The University of Arizona®
Newsletter
GEOSCIENCES
Spring 2007
UASCIENCE
Inside
From the Department Head
2
Sumner Fellowship & Symposium
3
Geochronology Center cont’d...
4
Titley Service Award & News
5
Degrees & Scholarships
6
Internships & Awards
7
GeoDaze Symposium & Donors
8
GeoDaze Awards & Memorials
9
Alumni News
10
Advisory Board
Regina M. Capuano, University of
Houston
Carlotta B. Chernoff, ConocoPhillips
M. Stephen Enders, Newmont Mine
James E. King, Retired Director,
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Jamie Webb King, Retired University
Administrator
Christopher Marrs, A. W. Marrs, Inc.
Steven G. Natali, Williams Production RMT Company
Stephen J. Naruk, Shell Oil
David K. Rea, University of Michigan
Jeffrey G. Seekatz, ExxonMobil
William H. Wilkinson, Phelps-Dodge
Credits
The UA Geosciences Newsletter
is published twice a year by:
The Department of Geosciences
The University of Arizona
PO Box 210077
Tucson, AZ 85721-0077
Lesa Langan DuBerry, Editor
Email: lesa@email.arizona.edu
Phone: 520-626-8204
Web: www.geo.arizona.eduarizona.
Vol. 12 No. 2
The Arizona Geochronology Center
By Peter Reiners
T
ime is a distinctive foundation of Earth
and planetary sciences. Dates and
rates are the keystones of understanding
phenomena as diverse as condensation
of the solar nebula 4.6 billion years ago,
climate change in the last ten thousand
years, and the dynamics of processes such
as plate motion, mass extinctions, and
human migration.
Quantitative measurement of dates and
rates (geochronology) uses diverse tools
including radiogenic and cosmogenic
isotopes and many
other techniques.
Ongoing technologic
and interpretational
advances continue to
expand the applications
and horizons of
geochronology.
At the same time,
fundamental advances
in geochronology
itself, such as
development of new
analytical techniques
like laser-ablation
ICP-MS and secondary
ion analyses, have led
to major advances and
new research directions
in many fields.
continue to be done) here in Jon Patchett’s
and Joaquín Ruiz’s groups.
Today, geochronologic strength is
distributed among Geosciences and
allied programs in Planetary Science,
Physics, Anthropology, and the Laboratory
for Tree-Ring Research (LTRR). This strong
tradition is carried on in many highly
active labs and research groups, and both
the breadth and depth of expertise and
analytical facilities in geochronology at
the UA are among the top in the world.
Professor George Gehrels and visiting PhD student Sara Cina
(from UCLA) analyzing zircons from Mongolia using the ICP
Geochronology has
mass spectrometer in the Arizona LaserChron Center.
long been an outstanding strength of
the UA. In the 1950s and 60s, a groundIn 2007, the Arizona Geochronology
breaking research center called the
Center (AGC) was established to serve
Geochronology Laboratory blazed a trail
collaborators both here and outside the
for interdisciplinary research involving
UA, to promote interaction and transfer
dates and rates in Earth science.
of technology and scientific ideas, and to
increase interdisciplinary studies in fields
Some of the pioneering work in
using geochronology. This interdisciplinary
radiocarbon, K-Ar, and even (U-Th)/He
and interdepartmental research and
dating was done at the UA by Paul Damon
outreach center was recently approved by
and colleagues, and many of the most
the Board of Regents and Provost George
important early studies in the Lu-Hf
Davis, and has an ambitious set of goals
and Re-Os systems were also done (and
and agenda for the next three years.
...cont’d page 4
From the Department Head
I
t has been another busy spring semester. We had our Academic Program Review
site visit that happens every seven years. This review provides an opportunity for us
to showcase the Department, as well as to get some important feedback on how the
Department can improve.
A few highlights from our Academic Program self-study report are as follows:
· The US News and World Report ranked us 8th in Earth Science, 7th in Geology, 12th in Geophysics,
and 16th in Geochemistry in 2006!
· Our undergraduate and graduate student scholarship and fellowship endowments increased over
70% in the last six years. This is almost entirely due to individual alumni contributions! You can be
sure that the Department and students appreciate the funding, as it is critical to the health of the
Department!
· We have a healthy graduate student population of 76, with 67% pursuing a PhD and 33% doing an
MS degree. Our graduate students are all fully funded, and we have over 90% retention rate. Our
students are all finding jobs, with 46% going to academic or research positions and 39% going to
industry immediately after graduation!
· We are in the process of diversifying our undergraduate curriculum to reach a broader base of
students, while maintaining high rigor and quality.
· Our research spans the globe, and we generate nearly $5M a year in external grants and contracts
for our research!
· We will continue to focus on developing our core strengths in fundamental areas of Geosciences
as well as expanding into these four interdisciplinary areas: 1) Arizona Institute for the Study of
Orogeny, 2) Arizona Center for Geochronology, 3) Earth Science and Environmental Programs, and
4) Institute for Mineral Resources.
We had the 35th annual GeoDaze Symposium this spring, and the quality of student presentations
was outstanding. I want to thank graduate students Amanda Reynolds and John Volkmer for their
outstanding job as co-chairs. We also had our annual Alumni Advisory Board meeting the day before
the GeoDaze, and we had a combined GeoDaze/Alumni party at the Beck/Zandt house. I hope this can
be a yearly tradition, so that we can connect with more of our Tucson area alumni. ConnocoPhillips
sponsored the GeoDaze field trip to Mt. Fagan and Cienga Gap in the northern Santa Rita Mountains.
