Geology & Planetary Science Newsletter
2006-2007 In this issue: • New faculty • Faculty Research • Alumni news • Lots of photos!
Faculty Mark Abbott Associate Professor Thomas Anderson Professor Daniel Bain Assistant Professor Rosemary Capo Associate Professor Mark Collins Lecturer
Emily Elliott Bezymianny Volcano in Kamchatka, Russia, where PhD candidate Adam Carter uses thermal Assistant Professor infrared satellite data in combination with field-based methods to track thermal changes at the William Harbert volcano. Associate Professor Charles Jones Lecturer Michael Ramsey Two New Faculty Join Geology & Planetary Science Associate Professor In January 2007, the Depart- noted for its research on the trogen, and other coal combus- Michael Rosenmeier ment of Geology and Planetary Chesapeake Bay watershed. tion by-products in the country. Assistant Professor Science grew in number and in Elliott and Bain bring a variety Dr. Elliott’s research makes Ian Skilling stature with the arrival of Drs. of experiences and new exper- her uniquely qualified to ad- Assistant Professor Emily Elliott and Daniel Bain tise in geological and environ- dress this deposition, as she is Brian Stewart from Menlo Park, California, mental science, complement- completing a national study of Chair and Associate Professor where both had completed post- ing the department’s existing the isotopic concentration of Staff doctoral appointments with the strengths and extending its nitrate (nitrogen and oxygen) in Dolly Chavez U.S. Geological Survey. Prior to research focus to additional precipitation. Characterization Receptionist/Secretary working at USGS, Bain and important contemporary is- of these isotopic compositions Elliott received their doctorates sues. provides unprecedented infor- Deanna Hitchcock from Johns Hopkins University Academic Administrator Dr. Elliott, who grew up in mation on the sources of air in the Department of Geography southern Maryland, is an pollution and the processes Lorrie Robbins and Environmental Engineering. Department Administrator emerging national expert on determining the fate of this There they worked in Dr. Grace the sources and fate of air contamination in the atmos- Brush’s lab group, which is pollution. Pittsburgh phere.
Department of Geology & is ground zero for Dr. Bain, a native of southeast- Planetary Science atmospheric pollution ern Ohio, brings a wealth of as regional coal com- research experience in geo- University of Pittsburgh bustion provides elec- morphology, geochemistry, 4107 O’Hara Street tric power for a signifi- and hydrology to the Depart- cant portion of the ment. Dr. Bain’s postdoctoral 200 SRCC U.S. As a result, soils work with the USGS focused Pittsburgh PA 15260 in the Pittsburgh re- on water-geochemical interac- gion receive some of tions in two very different set- 412-624-8780 the highest loads of tings. One aspect character- FAX: 412-624-3914 atmospherically de- ized the isotopic systematics of posited mercury, ni- www.geology.pitt.edu the oxidation of chromium via University of Pittsburgh Arts and Sciences Page 2 Geology & Planetary Science Newsletter Letter from the Chair
Dear Alumni and Friends: dergraduate students in faculty number of tenured and ten- strides in elevating the Geol- research programs — and these ure-stream faculty in the ogy and Planetary Science I’d like to take this opportunity very often lead to exciting un- department was cut from research program toward on the Chair soapbox to high- dergraduate research projects twelve in the mid-1990s to those of the upper tier of light one of the most significant and honors theses, not to men- eight for most of the new geoscience departments, accomplishments of our de- tion opportunities to carry out century (we now have nine commensurate with the Uni- partment in the past few years: field work in remote and some- full-time positions counting versity of Pittsburgh’s stand- continued growth in research times exotic locations through- the one shared by Drs. Bain ing as one of the nation’s top funding from external sources. out the world. High levels of and Elliott); and (2) federal public research universities. Why is this important to the funding result in more visits and research funding in the earth mission of Geology and Plane- seminars from external collabo- sciences has taken a signifi- With best wishes, tary Science? Certainly, in the rators, and a generally more cant hit over the past several research arena, more funding vibrant and dynamic department years. In other words, we’re from agencies such as the atmosphere. doing more with less in National Science Foundation, every way. Training the next Brian Stewart NASA, DOE, and EPA is gen- Now let’s look at the numbers. genera- erally correlated with increased The university likes to track re- tion of publication output, greater search expenditures as a meas- geoscien- standing in the research com- ure of research funding produc- tists re- munity, and increased depart- tivity — this is the actual amount mains a ment visibility both within and of external funds researchers top prior- outside of Pitt. But research spend on things like lab sup- ity for us, funding also reverberates to plies, field work, and student but I other parts of our mission. support. As you can see in the thought More funding means greater accompanying chart, our re- you’d like graduate student support, al- search expenditures have in- to know lowing our students to focus on creased fivefold since 1990, that we their research projects and with a nearly monotonic rise are also high-quality scientific manu- over the last ten or so years. making scripts. External funding al- This increase is particularly im- great lows paid participation of un- pressive considering that (1) the Announcing our new G&PS Two new faculty (cont.) Administrator manganese oxides. This re- of a salary. However, they also scheduled to be completed in The Geology and Planetary search will aid in understand- have a great deal more time to May 2008. Science Department Ad- ing and remediating of environ- devote to research. In a market Dr. Bain will be teaching ministrator of 4+ years, Mat mental contamination from where dual-career couples and Groundwater every spring Romick, left Geology in late metals, including local brown- the “trailing spouse” are sources and Soils every other year. 2007 for another position field sites related to steel pro- of consternation and bitterness, Dr. Elliott will teach a course within the university. Mat duction. Another aspect of Dr. this arrangement elegantly in Watershed Biogeochemis- Bain’s postdoctoral research solves many potential problems. was highly successful at try every spring and a course focused on chemical weather- keeping the department As both professors have strong on Applications of Stable ing in the Santa Cruz terraces functioning smoothly and interests in geochemistry, their Isotopes in Environmental of California. His study is one balancing grant budgets arrival has resulted in enhanced Systems in alternate years of the first to couple basin- during his tenure at G&PS, analytical capability in depart- beginning next fall. These scale chemical dynamics with ment laboratories. New analyti- courses will not only and he will be missed. extensive characterization of cal equipment includes an ion strengthen the graduate pro- However, the department soil chemical weathering rates. chromatograph for the analysis gram, but will also allow ad- was lucky to identify and The simultaneous arrival of of major anionic species in wa- vanced undergraduates addi- hire a strongly qualified new Elliott and Bain is not simply a ter and a gamma spectrometer tional elective choices. The administrator, Lorrie Rob- big coincidence. They have for sediment dating (measures arrival of these two dynamic bins (formerly from the En- been working together since concentrations of gamma de- young researchers marks an vironmental and Occupa- graduate school and were mar- caying radio-isotopes), as well exciting time for the teaching tional Health Division of the ried in 2005. They join the as an upgrade to the depart- and research missions of the Graduate School of Public department in a relatively novel ment thermal ion mass spec- Department of Geology and Health), and anticipates no arrangement, by splitting a trometer and an additional gas Planetary Science. faculty position. Both teach isotope mass ratio mass spec- reduction in the pace or half the load of a normal fac- trometer. Laboratory renova- quality of department op- ulty member and receive half tions for Bain and Elliott are erations. 2006-2008 Page 3
