as a half-space (Turcotte and Oxburgh, 1967; Parsons We cannot, in this short space, approach a full description and Sclater, 1977; see also Turcotte and Schubert, 2002, p. 157). of Kelvin’s arguments about the age of the Earth. The reader This problem is mathematically identical to Kelvin’s problem, is referred to Burchfield (1975) for a detailed account of the though the age involved is that of the ocean floor, rather than controversy, to Lindley (2004) for a very readable biography, of the Earth. with an insightful account of the debate on the age of the Earth Equations 2 and 3 express the fact that, in a given time, t, the in the context of Kelvin’s other work, and to Richter (1986) and average distance that heat can diffuse is approximately

GSA Today: v. 17, no. 1, doi: 10.1130/GSAT01701A.1 4 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY and, in consequence, at any time, t, material at a depth greater sible source for the energy radiated by the sun was internal than is still at its original temperature and, to a good energy derived from gravitational potential energy release dur- approximation, the temperature gradient between the surface ing its accretion. He had calculated the amount of this energy and the depth is . and concluded that it could sustain the present rate of radia- The key point of Kelvin’s model is that Equation 3 may be tion from the sun for no more than 100 m.y. (Stacey, 2000). inverted to give t, the age of the Earth, in terms of the geother- The agreement between these two apparently independent mal gradient, G, or the heat flux, Q, observed at the Earth’s estimates strengthened Kelvin’s conviction in his calculation of surface now: the age of the Earth.

. (4) KELVIN AND THE GEOLOGISTS The early nineteenth-century formulation of Uniformitari- When Kelvin first made these arguments in 1844 and 1846, anism was commonly expressed through Hutton’s aphorism, geothermal data were not available to him. By the time he “No vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end.” The doc- returned to the problem 15 years later, geothermal gradients trine that the Earth was of unlimited age allowed geologists had been measured in several parts of the world. Kelvin (1863a) to explain any phenomenon not by the laws of physics, but quoted measurements of between 1/110 °F and 1/15 °F of by “reckless drafts on the bank of time” (Chamberlin, 1899). temperature increase per foot of depth and chose as a mean For Kelvin, this game without rules was simply not scientific; gradient for his calculation 1/50 °F per foot (or ~36 °C/km). indeed, it was forbidden by the laws of thermodynamics, which he had played such a large part in developing. With an assumption of the initial temperature, T0, based on melting experiments on rocks (7000 °F, ~3900 °C) and with an In 1867, Kelvin had a conversation with the geologist Andrew estimate, based on laboratory measurements, of κ ≈ 1.2 × 10−6 Ramsay, “almost every word of which remains stamped on m2 s−1, this gradient yields an age of 96 Ma; Kelvin (1863a) gave my mind to this day” (Kelvin, 1899; see also Lindley, 2004, bounds of 24 Ma and 400 Ma on the age to take account of p. 175–177). They had been listening to Archibald Geikie dis- uncertainties in thermal gradient and thermal conductivity. cussing the For the rest of our discussion, we shall use heat flux, rather … geological history of the actions by which the exist- than thermal gradient, because it is the more fundamental unit, ing scenery of Scotland was produced. I asked Ram- in part because it is unaffected by near-surface contrasts in con- say how long a time he allowed for that history. He ductivity. The Earth’s average surface heat flux is 80mW m−2; answered that he could suggest no limit to it. I said the average for the continents is ~60mW m−2 and, except in the “You don’t suppose geological history has run through shields, the background heat flux in the continents (after the 1,000,000,000 years?” “Certainly I do.” “10,000,000,000 contribution from near-surface radioactivity has been stripped years?” “Yes.” “The sun is a finite body. You can tell how out) is ~40mW m−2 (Sclater et al., 1981). We therefore take the many tons it is. Do you think it has been shining for a range of surface heat flux that has to be matched by any pro- million million years? ” “I am as incapable of estimat- posed thermal history of the Earth to be 40–80mW m−2. Using ing and understanding the reasons which you physicists this range, and the values of other quantities given in Table 1, have for limiting geological time as you are incapable of the modern equivalent of Kelvin’s estimate is 24–96 Ma. understanding the geological reasons for our unlimited Scientists derive an extra measure of confidence in a con- estimates.” I answered, “You can understand the physi- clusion if they can arrive at it by more than one independent cists’ reasoning perfectly if you give your mind to it.” route, and this was no doubt true in Kelvin’s case. He had It is easy to overlook the enormous gains to geology that shown that, given what was known at the time, the only plau- came simply from having to fight the battle with Kelvin about the age of the Earth. By the end of the nineteenth century, the doctrine of a steady-state Earth of indefinite age had been TABLE 1. NOTATION FOR, AND ASSUMED VALUES AND replaced by the understanding that present geological pro- UNITS OF, RELEVANT PHYSICAL QUANTITIES cesses provide guides to, and constraints upon, past geological A Heat production PW m–3 events: “No vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end” had c Specific heat 103 J kg–1 K–1 been replaced by “The present is the key to the past” (Cham- G Geothermal gradient at the Earth’s surface °C/km berlin, 1899; Burchfield, 1975). Even before radioactivity was K Thermal conductivity 3 W m–1 K–1 discovered, geologists had come to accept that the age of the N Thermal diffusivity ( = K/U c) 10–6 m2 s–1 Earth was finite and that estimating the age by quantitative rea- L Conducting lid to the Earth m soning was a crucial part of geological endeavor. Q Surface heat flux 40–80 mW m–2 What nobody did until 1895, however, was to put their mind, as Kelvin had suggested, to the physicists’ reasoning, and dis- R Radius of the Earth 6.4 × 106 m cover the flaw in it. U Density 3300 kg m–3 t Time s KELVIN’S ASSUMPTIONS T Temperature °C A single principle underlies all Kelvin’s arguments about the T0 Initial temperature of the Earth 1300 °C age of the Earth: that energy is conserved. To carry out his

Ti Interior temperature of the Earth (Equation 5) °C analyses, Kelvin added three assumptions. Two assumptions z Depth m applied only to his arguments about the Earth: that the Earth

GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 5 was rigid and that its physical properties were homogeneous. The third assumption, that there was no undiscovered source of energy, applied both to the Earth and to the sun. The conventional story alleges that his third assumption was Kelvin’s undoing, but as we shall show below, this story, while correct for the age of the sun, is incorrect for the age of the Earth. The real flaw in Kelvin’s argument about the Earth was pointed out by one of his former assistants, John Perry, in 1895—a year before radioactivity was discovered and eight years before it became recognized as a source of heat. Perry (1895a) wrote: “I have sometimes been asked by friends interested in geology to criticise Lord Kelvin’s calcula- tion of the probable age of the Earth. I have usually said that it is hopeless to expect that Lord Kelvin should have made an error in calculation.” Instead of focusing on Kelvin’s calcula- tions, Perry suggested, one should examine his assumptions. In Kelvin’s model, the present supply of heat to the Earth’s surface is derived from the cooling of a shallow outer layer of thick- ness, (Equation 3). If, however, the thermal conductivity inside the Earth were much higher than at the surface, then the deep interior would also cool, providing a large store of energy to maintain the surface heat flux. In that case, Kelvin’s estimate of the age of the Earth would be too low, potentially by a large multiple. Perry had two reasons for postulating a higher conductivity in the interior. First, experimental evidence showed an increase, if modest, in conductivity of rocks with temperature; in addi- tion, the Earth’s increase in density with depth implies a greater proportion of iron and other materials that conduct heat better than do silicates. More radically, he argued (Perry, 1895a) that convection in the fluid, or partly fluid, interior of the Earth would transfer heat much more effectively than would conduc- tion: “… much internal fluidity would practically mean infinite conductivity for our purpose.” Unable to calculate the role of convection in a complete fashion, Perry proposed approximating its effect by a high “quasi-conductivity” in the interior of the Earth. He suggested a simple thought experiment to illustrate this point. Suppose that only a thin outer skin of the Earth, of thickness L, transfers heat by conduction, and that the rest of the Earth has effectively perfect thermal conductivity. The heat flux through the con- ducting lid at any time, t, will be KTi /L, where Ti is the interior temperature; this flux, multiplied by the Earth’s surface area, will equal the rate at which the interior is losing heat:

. (5)

The solution for Ti is

(6)

(Perry 1895a, p. 255, footnote 1). For a lid of thickness L = 100(50) km, the heat flux given by Equation 6 decays with a time constant (RL/3κ) of 6(3) Ga, and the Earth’s measured heat flux is consistent with any age up to 2 Ga (Fig. 1A). A less-than-perfect thermal conductivity for the interior of the Earth would cause it to cool down more slowly than is suggested by Equation 6. Perry and Heaviside modified Kelvin’s calculation for the case of large, but finite, interior

6 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY conductivity (Perry, 1895b; Carslaw and Jaeger, 1959, p. 322) the age of the Earth, provided no new source of heat was and showed that the Earth’s present heat flux is consistent discovered. That prophetic utterance refers to what we with an age of gigayears, provided that the conducting lid is are now considering tonight, radium! Behold! The old a few tens of kilometers thick and the effective (or “quasi-”) boy beamed at me. (Eve, 1939, p. 107). conductivity of the interior is ~100 times greater than that of Heat given out by radium obviously cannot be the missing the lid (Fig. 1B). energy, because the half-life of its dominant isotope is 1600 In modern parlance, Perry’s “quasi-conductivity” for a con- yr, but it soon was demonstrated (through assuming equi- vecting fluid would be expressed by the Nusselt number, which librium in their decay series) that uranium and thorium pro- is the ratio of the heat flux out of a convecting layer to the heat vide heat sources with half-lives of gigayears. Within a few that would be carried across the same layer by conduction years, radiometric dating of rocks had stretched the age of the alone. For the conditions appropriate to the Earth’s mantle, Earth to 2 Ga (Dalrymple, 1991, p. 69–78). Measurements of this ratio is likely to be in the range of 30–100 (McKenzie et heat production in crustal rocks permitted the interpretation al., 1974; Turcotte and Oxburgh, 1967). In the past 30 years, that all the Earth’s surface heat flux could be explained by numerous studies of the Earth’s thermal history, using more heat generated in a layer of granite a few tens of kilometers rigorous parameterizations of convection than were available thick, but that interpretation was not subjected to anything to Perry, have confirmed that the surface heat flux provides, like the rigorous scrutiny given to Kelvin’s argument. Bailey at best, a weak constraint on the age of the Earth. Indeed, as Willis, recording these times forty years on, wrote: “Thanks Richter (1986) points out, the present challenge—given the age to Madame Curie, the inexhaustible energies of the atom of of the Earth—is to determine what physical conditions in its the globe … are potentially available to geological specula- interior lead to the present value of the heat flux. tion.” (Willis, 1942; Oreskes, 1999, p. 48–51). In other words, Chamberlin’s “reckless drafts” were now on the bank of heat, RADIOACTIVITY rather than on the bank of time. Curie and Laborde (1903) demonstrated that radioactive We now know that the crust does not contain enough radio- decay releases heat, and several people soon argued that this active heat to explain the surface heat flux; nevertheless, it is source of heat was great enough to overturn Kelvin’s conclu- still frequently stated that, because the discovery of radioactive sion about the age of the Earth. In 1904, Rutherford spoke on heat undermined an assumption behind Kelvin’s calculation, the matter at a meeting in the Royal Institution: it also undermined his conclusion. This statement is logically I came into the room, which was half dark, and pres- incorrect; Kelvin’s conclusion would be undermined by that ently spotted Lord Kelvin in the audience and realized discovery only if incorporation of the Earth’s radioactive heat that I was in for trouble at the last part of the speech into his calculation produced a substantially different age for dealing with the age of the Earth, where my views con- the Earth. flicted with his. To my relief he fell fast asleep but as I Modern estimates for the total present rate of radioactive came to the important point, I saw the old bird sit up, heat generation within the Earth are ~2 × 1013 W, equivalent to open an eye and cock a baleful glance at me! Then sud- a surface heat flux of 40mW m−2 (Sclater et al., 1981). It might, den inspiration came, and I said Lord Kelvin had limited therefore, seem that the Earth’s internal heat production can account for its surface heat flux, but we must recall that this heat production is distributed through the whole volume of the mantle, and diffusion of heat is slow. Kelvin’s calculation Figure 1. Calculations of the surface heat flux of the Earth according to (Equation 2) shows that only the outer ~100 km of the Earth the models discussed in the text. Shaded band in each panel of this figure will cool by conduction in 100 m.y., and we should corre- shows the range of estimates for the mean surface heat flux at present day spondingly expect that, if Kelvin’s calculation were re-run with (see text). Double line shows the surface heat flux out of a semi-infinite medium of thermal diffusivity 10−6 m2 s−1, whose initial temperature is the inclusion of radioactivity, only the heat generated in the constant at 1300 °C (Kelvin’s calculation: Equation 3, with the values of outermost part of the Earth would contribute to the surface parameters given in Table 1). (A) The flux of heat through the surface of heat flux. a sphere of radius 6400 km, whose outer 50 km, 75 km, or 100 km is a The heat flux at the surface of a half-space, whose tempera- −1 −1 solid lid with thermal conductivity 3W m K , and whose interior is a ture is zero at time t = 0 and that is thereafter heated internally well-stirred fluid (Equation 5). This is Perry’s thought experiment for the cooling of a convecting planet (Equation 6). (B) The surface heat flux out at a rate A per unit volume is of a layer that is 50 km thick, has a thermal diffusivity 10−6 m2 s−1, and thermal conductivity 3W m−1 K−1. This layer is underlain by a half-space (7) whose thermal conductivity is 10, 100, 1000, and 10000 times greater than that of the top layer, with its other properties the same. The medium (Carsaw and Jaeger, p. 79). This expression shows that only the has initial temperature T = 1300 °C, and its surface is maintained at zero 0 heat generated within a distance ~ of the surface contrib- temperature (Carslaw and Jaeger, 1959, p. 322). This is the modification to the model illustrated in Figure 1A that was suggested by Perry and utes to the surface heat flux at any time, t. Heaviside (Perry, 1895b). (C) The surface heat flux from a semi-infinite Kelvin’s calculation can be adjusted to take into account medium that is heated internally (Carslaw and Jaeger, 1959, p. 79). The internal heating by adding the heat flux from Equation 7 to that thermal diffusivity is 10−6 m2 s−1, the initial temperature of the medium from Equation 3. If the total rate of radioactive heat generation is 1300 °C throughout, the surface is maintained at zero temperature (2 × 1013 W) is distributed evenly through the mantle, it is for all time, t > 0, and the medium is heated internally at a rate A = 0 μ −3 0.02μW m−3. This calculation shows the negligible influence of the Earth’s equivalent to a volumetric rate of A = 0.02 W m . This level of radioactive heat production upon Kelvin’s calculation. heating raises the heat flux above that in Kelvin’s calculation by GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 7 a few mW m−2 the first g.y. of Earth’s history (Fig. 1C); conse- It is worth illustrating the explanatory power of simple quently—even if Kelvin had included radioactive heat in his models in geology by a relevant modern example. Suppose calculation—his estimate of the age of the Earth would have we wished to explain the flux of heat from the ocean floor. been unaffected (Richter, 1986). A model that accounted accurately only for major, obvious, Thus, the discovery of radioactivity did not invalidate Kel- geological variables (different thermal properties and thick- vin’s calculation for the age of the Earth. In a rigid Earth, with nesses of sediments, crustal layers, and mantle; hydrothermal or without radioactivity, heat is delivered to the surface by con- circulation; off-ridge volcanism, etc.) would still have at least duction through a shallow layer, which can maintain a rate of a dozen parameters, many of them poorly known, and would heat loss comparable to today’s for only a small fraction of require millions of calculations (probably numerical) sim- what we now know to be the Earth’s age. ply to explore the parameter space; consequently, its results would be impossible to grasp. In contrast, treating the ocean WHY WERE PERRY’S ARGUMENTS FORGOTTEN, AND floor as a homogeneous conducting medium yields a simple WHY WAS THE MYTH ACCEPTED? analytical solution (Equation 2) that captures the main fea- Perry argued that Kelvin’s estimate of the age of the Earth tures of the cooling of the seafloor as it moves away from the could be many times too low if its interior were fluid with a oceanic ridges and explains the surface elevations of half of high “quasi-conductivity” due to its convection. The suggestion the Earth’s surface (Parsons and Sclater, 1977; Turcotte and of a fluid mantle was not new; indeed, it was widely under- Oxburgh, 1967). stood as the necessary condition for isostasy. Perry published What Kelvin did not allow for is that, to varying degrees, all his case (Perry, 1895a, 1895b, 1895c) in the pages of Nature, simple models are bound to fail, and we may learn as much which, judging by the passion that authors of papers attached by their failure as by their successes. The cooling half-space to their agendas, was as prominent an organ of scientific dis- model fails for young ocean floor because of the influence of course in 1895 as it is today. It therefore seems probable that hydrothermal circulation; however, the degree to which heat those concerned with the debate about the age of the Earth flux departs from the simple model allows us to estimate the would have known of Perry’s argument. So why was the amount of heat transferred by that circulation, and hence the argument not accepted in the decade before radioactive heat flux of water through the oceanic ridges (Lister, 1972; Morton became established or, indeed, thereafter? and Sleep, 1985). The model also fails for ocean floor older Part of the explanation may be that the debate often than ca. 80–90 Ma but, in failing, reveals a second scale of descended to the use of rhetoric in place of scientific argument. convection in the mantle and allows us to estimate the thick- Kelvin (1899) cites many examples of rhetoric from his oppo- ness of the plates (Crosby et al., 2006; Parsons and McKenzie, nents and, while Kelvin himself was generally quite measured 1978; Parsons and Sclater, 1977). in his replies, P.G. Tait (in his self-appointed role as Kelvin’s Perry’s analysis of the failure of Kelvin’s model similarly bulldog) did not hesitate to respond in kind (Lindley, 2004, carried the strong implication that the solid Earth can carry p. 175–178) (see also letters from Tait, quoted in Perry, 1895a). heat by convection. Kelvin felt that he was on firm ground in Faced with all this hot air, Mark Twain (1903) concluded, “As rejecting the notion of a fluid interior to the Earth: he knew Lord Kelvin is the highest authority in science now living, I from the study of Earth tides that at least the outer 1500 km think we must yield to him and accept his view.” Perhaps a of the mantle is as rigid as steel (Kelvin, 1863b). Perry (1895a) parallel sentiment led to Kelvin’s view being supplanted by tried hard to change Kelvin’s mind on this point, using lan- Rutherford’s, after 1904. guage specifically addressed to Kelvin’s way of thinking: It is also probable that Perry was not understood by most … the real basis of your calculation is your assump- people who cared about the age of the Earth. A thread run- tion that the solid earth cannot alter its shape … even in ning through much of Kelvin’s writing on this subject is that 1000 million years, under the action of forces constantly the geological community of his time shied away from math- tending to alter its shape, and yet we see the gradual ematics (Lindley, 2004). Geologists may have regarded Perry’s closing up of passages in a mine, and we know that exchanges with Kelvin (Kelvin, 1895; Perry, 1895a, 1895b, wrinkling and faults and other changes of shape are 1895c) as nothing more than an incomprehensible tussle always going on in the earth under the action of long- among physicists. Furthermore, that tussle may have seemed continued forces. I know that solid rock is not like cob- irrelevant. As suggested by Andrew Ramsay’s tart conversation bler’s wax, but 109 years is a long time, and the forces with Kelvin, many geologists felt that Kelvin was incapable of are great. (Perry, 1895a) understanding geological reasoning, so some of the resistance The reference to cobbler’s wax is deliberate. Kelvin, like to his arguments (and indifference to Perry’s refutation) may many others at the time, thought that light could not pass have stemmed from the belief that geology is too complex to through a vacuum, but required a physical medium, the be encapsulated in a mathematical model. ether, for its propagation. That medium had to possess elastic Kelvin knew, however, that simple models are an indispens- properties at very short times, to allow light waves to propa- able tool in science, whose purpose is to allow analysis of the gate, but it needed to be weak at longer time scales, so that major features of phenomena, not slavishly to reproduce all the Earth could move freely through it. Although he could their details. Many of the most useful models are underlain by not find a satisfactory mathematical formulation for the ether, a principle famously expressed by Einstein: “Everything should Kelvin was fond of a physical demonstration that illustrated be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” its required physical properties (Lindley, 2004, p. 247). He

8 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY placed water in a glass cylinder, floated a layer of cork on the REFERENCES CITED water, covered that with a layer of Scottish shoemaker’s wax, Burchfield, J.D., 1975, Lord Kelvin and the Age of the Earth: New York, Science and finally placed bullets on the top. Over a short period of History Publications, 260 p. observation, nothing visible happened, but after six months Carslaw, H.S., and Jaeger, J.C., 1959, Conduction of Heat in Solids, second ed.: Oxford, Oxford University Press, 510 p. the corks and the bullets were within the wax, and after a Chamberlin, T.C., 1899, Lord Kelvin’s address on the age of the earth as an abode fit- year, the corks were on the top and the bullets were on the ted for life: Science, v. 9, p. 889–901, doi: 10.1126/science.9.235.889. Crosby, A.G., McKenzie, D., and Sclater, J.G., 2006, The relationship between bottom. The wax exhibited strength on the short time scale, depth, age, and gravity in the oceans: Geophysical Journal International, v. 66, but was weak on the long time scale. These, qualitatively, p. 553–573. Curie, P., and Laborde, A., 1903, Sur la chaleur dégagée spontanément par les sels de were the required properties of the ether and—Perry was radium: Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences, v. 136, p. 673–675. implying—of the Earth’s mantle. Kelvin completely missed Dalrymple, G.B., 1991, The Age of the Earth: Stanford, Stanford University Press, 474 p. the point and so, it seems, did everyone else. Eve, A.S., 1939, Rutherford: Being the Life and Letters of the Rt. Hon. Lord Rutherford, O.M.: New York, Macmillan, 451 p. If Perry’s analysis had been absorbed by the scientific com- Fourier, J.B.J., 1822, Théorie analytique de la chaleur: Paris, Académie des Sciences, munity of the day, then the first radiometric ages for the Earth p. 3, 141. Fourier, J.B.J., 1827, Mémoire sur les températures du globe terrestre et des espaces would have come as confirmation of the convective explana- planétaires: Mémoires de l’Académie Royale des Sciences de l’Institute de tion for the Earth’s surface heat flux, and the “fixist” view of France, v. 7, p. 570–604. Kelvin, W.T., 1863a, On the secular cooling of the earth: Transactions of the Royal the Earth, which exerted such a brake on geological progress Society of Edinburgh, v. 23, p. 157–170. in the first half of the twentieth century, would have been dif- Kelvin, W.T., 1863b, On the rigidity of the earth; shiftings of the earth’s instantaneous ficult to sustain. As it was, however, proponents of continental axis of rotation; and irregularities of the earth as a timekeeper: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, v. 153, p. 573–582. drift and convection needed repeatedly to make arguments Kelvin, W.T., 1895, On the age of the earth: Nature, v. 51, p. 438–440. in favor of a fluid Earth, against considerable skepticism (e.g., Kelvin, W.T., 1899, The age of the earth as an abode fitted for life: Journal of the Transactions of the Victoria Institute, v. 31, p. 11–35. Oreskes, 1999). As late as the 1960s, geophysical models were Lindley, D., 2004, Degrees Kelvin: Washington, D.C., Joseph Henry Press, 366 p. being constructed that tried to match the surface heat flux Lister, C.R.B., 1972, On the thermal balance of a mid-ocean ridge: Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, v. 26, p. 515–535. employing a solid Earth with elaborate distributions of ther- Lyell, C., 1830, Principles of Geology, vol. 1: London, John Murray, 511 p. mal conductivity and heat generation. McKenzie, D.P., Roberts, J.M., and Weiss, N.O., 1974, Convection in the earth’s mantle: Towards a numerical simulation: Journal of Fluid Mechanics, v. 62, We are left with the question as to why the myth persists p. 465–538, doi: 10.1017/S0022112074000784. that the discovery of radioactivity simultaneously proved Kel- Morton, J.L., and Sleep, N.H., 1985, A mid-ocean ridge model: Constraints on the vin wrong and provided the explanation for his error. Part of volume of axial hydrothermal flux: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 90, p. 11,345–11,354. the answer, perhaps, is that it makes a good story. Rutherford’s Oreskes, N., 1999, The rejection of Continental Drift: London, Oxford University biographer (Eve, 1939) reports that he repeated his tale of Press, 420 p. Parsons, B., and McKenzie, D.P., 1978, Mantle convection and the thermal structure thinking on his feet in front of the “old bird” Kelvin on many of the plates: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 83, p. 4485–4496. occasions; it is entirely possible that the pleasing form of the Parsons, B., and Sclater, J.G., 1977, An analysis of the variation of ocean floor ba- thymetry and heat flow with age: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 82, anecdote, and the eminence of its author, led to the uncriti- p. 802–827. cal acceptance of the myth. As Stephen Gould (who himself Perry, J., 1895a, On the age of the earth: Nature, v. 51, p. 224–227. propagated this myth) wrote: “The most erroneous stories Perry, J., 1895b, On the age of the earth: Nature, v. 51, p. 341–342. Perry, J., 1895c, On the age of the earth: Nature, v. 51, p. 582–585. are those we think we know best—and therefore never scru- Richter, F.M., 1986, Kelvin and the age of the earth: Journal of Geology, v. 94, p. 395–401. tinize or question” (1996). It is hard to dissuade aging scien- Sclater, J.G., Parsons, B., and Jaupart, C., 1981, Oceans and continents: Similarities and differences in mechanisms of heat loss: Journal of Geophysical Research, tists, as they slip into their anecdotage, from repeating stories v. 86, p. 11,535–11,552. that they find amusing, but their younger colleagues must not Stacey, F.D., 2000, Kelvin’s age of the earth paradox revisited: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 105, p. 13,155–13,158, doi: 10.1029/2000JB900028. mistake such stories for the history of science. Turcotte, D.L., and Oxburgh, E.R., 1967, Finite amplitude convection cells and continental drift: Journal of Fluid Mechanics, v. 28, p. 29–42, doi: 10.1017/ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS S0022112067001880. Turcotte, D.L., and Schubert, G., 2002, Geodynamics: Cambridge, Cambridge We are grateful to Richard O’Connell, who introduced P. England to University Press. Perry’s papers in 1983, to Stephen Johnston, Russell Pysklywec, and Willis, B., 1942, American geology 1850–1900: Science, v. 96, no. 2486, p. 167–172, Norman Sleep for helpful comments, and to Craig Jones for correcting doi: 10.1126/science.96.2486.167. an error in Figure 1. Manuscript received 9 August 2006; accepted 1 November 2006. Available at the GSA Bookstore

Special Paper 414 GSA Sales and Service Styles of Continental Contraction P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO 80301-9140, USA edited by Stefano Mazzoli and Robert W.H. Butler +1-303-357-1000, option 3 SPE414, 184 p., ISBN-10 0-8137-2414-7; ISBN-13 toll-free: +1-888-443-4472 • fax: +1-303-357-1071 978-0-8137-2414-0 $60.00, member price $42.00

GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 9 Attention Voting Members: GSA Elections Start 8 March 2007

The success of GSA depends JULY 2007 OFFICER AND COUNCILOR NOMINEES on you, the Members, and on the work of the elected officers PRESIDENT COUNCILOR Position 1 Allen J. Dennis who serve on GSA’s Executive (July 2007–June 2008) (July 2007–June 2011) University of South Carolina Committee and Council. All GSA John M. (Jack) Sharp Jr. John J. Clague Aiken, S.C., USA member types are eligible to University of Texas at Austin Simon Fraser University COUNCILOR Position 3 vote. Please make your wishes Austin, Tex., USA Burnaby, B.C., Canada for GSA known by voting for the (July 2007–June 2011) nominees listed here. VICE PRESIDENT Jacqueline E. Huntoon Yildirim Dilek In late February, you’ll receive (July 2007–June 2008) Michigan Technological Miami University–Ohio a postcard with instructions on how Judith Totman Parrish University Oxford, Ohio, USA to access a secure Web site and University of Idaho Houghton, Mich., USA your electronic ballot. Biographical Moscow, Idaho, USA Monica E. Gowan information on each candidate will COUNCILOR Position 2 University of Canterbury be available for review at www. TREASURER (July 2007–June 2011) Christchurch, New Zealand (July 2007–June 2008) geosociety.org beginning mid- G. Randy Keller February. Paper versions of the Robbie R. Gries University of Oklahoma ballot and candidate information Priority Oil and Gas LLC Norman, Okla., USA will be available for those unable to Denver, Colo., USA vote online.

