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 Assistant Professor Klyuchevskoy Volcano in Kamchatka, Russia, where PhD candidate Shellie Rose uses thermal 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 nitrogen, and other coal com- Michael Rosenmeier ment of Geology and Planetary Chesapeake Bay watershed. bustion by-products in the Assistant Professor Science grew in number and in Elliott and Bain bring a variety country. Dr. Elliott’s research Ian Skilling stature with the arrival of Drs. of experiences and new exper- makes her uniquely qualified to Assistant Professor Emily Elliott and Daniel Bain tise in geological and environ- address this deposition, as she Brian Stewart from Menlo Park, California, mental science, complement- is completing a national study Chair and Associate Professor where both had completed post- ing the department’s existing of 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 Deanna Hitchcock Elliott received their doctorates sues. provides unprecedented infor- from Johns Hopkins University Academic Administrator Dr. Elliott, who grew up in mation on the sources of air in the Department of Geography Lorrie Robbins southern Maryland, is an pollution and the processes 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, 200 SRCC tric power for a signifi- and hydrology to the Depart- cant portion of the ment. Dr. Bain’s postdoctoral 4107 O’Hara Street 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 www.geology.pitt.edu posited mercury, (continued on page 2) University of Pittsburgh School of Arts and Sciences Page 2 Geology & Planetary Science Newsletter Letter from the Chair

Dear Alumni and Friends: undergraduate students in fac- number of tenured and ten- research program toward ulty research programs — and ure-stream faculty in the those of the upper tier of I’d like to take this opportunity these very often lead to exciting department was cut from geoscience departments, on the Chair soapbox to high- undergraduate research pro- twelve in the mid-1990s to commensurate with the Uni- light one of the most significant jects and honors theses, not to eight for most of the new versity of Pittsburgh’s stand- accomplishments of our de- mention opportunities to carry century (we now have nine ing as one of the nation’s top partment in the past few years: out field work in remote and full-time positions counting public research universities. continued growth in research sometimes exotic locations the one shared by Drs. Bain funding from external sources. throughout the world. High lev- and Elliott); and (2) federal With best wishes, Why is this important to the els of funding result in more research funding in the earth mission of Geology and Plane- visits and seminars from exter- sciences has taken a signifi- tary Science? Certainly, in the nal collaborators, and a gener- cant hit over the past several research arena, more funding ally more vibrant and dynamic years. In other words, we’re from agencies such as the department atmosphere. doing more with less in National Science Foundation, every way. Training the next Brian W. Stewart NASA, DOE, and EPA is gen- Now let’s look at the numbers. generation erally correlated with increased The university likes to track re- of geoscien- publication output, greater search expenditures as a meas- tists remains standing in the research com- ure of research funding produc- a top priority munity, and increased depart- tivity — this is the actual amount for us, but I ment visibility both within and of external funds researchers thought outside of Pitt. But research spend on things like lab sup- you’d like to funding also reverberates to plies, field work, and student know that other parts of our mission. support. As you can see in the we are also More funding means greater accompanying chart, our re- making graduate student support, al- search expenditures have in- great strides lowing our students to focus on creased fivefold since 1990, in elevating their research projects and with a nearly monotonic rise the Geology high-quality scientific manu- over the last ten or so years. and Plane- scripts. External funding al- This increase is particularly im- tary Science lows paid participation of pressive considering that (1) the Announcing Our New G&PS Two New Faculty (continued from page 1) Administrator the oxidation of chromium via ulty member and receive half of tions for Bain and Elliott are manganese oxides. This re- 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 Admin- ing and remediating environ- devote to research. In a market istrator of 4+ years, Mat Dr. Bain will be teaching mental contamination from where dual-career couples and Romick, left Geology in late Groundwater every spring metals, including local brown- the ―trailing spouse‖ are sources 2007 for another position and Soils every other year. field sites related to steel pro- of consternation and bitterness, within the University. Mat Dr. Elliott will teach a course duction. Another aspect of Dr. this arrangement elegantly was highly successful at in Watershed Biogeochemis- Bain’s postdoctoral research solves many potential problems. keeping the department try every spring and a course focused on chemical weather- functioning smoothly and As both professors have strong on Applications of Stable ing in the Santa Cruz terraces balancing grant budgets interests in geochemistry, their Isotopes in Environmental of California. His study is one during his tenure at G&PS, arrival has resulted in enhanced Systems in alternate years. of the first to couple basin- and he will be missed. How- analytical capability in depart- These courses will not only scale chemical dynamics with ever, the department was ment laboratories. New analyti- strengthen the graduate pro- extensive characterization of lucky to identify and hire a cal equipment includes an ion gram, but will also allow ad- soil chemical weathering rates. strongly qualified new ad- chromatograph for the analysis vanced undergraduates addi- ministrator, Lorrie Robbins The simultaneous arrival of of major anionic species in wa- tional elective choices. The (formerly from the Environ- Elliott and Bain is not simply a ter and a gamma spectrometer arrival of these two dynamic mental and Occupational big coincidence. They have for sediment dating (measures young researchers marks an Health Department of the been working together since concentrations of gamma de- exciting time for the teaching Graduate School of Public graduate school and were mar- caying radio-isotopes), as well and research missions of the Health), and anticipates no ried in 2005. They join the as an upgrade to the depart- Department of Geology and reduction in the pace or department in a relatively novel ment thermal ion mass spec- Planetary Science. quality of departmental arrangement, by splitting a trometer and an additional gas operations. faculty position. Both teach isotope mass ratio mass spec- half the load of a normal fac- trometer. Laboratory renova- 2006-2007 Page 3