to karst development,” Mary- resources, such as offshore oil Alaska and Pennsylvania after Alumni updates land Geological Survey, Report reserves and a successful fishing graduating with his BS in 1999. of Investigation 75, 101 p. industry. I am also a regular He writes, “Most recently I de- (2004). guest lecturer at Plymouth Uni- cided to pursue my aspirations John Boulanger (BS Environ- versity (the place where the Pil- of teaching and am working mental Geology, 2002) at- Elizabeth Bryant (MS 2002) is grims left England!) in contami- toward my Masters degree in tended the New Mexico Insti- living in Ventura, California. nated land. I have remained an education from Drexel Univer- tute of Mining and Technology She can be contacted at active caver, and for two years sity. I live in Philadelphia and in Socorro, NM, where he re-
Oil and Gas Management; it (slightly modified) with David the tragic accidents occur- Alumni updates (cont.) will be two years in Novem- Crown in 2003.” Tim can be ring in US coal mining indus- ber. There are two sections to contacted at try over the past couple of the program, the permit-
Tim Pierce (MS 2001) writes methods. this year Dan Nelson (MS 2005) is at “I currently live in Austin, He works or early the University of Washington in Texas with Lisa (my wife of 8 mostly with next Seattle where he has just years) and our two children students in year. . . started a PhD in chemical Abigail (3 years) and Henry (6 grades 11- Also, my oceanography with Dr. Julian weeks). I am in my 3rd year 12, and is part-time Sachs. He is working with selling residential real estate always in work on hydrogen isotopes in lipid bio- in Austin, and Lisa has contin- need of sources markers. He can be contacted ued her career in home mort- guest for res- at
Lab and training program at Residual and Municipal Wastes.” Alumni Conference as one of Alumni updates the Golden offices. As a result, the co-chairs. We had a very GIS is now integrated into Ann Vander Schrier (Pro-MS in successful conference in the National Earthquake most research programs. My GIS/RS, 2003) is the Manager of September. This is a unique Information Center (NEIC) at current Scientist Emeritus pro- GIS Systems and Numeric Data event where alums return to NOAA's headquarters in ject is the creation of a large Services at Case Western Re- campus to connect with stu- Rockville, MD. In 1972, the wall map of global earthquakes serve University's Kelvin Smith dents and let them know the NOAA earthquake program for the period 1900-2005 and Library in Cleveland, Ohio. She type of things they can do and personnel were trans- the design of a comprehensive recently started on a Masters with their BS in geology and ferred to Boulder, CO and online seismicity atlas of Earth degree in Library and Informa- fill them in on things they later merged with the earth- using GIS.” tion Science degree at Kent wish they had known as a quake research programs of State University. student. We had about 40 the U.S. Geological Survey Andrew Vahey (BA Environ- alums return for two days of in 1974. I retired from the mental Studies, 2002) writes Jessica Wade (BA Environ- talks and panels with the USGS in February 2006 but “After graduating from Pitt in mental Studies, 2002) writes, “I students. During the confer- now hold a Scientist Emeri- '02 I moved to West Chester, am currently employed at Digi- ence I was honored with the tus appointment with the PA, and started working full talGlobe and coming up to my William T. Elberty Jr. Medal NEIC in Golden, CO. The time for a utility company in five-year anniversary in Decem- for service the to the Univer- nearly 38 years of Federal Delaware and Maryland where ber. My experience earning the sity through direct service service with NOAA and I've become a Senior Environ- GIS certificate at Pitt really and support of the Depart- USGS provided me with mental Scientist. I graduated helped me in this industry. The ment of Geology. . . . I am many exciting research op- from Saint Joseph's University GIS certificate program provided also continuing to maintain portunities in observational (Philadelphia, PA) in the spring me with a background in rele- the web site for the SLU Ge- seismology and plate tecton- of 2007 with a masters of sci- vant software such as ENVI and ology Alumni (http:// ics. Early in that period, the ence degree in Environmental ESRI packages as well as a it.stlawu.edu/~geoclub/ plate tectonic revolution was Management and Public basic understanding of remote alumni/). That is the extent of in full swing and I was able Safety. The REALLY good sensing and GIS. I have my geology these days, as I to use my dissertation work news is that my fiance and I evolved at DigitalGlobe from a am spending time with my to establish plate effects on got engaged on 10/19/07. Satellite Imagery Technician to a family. Scott and I have two body-wave magnitude deter- We're planning a 2008 wed- Satellite Production Systems girls — Katie, now 4 and minations. I was a member ding in West Chester. My free Engineer. My most recent en- Eliza almost 2. The keep us of a team analyzing data time is filled with running, deavor has taken me into a posi- pretty busy with school, story from a seismic network in working on cars and cheering tion as a Satellite Grounds Sys- time at Phipps, and Kinder- the Aleutian Islands prior to on the Steelers.” tems Software Test Engineer. I musik. As a family, music and subsequent to two large truly appreciate my experience continues to be a high priority underground nuclear explo- Carey Vallor (BA Environ- at Pitt in the Geology & Plane- and Scott and I are busy with sions, and later I was project mental Studies, BS Psychol- tary Science Department and our community Band — the leader of new seismic net- ogy, 2004) writes that after the journey of mine that it initi- East Winds Symphonic works in Puerto Rico and graduating “. . . it took me ated.” She notes that Digital- Band. We were just selected South Carolina established some time to land the job that I Globe has successfully launched to perform at the National to characterize seismic haz- really wanted, to work with the a second commercial remote Convention of the Associa- ard of those areas. Other Department of Environmental sensing satellite, and information tion of Concert Bands in project work included seis- Protection (PA DEP)! I utilized and pictures can be found at Corning NY. It promises to micity studies in southern my psychology degree when I http://www.spaceflightnow.com/ be an exciting time. We also Nevada in connection with first graduated and worked at a delta/d326/070918launch/. continue to work on an or- the Yucca Mountain nuclear child and adolescent psychiat- ganization that we created waste storage facility, in ric hospital and kept taking any Katherine Walden Schmid (MS with another area musician southern Puget Sound de- civil service test that I qualified 2005) writes “I've gotten married — the Southwestern Penn- termining seismic amplifica- for. I was hired in October of and have changed my name to sylvania Band Partners. This tion due to low-velocity surfi- 2005 at CYS (Children & Youth Katherine Walden Schmid. I organization serves to con- cial deposits, and analyses Services) of Washington work for Equitable Production nect regional community of numerous U.S. and inter- County through civil service now and look for oil and gas bands and to highlight and national disasters such as which placed me on a promo- reserves in northern West Vir- promote community music in the 1994 Northridge and tional list for other state jobs. I ginia and Pennsylvania.” Kathe- Southwestern PA.” 2004 Sumatra earthquakes. was finally hired with the PA rine’s work email is I was intrigued to read the DEP in 2006 and recently up- [email protected], and her ad- discussion of the geographi- graded my status from an envi- dress is 12 Watson Blvd, Pitts- Please use the enclosed cal information systems ronmental trainee to a full burgh PA 15214. postage paid envelope to (GIS) program in the Depart- fledged Waste Management let us know how you're ment. In 1987 I led a special Specialist. I work out of the doing. Plus, we'll include project to expedite