Ballots must be submitted electronically or postmarked by 6 April 2007.

10 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY Upcoming Application & Nomination Deadlines

Medals and Awards National Awards Nominations Due: 1 February 2007 Nominations Due: 30 April 2007 Candidate nominations are requested for the following Candidate nominations are needed for the following medals and awards: Penrose Medal, Day Medal, Honorary national awards: William T. Pecora Award, National Medal Fellows, Young Scientist Award (Donath Medal), GSA Public of Science, Vannevar Bush Award, and Alan T. Waterman Service Award, GSA Distinguished Service Award, and 2007 Award. For details, see the October 2006 issue of GSA Today. Subaru Outstanding Woman in Science Award. For details Nominations should be sent to Grants, Awards, and Recogni- on the awards and nomination procedures, see the October tion, GSA, 3300 Penrose Place, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO 2006 issue of GSA Today. For the online nomination form, 80301-9140, USA. go to www.geosociety.org/aboutus/awards/ or call +1-303- 357-1028. Materials and supporting information for any of Research Awards in Geomorphology and the nominations may be sent to Grants, Awards, and Recog- Micropaleontology nition, GSA, 3300 Penrose Place, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO Two of GSA’s most prestigious research-support awards are 80301-9140, USA. made possible by the generosity of the late W. Storrs Cole. Geomorphology GSA Fellows The Gladys W. Cole Memorial Research Award provides Nominations Due: 1 February 2007 support for the investigation of the geomorphology of semiarid The Committee on Membership requests nominations and arid terrains in the United States and Mexico. GSA Mem- of members to be elevated to GSA Fellow status. Any GSA bers and Fellows between the ages of 30 and 65 who have Fellow may nominate a Member for this honor. Two support- published one or more significant papers on geomorphology ing letters in addition to the online nomination form are are eligible for the award. The 2007 award is US$8700. needed. For details on nomination procedures, see the October 2006 issue of GSA Today, go to www.geosociety. Micropaleontology org/members/fellow.htm, call +1-303-357-1028, or e-mail The W. Storrs Cole Memorial Research Award supports [email protected]. research in invertebrate micropaleontology. This award carries a stipend of US$7700 in 2007 and will go to a GSA Member or Fellow between the ages of 30 and 65 who has published one John C. Frye Environmental Geology Award or more significant papers on micropaleontology. Nominations Due: 31 March 2007 In cooperation with the Association of American State Deadline for applications: 1 February 2007. Geologists, GSA makes an annual award for the best paper Online application forms are now accepted at www. on environmental geology published either by GSA or by geosociety.org/grants/postdoc.htm. Supplemental informa- one of the state geological surveys. For details, see the Octo- tion may be e-mailed to [email protected] or sent to ber 2006 issue of GSA Today, go to www.geosociety.org/ Grants, Awards and Recognition, 3300 Penrose Place, P.O. aboutus/awards/, or call +1-303-357-1028. Nominations must Box 9140, Boulder, CO 80301-9140, USA. be sent to Grants, Awards, and Recognition, GSA, 3300 Penrose The Gladys W. Cole and W. Storrs Cole award funds are Place, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO 80301-9140, USA. managed by the GSA Foundation.

Student Research Grants 2007 Apply online at www.geosociety.org/grants/gradgrants. htm. Application for a GSA student research grant is an online-only process. Submission must be completed by Thurs., 1 February 2007, at 11:59 p.m. (MST). Students must be GSA members and may only receive a grant once at the master’s level and once at the Ph.D. level. IS ALSO ONLINE For more information on GSA’s 2007 research grant program, go to www.geosociety.org/grants/gradgrants.htm, call +1-303- To view GSA Today online, go to 357-1028, or e-mail [email protected]. www.gsajournals.org and click on “Online Journals” then on the GSA Today cover. You can also view back issues through the “Archives” button. Access to GSA Today online is free.

GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 11 Final Announcement and Call for Papers

ACCOMMODATIONS Blocks of rooms have been reserved at the Best Western JOINT MEETING Lawrence, +1-785-843-9100; Hampton Inn, +1-785-841-0265; 41st Annual Meeting, South-Central Section, GSA Holiday Inn Holidome, +1-785-841-7077; Holiday Inn Express, +1-785-749-7555; and Eldridge Inn, +1-785-749-5011. For details 41st Annual Meeting, North-Central Section, GSA see www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/Northc/07nc-scmtg.htm. Lawrence, Kansas ACCESSIBILITY GSA is committed to making its meetings accessible to all peo- 11–13 April 2007 ple interested in attending. Please indicate special requirements (wheelchair accessibility, etc.) on your registration form.

The Kansas Geological Survey and the University of Kan- TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION sas departments of geology and geography will host the 2007 Lawrence is located along the Kansas Turnpike (I-70). Air trav- joint annual meetings of GSA’s South-Central and North-Central elers to Lawrence should use Kansas City International Airport Sections. The sections will meet Wed.–Fri., 11–13 April, at the (MCI) for air transportation and rental car services. Kansas City Kansas Memorial Union on the University of Kansas campus, International Airport is only 49 miles from Lawrence. Airport Lawrence, Kansas. shuttle service to Lawrence is provided by Kansas Transportation Lawrence has a population of 88,000, and is about 35 miles Service, +1-877-942-0544, and KCI Roadrunner, +1-800-826-8294. west of Kansas City, located in a terrane of gently westward- Contact these providers prior to traveling for times and pickup dipping Pennsylvanian strata. The intersection of the Oread information. Amtrak offers two trains per day (one westbound Escarpment with the Kansas and Wakarusa River valleys at Law- and one eastbound) to Lawrence. Travelers by rail should plan rence highlights a cuesta landscape, featuring rolling hills and ahead for taxi or other pickup at the Amtrak station, because no beautiful vistas. The University of Kansas (KU) central campus shuttle services are available at the station. is on the dipslope rim of the Oread Escarpment, and can be seen for miles when approaching from the east or south. Mid- PARKING April is a delightful time to visit Lawrence and the KU campus. As with many other universities, parking can be tight on the Beautiful and historic downtown Lawrence is located at the KU campus. Campus parking permits will be provided to meet- foot of the Oread Escarpment, just to the east of the KU cam- ing registrants who request them during registration. The park- pus. Lawrence has a vibrant arts community and a wonderful ing areas for meeting registrants will be located at the Kansas downtown shopping, dining, and bar district with commercial Union parking ramp and an adjacent parking lot. Maps of the and public art galleries, the Watkins Museum, and a variety of KU campus, the Kansas Union, parking areas, and local hotels live music venues. Other restaurants, bars, and shopping cen- are posted on the KU Web site, www.kgs.ku.edu/Conferences/ ters are spread throughout the city. GSA07/index.html.

REGISTRATION STUDENT TRAVEL Early Registration Deadline: 12 March 2007 Travel grants are available from the South-Central and North- Cancellation Deadline: 19 March 2007 Central Sections in cooperation with the GSA Foundation for GSA Headquarters will handle meeting registration; please students who are presenting oral or poster papers. To be eli- register online at www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/Northc/07nc- gible, students must be GSA Student Members. Students from scmtg.htm. On-site registration will be at the Kansas Memorial the South-Central and North-Central Sections should apply to Union on the KU campus during the meeting on the following their respective sections. Students from other sections should dates and times: apply to the section (South-Central or North-Central) that is Tues., 10 April 4:30–7:30 p.m. geographically closer to your area. Complete the online Travel Wed., 11 April 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Grant Application Form, which will be available in mid- Thurs., 12 April 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. January 2007, by 15 March 2007. Fri., 13 April 7:30 a.m.–noon STUDENT AWARDS Awards will be given for the best student oral and poster pre- Registration Fees Early Standard sentations. To be eligible, students must be lead authors and Full meeting One day Full meeting One day presenters, and they should be capable of answering detailed Professional Member US$150 US$95 US$170 US$110 questions about their research. Professional Nonmember US$185 US$120 US$195 US$130 Student Member US$50 US$35 US$65 US$45 ABSTRACTS Student Nonmember US$65 US$45 US$75 US$50 Abstract Deadline: 23 January 2007 K–12 Professional US$40 US$30 US$40 US$30 Papers are invited from students and professionals for oral Guest US$40 US$40 and poster presentations in general discipline sessions, topical

12 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY Joint Meeting sessions, and symposia. An individual may present only one vol- [email protected]; William C. Johnson, University of unteered paper; however, a person may be co-author on other Kansas, [email protected]. Oral and Poster. papers. Individuals invited to participate in symposia may present 9. Geophysics in the Midcontinent (Posters). Kevin Mickus, an additional volunteered paper. Submit abstracts using the GSA Missouri State University, [email protected]. Abstracts Form at http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2007SC/index.epl. Poster only. An abstract submission fee of US$10 will be charged. If you 10. Community-Based Service Learning in the Geosciences. cannot submit the abstract electronically, please contact Nancy Cosponsored by Central Section, National Association of Carlson, +1-303-357-1061, [email protected]. Geoscience Teachers. Kathleen Bower, Eastern Illinois Uni- versity, [email protected]. Oral only. TECHNICAL SESSIONS 11. Issues in Geoscience Education. Cosponsored by Cen- tral Section, National Association of Geoscience Teachers. Symposia Annabelle Foos, University of Akron, [email protected]. 1. Pander Society Symposium—Mixed-Up Conodonts: Oral and Poster. Extracting Useful Information and Solving Geologic 12. Strategies for Success in Bridging the Gap between Puzzles Using Stratigraphic Leaks and Redeposited Culture, Religion, and Science in the Geoscience Faunas. Cosponsored by Pander Society; Paleontological Classroom. Sadredin C. Moosavi, Walden University Society. James Miller, Missouri State University, jimmiller@ [email protected]; Elizabeth Heise, University of missouristate.edu; Stephen Leslie, University of Arkansas Texas at Brownsville, [email protected]. Oral only. at Little Rock, [email protected]. Oral and Poster. 13. Undergraduate Research (Posters). Cosponsored by 2. Roger L. Kaesler—Scientist and Editor: His Contribu- Geoscience Education Division, Council on Undergradu- tions to Paleontology through Research and the Trea- ate Research. Robert Shuster, University of Nebraska–Omaha, tise on Invertebrate Paleontology. Cosponsored by [email protected]. Poster only. Paleontological Society. Bruce S. Lieberman, University of 14. Medical Mineralogy Session and Panel Discussion. Kansas, [email protected]. Oral only. A. Umran Dogan, Ankara University, Turkey, and Univer- Theme Sessions sity of Iowa, [email protected]; Meral Dogan, 1. Microbial Methane Energy Resources. George W. Shurr, Hacettepe University, Turkey, [email protected]. GeoShurr Resources, [email protected]; Fred J. Oral and Poster. Anderson, North Dakota Geological Survey, fjanderson@ 15. Traces of Life: Micro- to Macroscopic Evidence of Past state.nd.us. Oral and Poster. and Present Biogenic Activity and Their Implications 2. Hydrothermal Processes in Midcontinent Sedimen- for Marine and Continental Settings. Cosponsored by tary Rocks. Cosponsored by Great Lakes Section, Society Paleontological Society. Stephen T. Hasiotis, University of for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM). John Luczaj, University Kansas, [email protected]; Jennifer A. Roberts, University of of Wisconsin–Green Bay, [email protected]; Robert H. Kansas, [email protected]; David Fowle, University of Kan- Goldstein, University of Kansas, [email protected]. Oral only. sas, [email protected]. Oral and Poster. 3. Applications of Stable Isotopes to Modern and Qua- 16. Fossils and Modern Analogs: Using Modern Organ- ternary Environmental Issues. William C. Johnson, isms to Improve Paleontological Interpretations. University of Kansas, [email protected]; Luis Gonzalez, Univer- Cosponsored by Paleontological Society. Daniel I. Hem- sity of Kansas, [email protected]. Oral and Poster. bree, Ohio University, [email protected]; Brian F. Platt, 4. Identification of Environmental Processes Using Iso- University of Kansas, [email protected]; Jon J. Smith, Univer- topic Tracers. Margaret Townsend, Kansas Geological sity of Kansas, [email protected]. Oral only. Survey, [email protected]; Roy Spalding, University 17. Paleontologic Deviates: Taphonomy and Pathology. of Nebraska–Lincoln, [email protected]. Oral and Cosponsored by Paleontological Society. Bruce Rothschild, Poster. Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, bmr@ 5. Groundwater Flow and Transport Processes in Car- ku.edu; Larry Martin, University of Kansas, ldmartin@ku. bonate Aquifers. Martin Appold, University of Missouri– edu. Oral only. Columbia, [email protected]; Carol Wicks, Univer- 18. Systematic Paleontology in the 21st Century: Analyz- sity of Missouri–Columbia, [email protected]. Oral and ing Evolution, Diversity, and Beyond. Cosponsored by Poster. Paleontological Society. Alycia L. Stigall, Ohio University, 6. Early Pleistocene Glaciation of the Central Plains. [email protected]. Oral and Poster. Wakefield Dort, University of Kansas, [email protected]. 19. Sequence Stratigraphy and Biostratigraphy of Penn- Oral and Poster. sylvanian–Lower Permian Cyclothems in the North 7. Loess and Paleoenvironments. Randall Schaetzl, Michi- American Midcontinent. Cosponsored by Paleontologi- gan State University, [email protected]. Oral and Poster. cal Society. Gregory P. Wahlman, BP America, gregory. 8. Geoarchaeological and Geomorphological Explora- wahlman@bp.com; Philip H. Heckel, University of Iowa, tions in the Midcontinent: In Honor of Wakefield [email protected]. Oral only. Dort Jr. William I. Woods, University of Kansas, wwoods@ ku.edu; Rolfe D. Mandel, Kansas Geological Survey,

GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 13 Joint Meeting 20. The Legacy of Raymond Cecil Moore (1892–1974): Geology (SEPM). Sat., 14 April, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Stephen T. The 20th Century’s Paleontologist-Stratigrapher Lau- Hasiotis, University of Kansas, [email protected]. Max.: 25. reate. Daniel F. Merriam, University of Kansas, dmerriam@ Cost: US$45. kgs.ku.edu; Paul Enos, University of Kansas, [email protected]. Oral and Poster. FIELD TRIPS 21. Neogene Depositional Environments, Paleoclimatol- For further information regarding field trips, please contact ogy, and Stratigraphic Architecture of the Succession the field trip leader(s). All field trip fees include transportation. Forming the High Plains Aquifer. P. Allen Macfarlane, Other included features noted below. Kansas Geological Survey, [email protected]; Greg Lud- vigson, Kansas Geological Survey, [email protected]. Premeeting 1. Sequence Stratigraphy, Biostratigraphy, and Chro- edu; Marios Sophocleous, Kansas Geological Survey, nostratigraphy of the Virgilian Stage, Northern Mid- [email protected]. Oral and Poster. continent. Mon.–Tues., 9–10 April. Darwin Boardman, 22. Upper Paleozoic Depositional Systems, Cyclo- and Oklahoma State University, +1-405-744-5315, darwin. Sequence Stratigraphic Architecture, and Their Con- [email protected]. Max.: 40. Cost: US$250. Includes trols on Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the U.S. Midcon- 1 night lodging, lunches, and guidebook. tinent. Wan Yang, Wichita State University, wan.yang@ 2. Fluvial-Estuarine Deposition in the Mid-Cretaceous wichita.edu; Salvatore J. Mazzullo, Wichita State Univer- Dakota Formation, Kansas and Nebraska. Tues., 10 sity, [email protected]. Oral and Poster. April. R. Matt Joeckel, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, +1- 23. Insights from Cretaceous-Paleogene Paleoenviron- 402-472-7520, [email protected]; Greg Ludvigson, ments and Deposition: Glimpses of the Greenhouse. Kansas Geological Survey, +1-785-864-2734, gludvigson@ Brian J. Witzke, Iowa Geological Survey, bwitzke@igsb. kgs.ku.edu. Max.: 18. Cost: US$50. Includes lunch and uiowa.edu; Greg A. Ludvigson, Kansas Geological Survey, guidebook. [email protected]. Oral and Poster. 3. Geology and Industrial Use of the Lamproid Occur- 24. Geologic Framework of the U.S. Continental Interior. rences in Southeast Kansas. Tues., 10 April. Pieter Mary Hubbard, Kansas State University, [email protected]; Berendsen, Kansas Geological Survey, +1-785-864-2141, Daniel Holm, Kent State University, [email protected]; Ste- [email protected]. Max.: 18. Cost: US$50. Includes lunch phen Marshak, University of Illinois, [email protected]. and guidebook. Oral and Poster. 25. Hydrologic Investigations in Floodplain Aquifers in Postmeeting the Midwestern United States. Marcia K. Schulmeister, 4. The Weaubleau and Decaturville Impact Structures in Emporia State University, [email protected]; Brian West-Central Missouri: Sorting Out Their Ages Using P. Kelly, U.S. Geological Survey, [email protected]. Oral Redeposited Conodonts and Crinoids in Breccias. and Poster. Cosponsored by Pander Society; Paleontological Society. 26. Establishing Teacher-Scientist Collaborations in K–12 Fri. evening–Saturday, 13–14 April. James Miller, Missouri Earth Science Education. Charles Spencer, Central Mis- State University, +1-417-836-5447, jimmiller@missouristate. souri State University, [email protected]. Oral and edu; Kevin Evans, Missouri State University, +1-417-836- Poster. 3231, [email protected]. Max.: 30. Cost: US$95. 27. Applied Hydrogeology and Geophysics: Innovative Includes 1 night lodging, 1 lunch, and guidebook. Approaches to Old Hydrogeological Challenges. Amir 5. Sequence Stratigraphy of Delta-Dominated, Mixed Mokhtari Fard, Hydro Research, Täby, Sweden, amfard@ Carbonate-Siliciclastic Depositional Systems of the hydroresearch.se. Oral and Poster. Upper Pennsylvanian Ochelata Group, Oklahoma 28. Geologic Hazards in Urban Areas and Transportation and Kansas. Fri. evening–Sun., 13–15 April. Peter Corridors of the Midcontinent. Gregory Ohlmacher, Holterhoff, Texas Tech University, +1-806-742-1818, peter. Kansas Geological Survey, [email protected]. Oral and [email protected]; Tim Demko, University of Minnesota– Poster. Duluth, +1-218-726-8340, [email protected]. Max.: 20. Cost: US$205. Includes 2 nights lodging, lunches, and WORKSHOP guidebook. 1. Advancing Understanding of Groundwater Concepts 6. Geoarchaeology and Alluvial Stratigraphy of the Using Simulation and Role-Play in the Plume Busters Claussen Paleoarchaic Site. Half-day, Sat., 14 April. Rolfe Software. Sat., 14 April, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. P. Allen Mandel, Kansas Geological Survey, +1-785-864-2171, Macfarlane, Kansas Geological Survey, [email protected]. [email protected]; Jack Hofman, +1-785-864-2634, edu; Margaret Townsend, Kansas Geological Survey, [email protected]. Max.: 35. Cost: US$17. Includes handout. [email protected]; Geoff Bohling, Kansas Geological 7. Maximum Southwestern Extent of “Kansan” Ice Sheet Survey, [email protected]. Max.: 15. Cost: US$10. and Newly Discovered Older Till. Sat., 14 April. SHORT COURSE Wakefield Dort, Jr., Emeritus, University of Kansas, +1-785- 1. SEPM Short Course Number 51: Recognizing Conti- 864-4974. Max.: 48. Cost: US$35. Includes guidebook. nental Trace Fossils in Outcrop and Core. Cospon- sored by Paleontological Society; Society for Sedimentary

14 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY MENTORING PROGRAMS Roy J. Shlemon Mentor Program in Applied Geosci- Call for Geological Papers ence. Sponsored by GSA Foundation. Thurs.–Fri., 12–13 April, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. The John Mann Mentors in Applied Hydrogeology Program. Sponsored by GSA Foundation. Thurs., 12 April, 5–6:30 p.m. For details, see page 20 of this issue, go to www.geosociety. org/students.htm, or contact Jennifer Nocerino, jnocerino@ Northeastern Section geosociety.org. 12–14 March 2007 University of New Hampshire ACTIVITIES Durham, New Hampshire Welcoming Reception. Wed., 11 April, 5:30–7:30 p.m., Ball- Information: Wally Bothner, University of New Hampshire, room, Kansas Memorial Union, University of Kansas. Dept. of Earth Sciences, James Hall, 56 College Rd., Durham, Keynote Presentation of the Birdsall Dreiss Lecture by NH 03824-3578, USA, +1-603-862-3143, [email protected]. Bridget Scanlon, Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, Impacts of Changing Land Use on Subsurface Water Resources in Semi- Southeastern Section arid Regions, Wed., 11 April, 7:30 p.m. 29–30 March 2007 Association for Women Geoscientists Social Breakfast Hyatt Regency Savannah on the Historic Riverfront Meeting. Wed., 11 April, 7–8 a.m. Cost: US$10. Savannah, Georgia North-Central Section GSA Management Board Break- Information: Pranoti Asher, Georgia Southern University, fast Meeting. Thurs., 12 April, 7–8 a.m. Dept. of Geology and Geography, Statesboro, GA 30460-8149, USA, +1-912-681-0338, [email protected]. Great Lakes SEPM and Paleontological Society Lun- cheon. Thurs., 12 April, noon–1 p.m. Cost: US$20. South-Central Section GSA Management Board Meet- Joint Meeting ing. Thurs., 12 April, 4–5 p.m. South-Central and South-Central Section GSA Business Meeting. Thurs., 12 North-Central Sections April, 5:30–5:40 p.m. 11–13 April 2007 Kansas Memorial Union, University of Kansas North-Central Section GSA Business Meeting. Thurs., 12 Lawrence, Kansas April, 5:40–5:50 p.m. Abstract Deadline: 23 January 2007 Keynote Presentation by James Kirkland, Utah Geologi- Information: Greg Ludvigson, +1-785-864-2734, gludvigson@ cal Survey, Utah’s Early Cretaceous Dinosaur Assemblage: The kgs.ku.edu—or—Greg Ohlmacher, China Connection. Thurs., 12 April, 6 p.m. +1-785-749-4502, [email protected]; both at Kansas Geological GSA Campus Representatives and North-Central Sec- Survey, University of Kansas, 1930 Constant Ave., Lawrence, tion GSA Technical Program Advisory Committee Break- Kansas 66047-5317, USA. fast Meeting. Fri., 13 April, 7–8 a.m. Central Section, National Association for Geoscience Cordilleran Section Teachers (NAGT) Luncheon and Business Meeting. Fri., 13 4–6 May 2007 April, noon–1 p.m. Cost: US$20. Western Washington University North-Central Section GSA Local Committee Meeting Bellingham, Washington (2006–2010). Fri., 13 April, 5 p.m. Abstract Deadline: 6 February 2007 Information: Bernie Housen, Western Washington University, EXHIBITORS Dept. of Geology, MS 9080, 516 High St., Bellingham, WA Exhibit booths will be available at this meeting for univer- 98225-5946, USA, +1-360-650-6573, [email protected]. sities, government, and companies. For further information, please contact Gregory Ohlmacher, Gregory Ludvigson, Allen Rocky Mountain Section Macfarlane, or Matt Joeckel. 7–9 May 2007 CONTACT INFORMATION Dixie Center Requests for information should be addressed to the meeting Saint George, Utah Abstract Deadline: 13 February 2007 co-chairs, Gregory C. Ohlmacher, +1-785-864-2194, ohlmac@kgs. Information: Jerry Harris, Dixie State College, Science ku.edu, and Gregory Ludvigson, +1-785-864-2734, gludvigson@ Building, 225 South 700 East, Saint George, UT 84770-3875, kgs.ku.edu, or meeting vice-chairs, Allen Macfarlane, +1-785- USA, +1-435-652-7758, [email protected]. 864-2068, [email protected], and R. Matt Joeckel, Univer- sity of Nebraska–Lincoln, +1-402-472-7520, rjoeckel@unlnotes. unl.edu. Late-breaking information on the meeting will be posted on the Web at www.kgs.ku.edu/Conferences/GSA07/ index.html.

GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 15 Final Announcement and Call for Papers

be charged. An individual may submit only one volunteered paper but may be a co-author on several presentations. Those CORDILLERAN invited to present at a symposium may present an additional paper. 103rd Annual Meeting Cordilleran Section, GSA REGISTRATION Western Washington University Early Registration Deadline: 2 April 2007 Register online at www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/cord/07cdmtg. Bellingham, Washington htm. Early registrants receive a significant discount. On-site regis- tration at WWU campus will be available during the meeting. 4–6 May 2007 Registration Fees THEME: NORTHWEST CONVERGENCE Early Standard The 2007 Annual Meeting of GSA’s Cordilleran Section will be Professional Member US$160 US$190 held at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washing- Professional Member—1 day US$100 US$120 ton. The meeting theme is inspired by the Pacific Northwest’s Professional Nonmember US$190 US$230 geological setting: converging plates will inspire the convergence Professional Nonmember—1 day US$130 US$160 of a diverse group of geologists, producing a convergence of dis- Student Member US$65 US$80 ciplines, ideas, and discoveries. We invite you to partake of this Student Member—1 day US$50 US$60 opportunity to meet with your fellow geologists and geoscience Student Nonmember US$90 US$110 professionals in a truly outstanding corner of our nation. Student Nonmember—1 day US$65 US$80 K–12 Teacher or student US$30 US$33 SETTING K–12 Teacher or student—1 day US$20 US$24 Bellingham is part of a geological paradise featuring active vol- Guest US$50 US$60 canoes, large glaciers, active and ancient fault zones, subduction Field Trip or Workshop only US$45 US$55 complex rocks, ophiolites, terranes, exhumed mantle massifs, migmatites, and flood basalts. Traditionally the gateway to the ACCOMMODATIONS San Juan Islands, Bellingham hosts an active population and an Rooms have been reserved at a number of local motels near epic range of outdoor recreational pursuits. Temperatures in early the meeting headquarters, with special meeting rates available. May range from the low 50s–70s (°F), with variable rain, wind, Find more information and a link to make hotel reservations at or sun. www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/cord/07cdmtg.htm. Complimen- Bellingham’s regional airport is served by two airlines, or use tary shuttle bus service will be provided. Parking on campus the easy bus and train service from Seattle or Vancouver, BC. is limited. The meeting site is the Western Washington University (WWU) campus, one of the region’s premier undergraduate institutions. ACCESSIBILITY WWU is near many lodging and dining establishments, which will GSA and WWU are committed to making this meeting acces- be served by a shuttle bus during the meeting. Shops, museums, sible to all people interested in attending. Please indicate any waterfront activities, and entertainment possibilities are located special requirements on your registration form. on campus or nearby. FIELD TRIPS CALL FOR PAPERS A short description and itinerary for some of these trips Papers are invited for a variety of technical sessions. Sessions will be posted at www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/cord/07cdmtg. provide opportunities for either poster or oral presentations; htm or can be obtained by contacting the field trip leaders authors interested in volunteering papers for a symposium should or a member of the field trip committee: Pete Stelling, pete@ contact the appropriate convener prior to submitting an abstract. geol.wwu.edu; Ned Brown, [email protected]; or Dave Oral presentations will utilize a single digital projector and stan- Tucker, [email protected]. For field trip pricing, please dard presentation software, and an overhead projector will be check www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/cord/. available in each room. Use of 35 mm slides is not encouraged; to Premeeting obtain special permission to do so, contact the technical program 1. Selected Mount Baker Volcanic Deposits in the Baker committee no later than 30 days before the meeting. Presentation River Valley: 19th Century Lahars, Tephras, and lengths, dimensions for poster space, and other details are posted Debris Avalanches, and Early Holocene Subaqueous at www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/cord/07cdmtg.htm. Lava. Dave Tucker, WWU, [email protected]; Kevin ABSTRACTS Scott, USGS-CVO; Dave Lewis, Mount Baker High School. Abstract Deadline: 6 February 2007 Thurs., 3 May. Includes a field guide, sack lunch, and Submit abstracts online at www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/ transportation. cord/07cdmtg.htm. An abstract submission fee of US$10 will

16 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY Cordilleran 2. Late Pleistocene and Holocene Glaciation and Volca- 2. Paleogeographic Reconstructions of Cordilleran Ter- nism in the Northern Puget Lowland and North Cas- ranes: In Honor of David L. Jones. Clark Blake, cblake@ cades. Don Easterbrook, WWU, [email protected]; theriver.com; Jim Monger, [email protected]. Dori Kovanen, UBC; Olav Slaymaker, UBC. Thurs., 3 May. 3. Holocene Volcanic and Glacial Geology at Mount One-day trip, includes transportation and lunch only. Baker, Washington: Reports from Ongoing Field 3. Lively Landscapes: Major Holocene Geomorphic Studies. Dave Tucker, WWU, [email protected]; Events in the Nooksack/Sumas Valley. Scott Linneman, Kevin Scott, USGS, [email protected]. WWU, [email protected]; Paul Pittman, Whatcom 4. Quaternary Glaciation of Washington: In Honor of County Public Works; Laura Vaugeois, WA-DNR. Wed.–Thurs., Dwight (Rocky) Crandell. Don J. Easterbrook, WWU, 2–3 May. Includes transportation, guidebook, meals, and [email protected]. one night lodging double-occupancy. Theme Sessions During the Meeting 1. Influence of Natural Hazard Assessments on Land- 4. Murrelets and Molasse in the San Juan Islands. Dave Use Policy—Is Anybody Listening? John N. Thompson, Engebretson, WWU, [email protected]; Clark Blake, Whatcom County Public Works Department, +1-360-715- [email protected], WWU. Sun., 6 May. Includes transpor- 7450, [email protected]. tation and lunch. 2. The Geology of Terroir, Techniques for the Evaluation of Viticultural Sites. Kevin Pogue, Whitman College, Postmeeting +1-509-527-5955, [email protected]. 5. Structure and Evolution of the San Juan Islands, 3. Origin and Accretionary Processes of Cordilleran Northwest Cascades Thrust System. Ned Brown, WWU, Terranes: New Methods, Models, and Challenges. [email protected]; Liz Schermer, WWU, schermer@ James E. Wright, University of Georgia, +1-706-542-4394, geol.wwu.edu; Bernie Housen, WWU, [email protected]. [email protected]; Sandra J. Wyld, University of Geor- edu. Sun.–Wed., May 6–9. gia, +1-706-542-9908, [email protected]; Bernie Housen, 6. Early Fraser Glacial History of the Skagit Valley. WWU, +1-360-650-6573, [email protected]. Jon Riedel, National Park Service, [email protected]. 4. The Little Ice Age in Western North America. John J. Mon.–Tues., 7–8 May. Clague, Simon Fraser University, +1-604-291-4924, jclague@ 7. Quaternary Glaciovolcanism along the Whistler sfu.ca; Brian Menounos, University of Northern BC; Dan Corridor and the 2460 B.P. Plinian Eruption Deposits Smith, University of Victoria. at Mount Meager. Kelly Russell, University of British 5. Pacific Northwest Paleoseismology and Neotectonics. Columbia, [email protected]. Mon.–Tues., 7–8 May. Brian Sherrod, USGS, [email protected]; 8. Regional Tertiary Sequence Stratigraphy and Struc- Thomas Pratt, USGS, [email protected]. ture on the Eastern Flank of the Central Cascade 6. Environmental Geology in the Pacific Northwest Range, Washington. Eric Cheney, University of Washing- (Posters). Sian Davies-Vollum, University of Washington ton, [email protected]. Sun.–Tues., 6–8 May. Tacoma, +1-253-692-4624, [email protected]. 9. Geology and Paleobotany of the Eocene Chuckanut 7. Hazards and Resources in the Portland, Tualatin, and Formation. Rick Dillhoff, [email protected]; Willamette Basins of Oregon and Washington (Post- Tad Dillhoff; George Mustoe, WWU, [email protected]. ers). Victoria E. Langenheim, USGS, [email protected]; edu. Mon., 7 May. Ian Madin, DOGAMI; Russ Evarts, USGS. 10. Flood Basalts and Ice Age Floods: Repeated Late Ceno- 8. Active Volcano-Glacier Interactions: Process, Prod- zoic Cataclysms of Eastern Washington. Bruce Bjornstad, ucts, Hazards. Tina Neal, USGS, [email protected]; Rick Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, bruce.bjornstad@ Wessels, USGS, [email protected]; Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, pnl.gov; Scott Babcock, WWU; George Last, PNNL. Mon.– WWU, [email protected]. Wed., 7–9 May. 9. Council on Undergraduate Research (Posters). Cosponsored by Council on Undergraduate Research. TECHNICAL SESSIONS Jeff Marshall, Cal Poly Pomona University, marshall@ Session details are posted at www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/cord/ csupomona.edu. 07cdmtg.htm and may also be obtained by contacting members 10. Neogene Orogenesis in the North American Cordi- of the technical program committee, Sue DeBari, debari@geol. llera. Sara Gran Mitchell, College of the Holy Cross, wwu.edu; Liz Schermer, [email protected]; and Juliet [email protected]; Owen A. Callahan, WWU, Crider, [email protected], or the session conveners. [email protected]. Symposia 11. Volcanoes of the Pacific Basin and Rim: Geological Contributions to these sessions are by invitation only. and Geophysical Observations. Michael Poland, Hawai- 1. Quaternary and Tertiary Records of Past Environ- ian Volcano Observatory–USGS, [email protected]; Glyn ments, Pacific Northwest. Estella Leopold, University of Williams-Jones, Simon Fraser University, [email protected]. Washington, [email protected]; Rolf Mathewes, 12. Crustal Differentiation Processes, Time Scales, and Simon Fraser University. Products in the North American Cordillera. Paul Hoskin, University of Calgary, [email protected].

GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 17 Cordilleran 13. New Developments in Understanding Cretaceous Airbourne Inc., [email protected]. Cost: US$40. Crustal Structure in the Southern Coast Mountains of Max.: 50. British Columbia and North Cascades of Washington. 4. Introduction to Ground Penetrating Radar for Near Harold Stowell, University of Alabama, +1-205-348-5095, Surface Geophysical Investigations. 3 May. Dan Welch, [email protected]; Robert Miller, San José State Univer- Geophysical Survey Systems Inc., welchd@geophysical. sity, [email protected]; Douglas Tinkham, Lauren- com. Cost: US$175. Max.: 15. tian University, [email protected]. 14. New Constraints on Cascadia Slow Slip Events. STUDENT ACTIVITIES Timothy Melbourne, Central Washington University, tim@ Roy J. Shlemon Mentor Program in Applied Geoscience. geology.cwu.edu; Wendy McCausland, University of Wash- Cosponsored by GSA Foundation. Fri.–Sat., 4–5 May, 11:30 a.m.– ington, [email protected]. 1 p.m. Lunch provided. For more information, see page 20, or 15. The Evolution of Transform Faulting and Propaga- contact Jennifer Nocerino, [email protected]. tion of Extension and Volcanism: The West-North- The John Mann Mentors in Applied Hydrology Program. west Margin of the Basin and Range Province, USA. Cosponsored by GSA Foundation. Sat., 5 May, 5–6:30 p.m. Kaleb C. Scarberry, Oregon State University, +1-541- Dinner provided. For more information, see page 20, or contact 908-5319, [email protected]; James Faulds, Jennifer Nocerino, [email protected]. University of Nevada–Reno, +1-775-784-6691 ext. 159, Careers in Engineering and Environmental Geology. [email protected]. Cosponsored by Association of Engineering and Environmen- 16. Landslide Hazards in the Forested Environment. tal Geologists (AEG); Association of Women Geologists (AWG). Laura M. Vaugeois, WA DNR–Forest Practices, +1-360- Fri., 4 May, 6–8 p.m. Informal evening session to acquaint stu- 902-1405, [email protected]. dents and attendees with the field of engineering and environ- 17. Engineering Geologic Challenges in the Pacific mental geology. Three AEG members will present case studies Northwest and Cordillera. Cosponsored by Association to give attendees an idea of the type of work engineering and of Environmental and Engineering Geologists; GSA environmental geologists do. This will be followed by an infor- Engineering Division. Mark Molinari, URS Consultants, mal discussion while practicing geologists describe their jobs. [email protected]; Bill Haneberg, Haneberg Pizza and drinks provided by one of the region’s top employ- Geosciences, [email protected]. Companion to Ses- ers of engineering and environmental geologists. AEG member sion 18: Challenges of Mapping Geologic Hazards in the participants: Kathy Troost, Bill Haneberg, and Katie Lewis. Pacific Northwest and Cordillera. 18. Challenges of Mapping Geologic Hazards in the STUDENT TRAVEL GSA’s Cordilleran Section and GSA Foundation have made Pacific Northwest and Cordillera. Cosponsored by travel grants available for students who are presenting oral or Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists; poster papers. Students must be currently enrolled and must GSA Engineering Division; Pacific Northwest Center for be members of the Cordilleran Section. For more information, Geologic Mapping Studies at the University of Washington; contact the Section secretary, Joan Fryxell, +1-909-537-5311. WDNR-DGER. Kathy Troost, University of Washington, The travel grant application form is online at www.geosociety. [email protected]; Tim Walsh, Washington State org/sectdiv/cord/07cdmtg.htm. Dept. of Natural Resources, [email protected]. Com- panion to Session 17: Engineering Geologic Challenges STUDENT FIELD TRIP SUBSIDIES in the Pacific Northwest and Cordillera. The Cordilleran Section offers limited field trip subsidies to 19. Best Practices for Teaching Introductory Geology: students to facilitate first-hand experience. Students who reg- Preparing Future Teachers and Informed Citizens. ister for field trips can also apply for a Field Trip Grant, which Susan DeBari, WWU, +1-360-650-3588, [email protected]. will reimburse a significant portion of the field trip registra- edu; Scott Linneman, WWU, [email protected]. tion cost. Application deadline: 2 April 2007. Checks will 20. Eocene Evolution of the NW Cordillera. Robert B. Miller, be available at the meeting. Please use our secure Field Trip San José State University, [email protected]. Grant application form at www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/cord/ 07cdmtg.htm. WORKSHOPS For details, contact the workshop leaders or the workshop STUDENT AWARDS chair, Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, [email protected]. Awards will be given for best student oral (undergraduate or 1. Exploring Earth through a Virtual Globe. 3 May. John graduate) and poster (undergraduate only) presentations. To Bailey, Arctic Region Supercomputing Center, jbailey@ be eligible, students must be lead authors and presenters, and gi.alaska.edu. Cost: US$85. Max.: 20. they should clearly identify their abstracts as student work. 2. The Basics of Terrestrial LiDAR Scanning, from Acqui- sition to Processing. 3 May. Tim F. Wawrzyniec, Univer- EXHIBITS sity of New Mexico LiDAR Lab, [email protected]. Cost: Exhibit booths will be available for commercial and non- US$270. Max.: 20. profit organizations. For more information or to reserve a 3. Airborne Remote Sensing: Recent Technological booth, contact Karen Henriksen, [email protected], Advances and Relevant Applications to the Geology or Bernie Housen, [email protected]. Field. Fri., 4 May, 8 a.m.–noon. Nicholas Barrett, Osyris

18 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY SPECIAL EVENTS Icebreaker Reception: Thurs., 3 May, 5–7 p.m. Association for Women Geoscientists and Association Submit your paper to Geosphere in 2007! of Engineering and Environmental Geologists Reception: Fri., 4 May, 6–8 p.m. Geosphere, GSA’s peer-reviewed • Software Contributions— online journal, publishes six new software or Web Book Signing: Sun., 6 May, noon–4 p.m., Exhibits area. types of articles: services that are freely Geologist and author David Montgomery will autograph copies available for use in of his newest book Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations. • Research Papers— science and education; fundamental and complete Annual Business Meeting: GSA Cordilleran Section, Sat., research contributions on • Data Contributions—peer- 5 May, 5–7 p.m. scientifi c or educational topics; reviewed databases; • Research Notes—short • Comments and Replies— SPOUSE AND GUEST ACTIVITIES research contributions; discussion of published Bellingham is one of the northernmost cities in the conti- papers. • Education Contributions— nental United States, located in a wonderful coastal setting. short articles on new Seattle and Vancouver, BC, are an easy drive away. A variety approaches to enhance of activities are available on the WWU campus and in the city geoscience learning; of Bellingham. Farther afield, hiking, climbing, boating, biking, and running activities are abundant, recently making Belling- ham one of Outdoor Magazine’s top 10 best places to live. For more information, please visit the Bellingham Visitor’s Bureau Web site, www.bellingham.org.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION To obtain the most complete and up-to-date information, go to www.geosociety.org/sectdiv/cord/07cdmtg.htm. If you have questions or need further clarification, contact the convention For more information about contributing your work chair, Bernie Housen, +1-360-650-6573, [email protected]. to Geosphere, go to www.geosociety.org/pubs/ geosphere/gsGuide.htm.

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GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 19 STUDENTS—Meet Your Career Mentor

Each 2007 Section Meeting offers students access to two badge to attend each Shlemon Program. Each day’s program highly acclaimed programs: the Shlemon Mentor Program will offer a different set of mentors. Space is limited, so plan and the Mann Mentor Program in Applied Hydrogeology. to arrive early. Through these programs, you will be given the opportunity Mann Mentor Program in Applied Hydrogeology: Stu- to talk one-on-one with practicing geoscientists who will dents will receive a free pizza supper ticket with their regis- answer questions and share insights on how to get a job after tration badge to attend the Mann Program, which is geared graduation. For more information, contact Jennifer Nocerino, toward careers in hydrology and hydrogeology. Whether [email protected]. you have already decided to head down this career path or Roy J. Shlemon Mentor Program in Applied Geology: you are curious about the field and its career options, this Students will receive a free lunch ticket with their registration meeting is for you! Space is limited, so plan to arrive early.

Mentor Programs for 2007 Section Meetings For program locations, ask at the Section Meeting registration desk.

NORTHEASTERN SECTION MEETING SOUTHEASTERN SECTION MEETING University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H., USA Hyatt Regency Savannah Shlemon Mentor Program Luncheons: on the Historic Riverfront, Savannah, Ga., USA Mon.–Tues., 12–13 March, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Shlemon Mentor Program Luncheons: Mann Mentors in Applied Hydrogeology Program: Thurs.–Fri., 29–30 March, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Mon., 12 March, 5–6:30 p.m. Mann Mentors in Applied Hydrogeology Program: Thurs., 29 March, 5–6:30 p.m.

CORDILLERAN SECTION MEETING Western Washington University, Bellingham, Wash., USA Shlemon Mentor Program Luncheons: Fri.–Sat., 4–5 May, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Joint Meeting SOUTH-CENTRAL SECTION Mann Mentors in Applied Hydrogeology Program: NORTH-CENTRAL SECTION Sat., 5 May, 5–6:30 p.m. Kansas Memorial Union, University of Kansas, ROCKY MOUNTAIN SECTION MEETING Lawrence, Kans., USA Dixie Center, Saint George, Utah, USA Shlemon Mentor Program Luncheons: Shlemon Mentor Program Luncheons: Thurs.–Fri., 12–13 April, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Mon.–Tues., 7–8 May, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Mann Mentors in Applied Hydrogeology Program: Mann Mentors in Applied Hydrogeology Program: Thurs., 12 April, 5–6:30 p.m. Tues., 8 May, 5–6:30 p.m.

Available at the GSA Bookstore

Special Paper 413 GSA Sales and Service Earth and Mind: How Geologists Think and P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO 80301-9140, USA Learn about the Earth edited by Cathryn A. Manduca and David W. Mogk +1-303-357-1000, option 3 SPE413, 188 p., ISBN-10 0-8137-2413-9; toll-free: +1-888-443-4472 • fax: +1-303-357-1071 ISBN-13 978-0-8137-2413-3 $60.00, member price $42.00

20 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY Call For Nominations: GSA Division Awards Funds for the following GSA Division awards are administered through the GSA Foundation. is not permitted. Neither nominators nor nominees need be DON J. EASTERBROOK DISTINGUISHED members of GSA. Nominations must be accompanied by a SCIENTIST AWARD statement of the significance of the nominee’s research, a cur- Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division riculum vitae, letters of support, and documentation of pub- GSA’s Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division lished research results that have significantly advanced the seeks nominations for the Don J. Easterbrook Distinguished knowledge of the Quaternary geology and geomorphology of Scientist Award. This award is given to an individual who has desert environments. shown unusual excellence in published research, as demon- Send nominations by 2 April 2007 to Lisa L. Ely, Dept. of strated by a single paper of exceptional merit or a series of Geological Sciences, 400 E University Way, Central Washington papers that have substantially increased knowledge in Quater- University, Ellensburg, WA 98926; +1-509-963-2821; ely@cwu. nary geology or geomorphology. No time limitations apply to edu. the recognized research. The recognition is normally extended to an individual, but in the event of particularly significant LAURENCE L. SLOSS AWARD FOR research, two people may share the award. Monies for the SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY award are derived from the Don J. Easterbrook Fund annual GSA’s Sedimentary Geology Division solicits nominations for interest income, administered by the GSA Foundation. the 2007 Laurence L. Sloss Award for Sedimentary Geology. This Although recognition of extraordinary prior research excel- award is given annually to a sedimentary geologist whose lifetime lence is the principle goal of this award, it carries with it an achievements best exemplify those of Larry Sloss—i.e., achieve- opportunity to fund additional research. The Easterbrook Distin- ments that contribute widely to the field of sedimentary geology guished Scientist is eligible to draw funds for research from the and service to GSA. Monies for the award are derived from the GSA Easterbrook Fund in an amount to be determined by avail- Laurence L. Sloss Award for Sedimentary Geology Fund annual ability of funds. This opportunity to fund additional research by interest income, administered by the GSA Foundation. the awardee is a secondary consideration of this award. Nominations should include a cover letter describing the Members of the Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology nominee’s accomplishments in sedimentary geology and con- Division Award Panel will evaluate nominations for the Easter- tributions to GSA, and curriculum vitae. The Sedimentary Geol- brook Award. Because the award primarily recognizes research ogy Division’s management board will choose the recipient excellence, self-nomination is not allowed. Nominees need from two nominees selected by the nominations committee, not be members of the division. Nominations are not auto- and the award will be presented at the October 2007 GSA matically carried forward to subsequent years, but individuals Annual Meeting in Denver. may be renominated. Send nominations electronically by 20 February Nominations must be accompanied by supporting documen- 2007 to Paul Link, secretary, Sedimentary Geology Division, tation, including a statement of the significance of the nomi- [email protected]. nee’s research, a curriculum vitae, letters of support, and any other documents deemed appropriate by the nominating com- GILBERT H. CADY AWARD mittee. Send nominations by 2 April 2007 to Jack F. Shroder Coal Geology Division Jr., Dept. of Geography & Geology, University of Nebraska, GSA’s Coal Geology Division seeks nominations for the Omaha, NE 68182-0199, USA; [email protected]. 2007 Gilbert H. Cady Award, given for outstanding contribu- tions in the field of coal geology. The first award, established FAROUK EL-BAZ AWARD FOR DESERT RESEARCH by the Division in honor of Gilbert H. Cady, was presented Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division in 1973. Monies for the award are derived from the Gilbert H. GSA’s Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology Division Cady Memorial Fund annual interest income, administered by seeks nominations for the Farouk El-Baz Award for Desert the GSA Foundation. The award recognizes contributions that Research. This award rewards excellence in desert geomorphol- advance the field of coal geology within and outside North ogy research worldwide. It is intended to stimulate research America and will be presented at the Coal Geology Division in desert environments by recognizing an individual whose Business Meeting at the October 2007 GSA Annual Meeting research has significantly advanced the understanding of the in Denver. Quaternary geology and geomorphology of deserts. Although Nominations will be evaluated by the Gilbert H. Cady Award the award primarily recognizes achievement in desert research, Panel and should include the name, office or title, and affiliation the funds that accompany it (US$7,500 anticipated for 2007) of the nominee; date and place of birth; education, degree(s), may be used for further research. The award is normally given and honors and awards; major events in his or her professional to one person but may be shared by two people if the recog- career; and a brief bibliography noting outstanding achieve- nized research was the result of a coequal partnership. Monies ments and accomplishments that warrant nomination. for the award are derived from the Farouk El-Baz Fund annual Send three copies of the nomination by 28 February interest income, administered by the GSA Foundation. 2007 to Christopher J. Carroll, Colorado Geological Survey, Any scientist from any country may be nominated. Because 1313 Sherman St Suite 715, Denver, CO 80203-2239, USA; the award recognizes research excellence, self-nomination +1-303-866-3501; [email protected]. Medlin Scholarship Award Offered by GSA Coal Division

GSA’s Coal Geology Division announces the availability of sought; (2) a concise statement of objectives and methods the Antoinette Lierman Medlin Scholarship in Coal Geology and a statement of how the scholarship funds will be used for the 2007–2008 academic year. The scholarship provides to enhance the project (the proposal should be no more full-time students who are involved in research in coal than five double-spaced pages, including references); and geology (origin, occurrence, geologic characteristics, or (3) a letter of recommendation from the student’s immedi- economic implications of coal and associated rocks) with ate advisor that includes a statement of financial need and financial support for their project for one year. the amount and nature of other available funding for the Scholarship funding can be used for field or laboratory research project. expenses, sample analyses, instrumentation, supplies, or Send the material to: Glenn B. Stracher, Dept. of Geol- other expenses essential to the successful completion of ogy, East Georgia College, Swainsboro, GA 30401, USA; the research project. About US$2,000 will be available for [email protected]. the 2007–2008 scholarship award. In addition, the recipient The proposal and letter of recommendation must arrive no of the scholarship may be provided with a stipend to pre- later than 15 February 2007. Applicants will be notified of sent the results of the research at the 2007 or 2008 GSA the scholarship committee’s decision by 2 April 2007. Annual Meeting. This scholarship was established as a memorial to Antoi- For the academic year 2007–2008, the Coal Geology Divi- nette “Toni” Medlin, who for many years dedicated her sion is also offering a field study award of about US$1,500. efforts toward the advancement of coal geoscience and to The recipient of this award will also be eligible to receive the encouragement of students in coal geology. Monies for travel funds to present the results of his or her study at the the scholarships are derived from the annual interest income 2007 or 2008 GSA Annual Meeting. of the Antoinette Lierman Medlin Scholarship fund, which is A panel of coal geoscientists will evaluate proposals for the managed by GSA Foundation. scholarship and the field study award. Students may apply for the scholarship award, the field study award, or both; how- ever, only one award will be made to a successful applicant. Interested students should submit five copies of the fol- lowing: (1) a cover letter indicating which award(s) is(are)

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS Stephen E. Dwornik Student Paper Award Planetary Geology Division The Award: Criteria: Planetary geologist Stephen E. Dwornik established this The Dwornik Student Paper Award applies to papers award in 1991 to provide encouragement, motivation, and presented at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference recognition to outstanding future scientists. Two awards held each March in Houston. Student applicants must be are given annually, one for the best oral presentation, the (1) the senior author of the abstract (the paper may be pre- other for the best poster presentation. Each winner receives sented orally or in a poster session); (2) a U.S. citizen; and a citation and US$500. The program is administered through (3) enrolled in a college or university, at any level of their GSA’s Planetary Geology Division; GSA Foundation manages education, in the field of planetary geosciences. Papers the award fund. will be judged on the quality of the scientific contributions, including methods and results; clarity of material presented; and methods of delivery, oral or display.