land Geological Survey, Report reserves and a successful fishing graduating with his BS in 1999. Alumni Updates 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 versity (the place where the Pil- of teaching and am working John Boulanger (BS Environ- Elizabeth Bryant (MS 2002) is grims left England!) in contami- toward my master’s degree in mental Geology, 2002) at- living in Ventura, California. nated land. I have remained an education from Drexel Univer- tended the New Mexico Insti- She can be contacted at emb- active caver, and for two years sity. I live in Philadelphia and tute of Mining and Technology [email protected]. was the honorary secretary of the plan to teach high school earth in Socorro, NM, where he re- British Caving Association. I have and space science in the ceived a MS in Hydrology in Stefanie Dilts Bernosky (BS continued to participate in inter- School District of Philadelphia.‖ 2004. He writes, ―I am cur- Geology 2004) writes, ―I re- national caving expeditions to rently employed with Klein- ceived my MS in geology from Mexico, and am hoping to go to Erica Love (BS Geology, felder (http:// UNC – Chapel Hill in 2006. As Croatia soon to explore the most 2001; MS 2003) tells us ―I'm www.kleinfelder.com) as a an indirect result of my MS researched karst area in the living in Pittsburgh and working hydrogeologist supporting site research, I published three world. I’ve also been trained in as an environmental consultant characterization and environ- abstracts and have a peer- cave diving and have taken my for Camp, Dresser, and mental modeling activities for reviewed paper submitted to first tentative steps in that form of McKee, Inc. for clients across petroleum storage tank release Gondwana Research. I at- exploration.‖ She adds that living the country. My husband Tony sites, source water/wellhead tended the University of Wis- in the UK ―gives me a unique and I are approaching our one- protection projects and in sup- consin-Madison in pursuit of perspective on geology, and I year anniversary, October 14, port of water appropriation my PhD, but left in 2007 to have had an opportunity to see we can't believe it's been a permits throughout the U.S. begin my career at BP as a the first replica of William Smith’s whole year. Our wedding was a After receiving my MS, my wife geologist. I was married in original (and the first) geologic bit of a Pitt Geology alumni and I, who were married in April 2007 to Mark Bernosky, map and visited his grave. I’ve party [see photo] and we were September 2003, returned to who attended Pitt (non-G&PS) stood on the international date so happy that so many of our Pittsburgh from NM. We are from 2000-2002. Erik Hoff- line at Greenwich at midnight, now homeowners in McCan- mann (BS 2002), a fellow Pitt and nearly dless Township; however, geology alumnus (and fellow every day there are no little ones to Wisconsin grad student) was in for two speak of yet.‖ John had an attendance. We now reside in years I abstract accepted for presenta- Houston, TX.‖ walked tion at the 2007 International along a Petroleum Environmental Con- Paula Grgich-Warke (MS portion of ference in Houston, Texas. 2003) writes, ―I’ve been living the Juras- in the UK since 2003 when I sic Coast Dave Boyer (BS Geology, married my British husband, World 2005) is currently a geologist and working in the contami- Heritage for Texas Keystone, Inc. He is nated land/brownfield remedia- Site. I live Secretary and Webmaster for tion sector since that time. I’m in Devon, the Pittsburgh Association of currently employed by a multi- so now I Petroleum Geologists, and national engineering firm, Hy- have lived Erica Love (center) and her Geology wedding guests recently purchased a house in der Consulting, Ltd, where I in two places great Pittsburgh. He can be con- function as a technical liaison with geologic periods named after Pitt geology family were able to tacted at with the sales and marketing them!‖ attend. It wouldn't have been [email protected] or team. I am involved in explor- the same without you.‖ [email protected]. ing all aspects of industrial and Lara Homsey (MS 2003) is an commercial engineering pro- Assistant Professor in the Depart- Matt Maiers (BA Environ- David K. Brezinski (PhD jects that have an environment of Geosciences, Murray mental Studies, 2005) writes, ―I 1984) was honored with the mental facet to them. Our office State University, Kentucky. She worked as a Project Manager 2007 John C. Frye Memorial specializes in geoenvironmen- can be contacted at with Greensburg Environ- Environmental Geology Award tal and groundwater projects [email protected]. mental Contracting Systems, of the Geological Society of and I am currently working on Inc. in Greensburg, PA, but I America. This award is given the site investigations for large Candace Kairies Beatty (PhD recently accepted a position each year to the best environ- parcels of land that are being 2003) is currently an assistant with the Walsh Group in mental geology paper pub- redeveloped for the 2012 professor at Winona State Uni- Canonsburg, PA as a Project lished either by the Geological Olympic Games. I’m also in- versity, Winona, MN, and a Engineer. I am married to Society of America or by one volved in an interdisciplinary Faculty Fellow with the Michel Pawlosky-Maiers who is of the state geological surveys. consortia to examine the ef- U.S. Department of Energy/ an optometrist ,and we live in Papers published during the fects of climate change on the National Energy Technology Greensburg, PA.‖ For those of preceding three calendar years British Isles. Our extensive Laboratory. you who remember better are eligible. Brezinski was coastlands are constantly days, Matt was a member of cited for his sole-authored pa- threatened by climatic changes Scott Knoflicek (BS Geology, the 2004 Big East Champion per ―Stratigraphy of the Freder- that enhance erosion, increase 1999) worked as an environ- and 2005 Fiesta Bowl Pitt foot- ick Valley and its relationship flooding and damage economic mental consultant in New Jersey, ball team. to karst development,‖ Mary- resources, such as offshore oil Alaska and Pennsylvania after (continued on page 4) Page 4 Geology & Planetary Science Newsletter