the incor- Pittsburgh office located on Sarah Zimmerman McElfresh your news in the next poration of GIS into USGS Washington's Landing and am (MS 2000) writes “I have spent earthquake research. I es- under the Waste Program the last year working on the St. newsletter. tablished a centralized GIS which deals with Hazardous, Lawrence University Geology Page 6 Geology & Planetary Science Newsletter Isotope Study Links Nitrates to Power Plants Recently hired Assistant sulfate, and pH in precipita- Professor Emily Elliott (see tion for assessing the source cover story) has completed of nitrate in rainwater. an unprecedented survey of Based on these results, Dr. the isotopic composition of Elliott suggests that isotopic nitrate in rainwater through- monitoring of precipitation out the northeastern U.S. may be an effective way to Atmospheric nitrate deposi- monitoring long-term reduc- tion is a key contributor to tions in power plant NOx acidification of streams and pollution, as required by the soils, forest decline, coastal Clean Air Act and the Clean water algal blooms, and Air Interstate Rule. Addi- ozone and particulate matter tional data from her study formation. The results, pub- illustrate that monitoring lished in Environmental Sci- networks need to be ex- ence & Technology (v. 41, panded to incorporate sites pp. 7661-7667), demon- in urban areas, to capture strate that the isotopic com- the influence of roadway position of nitrate isotopes in NOx pollution. As part of precipitation is directly re- building her research pro- lated to contributions from gram, Dr. Elliott is develop- power plants. In fact, her ing plans to establish a pre- Spatial distribution of nitrate isotopes in rain across the Northeastern U.S. results indicate that nitrogen cipitation chemistry monitor- Higher values (shown in red) indicate the influence of power plant NOx emis- isotopes may be a better ing site in Pittsburgh, which sions on nitrate formation. (adapted from Elliott, et al 2007). tool that commonly used will be one of only several concentrations of nitrate, urban precipitation monitor- Reflection Seismology Program Initiated Associate Professor Bill initiated a seismic reflection bert was awarded grants will be tested in the NETL Harbert, working with re- study to investigate the ef- totaling nearly $1.4 million core flow laboratory to deter- searchers at the Department fectiveness of CO2 injection from NETL during the past mine acoustic velocities. of Energy/National Energy as a means of carbon se- year, in addition to an earlier The lab study will employ Technology Laboratory questration and enhanced oil donation of a seismic truck enhanced hardware and (NETL) in Pittsburgh, has production. Professor Har- from WesternGeco worth an software for measuring additional ~$1 million. acoustic velocities at in situ pressures and temperatures In this project, reflec- typical of sequestration con- tion seismic meth- ditions. These measure- ods will be used to ments will then be correlated image CO2 migration with the seismic reflection at an injection site survey, providing a direct before and at six- bridge between the geologi- month intervals fol- cal units and their represen- lowing injection. tation in the collected reflec- Working with the tion seismic datasets. Con- Southwest Regional tinued work will add subsur- Partnership on Car- face, reflection seismic, well bon Sequestration, lithology, wire line log, and Professor Harbert other information to the data- and his team will base. construct geodata- So far, this project has bases related to risk helped support PhD student assessment of CO2 Vladislav Kaminskiy, for- sequestration. Rock mer PhD student (and now core materials from postdoc) Brian Lipinski, The WesternGECO-donated F700 seismic recording truck allows recording of previously inter- and early-career PhD stu- up to 3000 channels of 24-bit digital data simultaneously. It has a 24 kV or can preted oil field wells dent Chris Purcell. be run via shore power. 2006-2008 Page 7
speculation that similar fault- the graduate plate tectonics something that will happen Faculty updates ing may extend to Alaska! course. every spring, come hell or high Lots of fun. Still working water. upon refinements that fur- Daniel Bain Mark Abbott ther support this idea. In the In addition, Dr. Elliott and I have I’m very pleased to be joining been repeatedly enchanted with Field-based research contin- meantime projects in Ne- the Geology and Planetary Pittsburgh. Moving from (most ued this year in remote parts vada, New Mexico, Pennsyl- Science faculty at Pitt. While recently) the San Francisco of the Peruvian and Venezue- vania and Puerto Rico pro- it’s only been a few short area, I have to say SanFran lan Andes and the Pacific gressed. Patti Campbell, a months, things are going well. topography is overhyped. Pitts- Northwest. Fieldwork focused former student, now a pro- Lab renovations are scheduled burgh has plenty, and more on collecting sediment cores fessor at Slippery Rock, her to be complete soon. I’ve had importantly, snow. And Pitts- to study late Quaternary cli- students and I are finishing the pleasure of working with burgh has affordable housing. mate change. The research up work in the East Potrillo several Pitt undergrads, includ- And the Steelers. And the group includes 3 PhD stu- Mountains of southern New ing Emily Broich, Amar Me- friendliest people. Let’s stop dents (Nathan Stansell, Mexico. In Nevada, Damian there. I think I’m embarrassing Broxton Bird and Byron Piaschyk completed his thesis focused upon a large the city. transpressional bend of the Las Vegas Valley shear Rosemary Capo zone. Sarah Morealli has just started a new project to Doctoral student Liz Chapman the west, among highly ex- and new PhD student Tonya Brubaker are working on a col- tended rocks. Mary laborative DOE-NETL project McGuire is tackling the rela- with WVU that involves the use tion between iron ore depos- of mass spectrometry tech- its and fractures in southern niques to identify, quantify and PA. Daniel Lao-Davila is determine the mechanisms of back from Australia and writ- interactions of trace elements in ing his dissertation about coal utilization byproducts (e.g., deformed ultramafic rocks in hta, Michael Muder, and Steinman) and 7 undergradu- fly ash) with natural waters. southwest Puerto Rico. I am Marion Sikora, in conducting ate research assistants. We’re also continuing to explore on my way to a Penrose research on urban streams in Lindsey Witthaus, one of the the chemical and mineralogical Conference in Greece where Baltimore, MD and in Pitts- undergraduate researchers characteristics of coal mine I hope to gain insights into burgh’s own Nine Mile Run. (If who conducted fieldwork in you haven’t been to Frick Park drainage iron oxides, which was the Yukon and wrote an hon- in the last three years, I highly the subject of former PhD stu- ors college thesis, also re- recommend it. You won’t be- dent Candace Kairies Beatty ceived a Fulbright scholarship lieve what they’ve done with (now Assistant Professor of to study in Brazil this year. the place.) This year I hope to Geoscience at Winona State The goal of our research is to continue and expand my re- Univ.). Liz Chapman and un- document drought and tem- search program in urban fluvial dergraduates Allie Ackerman perature histories since the systems, non-traditional stable and Andrea Glassmire are last ice age using finely lay- isotope geochemistry, and working on a new project, in ered lake sediments. Methods catchment hydrology, including include stable isotope geo- students drawn from both Pitt’s chemistry, physical sedimen- very capable undergraduate tology, and geochemistry. population and a grad student Results of stable isotope or two from this year’s recruit- plate coupling and core analysis of the sediment re- ment class (If you know some- complexes. I plan to incor- cord for the last 100 or so one…). years is calibrated using in- porate the new knowledge strumental climate data from into a paper about extension I taught a graduate course in nearby meteorological sta- in northwestern North Amer- Soils this fall, and will teach tions and then extended back ica with Bert Struik and Jim this course in alternating fall in time using the geological Ryan of the Canadian Geo- semesters. The field compo- archives. logical Survey. I continue to nent of this class is character- teach the introductory geol- izing soils and mass wasting in Thomas Anderson ogy labs each semester. I Schenley Park in cooperation enjoy the interactions with with the Pittsburgh Park Con- collaboration with adjunct fac- Following the publication of undergrads just entering the servancy. This work is in sup- ulty member Bob Hedin and ideas about very large faults geological and environ- port of their long-term goal of Hoover Color, Inc., which re- in southwestern North Amer- mental studies very much. I restoring Panther Hollow cently received funding from the ica, Brian Mahoney (U. Wis- also taught structure and Creek and Lake. Things have Green Building Alliance. The consin, Eau Claire) and I pub- had a stimulating introduc- been fun so far. This spring I goal is to find ways to optimize lished an extended abstract in tion to the western Pacific in will be teaching Groundwater, the recycling which we supported the Page 8 Geology & Planetary Science Newsletter