To Apply: The application form and instructions are in the call for papers for the 38th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 12–16 March 2007, League City, Texas, USA. Please go to www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/upcomingmeetings.shtml for more information.

22 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY Fifty-five participants engaged in discussions of new devel- opments in arc geochemistry, petrology, tectonics, and geo- PENROSE physics while overlooking the waters of Prince William Sound. The Talkeetna arc was showcased by day-long field trips to the volcanic carapace (led by Peter Clift and Amy Draut) and Moho CONFERENCE (led by Luc Mehl) in the Chugach Mountains, and to the Red Mountain mantle tectonite south of Homer, Alaska. Peter Kelemen kicked off the conference with an overview REPORT of the Talkeetna arc and implications of recent discoveries for arc crustal genesis. Matt Rioux followed with a description of the geochronology and the Talkeetna section in the Chugach and Talkeetna Mountains. In their papers and presentations at Arc Crustal Genesis the meeting, Matt Rioux and Andrew Greene provided com- prehensive summaries of arc geochemistry in the Chugach and and Evolution Talkeetna Mountains. Mike Johnsen presented complementary data for the Alaska Peninsula section of the arc. Brad Hacker Valdez, Alaska, USA reported on thermobarometry and thermochronology of the Talkeetna arc and concluded with a discussion of the effects 9–15 July 2006 of ultrahigh-pressure and ultrahigh-temperature reworking on Conveners: the continental crust. Placing the Talkeetna arc section in a regional context, Sarah Peter Kelemen, Columbia University, 58 Geochemistry Roeske provided an introduction to the tectonics of Alaska, Building, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, New including the Cenozoic history of the Talkeetna arc and related York 10964, USA, [email protected] structures. Chris Nye presented detailed geophysical and geo- chemical data from Recent volcanoes of Alaska. Jeff Freymuel- Brad Hacker, Geological Sciences and Institute for Crustal ler showed GPS data indicating that the locked and creeping Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, California segments of the Aleutian subduction zone may control the 93106-9630, USA, [email protected] first-order segmentation of the arc. Brian Jicha presented new 40Ar/39Ar ages from the Aleutians that show episodic plutonism and volcanism along the entire arc, with peak periods of activ- The Penrose Conference on arc crustal genesis and evolu- ity from 38–29, 16–11, and 6–0 Ma. David Farris used struc- tion was convened in Valdez, south-central Alaska on 9–15 July tural relationships in the Kodiak portion of the Talkeetna arc 2006 near the accreted Jurassic Talkeetna arc. In general, pre- to propose that the arc was exhumed following an episode of sentations integrated recent results on well-exposed arc crustal subduction erosion during which blueschist units were under- sections—in the Jurassic Talkeetna arc in south-central Alaska plated directly beneath the former arc crust. and in the Cretaceous Ladakh-Kohistan arc in northern Paki- As noted, observations of the Talkeetna arc section are com- stan and India—with important new developments in active- plemented by work on the very similar Kohistan arc section arc geochemistry, petrology, and geophysics. The Talkeetna in the northwestern Himalaya. Oliver Jagoutz began a series and Ladakh-Kohistan arcs provide exposures of relatively com- of talks on the Kohistan arc section by discussing Sr-Nd-Pb plete sections from Moho depth (30–40 km in both cases), to systematics. Othmar Müntener discoursed on the genesis of volcanic rocks and volcaniclastic sediments, and depth sections garnet in Kohistan, concluding that some of the garnets crys- and temporal progressions that are not accessible in active oce- tallized during cooling of a melt based on petrography, phase anic arcs. Both areas have been the subject of large, multidisci- relations, and thermometry. Carlos Garrido offered an alterna- plinary projects over the past decade, including the Talkeetna tive interpretation, based on rock textures, that some of the Continental Dynamics Project funded by the U.S. National Sci- garnet-bearing lower crustal rocks are restites from dehydra- ence Foundation. tion melting of amphibole-bearing gabbro. Bruno Dhuime dis- Recent intensive investigations of arc plutonic suites else- cussed the evolution of the mafic–ultramafic rocks of Kohistan. where complement these projects. New data from the MARGINS Pierre Bouilhol talked about the effects of melt infiltration in Initiative, Sierra Nevada Continental Dynamics Projects, Aleu- the lower crust of Kohistan. tian studies, and similar international initiatives provide con- Several presentations focused on development of arc batho- straints on crustal thickness and volcanic fluxes in active arcs. liths. Linc Hollister described the magmatic, structural, and meta- Studies of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks and new morphic evolution of the Coast Mountains Batholith of Canada. experimental methods have yielded insights into mantle-wedge Mihai Ducea described the temporal variations in magma flux melt generation and subduction-zone dehydration and ana- through the arcs of western North America. Cin-Ty Lee used texis. This conference provided an opportunity to synthesize observations from the Sierra Nevada and Peninsular Ranges these results, with a focus on direct observations of arc crustal batholiths, and lower crustal xenoliths in the same regions, to sections, from the uppermost mantle to the volcanics, that con- conclude that delamination of the lower crust of island arcs is strain arc processes and their role in the genesis and evolution important in the formation of continental crust. Allen Glazner of continental crust. reported on the importance of subsolidus-metamorphic

GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 23 processes in plutonic rocks, highlighting the long emplacement rated solidus of peridotite is similar to that determined in much time scales of some plutonic suites. Dave Kimbrough spoke older studies, but colder than has been inferred or assumed in on the distinct spatial, temporal, and compositional patterns relatively recent work. Max Schmidt summarized a comprehen- in the Peninsular Ranges batholith, with particular attention to sive suite of experiments on materials at conditions relevant to the role of underplating of isotopically primitive accretionary subduction zones, including a tutorial on super-critical behav- wedge material. Marty Grove presented a compelling story that ior in silicate-H2O systems at high pressure and temperature. emplacement of the massive La Posta tonalite-trondhjemite- Robert Rapp detailed experiments on the production of ada- granodiorite suite of the Peninsular Ranges batholith was trig- kites by melting of mantle wedge metasomatically altered by gered by subduction-accretion of the Catalina Schist. slab melts. Ongoing studies of active arcs, particularly intra-oceanic arcs Lower crustal and upper mantle processes in arcs were the in the western Pacific, complement work on Mesozoic crustal focus of several presentations. Massimo Tiepolo spoke on sections. Donna Shillington contrasted Aleutian seismological chemical disequilibria in mafic magmas, drawing on examples data with velocities calculated for rocks from the Aleutians and from the Alps and Antarctica. Mike Dungan lectured on the Talkeetna. Simon Klemperer gave a tutorial on constraining effect of xenolith melting and assimilation on volcanic rock uncertainties in geophysical models, compared various ways of composition, noting that the effect may be most pronounced modeling geophysical data, and presented new P-wave veloc- during the assimilation of mafic rocks by mafic magma. Geoff ity data for the Izu-Bonin-Mariana arc. Patricia Fryer noted that Clarke presented examples of melt production and garnet the unusually silicic character of the Mariana arc crust may be granulite formation from hornblende-bearing plutonic rocks in due to tectonic erosion exposing crust as old as Cretaceous. New Zealand. Peter Luffi calculated that water-fluxed melting James Hawkins documented marked similarities between the of vapor-free arc rocks generates mainly trondhjemitic liquids Zambales Range ophiolite and rocks from the Mariana Trench, and 3–5 times more garnet than melting in closed systems, con- concluding that a supra-subduction zone origin is likely for cluding that garnet porphyroblasts in trondhjemitic leucosomes both. Richard Arculus presented a panoply of recently acquired need not form by dehydration melting. images, including 70 new volcanoes, from the Tonga-Kermadec Focusing more on tectonics than geochemistry, Jason arc. Katy Kelley discussed the implications of new measure- Saleeby spoke on the deep structures and exhumation of the ments of the H2O contents of magmas on subduction zone southern Sierra Nevada batholith, emphasizing the variations in magma genesis. Mindy Zimmer used new H2O measurements magmatic-structural processes at different depths. Ned Brown from Aleutian volcanoes to argue that H2O is the primary factor showed persuasive evidence that the metamorphic pressures controlling tholeiitic versus calc-alkaline fractionation. Kirstin in the Coast Plutonic Complex and Fiordland were caused Nicolaysen showed that recycling of subducted sediment has by magmatic loading. Gene Yogodzinski and Jason Bryant an isotopic signal in east-central Aleutian arc lavas. described mafic and ultramafic xenoliths from deep crust and Shifting focus to active continental arcs, Mariek Schmidt gave shallow mantle of the Aleutians, whose composition constrains geochronologic and isotopic evidence that the evolution of the the origin of several different types of primitive lava with widely Three Sisters volcano is controlled by processes in the upper differing trace element contents. and lower crust. Sue Kay spoke on the roles of “flat” subduc- Taking a more theoretical approach, Greg Hirth gave a wide- tion, subduction erosion, and delamination on the evolution ranging overview of the latest developments in the rheology of of the Andean arc. Art Snoke described the magmatic arcs of mafic and ultramafic rocks. Erik Kneller showed the results of Tobago and the Ivrea-Verbano zone, emphasizing the interac- calculations using recent experimental determinations of oliv- tion between magmatism and deformation. Riccardo Tribuzio ine rheology to simulate olivine fabrics in subduction zones. interpreted a mafic to ultramafic pluton in the Transantarctic Marc Parmentier showed results of subduction zone models Mountains as the result of formation from a boninite-like pri- coupling temperature with melt production and flow. Rich- mary melt in a backarc continental environment. ard Katz presented models of reactive flow and channelized Offering specific views of related topics, Neptune Srimal melt transport in subduction zones, showing that cold plumes speculated on whether the Cenozoic alkaline magmatism of develop in the hot part of the mantle wedge and hot plumes Tibet was produced by a slab window. Stephanie Briggs pre- develop in the crust. sented new ion microprobe zircon ages for the Altai Mountains Taber Hersum explained recent work on finite element mod- of NW China, demonstrating Ordovician, Devonian, and Perm- els that simulate the elastic deformation of partially molten ian crustal growth. basaltic microstructures and infer wave speeds and yield stress. Experimental studies provide an increasingly detailed char- Thierry Menand presented an analog model of sill injection into acterization of the effects of crystal fractionation of arc mag- the crust, concluding that rigidity contrasts may play a major role mas and at the same time open dramatic new vistas into the in the location and geometry of sills and the development of range of pressures, temperatures, and bulk compositions that igneous complexes. George Bergantz assessed the thermal and are involved in arc melt generation. Peter Ulmer summarized dynamic response of the lower crust to the intrusion of basaltic the results of fractional crystallization experiments on basaltic dike swarms, showing that thicker arcs produce garnet pyrox- andesite and picrobasalt and noted that calculated velocities enite residues that are convectively unstable. Mark Behn showed for these rocks suggest that some arc seismic sections likely how Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities may perturb arc-wedge corner contain ultramafic cumulates that are being interpreted as flow and affect densities and seismic velocities. mantle tectonite. Tim Grove used new melting experiments Last, but certainly not least, the genesis of continental crust on H2O-saturated peridotite to demonstrate that the H2O-satu- through arc magmatism and crustal recycling was a central focus 24 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY of the Talkeetna Continental Dynamics erosion and its effects on trench retreat Project and a theme in many talks at the rates and rates of crustal subduction. Penrose Conference. Peter Kelemen and The group gathered for the Valdez Association for Women Brad Hacker showed that new bulk com- Penrose Conference was highly multidis- Geoscientists positional estimates for the Talkeetna ciplinary, with much to learn from each arc section, informed by thermobarom- other. The conveners learned a great deal FIELD TRIPS etry indicating the possible depth varia- as a consequence, and have received 2007 tion for different lithologies, range from highly positive reports from other partici- basaltic to andesitic, with the most felsic pants, focusing on the benefits of such Eastern estimates falling into the range for bulk a multidisciplinary discussion. We would California & continental crust. However, Talkeetna like to take this opportunity to thank trace elements, and even potassium con- everyone for traveling so far, both geo- Southern tents, are very different from both Pre- graphically and intellectually, to share Nevada cambrian and Phanerozoic continental results on this important topic. 15-20 April crust. This is also true for the tonalitic Participants: Carlos Aiken, Moham- Tanzawa batholith in SW Japan and its med Alfarhan, Frank Arnott, Jerome OPTIONAL TRIP inferred extension in the mid-crust of the (Jerry) Bellian, Richard Blewett, Nicola Izu-Bonin-Marianas arc system (e.g., pre- Boak, Clare Bond, Simon Bukley, Chris- Zion/Bryce sentations by Fryer, Klemperer). tian Carlsson, Chris Crosby, Mauro De 21-22 April In contrast, some modern arc lavas Donatis, Wetherbee Dorshaw, Amy Ell- (western Aleutian) and accreted arc plu- wein, Havard Enge, Luigi Ferranti, Kurt tons (Peninsular Ranges; Kimbrough and Frankel, Klaus Gessner, Alan Gibbs, www.awg.org/trips/ M. Grove presentations) do have the right Jiulin Cole Guo, Ronan Hennessy, Paul Marcia Knadle major and trace element characteristics Henson, Bob Holdsworth, Nick Holli- 206-553-1641 to form juvenile continental crust. The man, Andy Howard, John Howell, David reasons this varies from place to place Hughes, David Hunt, Jonny Imber, Don remain unclear. In presentations focus- Keefer, Tobias Kurz, Zbigniew Malolep- ing on these and closely related issues, szy, Ken McCaffrey, Erik Monsen, Rob- Bob Kay proposed that adakites—lavas ert Moroz, Ian Mynatt, Iulia Olariu, John close to continental crust in composi- Oldow, Douglas Paton, Geoffrey Phelps, tion—can form from partial melting of Jamie Pringle, Adam Pugh, Steven Smith, 'JFME
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GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 25 Call for Applications:

GSA–USGS Congressional Science Fellowship 2007–2008

Opportunities to serve as a Congressional Science Fellow are rare, unique experiences. Work directly with national leaders using your expertise and experience to help shape science and technology policy on Capitol Hill. The 2007–2008 Congressional Science Fellow will be selected Richter’s Scale from top competitors early in 2007. Prospective candidates should be Measure of an Earthquake, GSA Members with a broad geoscience background and excellent Measure of a Man written and oral communication skills. Minimum requirements are a SUSAN ELIZABETH HOUGH master’s degree with at least five years professional experience or a Ph.D. at “This is an extraordinary piece of the time of appointment. The fellowship is open to U.S. citizens scientific biography. Although Charles or permanent U.S. residents. Richter’s name is a household word, Deadline to apply: 1 February 2007 even earth scientists know little about the man. This first biography of Richter For application information, visit www.geosociety.org/science/csf/index. gives a thoughtful and insightful htm, or contact Ginger Williams, +1-303-357-1040, [email protected]. view of the man, his science, and his crucial role in developing seismology, public awareness of earthquakes in southern California, and policies to reduce earthquake hazards through safer construction. It will be of great interest at a time when natural disaster mitigation is very much in public consciousness.” —Seth Stein, Northwestern University 352 pages. 45 halftones. 6 x 9. Cloth $27.95 978-0-691-12807-8 Visit our online journals at: www.gsajournals.org

January/February GSA Bulletin Take me to the gravel-bed river Bodies of the Barberton belt The retroarc record for a foreland basin

December Geosphere A tool for tracing iron cycling on Mars? Melt metasomatism at the margin Geotectonic evolution of the Great Basin GSA’s online-only journal.

NEW IN PAPERBACK January GEOLOGY Earthquakes in Human History In Patagonia: Origin of Oroclines in Orogens The Far-Reaching Effects Using Zircons for Ages of Seismic Disruptions Reading the Runes from the Rheic Ocean JELLE ZEILINGA DE BOER & Down in Black and White: The Fossil Record DONALD THEODORE SANDERS of Antarctic Penguins Paper $18.95 978-0-691-12786-6 Not available from Princeton in South Asia To subscribe, contact [email protected], Princeton or call +1-888-443-4472, or +1-303-357-1000, option 3. University Press 800-777-4726 • press.princeton.edu 26 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY in the Cordillera (Peninsular Range shear zone and the western Field Forum Report Nevada shear zone) and worldwide. Although similarities exist between these vertical boundaries—most are zones of high strain that record contractional to transpressional deformation—there Tectonic Signifi cance of Vertical is large variation in their tectonic interpretations. An afternoon hike into the Hazard Creek Complex, the westernmost granitic Boundaries in the Cordillera complex that intrudes the edge of the accreted terranes, sparked debate centered on the kinematics and timing of the deformation McCall, Idaho, USA recorded by the fabrics in the Complex. Day five began with several talks concerning new methods for 30 July–5 August 2006 analyzing fault zones. In the late morning, the group arrived at Conveners: the outcrop to examine the youngest unit to intrude the WISZ: the Payette River tonalite. Exposures of high-strain tonalite were Scott Giorgis, Department of Geosciences, SUNY–Geneseo, compared to the low-strain portions that preserve magmatic fab- 1 College Circle, Geneseo, New York 14454, USA, giorgis@ rics. Discussions on the outcrop ranged from the uncertainties geneseo.edu associated with vorticity analysis of the Payette River tonalite to Basil Tikoff, Department of Geology and Geophysics, the relationship between movement on the WISZ and emplace- University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA, ment of the Idaho Batholith. [email protected] On the last day, the group completed a traverse of an exposed William McClelland, Department of Geological Sciences, portion of the shear zone near Snowbank Mountain, ~40 miles University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-3022, USA, south of McCall. The views toward Oregon encouraged partici- [email protected] pants to discuss the relationship of the WISZ in the larger context of the North American Cordilleran orogenic belt. In general, the structural style of the shear zone was relatively constant along This GSA Field Forum gathered 27 geologists to examine a strike, although there was some variation in lithology. well-exposed, easily accessible vertical boundary in the Cordi- A final evening session included discussion about Idaho tec- llera: the western Idaho shear zone (WISZ) near McCall, Idaho. tonics and about vertical boundaries in general, as well as some The University of Idaho Field Campus in McCall, Idaho, hosted directions for future research. Participants agreed that the Salmon the field forum that ran from 30 July to 5 August 2006. River suture zone should refer to the area of western Idaho that The conveners’ opening presentations gave a broad overview marks the collision of accreted terranes with North America. of the tectonic history, general rock types, and goals of the con- The WISZ, in contrast, is a mid-Cretaceous shear zone within ference. The next day, participants concentrated on the field evi- the larger suture zone. Participants also agreed that the WISZ dence for transpressional kinematics, high contractional strains, is a transpressional structure, which apparently records a large and the Late Cretaceous timing of deformation within the WISZ. contractional component. Issues still needing resolution are the Discussion on the outcrop focused on ambiguities associated amount of contraction versus strike-slip recorded by the shear with constraining fabric or deformation age and a comparison of zone, the effect of preexisting architecture controlling the current lithologies and structures observed in the McCall area with other vertical geometry, whether an earlier (strike-slip) history occurred areas along strike in the shear zone. in the region, the relationship of magma intrusion and/or transfer The third day began with presentations by participants with to deformation, and the along-strike variations and intersection expertise in the region. Talks included mapping in Idaho, the of other shear zones in the WISZ. These issues are equally appli- accreted terranes west of the WISZ, the nature of the WISZ in cable to other vertical boundaries both within and outside the the Salmon River gorge, and events in western Idaho geologic North American Cordillera. Another major issue was the role of history that preceded movement on the WISZ as recorded north reactivation: When and why are these zones reactivated? Vertical and west of McCall. These presentations gave a broader context structural boundaries in the lithosphere that do not exclusively to the rocks and relationships examined during the field con- record strike-slip motion occur in many locations, yet are not ference. Field stops in the afternoon illuminated the scope of well understood. Moreover, although vertical boundaries often neotectonic extensional deformation and its effects on the orien- occur within magmatic arcs in the North American Cordillera, tation of preexisting structures. Discussion centered on the active they occur in other tectonic settings as well. While the field forum nature of extensional faulting in Idaho. allowed discussion of the formation, reactivation, and tectonic The morning of day four was devoted to presentations by significance of these structures, further work is still needed to the participants concerned with vertical boundaries elsewhere fully understand these enigmatic structures.

Participants: Bryn Benford, Dave Blake, Kenneth Brown, Clay Conway, Keith Gray, Eric Horsman, Zeshan Ismat, Kim Johnson, Dan Jones, Richard Jones, Baird King, Todd LaMaskin, Reed Lewis, Paul Link, Karen Lund, Cathryn A. Manduca, Mat- thew Mookerjee, Keegan Schmidt, Josh Schwartz, Art Snoke, Caleb Stroup, Sarah Titus, Markos Tranos, and Sandra Wyld.

GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 27 plex, given that extension began during mid-Tertiary plate convergence and continued to evolve through a transition to PENROSE dextral-oblique shear. The Aegean Sea above the retreating Hellenic subduction zone is another well-known example of large-scale continental extension. Here, the dynamic forcing CONFERENCE of crustal extension is better known, and horizontal extension occurs directly above the subducting plate; lithospheric exten- sion there is caused by slab rollback. Extension in the Aegean SCHEDULED occurs from the forearc through the backarc. Furthermore, it is an onshore/offshore setting that allows a combination of land and seaborne studies. The latter, in particular, offers convenient Extending a Continent: and fast marine geophysical methods that have an advantage in imaging the present state of the crust. Architecture, Rheological The nature of metamorphic events associated with litho- spheric extension is an important topic that is still not well Coupling, and Heat Budget understood. Usually large-scale extension in convergent mountain belts is associated with some sort of “Barrovian- type” metamorphism. In many rift settings, extension is also Island of Naxos, Aegean Sea, Greece associated with a temperature-dominated metamorphism, but because deep crustal sections of modern rifts are generally not 9–13 October 2007 exposed, our knowledge mainly stems from xenolith studies. A fundamental question is, what mechanism is driving this meta- Conveners: morphism? Is it mainly radioactive decay from upper crustal rocks now buried at depth? Or does the asthenospheric mantle Uwe Ring, Department of Geological Sciences, Canterbury play an important role? Closely related to this question is the University, Christchurch 8004, New Zealand; uwe.ring@ role of magmatic processes and whether magmatism can trig- canterbury.ac.nz ger extension and associated metamorphism or whether it is a Klaus Regenauer-Lieb, School of Earth and Geographical consequence of these processes. Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling New theoretical and observational insights into the mechanics Highway, Crawley 6009 WA, Australia; [email protected]. of continental extension are just now coming to light through edu.au fresh approaches in numerical modeling and measuring active strain. Novel, fully coupled thermomechanical approaches are Brian Wernicke, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, capable of predicting major detachments self-consistently; i.e., California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Blvd., without assuming implicitly or explicitly a weak material layer Pasadena, California 91125, USA; [email protected] for nucleating the detachment. This may mark a genuinely new Charalampos Fassoulas, Natural History Museum, University direction in understanding the mechanics of continental exten- of Crete, Knossou Ave., Heraklion 71409, Crete, Greece; sion and the rheological coupling in the lithosphere. Space geo- [email protected] detic techniques, continuous GPS in particular, are beginning to reveal the behavior of deeper parts of active rifts, including episodic tectonic and magmatic events indicative of non–steady- state rheological behavior below the seismogenic layer. DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES Another important and controversial aspect of continental Continental breakup and the formation of oceanic basins is a extensional tectonics is the possibility that extension may be fundamental process in the earth sciences. Most of our process responsible for exhuming metamorphic rocks within con- understanding of the early and intermediate stages of conti- vergent orogens, such as onland thrust belts (i.e., Himalaya, nental extension comes from landborne studies of incipient or European Alps, Betic Cordillera of southeastern Spain, Brooks failed rifts, such as the East African Rift (especially as gleaned Range of Alaska) and subduction-related convergent margins from the new, exciting work in the Afar triangle through the (i.e., Franciscan of California, Sanbagawa of Japan, Hellenic/ EAGLE project), the Taupo Volcanic Zone, the Rio Grande Rift, Aegean convergent margin of western and southern Greece, the Rhine Graben, and many others. Over the last two decades, Hikurangi accretionary wedge of northeastern New Zealand). there has also been a growing appreciation of the role of exten- Extension may be particularly responsible for exposing ultra- sional tectonics in convergent orogens. This trend was initiated high-pressure metamorphic rocks. Orogenic belts, especially early on by the discovery of highly attenuated crustal sections the older ones, present geoscientists with one of the most dif- in the Basin and Range province and the recognition that the ficult questions: What is the contribution of normal/extensional attenuation was caused by regional-scale horizontal extension, faulting in the exhumation of deep crustal rocks? There is grow- as manifested by low-angle normal faulting. ing evidence that extrusion wedges can accomplish exhuma- The Basin and Range province is considered an archetypal tion of deeply buried rocks from great depth soon after these area for continental extension by low-angle normal faulting. rocks experienced their maximum metamorphism. The normal However, the dynamic setting of horizontal extension is com- fault at the top of the extrusion wedges is a geometric effect—it