Aaron O’Hara (BS Environ- lished the results of my MS coal is mined are coming Alumni Updates mental Geology, 2005) writes, thesis (slightly modified) with and more may follow. These ―I work for the PA Department David Crown in 2003.‖ Tim challenges have probably (continued from page 3) of Environmental Protection, can be contacted at reached all who work in ac- Bureau of Oil and Gas Man- [email protected]. tivities related to this indus- agement; it will be two years try. My coworkers and I have in November. There are two Jim Pottinger (MS 1996) is some new publications com- sections to the program, the currently employed at the ing out in 2008. There will be permitting section, which is- Gateway School District, a NIOSH Information Circu- sues permits for oil and gas Monroeville, lar out at well drilling, and the compli- PA. He is the the end of ance section, which takes Department this year care of inspections and regu- Chairperson or early lation of oil and gas well ac- for the AIM next year. tivities. I work in the permit- Gifted and . . Also, ting section as a Geologic Talented Pro- my part- Specialist and perform the gram, which is time work technical review on oil and dedicated to on Matt Maiers and Michel gas well drilling applications.‖ teaching the sources Pawlosky-Maiers Aaron lives in Meadville, PA, gifted and tal- for respir- and can be contacted at ented through able silica He can be contacted at [email protected]. innovative dust has [email protected]. technologies been Tim Pierce (MS 2001) writes, and methods. docu- Dan Nelson (MS 2005) is at ―I currently live in Austin, He works mented the University of Washington in Texas, with Lisa (my wife of mostly with and will be Seattle, where he has just eight years) and our two chil- students in submitted started a PhD in chemical dren Abigail (3 years) and grades 11-12, Jim Pottinger and family to the In- oceanography with Dr. Julian Henry (6 weeks). I am in my and is always ternational Sachs. He is working with third year selling residential in need of guest speakers Journal of Coal Geology hydrogen isotopes in lipid bio- real estate in Austin, and Lisa (contact him at shortly. . . . Lastly, we will be markers. He can be contacted has continued her career in [email protected] if presenting and publishing at [email protected]. home mortgage at Wells you can help). Jim is married our findings from a field Fargo. (What a way for two to Mimi Suppes and has two study in scenic southwestern Erin Nock (BA Environmental geologists to make a living, young children: daughter Pennsylvania at the 12th Studies, 2002) writes, ―I am eh?!) I meet up with the old Riley (4) and son Torin (2). North American/US Mine currently living in Planetary Pitt Ventilation Symposium in Missoula, Mon- crew each Brian Ruskin (BS Geology, Reno. That was a huge field tana. I work for the year at the 2001) completed his PhD in effort for us and documents United States For- LPSC confer- Earth and Atmospheric Sci- changing reservoir condi- est Service, North- ence in Hous- ences at Cornell University in tions in longwall panel over- ern Region Head- ton (Jeff 2006. His research focused burden in response to min- quarters, as a GIS Byrnes [PhD on the genesis of nonmarine ing.‖ Steve can be con- Specialist in the 2002], Scott stratigraphic sequences and tacted at [email protected]. Wildlife, Water- Mest [PhD utilizing paleosols as climatic shed, Fisheries 2004], Jen indicators in foreland basins Arthur C. Tarr (PhD 1968) and Rare Plants Piatek [PhD in Argentina and Utah. After updated us on his profes- Unit. I am in my 2003], and graduation, Brian began his sional career subsequent to last semester of others who current job as a regional ge- his doctoral work with Walter graduate school at attended Pitt ologist for a new ventures Pilant. He writes,―Following the University of after I left). team at Shell International a National Research Council Montana, working This past year Exploration and Production, post-doc in 1968-1969 with toward my mas- I also saw Inc. in Houston, TX. He can ESSA, Coast and Geodetic ter’s degree in Joey Minerv- be contacted at Survey (ESSA was the im- GIS. After ini [MS 2001] [email protected]. mediate predecessor of graduation I will and Sherry what became NOAA in continue to build Stafford [MS Steve Schatzel (MS 1990, 1969), I was employed as a my career working 1999, PhD PhD 2001) writes, ―I am still research geophysicist with for the Forest Ser- 2007], both of working at NIOSH in the Pitts- the National Earthquake vice. I plan to stay Erin Nock in the Rockies whom are at burgh area. In response to Information Center (NEIC) at in Montana as long ExxonMobil in the tragic accidents occurring NOAA's headquarters in as I can....it's so beautiful out Houston. Lisa and I remem- in US coal mining industry Rockville, MD. In 1972, the here!! ber Pittsburgh and my time at over the past couple of years, NOAA earthquake program Pitt (1999-2001) fondly. I pub- several changes to the way (continued on page 5)

2006-2007 Page 5

grams. My current Scientist where alums return to cam- Alumni Updates Emeritus project is the creation Ann Vander Schrier (Pro-MS in pus to connect with students of a large wall map of global GIS/RS, 2003) is the Manager of and let them know the type of (continued from page 4) earthquakes for the period GIS Systems and Numeric Data things they can do with their and personnel were trans- 1900-2005 and the design of a Services at Case Western Re- BS in geology and fill them in ferred to Boulder, CO, and comprehensive online seismic- serve University's Kelvin Smith on things they wish they had later merged with the earth- ity atlas of Earth using GIS.‖ Library in Cleveland, Ohio. She known as a student. We had quake research programs of recently started on a master’s about 40 alums return for two the U.S. Geological Survey Andrew Vahey (BA Environ- degree in Library and Informa- days of talks and panels with in 1974. I retired from the mental Studies, 2002) writes, tion Science at Kent State Uni- the students. During the USGS in February 2006 but ―After graduating from Pitt in versity. conference I was honored now hold a Scientist Emeri- '02 I moved to West Chester, with the William T. Elberty Jr. tus appointment with the PA, and started working full Jessica Wade (BA Environ- Medal for service to the Uni- NEIC in Golden, CO. The time for a utility company in mental Studies, 2002) writes, ―I versity through direct service nearly 38 years of federal Delaware and Maryland where am currently employed at Digi- and support of the Depart- service with NOAA and I've become a Senior Environ- talGlobe and coming up to my ment of Geology. . . . I am USGS provided me with mental Scientist. I graduated five-year anniversary in Decem- also continuing to maintain many exciting research op- from Saint Joseph's University ber. My experience earning the the web site for the SLU Ge- portunities in observational (Philadelphia, PA) in the spring GIS certificate at Pitt really ology Alumni (http:// seismology and plate tecton- of 2007 with a Master of Sci- helped me in this industry. The it.stlawu.edu/~geoclub/ ics. Early in that period, the ence degree in Environmental GIS certificate program provided alumni/). That is the extent of plate tectonic revolution was Management and Public me with a background in rele- my geology these days, as I in full swing and I was able Safety. The REALLY good vant software such as ENVI and am spending time with my to use my dissertation work news is that my fiancée and I ESRI packages as well as a family. Scott and I have two to establish plate effects on got engaged on 10/19/07. basic understanding of remote girls — Katie, now 4 and body-wave magnitude deter- We're planning a 2008 wed- sensing and GIS. I have Eliza, almost 2. They keep us minations. I was a member ding in West Chester. My free evolved at DigitalGlobe from a pretty busy with school, story of a team analyzing data time is filled with running, Satellite Imagery Technician to a time at Phipps, and Kinder- from a seismic network in working on cars and cheering Satellite Production Systems musik. As a family, music the Aleutian Islands prior to on the Steelers.‖ Engineer. My most recent en- continues to be a high priority and subsequent to two large deavor has taken me into a posi- and Scott and I are busy with underground nuclear explo- Carey Vallor (BA Environ- tion as a Satellite Grounds Sys- our community band — the sions, and later I was project mental Studies, BS Psychol- tems Software Test Engineer. I East Winds Symphonic leader of new seismic net- ogy, 2004) writes that after truly appreciate my experience Band. We were just selected works in Puerto Rico and graduating ―. . . it took me at Pitt in the Geology & Plane- to perform at the National South Carolina established some time to land the job that I tary Science Department and Convention of the Associa- to characterize the seismic really wanted, to work with the the journey of mine that it initi- tion of Concert Bands in hazard of those areas. Department of Environmental ated.‖ She notes that Digital- Corning NY. It promises to Other project work included Protection (PA DEP)! I utilized Globe has successfully launched be an exciting time. We also seismicity studies in south- my psychology degree when I a second commercial remote continue to work on an or- ern Nevada in connection first graduated and worked at a sensing satellite, and information ganization that we created with the Yucca Mountain child and adolescent psychiat- and pictures can be found at with another area musician nuclear waste storage facil- ric hospital and kept taking any http://www.spaceflightnow.com/ — the Southwestern Penn- ity, in southern Puget Sound civil service test that I qualified delta/d326/070918launch/. sylvania Band Partners. This determining seismic amplifi- for. I was hired in October of organization serves to con- cation due to low-velocity 2005 at CYS (Children & Youth Katherine Walden Schmid (MS nect regional community surficial deposits, and analy- Services) of Washington 2005) writes, ―I've gotten mar- bands and to highlight and ses of numerous U.S. and County through civil service, ried and have changed my name promote community music in international disasters such which placed me on a promo- to Katherine Walden Schmid. I Southwestern PA.‖ as the 1994 Northridge and tional list for other state jobs. I work for Equitable Production 2004 Sumatra earthquakes. was finally hired with the PA now and look for oil and gas I was intrigued to read the DEP in 2006 and recently up- reserves in northern West Vir- discussion of the geographi- graded my status from an envi- ginia and Pennsylvania.‖ cal information systems ronmental trainee to a full- Katherine’s work email is Please use the enclosed (GIS) program in the Depart- fledged Waste Management [email protected]. postage paid envelope to ment. In 1987 I led a special Specialist. I work out of the let us know how you're project to expedite the incor- Pittsburgh office located on Sarah Zimmerman McElfresh doing. Plus, we'll include poration of GIS into USGS Washington's Landing and am (MS 2000) writes, ―I have spent your news in the next earthquake research. I es- under the Waste Program the last year working on the St. tablished a centralized GIS which deals with hazardous, Lawrence University Geology newsletter. lab and training program at residual and municipal Alumni Conference as one of the the Golden offices. As a Wastes.‖ co-chairs. We had a very suc- result, GIS is now integrated cessful conference in Septem- into most research pro- ber. This is a unique event Page 6 Geology & Planetary Science Newsletter Isotope Study Links Nitrates to Power Plants