Studies Program. The ES you’re doing. survey of water quality impair- Faculty updates (cont.) major boasts 75 majors and Finally, the department would ment in Nine Mile Run, a highly roughly 250 graduates; in grind to a miserable end if it visible restored stream in Frick ten short years, the program weren’t for the hard work of Park. Marion will be using a Capo cont. has become one of the pre- Lorrie Robbins, Mat Romick, combination of nitrate isotopes of iron oxides deposited in mier multidisciplinary majors Brian Stewart, Deanna Hitch- and geochemical tracers to im- passive wetland treatment in the University, with half a cock and Dolly Chavez. I am prove our understanding of con- systems. Liz, working with dozen Morris Udall and grateful for both their skills and tamination sources to Nine Mile former MS student Ted Harry Truman Scholarship their patience. Run and how they vary with Weaver (now a Project Ge- winners and runners-up. discharge, especially during wet ologist with Hedin Environ- This year, 30 ES students Emily Elliott weather. This work is being mental), has also been exam- worked in wide-ranging in- conducted in collaboration with ining evidence that shallow It’s hard to believe we’ve been Dr. Bain and the Nine Mile Run coal mine discharges rather in Pittsburgh now for nearly Watershed Association. In the than deep oil and gas brines one year. As time flies by, coming months, I look forward are responsible for iron con- progress continues to be made to assuming teaching responsi- taminated waters seeping in establishing our new re- bilities, including a course this from some gas wells in Clar- search labs and programs. spring that will focus on the hy- ion County. Liz presented Lab renovations are soon to be drology, biogeochemistry, and preliminary results at GSA underway and are scheduled management of watersheds that and is extending this work to be completed in late spring will incorporate field work at the with the help of grad student 2008. A new Isoprime continu- U.S. Forest Service Fernow Graeme Dodworth. Recent ous flow mass spectrometer is Experimental Forest in Parsons, PhD graduate Sherry Staf- scheduled to be delivered this West Virginia. ford (now a research geolo- fall and will soon be keeping gist at ExxonMobil in Hous- Rosenmeier’s instrument com- It’s certainly been an exciting ton) was a coauthor on a re- ternships spanning five pany in SRCC 520-521. When year for us, and I’m looking for- lated paper. On a more exotic states; another 11 students all is said and done, we should ward to sharing my research topic, Sherry also has two studied abroad in China, have some really nice working interests, teaching, and the iso- revised journal manuscripts Costa Rica, France, Spain, space to accommodate our tope gospel with anyone who related to her dissertation Australia and Peru. Four of research for the coming years. will listen. work on Archean fossil soils our students earned in Finland and Canada near Brackenridge Summer Re- In addition, I’m fortunate to be William Harbert submission. Undergraduate search Scholarships, and 17 James Gardiner is finishing students—an unprece- Sean Fulton and Jeff Mihalik up work on a geoarcheology dented number—worked in have been successful and re- project related to horse do- research labs throughout the ceived their Masters of Science mestication in the Eurasian department. in the Sloan Foundation Profes- steppes begun in collabora- sional Masters program! They tion with Mike Rosenmeier Despite the complex nature have done a great job. Brian and Sandra Olsen from the of the major, our students Lipinski received his PhD de- Carnegie Museum of Natural continue to do well academi- gree and is now a post-doctoral History; James will enter our cally. Of 12 students gradu- researcher at the University of graduate program in the fall. ating in April 2007, eight Pittsburgh and National Energy In teaching related news, graduated with honors (three Technology Laboratory of the Environmental Studies pro- cum laude, three magna United States Department of gram coordinator Mark Collins cum laude, two summa cum and I have begun work on a laude); the overall GPA for Heinz Foundations supported the entire major was above project that integrates sus- 3.1. This spring, four Envi- advising two stellar MS candi- tainability issues into under- ronmental Studies students dates, Katie Middlecamp and graduate classes. Last spring graduated Phi Beta Kappa. Marion Sikora, both of whom Brian Stewart and I took our started their programs this fall. graduate seminar class out On a personal note, it has Katie’s research focuses on on a field trip to the Owens been enormously gratifying using carbon and nitrogen Valley region in California; to hear from so many alums. isotopes to assess uptake of eighth grader Emma Capo Although I am not always fossil-fuel derived CO2 and Stewart showed her four- able to respond immediately NOx to vegetation. Her work is year-old brother, Owen, the to emails and letters, please being conducted in conjunction ropes. know such correspondence with folks at the Baltimore Eco- Energy. Vladislav Kaminski
is very much welcomed. system Study — a Long-Term should be finished this term with Mark Collins Ecological Research Site. his PhD degree and has begun Take advantage of the re- Marion Sikora is embarking on looking for employment in Can- It’s been another interesting sponse card in this newslet- an isotopic and geochemical ada. New students Chris Pur- year for the Environmental ter and let us know how 2006-2008 Page 9
either historical geology or lengths?) The twins espe- Anchorage, AK, in early May, Faculty updates (cont.) sedimentology/stratigraphy? cially love princesses. The where I spent the next four Or perhaps a great example eldest especially loves to months working with the Harbert cont. illustrating the use of biostrati- draw dragons incinerating Alaska Volcano Observatory. cell and Amanda Wasielewski graphy or lithostratigraphy to princesses. You can imag- My time there continued a have just started this term. address an important geologic ine the wailing and gnashing decade-long collaboration I have been working on research question? of teeth that ensue. But at researching new ways to bet- in collaboration with the National least I sleep at night! ter monitor volcanoes in the Energy Technology Laboratory in On other matters, I get a lot of northern Pacific region. Over the areas of reflection seismic, people bringing in samples that If you are ever in the the past five years, this work rock physics and risk assess- enter my office as valuable neighborhood, I hope you’ll has focused on using data ment. This year I spent a pleas- stop by! I’d like to hear from the Advanced Space- ant two weeks in Moscow and about what you are up to, borne Thermal Emission and London as part of a sabbatical, and to see if you have any Reflection Radiometer completed two continuing educa- suggestions about improving (ASTER) satellite instrument. tion courses (in 3D seismic ac- what we do here. During the summer, I was quisition design and AVO applied awarded NASA funding for to lithology determination) and Michael Ramsey another three years to con- have been working with col- tinue as a science team mem- leagues and students. I am very For all of 2007 I have been ber on that mission. And fi- grateful for the continued dona- away from the Department nally, for the remainder of tions for software and equipment