28 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY is not due to lithospheric extension of the region. Although the the brittle and ductile crust and the Moho on the geodynamic tectonics community appears to be moving toward a general evolution of extensional provinces. consensus that deep exhumation is most often a result of con- tinental extensional processes, unequivocal evidence for this Venue inference is still lacking. The conference will be held on the Island of Naxos, north of Within this context, we propose a Penrose Conference to the active Hellenic subduction zone. The island has spectacular examine all processes that contribute to horizontal extension exposures of synextensional high-temperature metamorphic of continental lithosphere and the origin of oceanic basins. We rocks exhumed from depths as great as 30 km during Miocene want to look at processes at all scales: normal faulting dur- extension. The field trips will be led by Olivier Vanderhaeghe ing early stages of plate convergence and the exhumation of (Université Henri Poincaré in Nancy, France). Vanderhaeghe (ultra)high-pressure rocks, late orogenic extension and core- and colleagues have developed a multidisciplinary study of complex formation, postorogenic extension associated with an Naxos, combining structural geology, metamorphic petrol- extensional boundary condition (i.e., rifting), and processes at ogy, geochemistry, and sedimentology in order to decipher continent-ocean transitions. At the broadest scale, the confer- the thermomechanical evolution of the island. Naxos records ence will have five distinct goals: (1) to review and synthesize a complex geologic history, from the genesis of blueschists, our knowledge about continental extension processes; (2) to attesting to burial and accretion under a low geothermal gra- examine the geologic and geophysical evidence relevant to dient, to genesis of granites and exhumation of migmatites in resolving a quantitative understanding of the important tectonic metamorphic core complexes resulting from a drastic change processes, as deduced from seismic imaging, metamorphic and in the geothermal gradient over time. Naxos displays the most magmatic petrology, isotopic thermochronlogy, structural and complete section, from blueschists to migmatites, exposed in kinematic analysis, synorogenic stratigraphy, geomorphology, the core of a kilometer-scale dome. and paleoelevation data; (3) to examine relevant geodynamic Our objective in selecting Naxos for the meeting is to expose models and their predictions for conditions that might trigger participants, especially those from North America, to an exten- the onset of continental extension; (4) to reconcile new geo- sional setting different from that of the Basin and Range, which detic data and computational geodynamic inferences on rheo- would be the natural site of choice if the conference were to logical coupling within the lithosphere with genuine structural be held in the United States. Although the location will mean observation of these processes; and (5) to define new research more expensive airfare for North American participants, it frontiers for studying extension. should easily attract participants from Europe. At present, there are a number of high-quality studies avail- able for these areas that have generated diverse interpretations Attendees and Estimated Cost The conference will be limited to about 80 people. Partici- and new ideas. While new numerical methods of continen- pants will be selected to ensure broad representation by nation- tal extension are emerging, an exciting opportunity has also ality, occupation (i.e., faculty, graduate students, and industry arisen to test these models against geological and geophysical and government scientists), and research interest (i.e., struc- evidence and to build new consensus on the great diversity tural geology, metamorphic petrology, isotope geochronology, of continental extension in order to understand the different sedimentology, geomorphology, and geodynamics). Students, styles of continental extension and find common themes. early career professionals, women, and minority participants Proposed Itinerary are particularly encouraged to apply. The conference will be five days long, with two days of field The registration fee is expected to be about US$950, which trips and three days of presentations. Presentations will consist will cover all costs, including food and lodging for six nights of six half-day sessions. Each session will have about two hours (8–13 October 2007), local travel, and field trip expenses. Air- of oral presentations, including a keynote speaker, a one-hour fare is not included. We hope to be able to partially subsidize discussion session, and a one-hour poster session. During the the participation of some graduate students, early career pro- discussion session, individuals will be able to present one or fessionals, women, and minorities. two slides to emphasize a point, but no formal presentations will be allowed. We want to avoid the typical meeting format Application Deadline: 1 April 2007 Interested persons should send a letter of application to with back-to-back talks, and instead focus on fleshing out old Uwe Ring, Dept. of Geological Sciences, Canterbury University, controversies and new ideas. Christchurch 8004, New Zealand. We also encourage people to Tentative session titles are: (1) local expression of extensional send their letters by e-mail to [email protected]. deformation and the role and significance of low-angle normal The letter should include a brief statement of the applicant’s faulting causing large-scale extension; (2) tectonic implications research interests, relevance of those interests to the focus of of metamorphism associated with extensional deformation; (3) the conference, and a potential topic that the applicant might geodynamic implications of magmatism associated with exten- want to present. Please note that we are planning to allow a sional deformation; (4) the influence of deep-seated phenom- limited number of oral presentations, but we strongly encour- ena on the geodynamic evolution of extensional provinces: age poster presentations and comment presentations in order heat input from the mantle, lithospheric delamination, slab to ensure an informal and interactive conference. rollback, and gravitational collapse; (5) geodetic data and their implications for the behavior of the deep lithosphere and its coupling to upper crustal extension; and (6) feedback between

GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 29 Backbone of the Americas: From Patagonia to Alaska—A Super Rock Star Event

Suzanne Mahlburg Kay and Victor Ramos, Asociación Geológica (1) the effects of shallowing and steepening subduction zones, Argentina and Geological Society of America (2) the processes and consequences of plateau and orogenic uplift, and (3) the results of colliding active spreading centers and oceanic ridges with continental margins. A commonly repeated More than 40 years after the publication of the classic 1963 theme throughout the meeting was the comparison of active pro- American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir, Backbone cesses in the South American Andes with postulated fossil analo- of the Americas, tectonic history from pole to pole, the geological gies on the western margin of North America and elsewhere. community studying the Americas gathered in Mendoza, Argen- Plenary Sessions. The plenary sessions on Monday and tina, to compare, analyze, and discuss the vast orogenic belt that Tuesday featured invited talks highlighting multidisciplinary extends along the western margins of the Americas. The occasion approaches and synthesis with the aim of generating discussion was the “Backbone of the Americas: From Patagonia to Alaska” and comparisons of concepts and processes along the entire meeting, which was jointly convened by the Geological Society western margin of the Americas. The Monday session began with of America (GSA) and the Asociación Geológica Argentina (AGA) stimulating general introductions of the northern American mar- with the support of the Sociedad Geológica de Chile. The meet- gin by Bill Dickinson (University of Arizona) and the southern ing was held 3–7 April 2006 in the spectacular city of Mendoza in American margin by Victor Ramos (University of Buenos Aires). the eastern foothills of the high Central Andes. The venue’s loca- These talks were followed by presentations on topics featuring the tion in an active orogenic front in a high-risk seismotectonic area entire margin including Cenozoic plate kinematics (Tanya Atwa- above a shallowly subducting portion of the downgoing Nazca ter, University of California at Santa Barbara), the upper mantle plate provided an exciting backdrop for wide-ranging discus- seismic structure (Steve Grand, University of Texas at Austin), sions of tectonic and magmatic processes and a mid-week field Neogene magmatism (Suzanne Kay, Cornell University), subduc- trip to the high Andes. The meeting brought together more than tion erosion and material balance (Roland von Huene, University 400 participants from 22 countries, including Canada, the United of California at Davis) and crustal root foundering (Mihai Ducea, States, México, the Andean countries, Central America, Europe, University of Arizona). Asia, and Australia. Student and professional participants came The next group of talks featured the meeting themes. The first from academia, the petroleum and mineral industry, consulting set on Monday afternoon focused on shallowing and steepening companies, and government agencies. Special events with a local subduction zones. They included overviews of seismicity of shal- flavor included a Sunday evening opening reception with Argen- low subduction zones (Steve Kirby, U.S. Geological Survey), geo- tine folk singers, sponsored by Repsol-YPF and IAMGOLD, daily physical and geological perspectives of the Chilean flat-slab region lunches sponsored by Barrick Minería Responsible, and a dinner, (Mario Pardo, University of Chile, Santiago, and Victor Ramos), sponsored by ExxonMobil, at a Mendoza winery complete with perspectives on the Peruvian (Antenor Aleman, Peru) and central professional tango dancers. American shallow subduction zones (Gerhard Wörner, Univer- Three tectonic processes affecting the western margins and sität Göttingen), geophysical and geological overviews of west- cordilleras of the Americas provided the impetus and focal points ern North America with a focus on the Laramide province (Gene for the plenary and topical sessions and field trips. Themes were Humphreys, University of Oregon; Dave Lageson, Montana State University; Erik Erslev, Colorado State University), and finally a look at Laramide and Neogene subduction in México (Luca Ferrari, Juriquilla, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México).

Aconcagua. Photo by Suzanne Mahlburg Kay

30 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY On Tuesday, the second set of talks featured the plateau and Central Andean Puna–Altiplano plateau. Field trip guides are orogenic uplift theme and included presentations on the seismic being assembled into a joint publication of GSA and AGA. structure and tectono-structural evolution of the southern Rock- Meeting participants unanimously agreed that a high point of ies and Colorado plateau (Alan Levander, Rice University, and the week was the intracongress field trip to the high Andes that George Davis, University of Arizona) and the Central Andean was held on an extraordinarily beautiful day. The ~380 partici- plateau (Onno Oncken, GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, and pants on trip 403, “Main and Frontal Andean Cordillera near the Beatriz Coira, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy, Argentina). The Southern Boundary of the Pampean Shallow Subduction Zone,” third set on the ridge collision theme included perspectives on loaded into seven buses and two minibuses, each with its own the Chile Triple junction region (Steve Cande, Scripps Institution leader and co-leader. The success of the trip was aided by spec- of Oceanography, and Constantino Mpodozis, SiPetrol, Chile), tacular exposures and capped by a truly magnificent view of the triple junctions of North America (Tim Henstock, Univer- the south face of Cerro Aconcagua (~7000 m high)—the high- sity of Southampton, UK), the opening of the Gulf of Califor- est peak in the Americas. Leaders were from the University of nia (Peter Lonsdale, Scripps Institution of Oceanography), triple Buenos Aires Laboratorio de Tectónica Andina (Victor Ramos, junction influences on Baja California (Joann Stock, Caltech) and Daniel Perez, Andrés Folguera, Silvia Barredo, Fernando Pose, an overview of the Carribean tectonic picture (Jim Pindell, Rice Daniel Yagupsky), the CRICYT institute in Mendoza (Laura University). The final plenary talks featured petroleum (Tony Giambiaggi, Florencia Bechis), Rio Tinto exploration (Sergio Tankard, consultant, Canada) and mineral resources with a focus on Orts), the Chilean SERNAGEOMIN (Estanislao Godoy), SiPetrol gold and copper deposits (Dick Sillitoe, consultant, UK, and Pepe of Chile (Constantino Mpodozis, Pamela Alvarez), and Cornell Perelló, Antofagasta Minerals, Chile). University (Suzanne Kay). The scientific program ended Friday afternoon with a final Pre- and postmeeting field trips followed the conference plenary session featuring six contributed papers addressing large themes. The two premeeting trips occurred from 27 March to issues and a summary session where international teams of mature 1 April. Trip 401, “Ridge-Trench Collision East of the Chilean Triple and young scientists reported on the highlights of each meeting Junction,” went to southern Patagonia and was led by Matt Gor- theme. The final talk by Dave Scholl (Stanford University), featur- ring (Montclair State University, New Jersey), who was assisted ing the consequences of subduction erosion, was humorously by Maxie Naipauer (University of Buenos Aires). Trip 402, titled “Removing the Backbone of the Americas.” “Andean Cordillera and Retroarc of the South-Central Andes Topical Sessions. Contributed papers were organized into (~38° to 34°S),” went to the region of the Neuquén Andes, three sessions, one for each theme. Oral sessions took place on where late Miocene shallow subduction has been proposed. The Thursday and on Friday mornings. Poster sessions on meeting trip was led by Tomas Zapata of Repsol-YPF, who was assisted by themes and related issues were on view for the entire week. Gonzalo Zamora (Repsol-YPF) and Andreas Folguera (University Many participants commented on the overall high quality of the of Buenos Aires). Postmeeting trip 404 (8–13 April), “Evolution presentations, the value of multidisciplinary sessions, and the of the Pampean Flatslab Region over the Shallowly Subducting integrated science presented. There was something for everyone. Nazca Plate,” led by Victor Ramos, explored the geologic evolu- Presentations in the plateau and orogenic uplift session featured tion of the Central Andes over the modern Chilean flatslab. Trip the dynamic and thermal uplift of the plateaus of the Americas 405, “Plateau Uplift—The Central Andean Puna Plateau and the and discussed the role of delamination, crustal shortening, mag- Southern Central Volcanic Zone,” took place 9–14 April and was matism and giant calderas, rapid exhumation and climate in pla- led by Beatriz Coira (Universidad Nacional de Jujuy, Argentina) teau formation, and orogenic uplift. Presentations in the shallow and Suzanne Kay. This adventurous trip to the high Puna pla- and steepening subduction zone sessions included discussions of teau, all in 4-wheel drive vehicles, went to remote localities and Laramide processes, the modern Chile (Pampean) and Peruvian was the first of its kind in the region. shallow subduction segments, the distinctive styles of shallow Final Comments. A volume of contributions from the meet- subduction zones in México, Alaska, and Central America, and ing is being planned; we hope that it, along with the field trip postulated previous shallowly subducting slab in the Neuquén guides, will be another benchmark in the comprehension of the Andes and elsewhere (including China). Presentations on ther- tectonic processes along the western margin of the Americas. We mal structure, magmatism, and structural and landscape evolu- also hope that future meetings will continue to link the interests tion associated with shallow subduction provided insights and of scientists from all along the Americas and elsewhere in the led to discussion. Presentations in the ridge collision session truly world who are working on the origin and evolution of the Ameri- extended from Alaska to Patagonia, highlighting different settings can cordilleras from Patagonia to Alaska. and the effects in the forearc, arc, and backarc. Discussions on the The following are thanked for providing financial support for region of the Chile triple junction extended to climatic changes individual participants: the Jackson School of Geosciences of the and the rain shadow effect on the sediment supply to the trench. University of Texas, the U.S. National Science Foundation, the The interaction between orogenic uplift in these settings and sub- Argentine CONICYT and Agencia de Promoción Científica y Tec- duction erosion was documented and evaluated. nología, GSA International Division, GSA Structural Geology and Field Trips. The conference was complemented by an intra- Tectonics Division, GSA Foundation, Rio Tinto Mining, Goldfield meeting field trip to the high Andes for all meeting participants Corporation, and ILP-Project ERAS. and optional pre- and postmeeting trips that highlighted the meeting themes and ranged from southern Patagonia to the high

GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 31 GSA Foundation Update Donna L. Russell, Director of Operations

GSA Programs for Priority Funding by GSA Foundation Field Forums: $60,000 Field Forums offer the opportunity for exchange of current knowledge and ideas in a field setting. They are designed after Penrose Conferences and stimulate individual and collabora- tive research, thereby accelerating the advance of the geosci- ences by interactions in the field. Penrose Conferences: $40,000 Penrose Conferences provide the opportunity for exchange of current information and advances pertaining to the science of geology and related fields. This level of support would allow student participation in the conferences. Cornerstone for the Future: In order to provide an increased Congressional Science Fellow: $75,000 level of funding to substantially impact the critical areas of con- Congressional Science Fellows work as special legislative cern of GSA Members, GSA Foundation is launching this major assistants within the congressional staff system, and thus initiative to raise additional support for the following critical contribute to more effective use of scientific and technical programs over the next two to three years. knowledge in government. The requested level of annual We are asking every GSA member to make a contribu- support would enable GSA to sponsor two Congressional Fel- tion toward the success of this initiative. lows per year, provided the U.S. Geological Survey continues to match funds. Student Research Grants: $150,000 Total annual priority funding needs: $545,000. The GSA research grants program provides partial support of graduate thesis research in the geological sciences for stu- dents at universities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America. Mentor Programs: $100,000 These programs provide students with the opportunity to Most memorable early geologic experience: speak with mentors from the applied fields of the geosciences and learn about career choices. The programs operate at Sec- In mountainous central Puerto Rico in the early 1960’s, tion meetings as well as the Annual meeting and their impact I came on a stream that headed in erosion-resistant boul- grows each year. der-forming Malo Breccia, dropped off a fault-controlled GeoCorps America™ Program: $120,000 waterfall, and ran off over relatively soft and friable This program places geoscientists within National Parks plus Cotorra Tuff. When the stream was in spate, boulders Forest Service and BLM lands as summer interns. The interns from the Malo rolled down and laterally across the Cotorra, can be university students, professionals including teachers, like huge billiard balls from cushion to cushion, grinding or retirees. Since the program began, 200 interns have been down a flat-bottomed U-shaped valley. I thought this a neat feature in a tropical terrain. placed in National Parks, National Forests, and BLM lands. —Reginald P. Briggs

Enclosed is my contribution in the amount of $______. Please credit my contribution for the: Cornerstone Initiative Greatest need Other: ______Fund I have named GSA Foundation in my will.

PLEASE PRINT

3300 Penrose Place, P.O. Box 9140 Name Boulder, CO 80301-9140 +1-303-357-1054 Address [email protected] City/State/ZIP www.gsafweb.org Phone

32 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY 41 GeoCorps AmericaTM Positions Open for Application Deadline to Apply: 2 Feb 2007

Have you ever dreamed of working on an exciting project on a National Park or National Forest? Now is your chance! Visit the GeoCorps Web site to apply for a summer position, available only to GSA members. The deadline to apply is Friday, 2 February. Hurry and get your application in today! A list of all 41 summer positions and application instructions are on the Web.

Rachel Brown, Grand Canyon National Park

Alicia Rosales, Oregon Caves National Monument www.geosociety.org/geocorps

About People In Memoriam GSA Senior Member, Marcus E. Milling, who passed away on 17 October 2006, has received a posthumous John P. Craddock Roger B. Morrison honor from the American Geological Institute (AGI). AGI Saint Paul, Minnesota Tucson, Arizona has renamed its Legendary Geoscientist Award the Mar- 23 July 2006 Notified 25 October 2006 cus E. Milling Legendary Geoscientist Medal. This medal is awarded annually to a geoscientist who has attained William B. Heroy Jr. Jack Edward Schoellhamer significant scientific achievement as well as provided sus- Durham, North Carolina Aromas, California tained service to the geosciences. 25 September 2006 1 June 2006

James Edward Kahle Castle Rock, Washington 28 January 2006

Theodore D. Lee Puyallup, Washington 24 October 2006

Robert M. Linsley Hamilton, New York 25 July 2006

Please contact the GSA Foundation at +1-303-357-1054 or [email protected] for information on contributing to the Memorial Fund.

GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 33 2007 GeoVentures™ Travel & Tours for Geoscience Enthusiasts

Travel & Learn! The best geologists have seen the most rocks! For full trip details and daily itineraries, go to www.geoventures.org.

Kahiltna Glacier, Denali National Park. Alaska: Changing Glaciers–Changing Landscapes 21–28 July 2007 (8 days); Location: Southern and central Alaska, USA; Scientific Leader: Bruce Molnia

Who Should Attend? Geologists and students interested in 37 years. He has authored several books and authored or co- glaciology or climate change. Min.: 10; max.: 25. authored more than 100 abstracts, maps, and articles about Fee: US$2,700 for GSA Members and spouses; US$2,800 for Alaska. Molnia is now conducting field studies in Glacier Bay nonmembers. Deposit: US$300, due 1 June 2007. The bal- and Kenai Fjords National Parks. ance is due 18 June 2007. Included: All hotels, transportation, Questions about the agenda? Concerns about accessibility? museum, National Park, and other entrance fees, most meals, Contact Wesley Hill, [email protected], +1-303-357-1005. all boat cruise tours (Prince William Sound, Kenai Fjords), and GSA is committed to making this program accessible to all guidebook. Not Included: Airfare to Anchorage or Fairbanks people interested in attending. and some meals. Find flight info and our cancellation and Questions about the science? Contact Bruce Molnia, USGS, refund policy at www.geoventures.org. [email protected]. Trip Overview: The educational objective of the tour is to introduce participants to the unique, dynamic, and rapidly changing glaciers of south-central Alaska. Tour participants will also be introduced to the area’s spectacular landscapes ™ and geology. 2007 GSA GeoVentures Scientific Program and Itinerary: During “up-close” vis- its to several dozen glaciers in southern and central Alaska, Participants must be 18 or older and in good health. participants will get a first-hand view of the recent behav- Any physical condition requiring special attention, diet, ior of these glaciers and their response to climate change. Participants won’t be able to miss the outstanding geology or treatment must be noted in writing when reservations and dynamic landscapes of southern Alaska, and will have are made. GSA is committed to accommodating special the opportunity to learn about permafrost as well. The level needs. Deposits and payments are refundable under cer- of instruction will be suitable for both professionals and lay tain conditions. Please check www.geoventures.org for geologists. See a detailed itinerary on the GeoVentures Web our refund policy. Please do not make flight reservations site, www.geoventures.org. until GSA has confirmed that the trip will run. Contact Wesley Hill, [email protected], +1-303-357-1005, if Scientific Leader: Bruce Molnia, U.S. Geological Survey you need further information. (USGS). Molnia has studied Alaska’s glaciers for more than

34 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY geologist Wayne Ranney. This 280-mile trip will travel the entire length of the Grand Canyon, over all the infamous canyon rap- ids. We will stop for short side-canyon hikes and camp under the stars as Ranney explains the science behind the beauty. You will learn about the varied ideas concerning the Grand Canyon’s origin, both depositional and erosional. Traveling by boat gives you a sequential view of the named rock formations. Scientific Program and Itinerary: The trip will highlight the formation of Grand Canyon’s major rock groups: the tectonic development of the Middle Proterozoic Vishnu Group, the deposition of the Late Proterozoic Grand Canyon Supergroup, and the Paleozoic rocks in the Grand Canyon. It will also focus Colorado River. on the Laramide to Quaternary development of the Grand Can- yon landscape, with an emphasis on the enigmatic timing of Geology of the the Colorado Plateau uplift, the Laramide age peneplane, and the various modes that may have given rise to the Grand Can- Grand Canyon—River Trip yon: headward erosion, stream capture vs. catastrophic spill- 2–9 June 2007 (7 days, 6 nights on the river) over of ancient lakes, etc. The science presented will be geared Location: Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA for students and professionals with some geologic training. See Scientific Leader: Wayne Ranney a detailed itinerary at www.geoventures.org. Who Should Attend? Professional and amateur geologists and Scientific Leader: Wayne Ranney. Ranney has extensive expe- students. Basic geology coursework required. Min./max.: 13. rience in communicating complex scientific ideas to nonscientists Limited space: register today! and has published several books and articles on the landscape development and geology of the American Southwest, includ- Fee: US$2,410 for GSA Members and spouses; US$2,510 for ing Carving Grand Canyon. He is now professor of geology at nonmembers. Deposit: US$300, due 20 February 2007. The Yavapai College, Sedona. Ranney is also an outdoor educator for balance is due 1 March 2007. Included: First night hotel stay the Museum of Northern Arizona, Grand Canyon Field Institute, in Flagstaff (2 June); transportation to/from Flagstaff–Grand and Elderhostel. Canyon; all meals on the river; all river gear; guidebook and field notes. Not Included: Airfare to/from Flagstaff, Arizona; Questions about the river trip or its accessibility? Con- dinner the first night. Find flight info at www.geoventures. tact Canyoneers river outfitter, +1-800-525-0924. GSA is com- org. Cancellations for this trip must be received in writing by mitted to making this program accessible to all people inter- 2 March 2007. All monies paid will be refunded if the cancella- ested in attending. tion is received by this date, less a US$50 processing fee. Questions about the science? Contact Wayne Ranney, Trip Overview: Join us for this incredible opportunity to float [email protected]. the grandest canyon in the world with expert Grand Canyon China’s Feathered Dinosaurs—Paleo-Expedition 20–29 July 2007 (10 days); Location: Western Liaoning Province, China; Scientific Leader: Hailu You

Who Should Attend? Professional or amateur paleontologists and students. Min.: 10; max.: 17. Fee: US$2,800 per person (double occupancy) for GSA Members and spouses; US$2,900 per person (double occupancy) for nonmembers. For sin- gle occupancy, add US$300. Deposit: US$500, due 14 May 2007. The bal- ance is due 14 June 2007. Included: Deluxe accommodations in Beijing and comfortable accommodations in Yixian County of western Liaoning Province; all meals with beverages; all transpor- tation within China, including transfers between airports and hotels; all sight-

Beijing, China. GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 35 seeing tickets; all tools for digging fossils, including hammers, Scientific Program and Itinerary: The primary goals of this gloves, chisels for individual use, and other equipment; Eng- expedition include (1) find missing parts of known feathered lish-speaking professional leadership and guide; local per- dinosaurs; (2) find new feathered dinosaurs and their relatives mits for exploring and digging of feathered dinosaurs. Not (non-feathered herbivorous dinosaurs); (3) find different aged Included: International airfare; passport and visa fees; tips; specimens to learn the growth history and population structure travel insurance. Pre-trip or post-trip sightseeing in Beijing of these dinosaurs; (4) prospect this horizon laterally in search and/or Xi’an and Lanzhou is available at an additional charge. of more sites; and (5) collect additional sedimentological and Find flight info and our cancellation and refund policy at taphonomical data to test theories on cause of mass-mortality www.geoventures.org. and the burial history of bones. How to obtain your tourist visa to China: Check www. Scientific Leader: Hailu You, Institute of Geology, Chinese flychina.com for information on Chinese visas and air tickets. Academy of Geological Sciences. You gained extensive knowl- Allow at least 30 days to obtain your tourist visa. edge of vertebrate paleontology, especially dinosaurs, through Trip Overview: Following the discovery of the first feathered six years of Ph.D. studies at the University of Pennsylvania, dinosaur in 1996, the western Liaoning Province in northeast- as well as 15 years of field and laboratory work on verte- ern China has yielded an exceptionally well-preserved late brate fossils. You’s recent research focuses on two projects: Mesozoic biota and provides a rare opportunity to inquire into the search for the new evolutionary “missing links” from the the world lost for 100 million years. The discovery and study Early Cretaceous of China, and the evolution of basal horned of numerous specimens of feathered dinosaurs in this area dinosaurs. You functions as a lead scientist in collaboration has greatly advanced our understanding of the relationship with colleagues from Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the between dinosaurs and birds, and the origin and early evolu- University of Pennsylvania, the Canadian Museum of Nature, tion of feathers and flight. On this tour, participants will have the and various Chinese institutions. Since 2003, You has named opportunity to see the fossil museums in Beijing and Liaoning nine new dinosaur genera. Province, to search and dig dinosaurs with Dr. You, and to Questions? Concerns about accessibility? Contact Joe study sedimentology and taphonomy based on the exception- Cornwell, PaleoWorld Research Foundation, cornwell@ ally well-exposed rocks in the western Liaoning Province, as paleoworld.org. GSA is committed to making this program well as visit the Great Wall and other areas. See detailed itiner- accessible to all people interested in attending. ary and pre/post trip options on the GeoVentures Web site: www.geoventures.org. Montana Dinosaur For Students Only! Expedition for Students—Paleo-Dig 7–16 July 2007 (10 days) Location: Hell Creek Formation, Jordan, Montana, USA Trip Leader: Joseph Hatcher Who Should Attend? University and college students study- ing paleontology or a related field. Min.: 10; max.: 14. Limited space; register today! Fee: US$1,150. You must be a GSA Student Member to attend. Deposit: US$200, due 28 May 2007. The balance is due 7 June 2007. Included: Lodging: tent camping (bring your own tent); amenities: bathroom/showers/laundry provided; all meals; all entrance fees, site fees, and museum fees; ground transporta- tion to sites; guidebook and field notes. Not Included: Airfare to and from Billings, Montana. Find flight info and our cancel- lation and refund policy at www.geoventures.org. Trip Overview: This 100% hands-on expedition will focus on field-based research, including the importance of data analy- sis using fossils documented and collected in the field. Expert paleontologists will cover taphonomy, taxonomy, osteo-anat- omy, sedimentology, fossil prep lab techniques and geologic time using real-life examples and museum artifacts. This is NOT a tour: as a research team member, you will learn field Jordan, Montana; fossil plaster casting.

