Geo Department Leadership Transition
It will be an exiting new academic year, with all of our new faculty and new roles for many.
In This Issue
Creepy Hematite
USU Geo has a long and strong history of studying mineralization along faults and in fault gouge and how it affects deformation. The tradition has continued...
Greenland’s Greener History
With global warming comes worries about the potential collapse of Earth’s remaining glaciers, including the second largest body of ice on our planet -- the Greenland ice sheet. Dr. Tammy Rittenour’s luminescence analysis of samples collected from the ground surface deep underneath Greenland’s ice sheet reveals the Arctic island was indeed a green land, as recently as 416,000 years ago.
Rapid Earthquake Research
For geoscientists to assess hazards and understand how faults work, they sometimes must infer whether fault-zone rocks observed in the field deformed during an earthquake or while slipping slowly in-between events.
Transformation of the Museum and Collections
The Museum of Geology was established 13 years ago, after the remarkably bold and misguided theft of most of the rocks and fossils we had in display cases lining our main hallways. Ever since, there have been incremental renovations, additions, improvements...
New Faculty: Derrick Vaughn
A few question/answers to learn more about the newest member to the department.
Unsteady Incision Rocks the Canyonlands
Southern Utah’s famous canyon country has long puzzled and fascinated geoscientists. What accounts for the high elevation of the Colorado Plateau and for the deep exhumation of its strata? The broad plateaus edged by cliffs or cut by youthful-looking gorges, hint at a long and complex history of landscape evolution.More In This Issue
Volatile Pathways of the Denali Fault Zone
Mineral springs are often located along fault zones, and investigating their geochemistry provides insight into the roles of faults, earthquakes, and deeply circulated groundwater in the evolution of tectonically active regions.
Launching New Earthquake Studies
Dr. Srisharan Shreedharan, one of our newest faculty, is shaking things up as he launches his earthquake-science research program.
MS Grad Chels Howard Applies Geochemistry to the Past and Present
USU Geosciences graduate student Chels Howard is a shining example of how a Masters degree in the geosciences can lead to an enriching career in the public sector.
Undergrad Highlight: Michelle Norman
There is a lot to share about our top undergraduate student, Michelle Norman. Michelle entered our program as a freshman in 2021 with a Presidential Scholarship and is also pursuing a minor in math.