on my sabbatical leave. I 2007, I headed to the Univer- relevant to CO2 sequestration was awarded tenure in the sity of Hawaii in Honolulu. My and geophysical studies. Stu- spring of 2006 and started research time there was dents have become much better my sabbatical this past spent working with Mars data than I am at utilizing the Kingdom January. as well as looking at active Suite of Seismic Micro Technolo- volcanic processes at Kilauea gies and interpreting 3D seismic Unlike most sabbaticals Volcano. Being away from data sets. where one goes to a single Pittsburgh has not slowed my meteorites and leave as hunks location, I opted for the more research group at all. My sev- Charles Jones of slag or industrial metal. Bill costly and time-intensive enth PhD student, Emily Mer- Cassidy’s been training me. It option of relocating three curio, just started and several I really enjoy teaching historical is always tough letting them times! For the first four papers were published this geology. In recent years I’ve down. One guy carried his 50- months of the year I went year, all first-authored by my shifted my emphasis toward the lb block of metal from base to students. I am looking forward practical, hands-on interpretation base for the full 20-years of his to a productive year of re- of rocks, stratigraphic columns, Air Force career! This is the search and teaching! cross-sections,and maps. I fig- hazard of free shipping. But at ure these skills will best serve least he was philosophical Michael Rosenmeier students as they move into pro- about his non-meteorite: He fessions requiring the unraveling dumped it in my office. An- Greetings! It’s hard to be- of the regional geology of an other guy with a piece of chert lieve, but I’m now settling into area. I only wish that it were was sure I was wrong, that Bill my fifth year at the University feasible to do more than one Cassidy was wrong, and that of Pittsburgh…and this last weekend trip in the spring se- the Carnegie Museum of Natu- year has been particularly mester. Finals week is upon us ral History was wrong. I think busy and productive. Un- just as the weather gets nice! he eventually turned his worth- less piece of chert into a valu- I am currently writing a first draft able meteorite using nothing of a lab manual for historical ge- but the power of his mind. Uri back to work with my PhD ology that is more challenging Geller would have been im- advisor (Dr. Phil Christen- and I hope useful than traditional pressed! sen) at Arizona State Uni- manuals. I am hoping that these versity. The focus of my time labs will be a good preparation If you graduated since I arrived was new research involving for jobs in especially the petro- at Pitt, you may be interested Mars. In 2006, I was named leum industry. However, since I to know that my oldest daugh- as a participating scientist have not personally worked in ter is now seven and the on the Thermal Emission industry, I would appreciate hear- younger identical twin clone Imaging System (THEMIS), ing about potential lab topics that daughters are four. I am get- which is currently collecting you wish you or your employees ting a lot more sleep compared orbital infrared data of the had been exposed to before to a few years ago. The base- Red Planet. I am looking at coming to work. Perhaps you ment is finished. A massive new ways to improve the have a set of well logs or seismic swing set complex has been data to detect smaller sur- sections that could be donated to erected (why use 8-foot 4x4s face features including pos- be used as the core of a lab in when they come in 16-foot sible hot spots. I relocated to Page 10 Geology & Planetary Science Newsletter
Louis) is focused on human- ish Columbia, namely Mount different sedimentary rock Faculty updates (cont.) environment interactions in the Edziza, to understand the types so that she can con- steppes of Central Asia and the interaction of volcanism and tinue her iron isotope studies possible influence of climate confining ice over the last on pyrite formation and dis- Rosenmeier cont. change on the evolution of no- 2Ma. solution. She just had a dergraduate research advisees madic pastoralism within the paper published in Geo- Marion Sikora (now a MS stu- region. During the field cam- Kristen has been studying chemical Transactions, and dent in the department) and paign, we recovered sediment trachytic lava flows and Sarah Strano completed their cores from multiple lake basins domes erupted under ice senior thesis projects over the in the desert steppe south of about 1Ma ago, and Jeff had summer. Their hard work will Lake Balkash and explored been focusing on basaltic culminate in a series of manu- several high-elevation lake lava flows emplaced be- scripts (to be submitted this fall sites within the Dzhungar neath ice. The focus of both for peer review) focused on cli- Mountains. We also collected of their project is to develop mate changes within Central numerous water samples, as methods of using these Asia over the last ~5000 years. well as soils, grasses, and rocks to infer the presence Graduate student Kevin Robin- modern and fossil horse teeth and thickness of former ice. son also successfully defended for oxygen and carbon isotopic We had a successful (and his Masters thesis this year. analyses. last) field season at Edziza Kevin’s research, now in press, this summer. Jeff also plans was aimed at reconstructing the In other news…I continue to to study sub-ice basaltic lavas she is coauthor (along with environmental history of north- manage and maintain the dedi- in Iceland next summer. I me and Dr. Capo) on several ern Mongolia using lake sedi- cated stable isotope laboratory was also an organizer for the papers submitted by our ment cores. PhD student Ben- facilities within the department. 2nd Volcano-Ice Interaction colleagues at Carnegie Mel- jamin Cavallari also continues Over the last year, between on Earth and Mars confer- lon who are carrying out to make progress on a National electronic box soldering efforts ence, held in Vancouver, pyrite dissolution experi- Science Foundation-funded pro- and cryogenic system replace- Canada in June 2007. Both ments. Undergraduate ject in northern Greece, and we ments, we managed to com- myself and Jeff presented Justin Hynicka completed hope to publish the first results plete over 6000 analyses! And talks at the conference. an exquisite set of leaching from this work in the coming we’re now making preparations Elizabeth has just begun a experiments on soils from months! for the arrival of a second mass project studying the textural the Atacama Desert, Chile, spectrometer, an addition tied changes during the transition which is the driest desert on Fieldwork has also kept me busy to the hiring of Dr. Emily Elliott. from Surtseyan ("wet") to Earth outside of Antarctica. over the last year. August 2006 So, it looks as if the upcoming Strombolian ("dry") deposits He has been investigating was spent in the Burgundy re- academic year promises to be at tuff cones or rings. She the origin of unique salt de- gion of France, with PhD student equally busy and, hopefully, visited her field area of Koko posits using strontium iso- Tamara Misner, undergraduate even more productive! Crater in Hawaii in early topes as a tracer for different Sarah Strano, geomorphologist January 2008. The focus of sources, and he presented Dr. Eric Straffin (Edinboro Uni- Until next year… “be well, do her research will be to try to his work in an invited talk at versity of Pennsylvania) and good work, and keep in touch.” constrain the controls on such the 2006 GSA Annual Meet- archaeologist and ethnographer transitions. ing in Philadelphia. This Carole Crumley from the Univer- Ian Skilling project is collaborative with Brian Stewart sity of North Carolina at Chapel researchers at U.C. Berke- I currently have two Masters Hill. We spent several weeks ley. students, Kristen LaMoreaux I have been very fortunate to collecting sediment cores from and Elizabeth Simoneau and have a talented group of stu- medieval-aged reservoirs, as Although my teaching load is part of an interdisciplinary re- dents working on a number of different (but always interest- reduced as Department search project examining the Chair, I continue to have the direct cause-and-effect relation- ing) research projects. Lev Spivak-Birndorf completed pleasure of teaching Miner- ships between historic