36 JANUARY 2007, GSA TODAY Travel & Learn with GeoVentures™ Join GSA for exciting geoscience travel WORLDWIDE! Our 2007 trips are posted at www.geoventures.org.

Because the best geologists have seen the most rocks! techniques and take part in field work to find, collect, and accomplishments is the successful collection of Triceratops and preserve dinosaur fossils. hadrosaur skeletons. Hatcher has lead five consecutive field Scientific Program and Itinerary: Mornings will be spent seasons in the Cretaceous badlands of Montana’s Hell Creek in the field, and afternoons will be spent in classes as well Formation. His field expeditions have included student field as in the museum cataloging finds and doing fossil prepara- teams and public clients. tion. Every student will have the opportunity to participate in Jason Poole: Poole is the head fossil preparator for the each aspect of field and museum work. Evenings will be spent Bahariya Dinosaur Project and PWRF Director of Educational journaling, going over the day’s activities, and planning for Resources. His home base is the Academy of Natural Sciences the next day; evenings are also the perfect time for answer- in Philadelphia. Poole’s focus is paleontology, and he is the ing larger questions and sharing experiences as a group. Also Dinosaur Hall fossil prep lab manager and a teacher naturalist. planned is a boat tour of Fort Peck Lake, to view exposures of He has spent time digging in Egypt, Patagonia, Montana, New different formations of strata in the Jordan area. Fort Peck Lake Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. is a great place to explore, relax, and spend time with new Questions? Concerns about accessibility? Contact Joseph friends. See a detailed itinerary at www.geoventures.org. Hatcher, PaleoWorld Research Foundation, paleoworld@ Scientific Leaders paleoworld.org, +1-941-473-9511. GSA is committed to making Joseph Hatcher: Hatcher’s experience includes five years as this program accessible to all people interested in attending. resident paleontologist at PaleoWorld Research Foundation (PWRF) in Jordan, Montana; as well as curator of paleontol- Check the February issue of GSA Today to learn about an excit- ogy, Garfield County Museum, Jordan, Montana; and assistant ing GeoHostel trip to the California Eastern Sierra range! For a lab manager, Dinosaur Hall Fossil Preparation Lab, Academy full list of trip details, daily itineraries, and registration form, go of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Among his to www.geoventures.org.

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GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 37 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING a statement of teaching and research interests, and the the and interests, research and teaching of Applicants should submit a lettera statement of interest, resume, Vivoni, [email protected]. co- committee search contact inquiries, detailed For chairs, Fred Phillips, [email protected], and/or Enrique html. Mexico Tech see www.ees.nmt.edu/professional_ops. vey. For information further on the position and on New and Mineral Resources, New Mexico’s geological sur- include over 30 of members staff the Bureau of Geology dents. Additional geoscience professionals on campus stu- graduate and undergraduate 150–120 and faculty 21 of consisting Science, Environmental and Earth of Department the of part is Hydrology students. graduate six of aprogram join will candidate successful full-time The Hydrology faculty, eight adjunct faculty, and 30 graduate or undergraduate courses per year. two teaching and students, graduate supporting and program of extramurally Responsibilities will funded research, include supervising developing an active toapply. encouraged are minorities sented most qualifications. important Women and underrepre- the are research and teaching in excellence for Potential sensing/GIS. remote hydrological and hydrology, basin limited to, hydrogeology, karst hydrology, sedimentary- studies. Areas of interest particular include, but are not interest in combining hydrological modeling and field at the time of We appointment. seek candidates with field arelated or Sciences, Earth Engineering, in aPh.D. have should Environmental or Civil Applicants research agency. astate-funded Center, Research Geophysical the and the Department between of Earth appointment and ajoint is Environmental position The Program. Science applications for a tenure-track position in the Hydrology New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology invites equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. geology.newark.rutgers.edu. Rutgers University is an andromeda.rutgers.edu. For more information visit http:// agates@ or 07102, NJ USA, Newark, Street, 101 Warren University, Rutgers Sciences, Environmental and Earth should be sent to: Dr. Alexanderteaching E. interests, and three of letters recommendation Gates, Chair, Dept of cation, Curriculum Vitae, statements of research and appli- of aletter tosend asked are individuals Interested willApplications be reviewed beginning 15 2007. January graduate teaching and graduate programs is expected. competitive start-up package. Participation in under- research program.show potential for developing an independently-funded and research, of arecord training, Excellent postdoctoral Ph.D., laboratorying, and microbiology/ecology. Applicants must have a facilitiestal geophysics, air pollution, environmental engineer- be able to collaborate and with colleagues in environmen- a areas will be considered. Successful candidates should withchemistry emphasis on pollution, although other candidatesNewark with specialization for andEarth Environmental Sciences at Fall Rutgers University- 2007. in of the Dept is offered Geoscience of Environmental in We soil are especially and/orA full-time, tenure-track position of Assistant Professor water interested geo- in 38 38 Positions Open $3.25 $4.00 $4.00 $7.50 characters. special or copy, centered capitals, use you if differ $3.50 (same ad) may cost Actual spaces. $4.00 blank and $0.00 punctuation all ing includ- line, per characters 54 count cost, To estimate $7.75 1st month Situations Wanted additional lines First 25 lines forOpportunities Students Open Positions Classification Per correspondence. all ing mailing and email address, must be included with +1.303.357.1053. Complete contact information, includ- [email protected]; +1.800.472.1988 adver- x1053; Department: Advertising Contact toissue. prior no lateroffice than the of first the month, one month Advertising GSA the reach must cancellations) (or Ads Per Classified Rates—2007 Line for line addt’l each month ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HYDROLOGY HYDROLOGY FACULTY AT TECH FACULTY NM HYDROLOGY RUTGERS UNIVERSITY–NEWARK ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMIST women, and people with disabilities, toapply. disabilities, with people and women, bers of under-represented groups, including minorities, a culturally diverse community. We encourage mem- Atexcellence the of University is Connecticut, complemented our by commitment to our commitment to build with background and experience. tinue until the position is filled. is Salary commensurate of 1, will applications begin February 2007 and will con- +1-860-486 4432, [email protected]. Review Integrative U-2045, Geosciences, Storrs 06269-2045. Pieter T. Visscher, Search Committee Chair, to Center for referees three for information contact and vitae, Applicants should sendments of a letter research of and teaching application, interests, state- curriculum is also desirable. academic home Post-doctoral department. experience candidate’s the in as well as Geosciences Integrative Master’s and Doctoral programs in the Center for and will appointment, of time the at field arelated be or Qualifications:sciences Applicants must have expected a Ph.D. in geo- to participateAugust 2007. in theSciences. Anticipated date start for this Bachelor’s, position is Departments of Geography, Anthropology, or Marine and augment existing strengths within the Center and complement should interests candidate’s The Center. the by provided core geosciences the beyond ships a strong interest in building partner- interdisciplinary ies, and the successful candidate is expected to have teaching interests cross traditional discipline boundar- especially interested in applicants whose research and ancient and/or modern depositional systems. We are faculty member whose research interest focuses on atenure-track for applications invites Connecticut of University the at Geosciences Integrative for Center The employer. opportunity action/equal of is an California affirmative The University to a campus climate supporting equality and diversity. and activities professional and of scholarship standards are and committed to theUCLA Department the highest Geosciences beginningGeosciences in August 2007. Candidates Environmental in level Professor Assistant the at sor of Charleston invites applications for a visiting profes- Geosciences (www.cofc.edu/~geology/)at the College Environmental and Geology of Department The at Sciences Space at and Web the on Earth available about is UCLA Information appointment for publications. Selection will begin on three referees, and papercomplete list of copies publications, names and addresses of of a with vitae up to curriculum five interests, teaching and importantresearch levels. Applications must include a statement describing will candidates be qualified considered exceptionally but level, Professor atequivalent. We anticipate appointments at the the Assistant Associate or Full professor

be directed to may Inquiries 90095-1567. CA, Angeles, Los East, Drive ofDepartment and Earth Space Sciences, 595 Young of the Seismology Search Committee UCLA #06-3, etary geophysics. Please mail applications to the Chair plan- and Earth solid in strengths our complement within the Earth’s deep interior. Applicants should processes and/or processes earthquake of physics the toinvestigate models and theory observations, combine in research and teaching. Candidates should be able to active research program and demonstrated excellence an have must Acandidate seismology. of field general Seismology: opportunity/affirmative action employer. equal an Tech is Mexico New accepted. not are cations Applicationstranscripts will be reviewedand Technology, Socorro, New Mexico will as 87801. College received. be requiredResources, Box 96, New Mexico Institute of Mining E-mail appli- ifnames of three references to Hydrology Search, selected Human to interview. Inquiries may be directed to directed be may Inquiries 90095-1567. CA, Angeles, Los East, Drive Young 595 Sciences, Space and Earth of Department UCLA #06-2, be mailed to the Chair of the Geology Search Committee computational, and/or field studies. Applications should involving approaches vative analytical, multidisciplinary those who tackle major geoscience problems with inno- more positions in the general area of geology. We favor Geology: COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON, VISITING PROFESSOR (TENURE TRACK) UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT ANGELES LOS CALIFORNIA OF UNIVERSITY For both positions DEPARTMENT OF & EARTH SPACE SCIENCES ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF GEOSCIENCES TENURE-TRACK FACULTY POSITIONS We seek outstanding candidates for one or ENVIRONMENTAL GEOSCIENCES [email protected] We seek one or more new faculty in the the in faculty new more or one We seek 1 July 2007. 1 July : Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or [email protected] www.ess.ucla.edu 15 January 2007 2007 January 15 . . .

tors in the broadly defined field of earth and planetary planetary and earth of field defined broadly the in tors educa- and scientists exceptional seeking We are level. professor associate or assistant the at positions faculty invites University Harvard applications for tenure-track at Sciences &Planetary Earth of Department The opportunity/affirmative action employer. equal an is Georgia West of University 11,000. The System University the of of university regional Georgia agrowing is Georgia West of with University State the Atlanta, of an west miles enrollmentfifty ofcation approximately and vigorous faculty-student research. Located strongly committed to undergraduate high-quality edu- are coordinator lab and members faculty tenure-track thirteen Its education. science earth and phy, geology, edu/~geosci) offers undergraduate degrees in The of geogra- Department Geosciences (www.westga. filled. is position the until continue 1and January Carrollton, GA 30118. Application review will begin on 1601 Maple Street, of University West Georgia, Search Committee Chair, Department of Geosciences, Petrology ([email protected]), Chowns Timothy references. Application materials should be sent to Dr. professional three of names and hiring), upon required copies (official transcripts of copies vita, a curriculum research intereststion. Applicants should submit a letter summarizing andcommitment to an undergraduate teaching astrong and aPh.D. have should Candidates specialty. philosophy of field candidate’s the on depending courses other as as wellcourse in igneous and metamorphic petrology as as well and/or historical geology, and will include an upper-level courses in geology of national parks, physical geology are welcome. Teaching duties may include introductory in all fields of igneous and/or metamorphic petrology Professor Petrologist an seeks Georgia West ofThe Department Geosciences at the University of position is filled. the until continue and 2007 January 29 begin will tions Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424. Review of of applica- College Geosciences, Environmental and Geology Geosciences Search Committee, of Department scripts, and names of three references to: Environmental teaching, research interests, unofficial academic tran- ments of teaching philosophy, evidence of effective their interest in the position, Interested curriculum vitae, should persons state- send a letter stating visiting professor may apply. the visiting professor position become permanent, the undergraduatesupervise and graduate research. Should may and courses, graduate and undergraduate teach relevant theory. Successful candidates are expected to field, experimental, and laboratory observations with integrate can who applicants We seek change. climate ing, environmental geophysics, resources, earth global aged to apply: geological applications of remote sens- working in the following areas encour- are particularly 2007 and continue until the position is filled. is position the until continue and 2007 29424. will Review 29 begin of January applications CollegeGeosciences, of Charleston, Charleston, SC Committee, of Department Geology and Environmental ences to: Coastal Sedimentology/Stratigraphy Search ficial academic transcripts, and names of three refer- evidence of effective teaching, research interests, unof- philosophy, teaching of statement vita, curriculum est, Interested should persons send a letter of inter- program. ate students in the Masters of Environmental Studies gradu- supervise and instruct also will member faculty The desirable. highly is stratigraphy, seismic particularly, techniques geophysical with Familiarity technologies. art the of state utilize and disciplines, tothe pertinent a strong background in field and laboratory methods ing excellence. The successful candidate must have and stratigraphy sedimentology coastal While students. graduate and research is important,research programs and opportunities for undergraduate we value teach-knowledge of regional stratigraphy who will develop with geologist sedimentary trained abroadly seeking and Stratigraphy beginning in August 2007. We are assistant professor position in Coastal Sedimentology atenure-track for applications invites Charleston of Geosciences (www.cofc.edu/~geology/ at the College Environmental and Geology of Department The DEPARTMENT OF EARTH & PLANETARY SCIENCES &PLANETARY EARTH OF DEPARTMENT COASTAL SEDIMENTOLOGY/STRATIGRAPHY TENURE-TRACK ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IGNEOUS/METAMORPHIC PETROLOGY UNIVERSITY OFUNIVERSITY WEST GEORGIA position beginning August 2007. Candidates for a for COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON ASSISTANT PROFESSOR HARVARD UNIVERSITY JANUARY 2007, GSATODAY full-time tenure-track Assistant Igneous and/or Metamorphic field-based educa-

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 39 DUKE UNIVERSITY DUKE EARTH AND OCEAN SCIENCES INSTRUCTOR SCIENCES OCEAN AND EARTH The Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Earth and Environment the of School Nicholas The apply to individuals invites University Duke of Sciences the to and Earth of Division the in Instructor as position a for contribute to Ocean Sciences and to begin in fall The 2007. successful introductory broad, teach to expected be will candidate sciences ocean, earth, in courses undergraduate upper-level and atmospheric and/or in education undergraduate innovative of development the geosciences at Duke. seek We candidates with a to commitment a and teaching in excellence of record students. undergraduate mentoring educa- in leadership tion, on focuses School research, Nicholas The and service to understand basic Earth human understand to processes, environmental and behavior related the to environment, and to inform soci- the of enhancement and conservation the about ety environment and its natural resources for future gen- rep- faculty 50 includes School Nicholas The erations. resentingbroad a spectrum of disciplines within the graduate, offers and sciences environmental and earth infor- More programs. undergraduate and professional www. at available is School Nicholas the on mation nicholas.duke.edu/index.html. vitae curriculum a include should interest Letters of and a teaching statement that explains the applicant’s intro- identifies and philosophy and experience teaching ductory Sciences and upper-level undergraduate courses Ocean within earth, and ocean, and atmospheric sciences Earth that the three appli- of information contact and Names teach. can cant Chair, to material Application included. be also should references sent be should the until Sciences, Ocean and Earth of Division Search, Instructor open Earth Sciences, and Environment remain the of School Nicholas will Box Duke 90227, University, search Durham, NC 27708. The the search committee 2007: will begin reviewing applications 1 February position is filled. The term of the appointment is for two years, with potential for renewal. equal-opportunity/affirmative an is University Duke action employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Colorado School of Mines School of Mines Colorado Geological & of Geology Department Engineering Professor-GIS Assistant CSM is an EEO/AACSM and to employer is committed enhancing the community.Women, campus minorities, veterans, and diversity of its individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Colorado School of Mines Department of Geology & Geological Engineering invites applications for an anticipated tenure-track Assistant Professor to begin in August 2007. The Geological Engineering program awardsABET an accredited BS degree and graduate degrees at the ME, MS and Ph.D. levels. Candidates must possess a doctoral degree in geological engineeringis registeredprofessionala as engineer,meets or the qualifications to become registered. Preference bewill given to applicants can teach undergraduatewho and graduate courses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), data analysis, or remote sensing. Research interests should complement and support existing campus programs, specifically in the areas of engineering geology and geotechnics such as appliedgeomorphology, neotectonics and Quaternary geology. For a complete job announcement, more information about the position and the university, and instructions to apply, on how site at: please visit our web http://www.is.mines.edu/hr/Faculty_Jobs.shtm Ph.D. in soil science or related related or science soil in Ph.D. Applicants should submit (electronic (electronic submit should Applicants FULL-TIME, TENURE-TRACK FULL-TIME, THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY STATE PENNSYLVANIA THE ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, PEDOLOGY PROFESSOR, ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE [email protected]. Review of applications applications of Review [email protected]. position the until continue and immediately begin will is filled. Montclair StateUniversity is an equal oppor- www. at us Visit institution. action tunity/affirmative montclair.edu. The successful candidate is expected to develop an an develop to expected is candidate successful The genesis, soil in program research funded externally geo- (including morphology or mapping, classification, fun- understand to approaches Research morphology). involve that applications and processes soil damental land use and environmental quality issues are highly one teach to expected also is candidate The desired. per pedology in course advanced one and intermediate year, coordinate the development of field skills of under- graduates, facilitate participation graduate by students a summer field trip, direct the studies of graduate stu- dents, and interface with government and professional organizations. QUALIFICATIONS: field with an emphasis in soil mapping, morphology, morphology, mapping, soil in emphasis an char- and with field description the in candi- The interpretation. and classification, genesis, experience have must date teaching in interest An field. the in soils of acterization also is research collaborative in and undergraduates pedochemistry in experience and Training required. technol- geospatial pedometrics, mineralogy), (including ogies (especially remote sensing and spatial-temporal desirable. is techniques geophysical and statistics), and APPLICATION: Crop of quali- highlighting application of letter preferred) a format of statement interests, research of statement fications, Department tran- academic vita, curriculum philosophy, teaching Chair, of e-mail) (including addresses and names and scripts, Fritton, D. Daniel Dr. to: references professional Committee three Search 116 University, State Pennsylvania The Sciences, Soil University Building, Industries and Sciences Agricultural closing The [email protected]. 814-865-1143, PA16802, Park, quali- a until or 2007 1, February is applications for date fied candidate is identified. Further details are available at http://cropsoil.psu.edu/pdf/pedology_faculty_position.pdf.

Harvard University is is University Harvard

partment, please visit our our visit partment, please Colorado School of Mines of Mines School Colorado & Geological of Geology Department Engineering Professor-Petrologist Assistant DOCTORAL DIRECTOR DOCTORAL MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY STATE MONTCLAIR DEPT. OF EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ENVIRONMENTAL AND EARTH OF DEPT. GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 2007 JANUARY GSA TODAY, paleoclimatology, and solid earth geophysics. We par- earth We solid geophysics. and paleoclimatology, nominations and from applications encourage ticularly of women and minorities. state- a e-mail) or mail curriculum interests, (by send teaching should and research Applicants of ment vitae, and the names and contact information, including General EPS to: references three e-mail addresses, of Department Grande, Maryorie c/o Committee, Search con- and of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, 20 immediately Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA; e-mail: reviewed [email protected]. be will Applications tinue until the positions are filled. sciences including,but not limitedthe to, areas of geo- earth history, and geology planetary science, biology, an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. For de the about information more interdisci- our of Director the for invited are Applications Management. Environmental in Program Doctoral plinary The starting date is July 1 or September as 2007, 1, available. The Director will hold a faculty appointment undergraduate with rank Professor Associate/Full the at Department the within of duties teaching graduate and candi- successful The Studies. Environmental Earth and a with research funded externally active, an carry out will date candidates to program in a field within environmental given management. be administra- for time reassigned includes position The will recruiting doctoral advising including duties and tive Preference students. gradu- teaching, scholarship, of record demonstrated established an within skills leadership and advising, ate www.csam.montclair.edu/ visit Please program. doctoral should Applications information. more for earth/eesweb/ include statements a CV, of teaching, research, and Stefanie administrative Dr. philosophies, to andsent the names be copies and Hard contact references. professional five should for information applications electronic or Department Chair, Committee Search VF40 Brachfeld, of Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair e-mail: 07043; NJ State Montclair, C316-VF40, Box University, Web site at www.eps.harvard.edu. CSM is an EEO/AA employer and is committed to enhancing the diversity community. Women, minorities, of its campus veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For a complete job announcement, more information about the position and the university, and instructions to apply, on how site at: please visit our web http://www.is.mines.edu/hr/Faculty_Jobs.shtm Applicants must have a Ph.D. in a geosciences field. The successful candidate must demonstrate the potential for successful teaching and possess strong interpersonal and communications abilities. Preference be givenwill to applicants specialtieswith in metamorphic igneous petrology, and/orpetrology, earth materials and extensive fieldwork and experience. mapping geologic The successful candidate in to participate be expected will field camp and teach undergraduate courses in earth and field methods. materials, petrology, The Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines invites applications for a tenure- track position in igneous or metamorphic petrology/earth materials/field geology to begin in August, 2007. The position be filled at the Assistant Professorwill rank. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Assistant Professor position as Curator of Earth Sciences. of Alaska Fairbanks invite applications for a tenure-track, ofDepartment Geology & Geophysics at the University the and North the of Museum Alaska of University The and employer opportunity equal an is College Union strongly committed to student and workforce diversity. St., NY Schenectady 12308-2311, USA. Chair, of Department Geology, Union College, 807 Union ences. Send application material to: John I. Garver, refer- three for details contact of alist and statements, with resume, list of publications, teaching, and research along letter acover send 2007. To please March apply, We will begin reviewing www.union.edu. at: web the on available is College applicationsstudent-faculty research. More information about Union of record astrong has Department starting Geology The CL). and EDX (with on order on system SEM anew and 1 lab, sis of sample prep and geophysical equipment, core analy- variety awide lab, track fission chromatographs, ion two with analytical instrumentation that includes an ICP-MS, the Keck Geology Consortium, and is very well equipped graduate level. The is Geology Department a a member of with college arts liberal aselective is College Union strong tradition of science and at engineering the under- the appointment. of time the at required is APh.D. implemented. be would should clearly and directly state a research plan that graduates. The research statement in the application be accomplished in an undergraduate setting by under- ponent com- afield include should focus as research the wellIdeally as laboratorywith research amenable to undergraduate involvement. as defined broadly is research of measurements area in candidates We interested are specific Petrology/Structure. The that can Geophysics, Tectonics, and Economic geology. Structure, Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology, areas: following the of three or two as well as courses geology introductory teaching of capable scholar and teacher adynamic 2007. We seek September of date starting anticipated an with Petrology/Structure in level Professor Assistant Senior or Assistant the at line track a tenure tofill seeks College Union at Department Geology The given priority. toapply; encouraged are candidates however, qualified All Canadians and permanent residents will be ideas. of diversification further tothe contribute may who others and groups, minority sexual of members women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, applications from visible minority group members, to committed strongly is Toronto of University withindiversity its community The and especially welcomes [email protected]. sent be should tion position has not been filled. Enquiries about the applica- received 2007. Applications 16 is February deadline afterapplication this datebut must e-mailed will or faxed be may reference of be be Letters age. followed considered will applications ofletters by reference submitted E-mailed with the application pack- an only original if the signedCanadaM5S 3B1. copy. Ontario, Toronto, 1066, Room The Street, Russell 22 Toronto, ofCommittee, Department Geology, University of and letters of reference should be sent to: Chair, Search Applications committee. search tothe directly letters losophy. phi- teaching and program research their Theydescribing vitae, should curriculum their provide should including a list Applicants of publications, and a also brief statement ask three refereesqualifications and experience. to sendutoronto.ca). and Salary rank will be commensurate with radiogenic and stable isotope research (www.geology. analytical, for facilities excellent has and geochemistry isotope in expertise considerable its tostrengthen ing graduate and graduate levels as well as teach core Geology courses at the under- program research innovative and independent active, successful The teaching. in excellence for potential and record candidatea strong academic background, an excellent will research be expectedshould possess a Ph.D. in Geology or Geochemistry, Applicants research. their in geochemistry to isotope genic conduct anronmental geosciences, who use radiogenic or envi- cosmo- or change climate of areas the in preferably entists, sci- Earth from to applications 2007. We invite professor 1July begin assistant or associate of rank the at campus (downtown) George St. its at appointment tenure-track a or atenured for individual outstanding an seeking The Department of Geology, University of Toronto is 40 EARTH SCIENCES CURATOR/ PALEONTOLOGIST TENURE-TRACK PROFESSOR, UNION COLLEGE ASSOCIATE OR ASSISTANT PROFESSOR UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS ALASKA OF UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO OF UNIVERSITY not be accepted nor will . The department is seek- is department . The AA/EEO apply. to Employer. individuals interested all urges and diversity of efits Beloit College is committed to the educational ben- be found at beloit.edu). More information about may the department mendelson@ or (+1-608-363-2223 Mendelson to Prof. directed be may 2007. Inquiries 1March by materials mit remain open until filled; to ensure full consideration, sub- 700 College St., Beloit, WI 53511. This position will Mendelson, Geology Search Committee, Beloit College, Carl to reference of letters three and transcripts, level college- a vita, interests, research and teaching of of time the by aPh.D. have should appointment. Send a letter Applicants of application, a statement Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago. to close Wisconsin, southern in located is Beloit of member of the Keck Geology Consortium. The city a is department The faculty. and students between inand versatility its faculty, and collaborative research college excellence emphasizes in teaching, breadth liberal- undergraduate aselective is College collegewith anarts enrollment of 1,250 Beloit students. The expected to undergraduate supervise research projects. be also will candidate successful The GIS. of cations phology, paleoclimatology, and interdisciplinary appli- geology, and two courses from the following: geomor- two offerings of an introductory course in environmental laboratory courses over the year. Courses will consist of climatology. The successful candidate will teach four geologists, with expertise in geomorphology or paleo- mid-August 2007. Applicants should be environmental full-time, one-year sabbatical replacement, beginning Beloit College invites applications for an anticipated encouraged to apply. Equal Employer. Opportunity The Women and minorities are University of ([email protected]). Lee toMolly Alaska addressed be can is an Affirmativeposition is filled. Questions about this announcement the until continue 2007, and 1January on begin will tions Action/ applica- of Screening teaching. and curation, research, in goals long-term and experience summarizing ments state- separate and publications; key of copies ence; refer- of letters three vitae; acurriculum uploading uakjobs.com by Interested completing applicants an should application apply online form at and www. www.uaf.edu/museum. and Museum is available at www.uaf.edu/geology and Department the both about information Further able. start-up funds and supercomputer facilities are avail- laboratory, collections museum, expanded Anewly able. with or teaching diverse student populations is desir- in paleontology, which is flexible. Experience working area research aspecialized in and collections, museum strong background in developing, managing, and using a have will applicants Preferred students. Ph.D. and course per year; and advise undergraduates, M.S., paleoenvironmental reconstruction; teach at least one geology, evolutionary biology, and paleoclimatic or mentology, stratigraphy, geochronology, Quaternary collaborate with existing faculty with interests in sedi- and expand the Museum’s Sciences Earth collections; vigorous, externally funded research program; curate The successfulcuratorial, and postdoctoral experience is preferred. Teaching, candidate tohire. prior field related aclosely or ogy Applicants is expected must have to establishence are especially encouraged an to sci- of apply. edge earned leading the on collections history natural ausing Ph.D. in paleontol-Applicants who can successfully implement their vision for public. the and students both in paleontology for siasm enthu- their instill will who individual adynamic We seek bers, including five geomorphologists. witha 29 department full-time faculty mem- geography of Geography.the Department This individual will join undergraduate geology minor, which is housed within ful candidate will help to coordinate the University’s teaching geology at the college level. The success- must have a demonstrated record of excellence in degree in geology or science earth (Ph.D. preferred); biostratigraphy. Minimum qualifications: Master’s stratigraphy, structural geology, or paleontology and advanced courses selected from sedimentation and torical geology, and mineralogy, plus one or more duties will include introductory physical geology, his- ning Fall 2007,year renewable-term Senior Lecturer position, begin- with Marcos invitesUniversity–San applications for a three- expertise Texas State at Geography of Department The in geology. Teaching RENEWABLE-TERM SENIOR LECTURER, GEOLOGY VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY GEOMORPHOLOGY/PALEOCLIMATOLOGY TEXAS STATETEXAS UNIVERSITY–SAN MARCOS