Recently hired Assistant fate, and pH in precipitation Professor Emily Elliott (see for assessing the source of cover story) has completed nitrate in rainwater. Based an unprecedented survey of on these results, Dr. Elliott the isotopic composition of suggests that isotopic moni- nitrate in rainwater through- toring of precipitation may out the northeastern U.S. be an effective way to moni- Atmospheric nitrate deposi- tor long-term reductions in tion is a key contributor to power plant NOx pollution, acidification of streams and as required by the Clean Air soils, forest decline, coastal Act and the Clean Air Inter- water algal blooms, and state Rule. Additional data ozone and particulate matter from her study illustrate that formation. The results, pub- monitoring networks need to lished in Environmental Sci- be expanded to incorporate ence & Technology (v. 41, sites in urban areas, to cap- pp. 7661-7667), demon- ture the influence of road- strate that the isotopic com- way NOx pollution. As part position of nitrate in precipi- of building her research pro- tation is directly related to gram, Dr. Elliott is develop- contributions from power ing plans to establish a pre- plants. In fact, her results cipitation chemistry monitor- Spatial distribution of nitrate isotopes in rain across the northeastern U.S. indicate that nitrogen iso- ing site in Pittsburgh, which Higher values (shown in red) indicate the influence of power plant NOx emis- topes may be a better tool will be one of only several sions on nitrate formation. (adapted from Elliott et al., 2007). than commonly used con- urban precipitation monitor- centrations of nitrate, sul- ing sites nationwide. Reflection Seismology Program Initiated

Associate Professor Bill initiated a seismic reflection bert was awarded grants ratory to determine acoustic Harbert, working with re- study to investigate the ef- totaling nearly $1.4 million velocities. The lab study will searchers at the Department fectiveness of CO2 injection from NETL during the past employ enhanced hardware of Energy/National Energy as a means of carbon se- year, in addition to an earlier and software for measuring Technology Laboratory questration and enhanced oil donation of a seismic truck acoustic velocities at in situ (NETL) in Pittsburgh, has production. Professor Har- from WesternGeco worth an pressures and temperatures additional ~$1 million. typical of sequestration conditions. These measure- In this project, reflec- ments will then be correlated tion seismic methods with the seismic reflection will be used to image survey, providing a direct CO2 migration at an bridge between the geologi- injection site before cal units and their represen- and at six-month inter- tation in the collected reflec- vals following injection. tion seismic datasets. Con- Working with the tinued work will add subsur- Southwest Regional face, reflection seismic, well Partnership on Carbon lithology, wire line log, and Sequestration, Profes- other information to the data- sor Harbert and his base. team will construct geodatabases related So far, this project has to risk assessment of helped support PhD student CO2 sequestration. Vladislav Kaminski, former Rock core materials PhD student (and now post- from previously inter- doc), Brian Lipinski, and preted oil field wells early-career PhD student will be tested in the Chris Purcell. The WesternGECO-donated F700 seismic recording truck allows recording of up to 3,000 channels of 24-bit digital data simultaneously. NETL core flow labo- 2006-2007 Page 7