land use alogy (GEOL 1001), and I changes and long-term water- his Masters in August 2007 on the interaction of water am impressed, as always, by shed dynamics. Of course this the ever-increasing talent study also provides a unique with coal utilization byprod- ucts (e.g. fly ash) using boron and dedication of our under- opportunity to sample the fine graduates. I was also fortu- wines and cheeses of Burgundy! and strontium isotopes, work- ing in conjunction with Dr. nate to be able to participate On a less remarkable gastro- in a 2007 Spring Break field nomic note, Kevin Robinson Capo’s graduate students Liz Chapman and Tonya trip to Owens Valley, Califor- and undergraduate Erin Stacy nia, which was part of a joined me for nearly five weeks Brubaker. He will be writing up his results for publication graduate seminar taught by of fieldwork in southeastern Ka- Dr. Capo. We expect more zakhstan in July of this year. one PhD student, Jeff Hunger- as he begins in the PhD pro- gram at Arizona State Univer- trips to follow as we further This research, collaborative with ford. Kristen and Jeff are both develop our research pro- working on a long-lived vol- sity. Doctoral student Amy archaeologist Michael Frachetti grams in that part of the (Washington University in St. canic complex in northern Brit- Wolfe has been working dili- gently to isolate pyrite from world. 2006-2008 Page 11 Emeritus faculty updates quires a test after a few years York’s Devonian and the won- was unable to get together Michael Bikerman of practical experience — so ders of two coastal plains (in the big picture in the vicinity of Last year I taught what likely save your textbooks! Florida, we are slightly more Harpers Ferry, WVA. I kept on will be my last formal class at When home I follow the old than three hours away from teaching the "Planet Earth" Duquesne University with saying — buy a house and St. Catherines Island, Geor- course for the next ten years. graduate student Ben Caval- make home maintenance your gia and only 11 miles from In 2006 (my 75th birthday) I de- lari, who has taken over the hobby, though mostly I try to the Gulf). I have kept my hat cided to "really" retire. Bryan, class completely. However I keep the garden from becom- in the research ring, co- Texas offered many nice advan- am still teaching occasionally ing a complete wasteland. The editing a guidebook for the tages for a "real" retirement. My as an "edutainment" lecturer deer eat anything Viola plants, 2007 Southeastern GSA St. son is a professor (of Mathemat- on cruise ships were I share but none of the weeds! Power Catherines Island field trip, ics) at nearby Texas A&M, the my interest and love of geol- walking and swimming keep co-authoring a sea level pres- housing is even less expensive ogy with adults. So far I have some of the fat off and allow entation at the same meeting than in Pittsburgh, the houses done this on an Alaskan me to feel OK. and presenting an U.S. em- are one-story (remember our cruise and on a transatlantic I hope to see some of you at bassy-supported invited pa- last Pgh house was three stories crossing ending in Spain. In the Pittsburgh Geological Soci- per at an international meet- with a full basement), addition, I was on a ship ety meetings — student dinner ing in Venezuela, dealing with the lots are "flat," and the bound for the Panama Canal for $5 and usually a good lec- the Census of Marine Life, weather is warm (too warm, ture. Early Human Impact on Ma- some would say). rine Mollusks. The latter is in My days here are quite relaxed: William Cassidy press, to be published in a keeping up with family and I got a late start for my project special volume of British Ar- friends (thanks to e-mail), keep- in Argentina this year, so I got chaeological Research. In ing up with science and politics here just when everyone is addition, I have several pa- (thanks to the web) and seeing a expecting the warm weather pers in press, included in a lot of movies and British detec- (late Spring in the southern huge edited American Mu- tive series (thanks to NetFlix). hemisphere) -- and "warm" seum of Natural History Bulle- here is equal to hot as hell in tin entitled “Native Land- Bruce Hapke Pittsburgh, so it won’t be easy. scapes of St. Catherines Is- Even though I retired, I continue I’ll be excavating a couple land”, also due out by the end to be active in research, focus- on a cruise which was can- more craters in the Campo del of the year. And, I have fi- ing on trying to understand the celled as the ship had Cielo meteorite craterfield -- nally completed a book manu- interaction of electromagnetic scraped bottom prior that is, I’ll be hiring the pickers script dealing with “Nature’s waves with planetary regoliths in to docking in Acapulco where and shovelers who will be do- Proxies and the Global Prob- support of spacecraft observa- we boarded. That was quite ing the excavating. This is part lematique.” I started work on tions of bodies of the solar sys- an experience as the com- of a long-term strategy to get that book long ago with help tem. In October I presented a pany had to send some 2000 structural data on small impact and encouragement from paper at the annual meeting of people home in a few days. craters that can then be mod- Jude, Mark Collins and Ed the Division for Planetary Scien- We ended up with a few extra eled by hypervelocity impact McCord, and over the last tists of the American Astronomi- days in Mexico in February, people under known conditions year it has taken me on some cal Society that solved a nag- which was not all that bad! of velocity, mass, etc., and can fascinating “excursions” into ging problem in the reflection of Other travels have been to also be modeled theoretically evolutionary biology, neural light by powders and soils: that Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to by people who love to do that physiology, religion, and poli- the reflectance increases as the spend some time with my sort of thing. The aim is to tics. soil becomes more compressed. wife's family and to Italy on a reach convergence between I hope that you have had a This turns out to be due to the land trip to see some fascinat- field, experimental, and theo- busy and productive year. fact that present reflectance ing historical, and incidentally retical data that help us to in- Jude and I would love to hear models didn't take the fact that geological, sites such as terpret impact cratering effects from you and catch up on the particles cannot interpenetrate Pompeii, Herculaneum, Mt. on other planets, where we last few years (email: one another into account. Add- Vesuvius, Florence, Lucca, can never study impacts in [email protected] or har- ing this requirement mathemati- Pisa and Rome. detail. [email protected]). cally solved the problem. I also continue to cooperate with Otherwise I am still engaged Harold “Bud” Rollins Walter Pilant former graduate student and in mining geology working Jude and I have been moder- When I retired in 1996, it was current senior scientist at the Jet with my son on gold opera- ately busy over the last couple my first retirement. I man- Propulsion Laboratory Bob Nel- tions in Canada and copper in years, splitting our time be- aged, at a somewhat re- son on studies of Saturn's rings. Arizona making use of my tween upstate New York and duced level, to continue my In September I had a pleasant Pennsylvania Professional west central Florida. Geologi- work in Appalachian structural lesson in field geology when my Geologist [PG] registration. cally, the annual sojourn be- geology aided by my trusty wife and I took a cruise up the For students preparing for tween our two places keeps us magnetometer and a few Columbia River on a stern- consulting work, the PG is in close proximity to the rich helpful students. Found a few wheeler river boat for a week. essential and earning it re- fossil-bearing strata of New more interesting results but Page 12 Geology & Planetary Science Newsletter
Students in the field — research and field trips!
Maya Hunt discovers a clast dislodged from from Tertiary conglomerates in south- western Wyoming. She was part of a summer class investigating the geol- ogy and paleontology (including dinosaur Dr. Stewart’s students at Pine Creek in the Sierra Nevada bones) on the Cook Ranch. Mountains, analyzing stream water chemistry to compare with the chemistry of the Owens Lake playa.