geology.beloit.edu. BELOIT COLLEGE tions from individuals of diverse backgrounds. applica- encourages and Employer Opportunity Equal an is University 2007. Lawrence January 29 is date Closing 54912. WI P.O. Appleton, 599, Box University, Lawrence President, the of Office Committee, Fellows to: Lawrence recommendation of letters three and Applicantsteaching should send and a research letter statements), of interest (including curriculum vitae, and teacher/artists. ties for undergraduates, and faculty of teacher/scholars opportuni- research education, tutorial and classroom its of quality the for known music, of conservatory and Wisconsin, Appleton, in located University, Lawrence is a highly selective undergraduate liberal college arts studies will be given special consideration. Lawrence’s interdisciplinary program in environmental Geology. of Department tothe applying are they that letters 2001. Applicants should clearly indicate in their cover August than earlier no but 2007 of August by Ph.D. the and paleoclimatology. Applicants must have received seeks Geology of Department the Fellows 2006–2007, For applicants in paleobiology, geomicrobiology initiatives. other and travel, research, tosupport fund annual a$2500 and benefits, plus year, per $35,000 of astipend carry fellowships full-time These 2years. for are appointments Initial lows. the program is posted at of www.lawrence.edu/dept/fel- description Adetailed setting. college arts aliberal in research and teaching in excellence of arecord develop are postdoctoral positions for recent Ph.D. who seek to Sciences and Arts Liberal the in Fellowships Lawrence encouraged. workers, and individuals with are disabilities strongly Applications from women, minorities, veterans, older employer. action opportunity/affirmative equal an Cambridge,of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, MA MIT, 02139; Department Head, Zuber, Maria to: Professor references and 5potential of names to the and [email protected]. objectives, teaching and your To curriculum vitae, apply a to statement either MIT of of these positions, your please research send is to candidates at the junior faculty level. and graduate advising. Strong preference will be given viduals with a strong commitment to research, teaching, indi- in interested particularly We are department. the in projects ongoing to link can which program research atop-quality tobuild adesire and theory of standing science. Candidates should have a thorough under- ics, dynamics, synoptic meteorology, and/or climate strong background and interest in atmospheric phys- Atmospheric Science: appropriate. where negotiable potentially also are departments MIT climate at sciences MIT. Joint with appointments other work their relating in to interest abiding an and complementary advising, student and teaching to commitment astrong discipline, their in work in thedate will have an outstanding record of accomplishment atmosphericany level including Full Professor. The successful candi- and plishments and experience, the appointment can be at are also encouraged to apply. Depending on accom- and modeling experience applied to field measurements experience but scientists with outstanding theoretical entist with strong laboratory and/or field measurement spheric chemistry in climate. Our atmo- of preference roles is for a multiple sci- the and processes, physical include multiphase (gas, aerosol, cloud) chemical and Atmospheric Science. Chemistry: Atmospheric of areas other in is second the Chemistry, Atmospheric positions in atmospheric science. One position is in faculty two for applicants seeks Sciences Planetary and Atmospheric of Earth, The MIT Department System.University Marcos isUniversity–San a member of the Texas State ted to increasing the of diversity its faculty. Texas State commit- is Texas State veteran. era Vietnam or disabled origin, age, physical or mental handicaps, or status as a national sex, religion, or creed color, race, of because cational institution and as such does not discriminate ps33@ E-mail: txstate.edu. Texas 512-245-8353. State is an equal Fax: opportunity edu- 512-245-2170. Voice: University-San Marcos, San Marcos, 78666-4616. TX and Chair, Professor W. Suckling, to: Dr. Philip references three of Department information contact and names the and vitae, curriculum of Geography,2007. Review Applicants are to submit a letter of application, of applications Texas State will begin on February 19, FACULTY POSITIONS IN ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE ATMOSPHERIC IN POSITIONS FACULTY GEOBIOLOGY OR PALEOCLIMATOLOGY

Those who might additionally contribute to POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY JANUARY 2007, GSATODAY MIT We seek individuals with a with individuals seek We Areas of specific interest CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 41 Vassar College specialties in geophysics, sedimentology, and 4 and Quaternary geology, geographers with specialties in cultural, The urban, and physical geography. earth science program emphasizes surficial processes and is active in the The environmental studies program. program has ~20 students and graduates 6-8 students per year. Instrumentation in the department size includes XRD, laser-particle fully equipped coulometer, analyzer, and paleoclimatology, sedimentology, clay mineralogy laboratories, GIS computer lab, various field geophysical instruments, and a meteorological station. In addition, the department with the Department shares an ICPAES College also owns Vassar of Chemistry. a 500-acre ecological preserve with a laboratory field station. Send a letter of application that includes a description of teaching experience as well as a description of the proposed advanced level course. Please also include a curriculum vitae and the names and addresses of at least 3 Address these materials to: references. of Earth Department Department Chair, College Vassar Science and Geography, Box 735, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604. No electronic submissions, please. Review of applications will begin January 30, 2007. The Department of Earth Science and of Earth Science The Department College invites Vassar at Geography for a one-year sabbatical applications will The position position. replacement be at the August 2007 and will begin professor. rank of visiting assistant is an equal opportunity/ College Vassar and is action employer, affirmative committed to strongly and actively diversity within its community. completed or be Candidates should have a Ph.D. in nearing completion of at the time of geology or earth science The successful candidate appointment. (mineralogy will teach earth materials and petrology) at the intermediate level, non-lab introductory courses including Geohazards, and an advanced level In course in his or her specialty. addition, she or he will be expected to research work. advise undergraduate private liberal-arts College is a Vassar Hudson River York's college in New The Earth Science and valley. Geography department presently consists of 4 earth scientists with U.S. citizenship is and managerial skills are GEOLOGIST Complete qualifications information and and information qualifications Complete GS-1350/1313/1320/1301-15 UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE DEPT. OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES CENTRAL ENERGY TEAM, SUPERVISORY SUPERVISORY TEAM, ENERGY CENTRAL U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, CHIEF SCIENTIST CHIEF SURVEY, GEOLOGICAL U.S. GEOPHYSICIST/CHEMIST/PHYSICAL SCIENTIST GEOPHYSICIST/CHEMIST/PHYSICAL application procedures can be found at: www.usgs.gov/ or [email protected] Mary Dunlap, Contact: ohr/oars/. or [email protected] Garcia, Tina or +1-303-236-9563 opportu- +1-303-236-9569 equal an is required. Survey with any questions. Geological U.S. The employer. nity University the at Sciences Geological DepartmentThe of of Saskatchewan, is accepting applications for a tenure- the in level Professor Assistant the at position track broad area of Crustal Tectonics. The department seeks essential. Also required is a comprehensive knowledge knowledge comprehensive a is required Also essential. of the scientific principles, concepts, and practices that apply to the principal Team’s areas of investigation, which include the assessment of solid, liquid, and natural geochemistry, economics, energy resources, energy gas pri- The systems. petroleum to related geophysics and mary research emphases of the are Team the geologic and geochemical processes that lead to assessment of oil, natural gas, and coal. Strong written and oral com- con- effectively to order in required are skills munication vey the USGS results to other Federal and State agen- cies, universities, and other institutions, and to engender programs. USGS of participation support and their filled be can that position interdisciplinary an is as This either a Supervisory Geologist, (CR- GS-1350-15 2007-0083), position Supervisory Geophysicist, The (CR- GS-1313-15 Supervisory GS-1320-15 Chemist, (CR-2007-0089), GS-1301- $142,142. Scientist, Supervisory or Physical 2007-0090), to 15 (CR-2007-0091). $109,342 from for ranging considered annual starting the with position permanent be a is This salary to order in is located in Lakewood, Colo., a suburb of Denver. This online vacancy opens apply on 11/06/2006 and closes on 1/26/2006. must You position. this The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) invites applica- invites (USGS) Survey Geological U.S. The Energy Central Scientist, Chief of position the for tions Team The Colorado. Lakewood, in Team, Resources Chief Scientist supervises a staff of approximately one hundred research ten (110) and operational personnel. leadership scientific Strong mals are preferred due to responsibility for the interna- University the of collections mammal significant tionally of Nebraska State Museum. The Department faculty currently has strong researchinterests in sedimentol- paleontology/paleobiol- paleoclimate, stratigraphy, ogy, meteorology/climatology. and Quaternary studies, ogy, participate to expected be will successful candidate The to courses, graduate and undergraduate of teaching in a develop to and students, graduate direct and advise exter- by supported is that program research rigorous encouraged be also will candidate The funding. nal Ecology the in students and faculty with interact to and Evolution Group within the School of Biological Sciences. In addition, the candidate will oversee cura- Paleontology Vertebrate the within collections of tion Division of the State Museum. The Museum administers Nationala Science renovation Foundation for award col- mammal fossil the of management database and in participate to expected be will candidate the lections; strengths the complement that Applicants project. this candidates including department desirable, are the of paleoecology/paleoclimate in interests research with Ph.D. the hold should candidate The phylogeny. and requisi- degree and demonstrate strong potential for research candidates minority ethnic and Female teaching. and apply. to encouraged strongly are http://employment.unl.edu to go apply, “faculty/administrative the complete To and 060971 tion form.” Applicants must submit a cover letter, on curriculum curatorial and teaching, research, of statement vitae, applications review to begin interests, will and We names of at least three references site. plu- via Web the a above to January15 committed but 2007, the position is will remain open for applications Nebraska until it is filled. of University The ralistic campus community through Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, and is responsive to the needs accom- reasonable assure We couples. career dual of For Act. Disabilities Americans with the under modation further information, David Dr. Loope, Search Committee Chair by e-mail, phone, or mail at: [email protected]; 1.402.472.2647; Department of Geosciences,of Nebraska–Lincoln, Bessey 214 Hall, University Lincoln, NE 68588-0340. opening for a vis- ural Geology and Introduction immediate GEOLOGY WILLIAM L. FISHERWILLIAM SPRING TERM 2007 TERM SPRING NORWICH UNIVERSITY NORWICH UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA OF UNIVERSITY VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY VERTEBRATE WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITYWESTERN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF GEOSCIENCES OF PROFESSOR ASSISTANT ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSOR, ASSISTANT CONGRESSIONAL GEOSCIENCE FELLOWSHIP GEOSCIENCE CONGRESSIONAL VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY OF PROFESSOR ASSISTANT VISITING GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 2007 JANUARY GSA TODAY, The Department of Geography and Geology at at Geology and Geography of Department The Western Kentucky University invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor geology rank in Ph.D. Earned Geology. Environmental in envi- or geophysics near-surface emphasizing required, ronmental mineralogy, but other areas of specialization specialization of areas Desirable considered. be will environ- and tectonics, geophysics, applied (1) include: min- of applications (2) or characterization, site mental eralogy to clays, carbonates, and medicine/forensics. expertise experience, teaching university-level Previous experi- work and/or instrumentation, analytical with desirable also are sector environmental the in ence to expected is applicant successful The qualifications. develop and teach high-quality undergraduate courses, encourage and supervise undergraduate research Geoscience, in proj- programs M.S. to contribute and ects, undergradu- in initiatives university and Science, Environmental upper-level as Applied well Research as and Technology (http://artp.wku.edu). core and education general include duties Teaching geology, in courses ate and graduate courses in the specialization. Other to leading research scholarly include responsibilities atten- service, and public and university publication, information more For development. professional to tion about the position and the Department, visit www.wku. edu/geoweb/info/geopos1.htm and WesternEqual Opportunity Kentucky names University employer. All is qualified an Affirmative the individuals Action/ persons minorities, are women, including and apply, to encouraged should Applicants veterans. disabled and disabilities with transcripts, provide a letter describing university their interest in and of qualifica- tions for the position along copies with a curriculum vita, unof- ficial of Applications references. professional three Department addresses of Chair, Committee Search to sent be should 1906 University, Kentucky Western Geology, & Geography College Heights Blvd. #31066, Bowling Green, KY 42101- 2007 February 1 on begin will applications of Review 1066. paleontology. filled. position is the continues until and vertebrate in mam- Cenozoic in as position track tenure a for invited are Applications interests specialization Assistant Professor in the research Department of Geosciences with with Candidates iting scholar for the spring semester of 2007 with pos- sible extension through the fall semester of 2007.Teaching Struct include responsibilities considered be may applicants Qualified Geology. to of lieu in Oceanography in instructorship full-time a for Introductory Geology. Inquiries are welcome and directed Richardto Dr. Dunn, Chair, Geology and Environmental resume have must Candidates . [email protected] at Science interest, of a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences or related letter discipline. a Highly qualified send ABDs may be considered. should Applicants and contact information for three references to Geology 158 University, Norwich Resources, Human Search-G, Harmon Drive, Northfield, VT 05663 or via e-mail: have jobs@ or citizens U.S. be must Candidates . norwich.edu begin will applicants of Review status. resident permanent immediately and continue until the position is filled. The AmericanGeological Institute is pleased to announce the William L. Fisher Congressional candidate successful The Fellowship. Geoscience will spend months 12 (starting September 2007) in Washington, working D.C., as a staffer for a Member of is fellowship The committee. congressional or Congress with experience first-hand gain opportunity to unique a the legislative processand contribute to the effective use of geoscience incrafting public policy. established Minimumat least requirements three endowment, years of post-degree are a master’s an degree work experience with by or a Ph.D. at the time of appointment. The fellowship provided car- the for $55,000.Support to is up of stipend annual an ries fellowship through the AGI Foundation, in honor of William L. Fisher. All application1 February materials 2007. must be transmitted by AGI www.agiweb.org/gap/csf. visit details, opportunity more employer. equal For an is The Geologyand Environmental Science programs at an have University Norwich CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 42 42 small- apleasant in situated institution research-oriented Southern Illinois [email protected]. University E-mail: 7393. Lincoln Carbondale Drive, Carbondale, IL 62901. Fax: +1-618-453- 1259 Carbondale, University Illinois Southern 4324, is a large,Committee Search Anderson, to: Dr. Ken referees three least at Chair, Departmentresearch interests, and the names and of addresses ofsubmit Geology, a curriculumand continue Review until the Mail position is filled. Applicants should Code of vitae, applications a statement byrequirements the time of appointment. will of begin teachinghold a 15 Ph.D. February and oris one to two courses per semester. show Applicants must that 2007 theycourses in their area of expertise. Normal teaching load graduate and will undergraduate and complete geology introductory all degreesuccessful http://mccoy.lib.siu.edu/projects/crelling2/atlas/). The applicant ogy (http://mccoy.lib.siu.edu/projects/crelling/; program is expectedour long-standing, internationally recognized coal petrol- to teachprogram. We prefer a coal geologist who courses will advance research funded externally recognized, ininternationally an developing, for potential or of, existence the onstrate toral experience is preferred. The applicant should dem- 2007. 16 of Post-doc- Aug. date astart with professor track position in coal geology at the rank of assistant invites applications forUniversity–Carbondale a tenure- of at Geology Illinois Southern The Department employer. EO/AA [email protected]. at For questions about the position contact Evan Franseen kgs.ku.edu/General/jobs.html. Priority date: 1 Feb. 2007. www. at information Further toapply. encouraged larly research. Women and minority candidates are particu- ment. Position provides to opportunities continue active budgeting, personnel evaluation, and program develop- programs or organizations. Demonstrated experience in with supervisory/management experience in scientific Ph.D. and professional experience in the geosciences Survey to challenges meet of earth-sciences the future. and execution of research programs planning that position the the in role major play to position rank Academic nent residents will be given priority. are encouraged to apply; however, candidates Canadians and perma- qualified All applications. their in to self-identify disabilities). Applicants from these groups are encouraged of aboriginal ancestry, visible of representation increasing The 2007. 1March after University applications reviewing begin We will of Saskatchewan 306-966-8593. fax: usask.ca, kevin.ansdell@ e-mail: Canada, S7N5E2, SK Saskatoon, is committedUniversity of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, to Search Committee, Department of Geological Sciences, letters of reference, should be sent to: Crustal Tectonics research interests and teaching philosophy, and three Applications, including résumé, statement of visit www.usask.ca/geology/. the toabout applicants are the encouraged Department, information detailed For facilities. computing and lytical and two endowed research chairs, and excellent ana- full-time faculty, including two Canada Research Chairs 16 has Science of Division the in Sciences Geological of reach and international The opportunities. Department out- community programs, interdisciplinary research, faculty and student emphasizes College The Chairs. Research 14 Canada including faculty, 325 and College over are There 8,000 sciences. the and undergraduate sciences social the arts, adynamic and offers &Science graduate Arts of combination of College programs in The the humanities and fine students in the Canada’s leading research-intensive universities. of one is university The 20,000. about of population ate, graduate, and professional programs to a student scholarly activities and offers a full range of undergradu- and research teaching, in excellence for a reputation has University The opportunities. leisure of range a full thriving economic base, a vibrant community and arts Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, a city with The a diverse and University 2007. 1July tobe expected is which of appointed, when aPh.D. hold must SaskatchewanCandidates tory courses, structural geology, and field schools. introduc- including research, and teaching student is graduate and located undergraduate in broadly participate and develop to program, expected be will research candidate funded externally successful The ina vigorous, Earth’s crust. to elucidating the structural and tectonic evolution of the approach integrative an takes who researcher a versatile SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY–CARBONDALE UNIVERSITY OF LAWRENCE KANSAS, KANSAS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DEPUTY DIRECTOR COAL GEOLOGY equity groups (women, people minorities and/or people with cessful applicant will teach neering geology, or environmental geology. The suc- possible areas of interest include geomorphology, engi- an applicant with experience in processes; surficial We seek aplus. experience teaching appointment; of time the by required is field arelated or geosciences 2007. in APh.D. Fall tostart processes surficial in tion posi- tenure-track afull-time for applications invites ofThe Department Geology at Western Illinois University ited from women and minority candidates. Opportunity, Equal an is Alabama of are solic- Employer and applications University Affirmative-Action The tinue until the position is filled. of applications willis available on our Web begin site at www.geo.ua.edu. Review on 22 January870338, Tuscaloosa, 2007, AL34587-0338. Further information and con- of of Alabama, Department Geological Sciences, Box Volcanology Search Committee Chair, The University referees to Dr. Harold Stowell, Igneous Petrology & 4 for information contact and interests, teaching and Applicants should send a vita, statements of research putational resources and software are also available. scanning electron microscopes. State-of-the-art com- microanalyzer, a transmission electron microscope, and coupled plasma mass spectrometer, an electron probe eter, an automated X-ray diffractometer, an inductively- includes: an automated X-ray fluorescence spectrom- expanding and dynamic university. Available equipment Sciences is an active and growing department within an phic petrology, geophysics, and tectonics. Geological compliments existing research programs in metamor- ing of volcanic and magmatic processes. This position or spreading center magmatic systems, and/or model- subduction of evolution the include emphasis research of areas Possible components. lab and field strong with program research aexternally-funded develop and students; doctoral and masters supervise and attract uate courses in igneous petrology and/or volcanology; grad- and volcanology), (e.g., elective undergraduate an petrology, &metamorphic igneous undergraduate ogy, candidate will be expected to: teach introductory geol- 2007. The August in beginning level Professor Assistant the at filled tobe position faculty atenure-track for tions ofThe Department Geological Sciences invites applica- encouraged and will receive consideration. student population. All applications are welcomed and adiverse toserve potential its toincrease and staff and faculty adiverse todevelop ability its toenhance strives that employer opportunity action/equal affirmative an comprehen- our visit please information, further sive For Web site www.science.siu.edu/geology. SIUC is Program. Resources Mineral and Mining the and Studies, Coal Center, Research the Center for Advanced Friction the including research collaborative for opportunities SIUC has energy programs and facilities that provide program. Ph.D. Policy and Resources Environmental interdisciplinary the in participates and geology in grams students and offers Bachelor and Master degree pro- of 10 with about 40 undergraduate and 30 graduate faculty afull-time has Department Geology The s150/). top 75 public research university (http://news.siu.edu/ enhance interdisciplinarytown setting southeast of St. Louis. SIUC is seeking to research as it strives to be a crimination policy that includes sex, race, color, sexual anon-dis- has WIU todiversity. commitment tutional insti- astrong has and employer Opportunity Equal Western Illinois University is an Affirmative Action/ filled. is position the until continue will and IL, 61455. Review ofWestern applications Illinois University, 1 University Circle, Macomb, will beginences to: Search Committee, Department of Geology, 1 Feb. refer- current three 2007 of numbers phone and addresses vita, teaching and Applicants research statements, and the names, should www.wiu.edu/geology/. site: Web submit our on found be can department the a about letter information More Studies. of Environmental for application, Institute WIU the and Center GIS within and the with department the McDonough County available are opportunities Collaboration research. ate ence requirements, and actively mentors undergradu- sci- Geology, in aB.S. education offers general Geology of satisfy that courses Department The provides active research. oriented research program involving undergraduates in applicant. This individual isGeology expected and possibly new courses developed by the to develop a field- Engineering Geology, Environmental Geology, Glacial ogy and advanced courses such as Geomorphology, FULL-TIME TENURE-TRACK ASSISTANT IGNEOUS PETROLOGY/VOLCANOLOGY WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SURFICIAL PROCESSES PROFESSOR introductory physical geol- ing a wide range of expertise. In support of our faculty cover- faculty our members of 18 of faculty support In consists expertise. of department range The awide ing specialization. of area her or his in courses develop and programs teaching graduate and ate ful candidate is expected to contribute to our undergradu- Qualification Desired: nals, and the generation of external funding. dent research, active publication in highly ranked jour- research program, including of supervision graduate stu- astrong of development components; analytical and/or program thator near-surface geodynamic combinesing geoscientist with demonstrated expertise in surface quantitative outstand- appointment; of time the at field related or ics, modeling Required with candidate. exceptional an for fieldsidered Qualifications: con- be may level Professor Associate the at Appointment Assistant Professor position to begin fall semester of 2007. atenure-track for applications invites University State Louisiana at Geophysics and Geology of Dept. The Michigancational Tech institution/equal employer. opportunity University is an equal edu- opportunity attention. fullest the receiving ApplicationsUniversity, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI received 49931. Technological Michigan Sciences, and Engineering Mining by and 30 Geological of January Dept. Chair, Committee toSearch ences 2007 arecomplete assured contact information for three professional refer- of of teaching experience and interests, and the names and Applicantsment of and capabilities interests, research a statement should send their curriculum vitae, a state- programs, please visit our Web site, www.geo.mtu.edu. educational and research faculty, our about information more For geophysics. applied and engineering geological and applications of research, with programs in geology, department The activities. for recreational outdoor ofety opportunities prides itselfsurrounded area apristine on by Peninsula, Upper Lake Michigan’s in Michigan located is Tech Superior, has a student population of ~6300 and which provides a wide development. future of vari- promise show that or can help expand our into department new directions canology, hydrology, petroleum geology, and geophysics) our department’s existing strengths (remote sensing, vol- complement either can who applicants We encourage tion. educa- in effectiveness for potential their and research lish evaluated based on their ability to obtain funding and pub- Full or Associate at Professor appointment with commensurate ments willor a also related field. Candidates with demonstrated achieve- be considered.A Ph.D. is required in geological geosciences, engineering, Applicantstenure-track at appointments Professor the level. Assistant Sciences at Michigan Tech will seeks applications for two and Engineering be Mining and Geological of Dept. The opportunity, equal access, affirmative action university. applications of Review 46805. IN Wayne, Fort Boulevard, Coliseum East will 2101 Wayne, Fort begin University University-Purdue 1Indiana February 2007.Search Committee Chair, Department of Geosciences, IPFW Farlow, J. to: Prof. references is three for an information contact equal curriculum vitae, copies of transcripts, and the names and application, statement of teaching and research interests, depart- the in faculty full-time other three are ment. There IPFW is a comprehensive faculty. (e.g. thin section lab, SEM, XRD) and for opportunities new ogy research program is well-supported in both equipment involve undergraduate students in research. IPFW’s geol- expected to maintain an active research program and to with GISexperience will be and 2).Familiarity (Position geomorphology and geology sedimentology/stratigraphy and (Position 1), geology and structural field elementary including specialty, his/her in courses additional teach will applicant successful each ogy, and regional field geology. Over a multi-year cycle, introductory geology, planetary introductory climatol- faculty responsibilities for teaching introductory geology, for each position will be expected to share with other tectonics/applied geophysics. The successful applicant raphy/surface processes; and (2) structural geology/neo- (1) in sedimentology/stratig- level Professor Assistant the IPFW seeks to fill two full-time, tenure-track positions at disability, or veteran status. origin, national status, marital age, religion, orientation, GEODYNAMICS OR GEOPHYSICS/TENURE-TRACK INDIANA UNIVERSITY-PURDUE UNIVERSITY TWO TENURE-TRACK FACULTY POSITIONS MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES OF DEPARTMENT LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY TWO FACULTY POSITIONS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR JANUARY 2007, GSATODAY FORT WAYNEFORT (IPFW) teaching experience. The success- a plus. Geosciences faculty are are faculty Geosciences a plus. its strong educational focus s or geophysics; research research geophysics; s or Ph.D. in geology, geophys- university. Send a letter of Additional CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 43 solicits appli- solicits ogy–tectonics; remote sens- We are seeking applicants for three teach- three for applicants seeking are We cants for its MS. and Ph.D. programs. The department has Geosciences disciplines. all opportunities across research students from applications particularly encourage We temperature low in projects research pursue to wishing geol geochemistry; structural available are Assistantships geophysics. and GIS; and ing on a competitive basis, beginning Fall For more 2007. infor- www. at sites Web departmental the see please mation, gesc.ttu.edu/, or contact the Geology Graduate Advisor, [email protected]. Ridley, Moira Dr. Graduate Research and Teaching Assistantships, Assistantships, Teaching and Research Graduate for Graduate Sciences University Program, Hydrologic of $17,000 Nevada, is Reno. salary in courses graduate introductory the for assistantships ing annual The geochemistry. aqueous and mechanics fluid groundwater, areas. same the in assistantships research be will remainder The subject general includes and students Ph.D. for $18,000 and students M.S. medical benefits and tuition, for a total package be may assistantships worth research Additional up $31,000/year. to (www.dri.edu) Desert Institute Research the six from available to up Carson in Division Resources Water fill U.S.G.S. the from and to made be shall applications All seeking (nevada.usgs.gov). City is Reno regardless of Program, Sciences Hydrologic UNR the to M.S.) Nevada, of 70% at Program Sciences Hydrologic The source. funding the and University Ph.D. the (30% graduate research students advise and teaching assistantships starting has in Program courses, Sciences Hydrologic The 2007. July/August, graduate teach who 70 faculty nearly core 40 than more and sciences. hydrologic the in research conduct and students top the among nationally rated consistently is program The ten by the U.S. News and World Report Guide to Graduate include program the in research of areas General Schools. groundwater, surface aqueous water, geochemistry, con- aquatic chemistry, and physics soil transport, taminant research to Approaches ecology. science fire and ecology range from applied to theoretical. Students and faculty are very active in international water issues (www.saiwi.org). Instructions for application to the program can be found on our Web site: www.hydro.unr.edu and on the Graduate School’s Web site:www.vpr.unr.edu/grad2. Additional program our contacting by obtained be can information office at +1-775-784-6469 or by e-mail: [email protected]. Department The Opportunities. Research Graduate of Geosciences at Texas Tech University The The The Miami University Geology Department NASA Planetary Biology Internship Program (PBI) provides scale global of questions scientific explore to opportunities about planet Earth. For eight weeks graduate students are granted a one-time opportunity to travel outside their to related research in participate to institutions home planetaryNASA’s biology objectives. Interns have par- ticipated in a wide variety of planetary biological studies of ecology microbial bacteria; precipitating metal including and biochemical, morphological, environments; extreme isotopic analyses of stromatolites and microbial mats; and evolution. molecular con- by brochure application tacting an obtain should Students the PBI Administrator, Michael Dolan, Department Massachusetts, Amherst, MA of University Geosciences, of 01003. Telephonee-mail [email protected] +1-413-545-3223, or from the Web page, www. mbl.edu/education/courses/other_programs/pbi.html. fax: +1-413-545-1200, the to directly mailed be must packages Application MBL Admissions Office by 1 March Students 2007. are origin, national sex, age, race, to regard without admitted handicap. physical or invitesapplications to our M.S. andPh.D. programs. Grant- university-funded and Assistantships Research funded starting students for available are Assistantships Teaching Fall 2007. geomor- geomicrobiology, in programs research Thebased Department maintains active field and laboratory petrology, igneous hydrogeology, geophysics, phology, isotope geochemistry (stable and radiogenic), low-tem- crystallography, and mineralogy geochemistry, perature stra- and sedimentology surface geochemistry, mineral and tectonics, geology, structural seismology, tigraphy, volcanology. visit please opportunities, research student For graduate more and information about the application process (www.muohio.edu/geology) site departmental Web our or contact Cathy Edwards ([email protected]). fac- contact to encouraged also are students Prospective ulty directly to discuss potential research projects. first-round in funding consideration for deadline application The offers is 1 February 2007. NASA Planetary Biology Internship Program. dures, visit www.uic.edu/depts/geos/ or contact Peter Dr. [email protected]. at Doran University, Miami Opportunities at Ph.D. and M.S. Oxford, Ohio. fer. Application deadline is deadline Application fer. pport from LSU alumni and alumni LSU pport from we have well-equipped analytical and com- and analytical well-equipped have we , The Department of Earth and Environmental GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 2007 JANUARY GSA TODAY, Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, invites appli- invites Chicago, at Illinois University of Sciences, are We 2007. Fall in admission graduate for cations (includ- Geobiology in interested students seeking Geochemistry Paleontology), and Geomicrobiology ing Organic), and Isotopic, Environmental, Aqueous, (including Quaternary dynamics, sheet ice (including Change Global paleoclimatology), geochronology, geomorphology, Mineralogy. and Geophysics, Hydrology/Limnology, applicants successful to available support is Financial through Research and Teaching Assistantships, and NSF- IGERT fellowships (www.uic.edu/depts/bios/leap/). Our research involves a variety of field investigations (e.g. Antarctica, Asia, Egypt, Yellowstone) and uses state-of- the-art department, laboratory the instrumentation within elsewhere at UIC, and at nearby facilities such Argonne National Laboratory. are We located in a vibrant, growing the that all to access convenient with neighborhood, urban of to has Chicago of city great Opportunities for Students Opportunities Ph.D. and M.S. Opportunities in Earth and at Sciences—University Illinois Environmental of Chicago. 1 February.For more information and application proce- cess will begin 16 January 2007 and will continue until until administration. continue For more information about will our depart- and ment, visit our Web site, geol.lsu.edu. 2007 January 16 pro- review The check. pre-employment background An offer employment begin of contingent is satisfactory a on will cess a send should persons Interested selected. is candidate copy of their vita (including e-mail address), a statement of their research of and teaching interests, and the names, members addresses, phone numbers, from and e-mail addresses of at least three references to Jeffrey A. Nunn, Geodynamics Applications Geophysics, and Geology of Dept. Committee, Search 70803. LA #000162, ref. [email protected], University, State Louisiana Rouge, Baton encouraged. are groups underrepresented EMPLOYER. LSU IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/EQUAL ACCESS putational laboratories. LSU also hasmajor a initiative in high performance computing through the Center Geology for www.cct.lsu.edu. Technology, and Computation su strong has Geophysics and and students and Bicentennial Conference1807 - 2007 The Geological Society of London Earth Sciences in the Service of Society • 10-12 September 2007 • Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster, London Second Circular - Registration now open! Welcome to the second circular of the John Cherry (Waterloo), Doug Mackay (UC Davis, Ca), Paul Lord Browne of Madingley FRS, Murray Hitzman, Geological Society of London’s Younger (Newcastle), Tony Apello, Neil Chapman, David John Ludden, Gabriella Schneider. Lerner (Sheffield), Ghislain de Marsily (Université de Paris bicentennial conference! Parallel with the plenary session on Day 3, sixth VI), Stephen Foster (Adviser to World Bank), Richard form science students will be able to attend their Registration is now open, so please visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/ Teeuw (Portsmouth) bicentenaryconference to register. Preparations for the own special session – an exhibition and a series of conference are progressing well and we are delighted to • Earth and Planetary Interiors – geochemistry, geophysics, presentations, including one from TV presenter announce new specialist speakers, along with an exciting active tectonics, volcanology Dr Iain Stewart (University of Plymouth), designed to show how studying Earth science at university social programme. Alex Halliday (Oxford), Monica Grady (OU), Dan McKenzie (Camb.), David Gubbins (Leeds), Brian Kennett (ANU), can open the way to a rewarding life full of travel, The conference Bernie Wood (Macquarie University), Brian Wernicke excitement - and high wages. If your organisation (CalTec), Phil England (Oxford), Rick Sibson (Otago), would wish to take stand space here, please Earth Sciences in the Service of Society is an international Naomi Oreskes (UCSD), Mark Zoback (Stanford), Leigh contact us. conference marking the Bicentennial of The Geological Royden (MIT), Ed Stolper (CalTech), Joe Cann (Leeds), Society of London, the world’s oldest national geological society. Field trips Jon Davidson (Durham), Chris Hawkesworth (Bristol), Pre and post-conference excursions will visit many This international conference will review the current state Geoffrey Park (Yale), Steve Sparks (Bristol), Vincent of the most important and interesting classic of the science and demonstrate the relevance of modern-day Courtillot (IFPG, Paris), J-P Brun (Université de Rennes), British and special interest sites of British geology Earth science to the important issues of our time, such Simon Peacock (UBC) as fuel resources, nuclear waste, the solar system and – though one is even planned to Tierra del Fuego! • The Earth System – evolution of Earth environments, climate change. For a full list of trips and to book your place, please Quaternary change visit www.geolsoc.org.uk/ bicentenary. 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Tim Lenton (UEA) Smit (Shell), Philippe Lacour-Gayet (Schlumberger), Tony Important dates Batchelor (Geosci), Michel Cuney, Richard Hardman (rtd.), These will be accompanied by open poster sessions and Registration opens: 8 January 2007 Ashok Belani (Schlumberger), Hugh Torrens, Andrew opportunities for specialist discussion. “Early bird” registration ends: 31 May 2007 Mackenzie (Rio), Graham Brown (Anglo), Dan Taranik Day three will be devoted to a plenary session on Earth’s (Anglo), Dick Tosdal (UBC), Nick Arndt (Grenoble), Future. Distinguished speakers will present new results Call for posters Dick Sillitoe, Jim Franklin, Lord Oxburgh of Liverpool and ideas relevant to our understanding of the planet and The Society welcomes submissions on any topics • Environment – engineering geology of London, groundwater, how these affect key environmental issues, present and relevant to the programme. See the Conference waste and contamination, geophysics future, including: natural hazards, climate change, energy website for details of poster sessions. Poster Eddie Bromhead (Kingston), Duncan Nicholson (Arup), and water resources. sessions may be restructured in the light of Sarah Terry (Crossrail), Tim Newman (Thames Water), Alan submissions received. Abstracts will be subject to Green (ETHZ), Peter Styles (Keele), Rick Miller (Kansas Speakers: Richard Fortey FRS, Lord Rees of Ludlow PRS, review by poster session conveners. Submission Geological Survey), Rosemary Knight (Stan), Mark Everett Barry Parsons, Alan Boss, James Jackson FRS, Brian deadline: 15 June 2007 - please note change of date. (Texas AM), Niels Christensen (Aarhus, Denmark), Tucker, Rick Battarbee FRS, Brian Hoskins FRS,