speculation that similar fault- the graduate plate tectonics spring, come hell or high water. Faculty Updates ing may extend to Alaska! course. Lots of fun. Still working In addition, Dr. Elliott and I have upon refinements that fur- Daniel Bain been repeatedly enchanted with Mark Abbott ther support this idea. In the Pittsburgh. Moving from (most I’m very pleased to be joining recently) the San Francisco Field-based research contin- meantime projects in Ne- the Geology and Planetary area, I have to say San Fran ued this year in remote parts vada, New Mexico, Pennsyl- Science faculty at Pitt. While topography is overhyped. Pitts- of the Peruvian and Venezue- vania and Puerto Rico pro- it’s only been a few short burgh has plenty, and more lan Andes and the Pacific gressed. Patti Campbell, a months, things are going well. importantly, snow. And Pitts- Northwest. Fieldwork focused former student, now a pro- Lab renovations are scheduled burgh has affordable housing. on collecting sediment cores fessor at Slippery Rock, her to be completed soon. I’ve And the Steelers. And the to study late Quaternary cli- students and I are finishing had the pleasure of working friendliest people. Let’s stop mate change. The research up work in the East Potrillo with several Pitt undergrads, there. I think I’m embarrassing group includes three PhD Mountains of southern New including Emily Broich, Amar the city. students (Nathan Stansell, Mexico. In Nevada, Damian Piaschyk completed his thesis focused upon a large Rosemary Capo transpressional bend of the Doctoral student Liz Chapman Las Vegas Valley shear and new PhD student Tonya zone. Sarah Morealli has Brubaker are working on a col- just started a new project to laborative DOE-NETL project the west, among highly ex- with WVU that involves the use tended rocks. Mary of mass spectrometry tech- McGuire is tackling the rela- niques to identify, quantify and tion between iron-ore depos- determine the mechanisms of its and fractures in southern interactions of trace elements in PA. Daniel Lao-Davila is coal utilization byproducts (e.g., back from Australia and writ- Mehta, Michael Muder, and fly ash) with natural waters. ing his dissertation about Broxton Bird and Byron Marion Sikora, in conducting We’re also continuing to explore deformed ultramafic rocks in Steinman) and seven under- research on urban streams in the chemical and mineralogical southwest Puerto Rico. I graduate research assistants. Baltimore, MD and in Pitts- characteristics of coal mine have returned from a Pen- Lindsey Witthaus, one of the burgh’s own Nine Mile Run. (If drainage iron oxides, which was rose Conference in Greece undergraduate researchers you haven’t been to Frick Park the subject of former PhD stu- where I gained insights into who conducted fieldwork in in the last three years, I highly dent Candace Kairies Beatty the Yukon and wrote an hon- recommend it. You won’t be- (now Assistant Professor of ors college thesis, also re- lieve what they’ve done with Geoscience at Winona State ceived a Fulbright scholarship the place.) This year I hope to Univ.). Liz Chapman and un- to study in Brazil this year. continue and expand my re- dergraduates Allie Ackerman The goal of our research is to search program in urban fluvial and Andrea Glassmire are document drought and tem- systems, non-traditional stable working on a new project, in perature histories since the isotope geochemistry, and collaboration with adjunct fac- last ice age using finely lay- catchment hydrology, including ulty member Bob Hedin and ered lake sediments. Methods students drawn from both Pitt’s include stable isotope geo- very capable undergraduate chemistry, physical sedimen- population and a grad student tology, and geochemistry. or two from this year’s recruit- Results of stable isotope ment class (If you know some- plate coupling and core analysis of the sediment re- one…). cord for the last 100 or so complexes. I plan to incor- years is calibrated using in- porate the new knowledge I taught a graduate course in strumental climate data from into a paper about extension Soils this fall, and will teach nearby meteorological sta- in northwestern North Amer- this course in alternating fall tions and then extended back ica with Bert Struik and Jim semesters. The field compo- in time using the geological Ryan of the Canadian Geo- nent of this class is character- archives. logical Survey. I continue to izing soils and mass wasting in teach the introductory geol- Schenley Park in cooperation ogy labs each semester. I Thomas Anderson with the Pittsburgh Parks Con- Hoover Color, Inc., which re- enjoy the interactions with servancy. This work is in sup- cently received funding from the Following the publication of undergrads just entering the port of their long-term goal of Green Building Alliance. The ideas about very large faults geological and environ- restoring Panther Hollow goal is to find ways to optimize in southwestern North Amer- mental studies very much. I Creek and Lake. Things have the recycling of iron oxides de- ica, Brian Mahoney (U. Wis- also taught structure and been fun so far. This spring I posited in passive wetland consin, Eau Claire) and I pub- had a stimulating introduc- taught Groundwater, some- tion to the western Pacific in lished an extended abstract in thing that will happen every (continued on page 8) which we supported the Page 8 Geology & Planetary Science Newsletter

roughly 250 graduates; in end if it weren’t for the hard using a combination of nitrate Faculty Updates ten short years, the program work of Lorrie Robbins, Mat isotopes and geochemical trac- has become one of the pre- Romick, Brian Stewart, ers to improve our understand- (continued from page 7) mier multidisciplinary majors Deanna Hitchcock and Dolly ing of contamination sources to treatment systems. Liz, work- in the University, with half a Chavez. I am grateful for both Nine Mile Run and how they ing with former MS student dozen Morris Udall and their skills and their patience. vary with discharge, especially Ted Weaver (now a Project Harry Truman Scholarship during wet weather. This work Geologist with Hedin Environ- winners and runners-up. Emily Elliott is being conducted in collabora- mental), has also been exam- This year, 30 ES students tion with Dr. Bain and the Nine It’s hard to believe we’ve been ining evidence that shallow worked in wide-ranging in- Mile Run Watershed Associa- in Pittsburgh now for nearly coal mine discharges rather ternships spanning five tion. In the coming months, I one year. As time flies by, than deep oil and gas brines states; another 11 students look forward to assuming teach- progress continues to be made are responsible for iron- ing responsibilities, including a in establishing our new re- contaminated waters seeping course this spring that will focus search labs and programs. from some gas wells in Clar- on the hydrology, biogeochem- Lab renovations are soon to be ion County. Liz presented istry, and management of water- underway and are scheduled preliminary results at GSA sheds that will incorporate field to be completed in 2008. A and is extending this work work at the U.S. Forest Service new Isoprime continuous flow with the help of grad student Fernow Experimental Forest in mass spectrometer is sched- Graeme Dodworth. Recent Parsons, West Virginia. uled to be delivered this fall PhD graduate Sherry and will soon be keeping Dr. Stafford (now a research It’s certainly been an exciting Rosenmeier’s instrument com- geologist at ExxonMobil in year for us, and I’m looking for- pany in SRCC 520-521. When Houston) was a coauthor on a ward to sharing my research all is said and done, we should related paper. On a more studied abroad in China, interests, teaching, and the iso- have some really nice working exotic topic, Sherry also has Costa Rica, France, Spain, tope gospel with anyone who space to accommodate our two revised journal manu- Australia and Peru. Four of will listen. research for the coming years. scripts related to her disserta- our students earned

tion work on Archean fossil Brackenridge Summer Re- William Harbert In addition, I’m fortunate to be soils in Finland and Canada search Scholarships, and 17 advising two stellar MS candi- Sean Fulton and Jeff Mihalik near submission. Under- students—an unprece- dates, Katie Middlecamp and have been successful and re- graduate James Gardiner is dented number—worked in Marion Sikora, both of whom ceived their Master of Science finishing up work on a geoar- research labs throughout the in the Sloan Foundation Profes- cheology project related to department. sional Masters program! They horse domestication in the have done a great job. Brian Eurasian steppes begun in Despite the complex nature Lipinski received his PhD de- collaboration with Mike of the major, our students gree and is now a post-doctoral Rosenmeier and Sandra Ol- continue to do well academi- researcher at the University of sen from the Carnegie Mu- cally. Of 12 students gradu- Pittsburgh and National Energy seum of Natural History; ating in April 2007, eight Technology Laboratory of the James will enter our graduate graduated with honors (three United States Department of program in the fall. In teach- cum laude, three magna Energy. Vladislav Kaminski ing-related news, Environ- cum laude, two summa cum should be finished this term with mental Studies program coor- laude); the overall GPA for his PhD degree and has begun dinator Mark Collins and I the entire major was above looking for employment in Can- have begun work on a Heinz 3.1. This spring, four Envi- Foundations-supported pro- ronmental Studies students ject that integrates sustain- graduated Phi Beta Kappa. started their programs this fall. ability issues into undergradu- Katie’s research focuses on ate classes. Last spring Brian On a personal note, it has using carbon and nitrogen Stewart and I took our gradu- been enormously gratifying isotopes to assess uptake of ate seminar class out on a to hear from so many alums. fossil-fuel derived CO and field trip to the Owens Valley Although I am not always 2 NO to vegetation. Her work is region in California; eighth- able to respond immediately x being conducted in conjunction grader Emma Capo Stewart to emails and letters, please with folks at the Baltimore Eco- showed her four-year-old know such correspondence system Study — a Long-Term brother, Owen, the ropes. is very much welcomed. Ecological Research Site. Take advantage of the re- Marion Sikora is embarking on Mark Collins sponse card in this newsletter and let us know how an isotopic and geochemical ada. New students Chris It’s been another interesting you’re doing. survey of water quality impair- Purcell and Amanda year for the Environmental ment in Nine Mile Run, a Wasielewski have just started Studies Program. The ES Finally, the department highly visible restored stream this term. (continued on page 9) in Frick Park. Marion will be major boasts 75 majors and would grind to a miserable 2006-2007 Page 9