Students in Dr. Rosenmeier’s limnology course at Triangle Lake Bog (Ohio) during a weekend field trip. Erin Stacy, currently an undergraduate in the Environmental Studies Program, and Kevin Robinson (MS, Geology, 2007) filtering water sam- ples from the Koksu River in southeastern Kazakhstan.
Environmental Studies major Danielle Mullen col- lecting water samples at Jackson Bog, Ohio, during Dr. Rosenmeier explaining the mechanics of a water-quality meter a weekend fieldtrip with Dr. to geology undergraduate majors Carrie Stem and Abbie Sigmon Rosenmeier’s limnology (left and center) and graduate student Tamara Misner (right). course. 2006-2008 Page 13
Katie Middlecamp, Amar Mehta, Dan Bain, Emily Elliott, and Marion Historical geology class enjoying the Tuscarora Formation near Sikora visit Baltimore's Inner Harbor following the 2007 Baltimore Loysburgh, PA. Ecosystem Study Annual Meeting.
Undergraduates Justin Hynicka and James Gardiner scale weathered granite in the Alabama Hills, eastern California.
G&PS students and faculty prepare themselves for sampling sulfurous spring deposits in California's Owens Lake during a Spring Break field excursion.
Graduate student Sarah Morealli collecting a bedding orientation Students from 2007 Yellowstone Field Course atop the Cathedral Cliffs of a Paleozoic quartzite near Death Valley, Nevada. in northwest Wyoming. Page 14 Geology & Planetary Science Newsletter Undergraduate Awards and Honors
Fulbright Scholars Geology Field Camp and Sum- Norman K. and Margaret Flint Sikora (Louisiana State field mer Field Studies Field Scholarship camp), Thomas Stranko We are proud to announce that (University of Buffalo field this past year two of our under- Emily Broich, a junior Environ- Norm Flint was famous for his camp), and Sarah Strano graduates received prestigious mental Studies major from Lan- field trips and teaching, and it is (University of Buffalo field Fulbright Student Fellowships to caster Country, PA, won a $2,000 therefore especially appropriate camp). do research abroad. Lindsey summer-study scholarship from that the Norman K. and Marga- Witthaus (BA Environmental the Garden Club of America. ret Flint Memorial Field Schol- Environmental Studies Field Studies 2007) won a fellowship The scholarship—designed “to arships give money to help sup- Experience/ Study Abroad to conduct a baseline study of encourage studies and careers in port geology majors when they go Scholarship the impact of bauxite mining on the environmental field”—will go to summer field camp. No doubt, a rural community in Minas toward Ms. Broich’s field work in many of you look back on your Summer field experiences for Gerais, Brazil. Sarah Strano South America. Her research will summer field camp with excep- Environmental Studies majors (BS Geology 2007) is conduct- focus on the environmental im- tional fondness and with a strong are supported by the Heinz ing a 10-month research project pact of the textile industry in appreciation of the academic Endowment. This fund allowed focused on land-use and climate southern Peru. This is the sec- value of the experience. We us to give substantial support to changes within the Arroux Val- ond time an Environmental Stud- would like to be able to offer more each of the following deserving ley in Burgundy, France. Kevin ies major has won a GCA schol- support to our majors, so please students in 2007: Emily Broich Robinson (Geology BS 2004, arship. Senior Megan Sharretts consider contributing to this fund. (Peru), Ann Cassidy MS 2007) was the first Pitt un- of Danville, PA, won the award in (Pittsburgh), Amber Hanna dergraduate ever to win a Ful- 2005. The 2007 Flint Scholarship win- (UM’s Alaska Camp), Theresa bright research award, so our ners include: Bryan Friedrichs Romanosky (Yellowstone Field undergraduates are forging an (Peru), Justin Hynicka Study), and Marion Sikora exceptional record of achieve- (University of Oregon field camp), (LSU geology summer field ment! Joshua Riesthmiller (Lehigh camp in Colorado Springs). We University field camp), Marion are very pleased to be able to help our students see the world. Geology Club and Sigma Gamma Epsilon Abby Lewis, Geology undergraduate
The Geology Club has been quite active this year with membership increasing to 25 students. The club went on field trips to Ohiopyle, Linn Run, and Laurel Summit State Parks in the Laurel Highlands of Western Pennsylvania. In the Laurel Highlands the group investigated the Devonian age Venango Group and discussed ways to recognize sedimentary structures, tectonic structures, minerals, and fossils in the field. The club also organizes a carpool to the monthly Pittsburgh Geological Society meetings. The club recently made available Geology Department t-shirts for undergraduates, graduates, and faculty. Ongoing social events include an undergraduate social where students gather in the petrology lab to enjoy pizza and geology movies. The current president of the Geology Club is Abby Lewis and the business manager is Konstantin Ginzburg.
This is SGE’s first semester of new initiates and meeting after several semesters of inactivity. SGE holds their meetings with the Geology Club and has seven members including Luke Fidler, Katelin Fisher, Konstantin Ginzburg, Melissa Hill, Dave Kurimsky, Abby Lewis and Sean Polun.