1807 Bicentennial year platinum sponsors: YEARS 2serving science &0 profession 2007 We would like to thank all bicentennial sponsors: AL SOCIET IC Y G O O F L A O M E E G R

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T GROUNDWORK Furthering the Influence GROUNDWORK: of Earth Science Furthering the Influence of Earth Science

Advocates for cold-blooded dinosaurs: The new generation of heretics

Timothy L. Clarey, Delta College, Dept. of Geology, 1961 sion of highly vascularized bone merely means the animal was Delta Road, University Center, Michigan 48710-0002, USA, active and not necessarily endothermic. Owerkowicz raised [email protected] two savannah monitor lizards and exercised one daily while letting the other remain inactive. After a few years, he killed INTRODUCTION the pair and examined their respective bone microstructure. Robert Bakker (1986) branded himself and a small group He found that the active lizard had a bone microstructure that of groundbreaking and upstart paleontologists in the 1960s was highly vascularized, mimicking an endothermic animal and 1970s “heretics” because they challenged the mainstream and containing numerous Haversian canals. The inactive lizard view of dinosaurs as slow, sluggish, and cold-blooded reptiles. had a poorly vascularized microstructure, typical of modern This view, that dinosaurs were warm-blooded, active, bird-like ectothermic animals. His study only “proved” that dinosaurs creatures, much different than extant reptiles of today, is now were active. widely accepted by scientists and the public alike. Yet, this Ruben and Jones (2000) believe that the presence of respira- viewpoint has been challenged in recent years by a small but tory turbinates makes a better “proof” of endothermy. Ninety- active minority group of researchers, herein described as the nine percent of endothermic animals have turbinates or coils new generation of heretics. This paper concentrates on some of membrane-covered cartilage or bone in their nasal pas- of the newer evidence suggesting that dinosaurs might have sages. These structures significantly reduce water and heat loss been cold-blooded or ectothermic. Unfortunately, the proof associated with rapid rates of lung ventilation as needed in of whether an animal is endothermic or ectothermic is found endothermic animals. Although cartilaginous turbinates may only in soft tissue anatomy, which is not well preserved and is not always be preserved as fossils, Ruben’s team (1996) found extremely rare in the fossil record (Ruben and Jones, 2000). that the presence of turbinates is directly correlated with larger nasal cavities in modern endothermic animals. They suspect BONES, NASAL PASSAGES, AND SOFT-TISSUE DATA that larger nasal passages in endotherms serve to accommo- AS INDICATORS OF DINOSAUR METABOLISM date greater lung ventilation rates and provide the room nec- Bone histology involves study under a microscope of thin- essary to house the respiratory turbinates. Ruben et al. (1996) sections of bone tissue. Two types of compact bone structure conducted CT-scans on several dinosaur skulls, including two have been identified in these studies: lamellar-zonal and fibro- theropods, Tyrannosaurus (Nanotyrannus) and Ornithomi- lamellar. Lamellar-zonal bone has a layered appearance with mus, and one ornithischian, Hypacrosaurus. These dinosaurs lines of arrested growth (LAGs), or growth lines, and is poorly showed narrow nasal cavities, indicative of modern ectother- vascularized, with few Haversian canals, like most modern rep- mic animals, with little room for respiratory turbinates. Ruben tiles and amphibians (Ruben and Jones, 2000). The age of such et al. (1996) interpret this as strong evidence for low lung ven- animals can be determined by counting the growth rings or tilation rates, implying ectothermy or near-ectothermy. LAGs in the bone, similar to counting tree rings. Fibro-lamellar Ruben et al. (1997, 1999) also found limited soft-tissue and bone has a fibrous, woven appearance and is highly vascular- skeletal support for ectothermy in theropod dinosaurs. They ized, with numerous Haversian canals (Reid, 1997). This type interpreted soft-tissue impressions of the abdominal cavity of bone, which contains fewer LAGs, is found in birds, mam- in the theropod dinosaur Scipionyx samniticus as a hepatic mals, and most dinosaurs. piston, diaphragm-assisted, lung ventilation system similar to Histologic study of dinosaur bone has been hailed as “proof” modern crocodiles. The attachment style of the intestines and of dinosaur endothermy because dinosaurs commonly exhibit colon also indicates that the avian-style abdominal air sacs and the same highly vascularized, fibro-lamellar bone structure as the flow-through air sac lung were not present in Scipionyx. seen in mammals (Bakker, 1986; Reid, 1997). Ruben and Jones (2000) argue that this type of bone cannot be used as absolute proof of metabolic rate, pointing out that this interpretation is inconsistent with a variety of paleontological and biological data. Fibro-lamellar bone is present in some modern turtles, crocodiles, and lizards, and some dinosaurs contain both fibro- lamellar and lamellar-zonal structures (Reid, 1997). A study by Tomasz Owerkowicz (Morell, 1996) has shown that the posses-

doi: 10.1130/GSAT01701GW.1. GSA TODAY, JANUARY 2007 45 In their analysis of the Early Cretaceous theropod Sinosaurop- food as a modern horse. By contrast, a similar-sized endothermic teryx, Ruben and colleagues studied the fossilized outline of Triceratops would have needed to eat nearly 24 hours a day to the abdominal cavity, finding complete thoracic-abdominal maintain its metabolic requirements. Carnivores like a 7-ton ecto- separation with a vertically oriented partition that appears thermic T. rex would have only needed the equivalent of a single coincident with the dome-shaped anterior surface of the liver. adult hadrosaur per year, whereas an adult endothermic T. rex This condition is not found in mammals today and is more would have needed to consume almost one hadrosaur per week. consistent with the lung system of modern crocodiles. They Getting enough food each day into an endothermic, 40-ton veg- concluded that the crocodilian-style lung system and the lack etarian sauropod, with their poor dentition and tiny heads, would of respiratory turbinates indicate that theropod dinosaurs prob- have been an even more difficult task. ably maintained ectotherm-like resting metabolic rates. They also postulated that theropod dinosaurs had the capability of CONCLUSIONS expanding their lung capacity to approach the ventilation lev- It is too soon to conclude that all dinosaurs were warm- els of mammals during periods of high activity. blooded. Recent studies of bone histology, nasal passages, growth rates, and soft-tissue data seem to indicate that some DINOSAUR GROWTH RATES AND METABOLISM or all dinosaurs may have been ectothermic. They were active Growth rate is usually influenced by an organism’s metabo- animals, without a doubt, growing at rates approaching those lism. Recent studies of dinosaur growth rates have shown most of mammals. How much of this growth rate was due to warmer species experienced slow growth rates initially, followed by a Mesozoic temperatures is unknown. period of accelerated growth, and finally, slowed or reduced When educating students and the public, geoscientists must growth rates in adulthood. This is called a “sigmoidal” growth be careful not to advocate only the prevailing viewpoint. Dino- curve (Erickson et al., 2001) and is typical of most vertebrate saurs remain a popular and important source of fascination for animals. Growth rates were determined by counting “growth children and adults alike. New discoveries are reported by the rings” in bones (Erickson et al., 2001). In older individuals, where news media nearly every week. We can use this popularity to medullar expansion caused hollowing of the bones and growth our advantage. Dinosaurs are an excellent avenue by which ring loss in many of the adult bones, Erickson et al. (2004) used we can introduce other aspects of geology (such as anatomy, fibulae, ribs, cranial bones, and other non–weight-bearing bones biostratigraphy, geologic time, and tectonics) to students and for their analyses. They believe these bones do not lose the the general public (Padian, 1988). The irony is that the 1960s growth ring pattern with age. Carpenter (1999), however, dis- and 1970s generation of heretics has become the “establish- agrees. He believes that rib bones do not always show accurate ment,” and a new generation of heretics has emerged. growth rings and should be used for minimum ages only. Recent research by Yao et al. (2002) found that growth rings in juvenile REFERENCES CITED ornithomimid dinosaurs did disappear in adult rib bones, reaf- Bakker, R.T., 1986, The Dinosaur Heresies: New Theories Unlocking the Mystery of the Dinosaurs and Their Extinction: New York, William Morrow and Company, 481 p. firming the minimum age determination of Carpenter. Therefore, Barrick, R., 2000, The Thermodynamics of dinosaurs, in Paul, G., ed., The Scientific all interpretations concerning the ages of adult dinosaurs and American Book of Dinosaurs: New York, St Martin’s Press, p. 310–322. their growth rates must be accepted with some caution. Was T. Carpenter, K., 1999, Eggs, Nests, and Baby Dinosaurs: A Look at Dinosaur Reproduction: Bloomington, Indiana University Press, p. 336. rex “Sue” really 28 years old as Erickson et al. (2004) suggested, Erickson, G.M., Rogers, K.C., and Yerby, S.A., 2001, Dinosaurian growth patterns and or was he/she really 40? No one can be sure at this point. T. rex rapid avian growth rates: Nature, v. 412, p. 429–432, doi: 10.1038/35086558. Erickson, G.M., Makovicky, P.J., Currie, P.J., Norell, M.A., Yerby, S.A., and Brochu, “Sue,” as one of the largest specimens ever found, was probably C.A., 2004, Gigantism and comparative life-history parameters of tyrannosau- one of the oldest of his/her kind. rid dinosaurs: Nature, v. 430, p. 772–775, doi: 10.1038/nature02699. Morell, V., 1996, A cold, hard look at dinosaurs: Discover, v. 17, no. 12, p. 98–108. Does the growth rate data indicate dinosaurs were warm- Padian, K., 1988, New discoveries about dinosaurs: Separating the facts from the blooded? Not necessarily. Erickson et al. (2001) found dinosaur news: Journal of Geological Education, v. 36, p. 215–220. Reid, R.E.H., 1997, Dinosaurian physiology: The case for “intermediate dino- growth rates were considerably slower than those for birds, but saurs,” in Farlow, J.O., and Brett-Surman, M.K., eds., The Complete Dinosaur: still much faster than modern reptiles. They concluded that small Bloomington, Indiana University Press, p. 449–473. dinosaurs grew at rates similar to modern marsupials, while larger Ruben, J.A., and Jones, T.D., 2000, Selected factors associated with the origin of fur and feathers: American Zoologist, v. 40, p. 585–596, doi: 10.1668/0003- dinosaurs grew faster, at rates approaching placental mammals 1569(2000)040[0585:SFAWTO]2.0.CO;2. and precocial birds. As Owerkowicz observed (Morell, 1996), Ruben, J.A., Hillenius, W.J., Geist, N.R., Leitch, A., Jones, T.D., Currie, P.J., Horner, J.R., and Espe, G., III, 1996, The metabolic status of some Late Cretaceous dino- warmer temperatures in the Mesozoic Era could have had ecto- saurs: Science, v. 273, p. 1204–1207. thermic dinosaurs growing at near mammalian rates. Ruben, J.A., Jones, T.D., Geist, N.R., and Hillenius, W.J., 1997, Lung structure and ventilation in theropod dinosaurs and early birds: Science, v. 278, p. 1267– In a separate study, Erickson et al. (2004) showed that tyran- 1270, doi: 10.1126/science.278.5341.1267. nosaurid dinosaurs had maximal growth rates between 33%–52% Ruben, J.A., Dal Sasso, C., Geist, N.R., Hillenius, W.J., Jones, T.D., and Signore, M., of the rates expected for other dinosaur groups. They concluded 1999, Pulmonary function and metabolic physiology of theropod dinosaurs: Science, v. 283, p. 514–516, doi: 10.1126/science.283.5401.514. that the growth pattern of theropod dinosaurs, the purported Yao, J.-X., Zang, Y., and Tang, Z.-L., 2002, Histological study on the Late Cretaceous ancestors to birds, was closer to marsupials and reptiles instead of Ornithomimid and Hadrosaurid: Acta Palaeontologica Sinica, v. 41, p. 241–250. comparably sized altricial birds. These data seem to take tyranno- AL SOCIET IC Y G O O F saurids and dromaeosaurids a step back from warm-bloodedness L A O M E E G R

I E (and birds) and not closer, as most paleontologists insist. C H A

T Additional support for dinosaur ectothermy comes from Bar- GROUNDWORK rick (2000). He calculated that a 7-ton, plant-eating, ectothermic Furthering the Influence of Earth Science Triceratops would only have to consume the same amount of

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edited by aldwell . Glen E. C i and W ttista Va Gian Ba

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This volume includes an eclectic group of papers were not investigated further by Italian geoscientists by authors of varied backgrounds and nationality and historians of science during the nineteenth and who describe contributions to natural science and twentieth centuries. Rediscovering the roots of modern philosophy by Italian or foreign geologists working geology is an invaluable and crucial goal for a sound in Italy between the fourteenth and nineteenth assessment of long-term perspectives of this science centuries. Each of these scientists contributed to the and of science as a whole. emergence of modern geology as a distinct scientifi c discipline, starting with Aldrovandi, who coined the SPE411, 235 p., ISBN-10 0-8137-2411-2; term geology in 1603, and continuing with Agricola, ISBN-13 978-0-8137-2411-9 the early gemologists and mineralists, the Florentine artists, Descartes, Gassendi, Kircher, Steno, Marsili, Arduino, Gregory Watt, William Maclure, Brocchi, and Pilla. When Lyell disseminated the Huttonian GSA Sales and Service doctrine in his Principles, he fully recognized the P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO 80301-9140, USA legacy of pioneering Italian studies in geology. The +1.303.357.1000, option 3 aim of the volume is to restore Lyell’s insights, which +1.888.443.4472 • Fax +1.303.357.1071

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