haps a great example illustrat- especially loves to draw Alaska Volcano Observatory. Faculty Updates ing the use of biostratigraphy dragons incinerating My time there continued a or lithostratigraphy to address princesses. You can imag- decade-long collaboration (continued from page 8) an important geologic ques- ine the wailing and gnashing researching new ways to bet- I have been working on research tion? of teeth that ensue. But at ter monitor volcanoes in the in collaboration with the National least I sleep at night! northern Pacific region. Over Energy Technology Laboratory in On other matters, I get a lot of the past five years, this work the areas of reflection seismic, people bringing in samples that If you are ever in the has focused on using data rock physics and risk assess- enter my office as valuable neighborhood, I hope you’ll from the Advanced Space- ment. This year I spent a pleas- stop by! I’d like to hear borne Thermal Emission and ant two weeks in Moscow and about what you are up to, Reflection Radiometer London as part of a sabbatical, and to see if you have any (ASTER) satellite instrument. completed two continuing educa- suggestions about improving During the summer, I was tion courses (in 3D seismic ac- what we do here. awarded NASA funding for quisition design and AVO applied another three years to con- to lithology determination) and Michael Ramsey tinue as a science team mem- have been working with col- ber on that mission. And fi- leagues and students. I am very For all of 2007 I have been nally, for the remainder of grateful for the continued dona- away from the Department 2007, I headed to the Univer- tions for software and equipment on my sabbatical leave. I sity of Hawaii in Honolulu. My relevant to CO2 sequestration was awarded tenure in the research time there was and geophysical studies. Stu- spring of 2006 and started spent working with Mars data dents have become much better my sabbatical in January as well as looking at active than I am at utilizing the Kingdom 2007. volcanic processes at Kilauea Suite of Seismic Micro Technolo- Volcano. Being away from gies and interpreting 3D seismic Unlike most sabbaticals Pittsburgh has not slowed my data sets. meteorites and leave as hunks where one goes to a single research group at all. My sev- of slag or industrial metal. Bill location, I opted for the more enth PhD student, Emily Charles Jones Cassidy’s been training me. It costly and time-intensive Mercurio, just started and is always tough letting them option of relocating three several papers were pub- I really enjoy teaching historical down. One guy carried his 50- times! For the first four lished this year, all first- geology. In recent years I’ve lb block of metal from base to months of the year I went authored by my students. I shifted my emphasis toward the base for the full 20 years of his back to work with my PhD am looking forward to a pro- practical, hands-on interpretation Air Force career! This is the ductive year of research and of rocks, stratigraphic columns, hazard of free shipping. But at teaching! cross-sections and maps. I fig- least he was philosophical ure these skills will best serve about his non-meteorite: He Michael Rosenmeier students as they move into pro- dumped it in my office. An- fessions requiring the unraveling other guy with a piece of chert Greetings! It’s hard to be- of the regional geology of an was sure I was wrong, that Bill lieve, but I’m now settling into area. I only wish that it were Cassidy was wrong, and that my fifth year at the University feasible to do more than one the Carnegie Museum of Natu- of Pittsburgh…and this last weekend trip in the spring se- ral History was wrong. I think year has been particularly mester. Finals week is upon us he eventually turned his worth- busy and productive. Under just as the weather gets nice! less piece of chert into a valuable meteorite using nothing I am currently writing a first draft but the power of his mind. Uri of a lab manual for historical ge- Geller would have been im- advisor (Dr. Phil Christen- ology that is more challenging pressed! sen) at Arizona State Uni- and I hope useful than traditional versity. The focus of my time manuals. I am hoping that these If you graduated since I arrived was new research involving labs will be a good preparation at Pitt, you may be interested Mars. In 2006, I was named for jobs in especially the petro- to know that my oldest daugh- as a participating scientist leum industry. However, since I ter is now seven and the on the Thermal Emission have not personally worked in younger identical twin clone Imaging System (THEMIS), industry, I would appreciate hear- daughters are four. I am get- which is currently collecting ing about potential lab topics that ting a lot more sleep compared orbital infrared data of the you wish you or your employees to a few years ago. The base- Red Planet. I am looking at had been exposed to before ment is finished. A massive new ways to improve the coming to work. Perhaps you swing set complex has been data to detect smaller sur- have a set of well logs or seismic erected (why use 8-foot 4x4s face features including pos- sections that could be donated to when they come in 16-foot sible hot spots. I relocated to be used as the core of a lab in lengths?) The twins especially Anchorage, AK, in early either historical geology or sedi- love princesses. The eldest May, where I spent the next mentology/stratigraphy? Or per- four months working with the (continued on page 10) Page 10 Geology & Planetary Science Newsletter

Louis) is focused on human- ern British Columbia, namely sedimentary rock types so Faculty Updates environment interactions in the Mount Edziza, to understand that she can continue her steppes of Central Asia and the the interaction of volcanism iron isotope studies on pyrite possible influence of climate and confining ice over the last formation and dissolution. (continued from page 9) change on the evolution of no- 2Ma. She had a paper published graduate research advisees madic pastoralism within the Marion Sikora (now a MS region. During the field cam- Kristen has been studying student 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 beneath scripts (to be submitted this fall sites within the Dzhungar ice. The focus of both of their for peer review) focused on cli- Mountains. We also collected projects is to develop meth- mate changes within Central numerous water samples, as ods of using these rocks to Asia over the last ~5,000 years. well as soils, grasses, and infer the presence and thick- Graduate student Kevin modern and fossil horse teeth ness of former ice. We had a Robinson also successfully for oxygen and carbon isotopic successful (and last) field defended his master’s thesis this analyses. season at Edziza this sum- in Geochemical Transac- year. Kevin’s research, now in mer. Jeff also plans to study tions, and she is coauthor press, was aimed at reconstruct- In other news…I continue to sub-ice basaltic lavas in Ice- (along with me and Dr. ing the environmental history of manage and maintain the dedi- land next summer. I was also Capo) on several papers northern Mongolia using lake cated stable isotope laboratory an organizer for the 2nd Vol- submitted by our colleagues sediment cores. PhD student facilities within the department. cano-Ice Interaction on Earth at Carnegie Mellon who are Benjamin Cavallari also contin- Over the last year, between and Mars conference, held in carrying out pyrite dissolu- ues to make progress on a Na- electronic box soldering efforts Vancouver, Canada in June tion experiments. Under- tional Science Foundation- and cryogenic system replace- 2007. Both myself and Jeff graduate Justin Hynicka funded project in northern ments, we managed to com- presented talks at the confer- completed an exquisite set Greece, and we hope to publish plete over 6,000 analyses! And ence. of leaching experiments on the first results from this work in we’re now making preparations Elizabeth has just begun a soils from the Atacama De- the coming months. for the arrival of a second mass project studying the textural sert, Chile, which is the dri-