Sarah Strano at work in the stable isotope laboratory facilities main- Ah, the endless structure labs! Here Alan Mur and Katelin tained by Dr. Rosenmeier. Fisher debate the finer points of structural geology in our Under- graduate Resource Room for use outside of normal classroom times. 2006-2008 Page 15 GPS Graduate Students Around the World Europe North America
Left: Tamara Misner (PhD student), assisted by Eric Straffin (University of Edinboro PA), digs Broxton Bird (PhD candidate) at Summit a well to observe shallow groundwater near the Château de Lucenier, Burgundy, France. Lake in the central Brooks Range of Center: Sarah Strano (BS ‘07), Tamara Misner and Michael Rosenmeier collect a sediment Alaska during July 2006, preparing to core from the moat surrounding the 15th century chateau, currently occupied by the Marquis collect varved lake sediments from de Montmorillon. proglacial Blue Lake. South America Graduate Student Honors National and University Graduate Fellowships: Stephen P. Scheidt — NASA Earth System Science Graduate Student Fellowship Amy L. Wolfe — Andrew Mellon Pre-doctoral Fellowship Adam J. Carter — Andrew Mellon Pre-doctoral Fellowship Benjamin Cavallari — Samuel T. Owens Jr. Fellowship National and Departmental Competitive Research Grants: Kevin D. Robinson — 2007 GSA Student Research Grant (Kevin received an “Outstanding Mention” for the quality of his proposal) Adam J. Carter — Henry Leighton Memorial Scholarship Nathan A. Stansell — Henry Leighton Memorial Scholarship Kevin D. Robinson — Henry Leighton Memorial Scholarship Excellence in Presentation of Research: Nathan Stansell (PhD candidate) and team on their way to collect proglacial lake sediments in the Peruvian Andes Adam J. Carter — 2007 Pitt Grad Expo Outstanding Paper Vladislav Kaminiskiy — 2007 Pittsburgh Geological Society Student Night Research Paper Presentation (granted by American Society of Civil Engi- neers) Asia Thanks to all who contrib- ute to the Henry Leighton Memorial Scholarship Fund. Your generous support helps make possi- ble the dynamic research our students pursue. The research shown on this page from Asia and South America are supported by Leighton funds. To find out more about supporting the Leighton Fund, please Left: Shellie Rose and Adam Carter (PhD candidates) in front of five-star accommodations on the see page 17. Kamchatka Peninsula during their Summer 2007 study of Bezymianny and Klyuchevskoy volcanoes. Right: Adam stands in front of the helicopter used for aerial observation. Page 16 Geology & Planetary Science Newsletter Recent graduates
August 2006— April 2007 Graduates Masters of Science Graduates Environmental Studies Bachelors of Arts Colin Cooke (08/06) Sandra Borbonus Lake Sediment Archives of Atmospheric Pollution Tonya Brubaker from the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes Carla Burkett Trevor Conlow Damian Piaschyk (08/07) Thomas Galligan Detachment Faults Between the Specter Range and Gina Gelotti Southern Spring Mountains: A Transpressional Fault Kyle Helal Zone Along the Las Vegas Valley Shear Zone, Patrick Hilko Southeastern Nevada Christina Kittredge Patrick Kiprotich Lev Spivak-Birndorf (08/07) Megan Landfried Sequential Leaching Of Coal Utilization By-products: Luke Leiden Geochemistry and Strontium Isotope Systematics Jacob Levine Caroline Matys Kevin Robinson (08/07) Grant Melville A Holistic Paleolimnological Study of North-Central Liana Montes Mongolian Lakes Andrew Patari Mary Pfahler PhD Graduates Andrea Proie Nathan Sharpless Brian Lipinski (04/07) Lucas Slezak Integrating Geophysics And Geochemistry To Evalu- Lauren Stanko ate Coalbed Natural Gas Produced Water Disposal, John Vroom Powder River Basin, Wyoming
Environmental Geology and Geology Sherry Stafford (08/07) Bachelors of Science Precambrian Paleosols as Indicators of Gina Gelotti Paleoenvironments on the Early Earth Nerissa Lindenfelser Nicholas Mongelluzzo Michael Moreland Pro-MS Graduates Akilah Prout Kevin Reath Emmett Rafferty (04/07) Thomas Stranko, Jr. R. Sean Fulton (04/07) Elizabeth Wierdak
Geology 2007 graduation reception 2006-2008 Page 17
Why donate? Thank you for your generous Last year we were able to pro- vide ten grants averaging $900 contributions! to deserving and eager students. Your continued support allows us to sustain and expand this support, which is essential to a Contributions from our alumni are vital to the Department of Geology & Planetary Science. The individuals listed below have provided generous support during fiscal year 2007. If your strong department name is missing and you know you gave money last year, please accept our apology and let us know. We want to be sure to recognize you next year. Where can I donate?
Anthracite Level (up to $10,000) Discretionary Departmental Gifts Fund provide us with the Thomas W. Angerman * Geo-Mechanics, Inc. greatest flexibility in responding ExxonMobil Foundation * to departmental needs and to Bituminous Level (up to $1000) take strategic steps toward the future. American Geosciences, Inc George F. Dellagiarino * Marshall Curtis Carothers, Ph.D * William Clyde Heilman III * Norman K. Flint Memorial Field Clare Tate Carothers * Stuart Hirsch Geology Fund commemorates Francesco Vincenzo Corona * J. Frederick Sarg * Dr. Flint’s devoted and inspiring James Edward Werner * teaching by helping with summer field camp expenses. This me- Lignite Level (up to $100) morial fund was initiated by fam- ily, friends, students and col- John Robert Anderson II, PhD * Sarah H. Millspaugh leagues of Dr. Flint. Richard Munroe Busch, PhD * Gregory Michael Molinda * Hugh Holt Doney * Phyllis Burger Myers * Francis Dilworth Lidiak Mary H. Flint * Robert M. Nelson, PhD * Memorial Fund supports lecture series and invited speaker costs. Peter F. Flint * Michael Andrew Odasso * Susan M. Flint * Caron Elaine O'Neil * Henry Leighton Memorial Mary Garrow-Splittberger * Thomas C. Pollock * Scholarship Fund, established Donald William Groff, PhD * Jonathan B. Robinson, Esquire * by Dr. Helen Leighton Cannon, Mary E. Groff * Mary Schlichte Robinson, PhD * provides a permanent graduate Gertrude C. Gebhardt SC Johnson Fund * scholarship awarded for merit Bruce W. Hapke * Steven Joseph Schatzel, PhD * and need. Joyce Z. Hapke * Inge F. Schmidt William Webb Johnson * Arthur Charles Tarr, PhD Samuel B. Frazier (BS, 1949) Christopher Matthew Kern * Suzanne Traub-Metlay, PhD * Student Resource Fund, estab- Edward Albert Klammer * Mark Steven Tucker lished by family and friends, pro- Richard Clinton Kilpatrick II Louis F. Vittorio, Jr. * vides educational expense sup- Clifford Allan McCartney * Jeffery Karl Wagner * port to undergraduates in honor of Samuel Frazier. Clifford McKee David Lee Wallach, PhD Karen S. McKee David Charles Williams * Harry J. Werner Oil Finder’s Michael Metlay Michael Dermont Winters * Fund provides support for stu- Robert William Zei, PhD * dents preparing themselves to meet the diverse challenges in * A special thanks to our continuing donors the search for energy re- sources.This fund was initiated by Francesco Corona (BS, 1977, The Spectroscopy Society of Pitts- MS, 1980). burgh (SSP) donated $15,000 from the SSP President’s Fund to endow Alvin J. Cohen Memorial Fund an annual seminar focused upon spec- supports students conducting troscopy. Past president, Dean Tzeng (PhD, basic research in meteorics, min- 1976), who arranged the donation, directed that eralogy, and geochemistry.
undergraduate students identify and host the speakers. We Victor A. Schmidt Memorial appreciate the generosity and look forward to years of exciting Classroom Fund is a memorial presentations resulting from this gift. classroom fund in honor of Pro- fessor Schmidt.
William Cassidy’s research inspires commemorative stamp
Emeritus Professor of Geology Bill Cassidy has returned to an early fascination: the Campo del Cielo meteorite crater field in the Gran Chaco region of Argentina. He has been studying the original dimensions of some of these Visit us on the web: small-impact craters and, in the process, recover the meteorites www.geology.pitt.edu that created them. How big are these meteorites? During the last three field seasons, working at three different craters, he has recovered principal masses of 5,680, 9,213 and 14,850 kg. The main illustration shows the infalling asteroid breaking into These are now on display in the crater-forming chunks over Campo del Cielo. The inset shows region, part of which has been the stamp, which features the 37-ton El Chaco meteorite whose impact caused Crater 10. designated as a provincial park. The centerpiece of the park is the 37,000 kg El Chaco meteorite that Cassidy discov- ered in the late 1960s. This has become the subject of a newly issued Argentine post- age stamp (see illustration). The 37,000 kg meteorite shown in the inset was photo- graphed in 3-D, and each copy of the stamp comes with its own set of red and blue 3-D glasses!
Nonprofit Org. US Postage PAID Pittsburgh PA Permit No 511 Department of Geology & Planetary Science University of Pittsburgh 4107 O’Hara Street 200 SRCC Pittsburgh PA 15260 412-624-8780 FAX: 412-624-3914 www.geology.pitt.edu