spectrometer, an addition tied changes during the transition est desert on Earth outside Fieldwork has also kept me busy to the hiring of Dr. Emily Elliott. from Surtseyan ("wet") to of Antarctica. He has been over the last year. August 2006 So, it looks as if the upcoming Strombolian ("dry") deposits investigating the origin of was spent in the Burgundy re- academic year promises to be at tuff cones or rings. She unique salt deposits using gion of France, with PhD student equally busy and, hopefully, visited her field area of Koko strontium isotopes as a Tamara Misner, undergraduate even more productive! Crater in Hawaii in early tracer for different sources, Sarah Strano, geomorphologist January 2008. The focus of and he presented his work in Dr. Eric Straffin (Edinboro Uni- Until next year… ―be well, do her research will be to try to an invited talk at the 2006 versity of Pennsylvania) and good work, and keep in touch.‖ constrain the controls on such GSA Annual Meeting in archaeologist and ethnographer transitions. Philadelphia. This project is Carole Crumley from the Univer- Ian Skilling collaborative with research- sity of North Carolina at Chapel Brian Stewart ers at U.C. Berkeley. Hill. We spent several weeks I currently have two master’s

collecting sediment cores from students, Kristen LaMoreaux I have been very fortunate to Although my teaching load is medieval-aged reservoirs, as and Elizabeth Simoneau, and have a talented group of stu- reduced as Department part of an interdisciplinary re- dents working on a number of Chair, I continue to have the search project examining the different (but always interest- pleasure of teaching Miner- direct cause-and-effect relation- ing) research projects. Lev alogy (GEOL 1001), and I ships between historic land use Spivak-Birndorf completed am impressed, as always, by changes and long-term water- his master’s in August 2007 the ever-increasing talent shed dynamics. Of course this on the interaction of water and dedication of our under- study also provides a unique with coal utilization byprod- graduates. I was also fortu- opportunity to sample the fine ucts (fly ash) using boron and nate to be able to participate wines and cheeses of Burgundy! strontium isotopes, working in in a 2007 Spring Break field On a less remarkable gastro- conjunction with Dr. Capo’s trip to Owens Valley, Califor- nomic note, Kevin Robinson graduate students Liz Chap- nia, which was part of a and undergraduate Erin Stacy man and Tonya Brubaker. graduate seminar taught by joined me for nearly five weeks He will be writing up his re- Dr. Capo. We expect more of fieldwork in southeastern sults for publication as he trips to follow as we further Kazakhstan in July of last year. one PhD student, Jeff begins in the PhD program at develop our research pro- This research, collaborative with Hungerford. Kristen and Jeff Arizona State University. grams in that part of the archaeologist Michael Frachetti are both working on a long- Doctoral student Amy Wolfe world. (Washington University in St. lived volcanic complex in north- has been working diligently to isolate pyrite from different 2006-2007 Page 11 Emeritus Faculty Updates Michael Bikerman essential and earning it re- in close proximity to the rich was unable to get together the Last year I taught what likely quires a test after a few years fossil-bearing strata of New big picture in the vicinity of Harp- will be my last formal class at of practical experience — so York’s Devonian and the won- ers Ferry, WV. I kept on teach- Duquesne University with save your textbooks! When ders of two coastal plains (in ing the "Planet Earth" course for graduate student Ben home I follow the old saying — Florida, we are slightly more the next ten years. In 2006 (my Cavallari, who has taken buy a house and make home than three hours away from 75th birthday) I decided to over the class completely. maintenance your hobby, St. Catherines Island, Geor- "really" retire. Bryan, Texas, However I am still teaching though mostly I try to keep the gia, only 11 miles from the offered many nice advantages occasionally as an garden from becoming a com- Gulf). I have kept my hat in for a "real" retirement. My son is "edutainment" lecturer on plete wasteland. The deer eat the research ring, co-editing a a professor (of Mathematics) at cruise ships where I share my anything Viola plants, but none guidebook for the 2007 nearby Texas A&M, the housing interest and love of geology of the weeds! Power walking Southeastern GSA St. Cath- is even less expensive than in with adults. So far I have and swimming keep some of erines Island field trip, co- Pittsburgh, the houses are one- done this on an Alaskan the fat off and allow me to feel authoring a sea level presen- story (remember our last Pgh cruise and on a transatlantic OK. tation at the same meeting house was three stories with a crossing ending in Spain. In and presenting a U.S. em- full basement), the lots are addition, I was on a ship I hope to see some of you at bassy-supported invited pa- "flat," and the weather is warm bound for the Panama Canal the Pittsburgh Geological Soci- per at an international meet- (too warm, some would say). ety meetings — student dinner ing in Venezuela, dealing with for $5 and usually a good lec- the Census of Marine Life, My days here are quite relaxed: ture. Early Human Impact on Ma- keeping up with family and rine Mollusks. The latter is in friends (thanks to e-mail), keep- William Cassidy press, to be published in a ing up with science and politics I got a late start for my project special volume of British Ar- (thanks to the web) and seeing a in Argentina this year, so I got chaeological Research. In lot of movies and British detec- here just when everyone is addition, I have several pa- tive series (thanks to NetFlix). expecting the warm weather pers in press, included in a (late Spring in the southern huge edited American Mu- Bruce Hapke hemisphere) -- and "warm" seum of Natural History Bulle- Even though I retired, I continue here is equal to hot as hell in tin titled ―Native Landscapes to be active in research, focus- on a cruise which was can- Pittsburgh, so it won’t be easy. of St. Catherines Island,‖ also ing on trying to understand the celled as the ship had I’ll be excavating a couple due out by the end of the interaction of electromagnetic scraped bottom prior to dock- more craters in the Campo del year. And, I have finally com- waves with planetary regoliths in ing in Acapulco where we Cielo meteorite craterfield -- pleted a book manuscript support of spacecraft observa- boarded. That was quite an that is, I’ll be hiring the pickers dealing with ―Nature’s Proxies tions of bodies of the solar sys- experience as the company and shovelers who will be do- and the Global Problem- tem. In October I presented a had to send some 2,000 peo- ing the excavating. This is part atique.‖ I started work on that paper at the annual meeting of ple home in a few days. We of a long-term strategy to get book long ago with help and the Division for Planetary Scien- ended up with a few extra structural data on small impact encouragement from Jude, tists of the American Astronomi- days in Mexico in February, craters that can then be mod- Mark Collins and Ed McCord, cal Society that solved a nag- which was not all that bad! eled by hypervelocity impact and over the last year it has ging problem in the reflection of Other travels have been to people under known conditions taken me on some fascinating light by powders and soils: that Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to of velocity, mass, etc., and can ―excursions‖ into evolutionary the reflectance increases as the spend some time with my also be modeled theoretically biology, neural physiology, soil becomes more compressed. wife's family and to Italy on a by people who love to do that religion, and politics. I hope This turns out to be due to the land trip to see some fascinat- sort of thing. The aim is to that you have had a busy and fact that present reflectance ing historical, and incidentally reach convergence between productive year. Jude and I models didn't take the fact that geological, sites such as field, experimental, and theo- would love to hear from you particles cannot interpenetrate Pompeii, Herculaneum, Mt. retical data that help us to in- and catch up on the last few one another into account. Add- Vesuvius, Florence, Lucca, terpret impact cratering effects years (email: ing this requirement mathemati- Pisa and Rome. on other planets, where we [email protected]). cally solved the problem. I also can never study impacts in continue to cooperate with for- Otherwise I am still engaged detail. Walter Pilant mer graduate student and cur- in mining geology working When I retired in 1996, it was rent senior scientist at the Jet with my son on gold opera- Harold “Bud” Rollins my first retirement. I man- Propulsion Laboratory Bob tions in Canada and copper in Jude and I have been moder- aged, at a somewhat reduced Nelson on studies of Saturn's Arizona, making use of my ately busy over the last couple level, to continue my work in rings. In September I had a Pennsylvania Professional years, splitting our time be- Appalachian structural pleasant lesson in field geology Geologist [PG] registration. tween upstate New York and geology aided by my trusty when my wife and I took a cruise For students preparing for west central Florida. Geologi- magnetometer and a few up the Columbia River on a consulting work, the PG is cally, the annual sojourn be- helpful students. Found a few sternwheeler river boat for a tween our two places keeps us more interesting results but week. Page 12 Geology & Planetary Science Newsletter

Students in the field — research and field trips!

Maya Hunt discovers a clast dislodged from fertiary conglomerates in southwestern Wyoming. She was part of a summer class investigating the geology 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 samples from the Koksu River in southeastern Kazakhstan.

Environmental Studies major Danielle Mullen collecting water samples at Jackson Bog, Ohio, during Dr. Rosenmeier explaining the mechanics of a water-quality meter a weekend field trip with Dr. to geology undergraduate majors Carrie Stem and Abbie Sigmon Rosenmeier’s limnology (left and center) and graduate student Tamara Misner (right). course.

2006-2007 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 Loysburg, 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 Norman K. and Margaret Flint University field camp), Marion Summer Field Studies Field Scholarship Sikora (Louisiana State field We are proud to announce that camp), Thomas Stranko this past year two of our under- Emily Broich, a junior Environ- Norm Flint was famous for his (University of Buffalo field graduates received prestigious mental Studies major from Lan- field trips and teaching, and it is camp), and Sarah Strano Fulbright Student Fellowships to caster Country, PA, won a $2,000 therefore especially appropriate (University of Buffalo field do research abroad. Lindsey summer-study scholarship from that the Norman K. and camp). Witthaus (BA Environmental the Garden Club of America. Margaret Flint Memorial Field Studies 2007) won a fellowship The scholarship—designed ―to Scholarships give money to help Environmental Studies Field to conduct a baseline study of encourage studies and careers in support geology majors when Experience/Study Abroad the impact of bauxite mining on the environmental field‖—will go they go to summer field camp. Scholarship a rural community in Minas toward Ms. Broich’s field work in No doubt, many of you look back Gerais, Brazil. Sarah Strano South America. Her research will on your summer field camp with Summer field experiences for (BS Geology 2007) is conduct- focus on the environmental im- exceptional fondness and with a Environmental Studies majors ing a 10-month research project pact of the textile industry in strong appreciation of the aca- are supported by the Heinz focused on land-use and climate southern Peru. This is the sec- demic value of the experience. Endowment. This fund allowed changes within the Arroux Val- ond time an Environmental Stud- We would like to be able to offer us to give substantial support to ley in Burgundy, France. Kevin ies major has won a GCA schol- more support to our majors, so each of the following deserving Robinson (Geology BS 2004, arship. Senior Megan Sharretts please consider contributing to students in 2007: Emily Broich MS 2007) was the first Pitt un- of Danville, PA, won the award in this fund. (Peru), Ann Cassidy dergraduate ever to win a Ful- 2005. (Pittsburgh), Amber Hanna bright research award, so our The 2007 Flint Scholarship win- (UM’s Alaska Camp), Theresa undergraduates are forging an ners include: Bryan Friedrichs Romanosky (Yellowstone Field exceptional record of achieve- (Peru), Justin Hynicka Study), and Marion Sikora ment! (University of Oregon field camp), (LSU geology summer field Joshua Riesthmiller (Lehigh camp in Colorado Springs). We are very pleased to be able to Geology Club and Sigma Gamma Epsilon help our students see the world. 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. 2006-2007 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 2007), 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 Kaminiski — 2007 Pittsburgh Geological Society Student Night Research Paper Presentation (granted by American Society of Civil Engi- Asia neers) Thanks to all who contrib- ute to the Henry Leighton Memorial Scholarship Fund. Your generous support helps make possible the dynamic research our students pursue. The research shown on this page from Asia and South America is 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 Master of Science Graduates Environmental Studies Bachelor 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 Evaluate Lauren Stanko Coalbed Natural Gas Produced Water Disposal, Pow- John Vroom der River Basin, Wyoming

Environmental Geology and Geology Sherry Stafford (08/07) Bachelor 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 2006-2007 Page 17

Why donate? Thank you for your generous Last year we were able to provide 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 $1,000) take strategic steps toward the future. American Geosciences, Inc George F. Dellagiarino * Marshall Curtis Carothers, PhD * 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 family, 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 * A special thanks to our continuing donors meet the diverse challenges in the search for energy resources.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 postage 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!

Department of Geology & Planetary Science University of Pittsburgh 200 SRCC 4107 O’Hara Street Pittsburgh PA 15260 412-624-8780 FAX: 412-624-3914 www.geology.pitt.edu