Charles Ferguson led the trip and did a terrific job with a record 65 participants!
I also wanted to remind you of the Ore and Orgoenesis: Circum – Pacific Tectonics, Geologic Evolution,
and Ore Deposits Symposium honoring the career of William R. Dickinson on September 24-30, 2007.
We are planning a dinner in Bill’s honor September 27, and I hope that many of you can attend. The
symposium is in Tucson and organized by the Arizona Geological Society (see page 3).
There are a number of changes going on in the Department. Professor Jay Quade is stepping down
as director of the Desert Lab at Tumamoc Hill. After 16 years, Jay is ready to leave the administrative
work behind and focus on research and teaching. We are thrilled that he will be moving his office and
lab to the Gould Simpson building where he will be closer to the action in the Department. Jay will
be missed at the Hill, but this change will provide an opportunity for Tumamoc Hill to become more
interdisciplinary and better integrated with other ecology and environmental initiatives on campus.
At the end of May, George Davis will be wrapping up his term as Provost for the University. He will be
coming back to the Department in January after a one-semester sabbatical next fall. It will be great
to have George in the building, back the classroom, and back in the field! George also plans to get
involved with alumni relations, so you should be seeing more of him in the future.
Finally, after seven years, I am stepping down as Department Head. I have truly enjoyed my time in this
position, but I am ready to pursue other opportunities including more research in seismology and more
work with students. I won’t be far away (my office will be on the 5th floor), so please stop by when you
are in town. Professor Karl Flessa will be our next Department Head, and I am sure he will do a terrific
job moving the Department forward.
The Department continues to face many challenges; there was another budget cut this year. In spite of
the financial hardships, I am confident that the Department will continue
to be a top-ranked Geosciences Department providing a world-class
education to our students for years to come.
Page • Geosciences Newsletter
Donors
— Individuals —
Martha Alman
Elizabeth Anthony
John Arenson
John Boyd IV
Alexander Bump
Clem Chase
Carlotta Chernoff
Rosalie Crowley
George Davis
Peter Day
Omar DeWald
Thomas Earl
Rolfe Erickson
Kenneth Evans
Michael Fitzgerald
Jay Gandolfi
Anne Gardulski
James Hardy
Tekla Harms
Vance Haynes
James Hays
Tom Heidrick
Rukin Jelks
William Jenney, Jr.
Gary Jones
Charles Kluth
Robert Krantz
Dieter Krewedl
Neal McClymonds
Edgar McCullough, Jr.
Robert Metz
Joseph Mitchell
Gopal Mohapatra
Syver More
Steven Natali
Ofori Pearson
Philip Pearthree
Allison Peirce
Lauren Peirce
Maxine Peirce
David Rea
George Richardson
Amy Ruf
Jeffrey Saunders
Marc Sbar
John Schloderer
Eric Seedorff
Jeffrey Seekatz
Gerilyn Soreghan
John Sumner
Marilyn Tennyson
Dee Trent
Arthur Trevena
Jeremy Weiss
Isaac Winograd
Gayle Zizzo
Mark Zoback
Kenneth Zonge
— Corporations —
Hydrogeophysics, Inc.
ChevronTexaco
Newmont USA Limited
The John and Nancy Sumner
Fellowship Awards
D
r. John S. Sumner was one of the founders of the
geophysics program at the UA. When he and his wife
Nancy were killed in a plane crash in 1993, an endowment
fund was established in their memory to generate a
scholarship for geophysics students.
More recently, Gary Jones, a former student of Dr. Sumner,
spearheaded a renewed fund-raising effort aimed at
increasing the endowment from a small scholarship to a
substantial graduate fellowship for a geophysics student
each year. The Department of Geosciences appreciates
the generous contributions that alumni have made to the
Sumner endowment.
Two awards were given during the 06-07 academic year.
One went to MS student Sara Thompson. The other went to
PhD student Lepolt Linkimer. A summary of their research
interests and activities are outlined below.
Sarah Thompson is interested
in crustal deformation due to
slow earthquakes, or “episodic
tremor and slip,” in the Pacific
northwest. Sarah’s research
focuses on deformation
within the Olympic Peninsula
associated with slow-slip
events. The deformation field
is useful for delineating the
extent of the locked portion
of the megathrust, on which
stable sliding does not occur.
Sarah constructed a new GPS network within the Olympic
Peninsula and is currently occupying 5 stations with GPS
receivers. She will eventually use these data to invert for slip
at depth using elastic dislocation modeling.
Lepolt Linkimer is interested
in seismology and active
tectonics. His research will
focus on seismic activity in
southern Central America,
the central Andes, and
far eastern Russia. He is
especially interested in crustal
deformation and crustal and
mantle structure using passive
broadband and short-period
instruments.
Lepolt will be involved in the
next big seismological experiment that the Department
will develop in the Sierras Pampeanas region of Argentina.
Upon completion of his PhD, he plans to return to his home
in Costa Rica, where the Central American School of Geology
at the University of Costa Rica has reserved a professorial
position for him.
Ores and Orogenesis: Circum-Pacific
Tectonics, Geologic Evolution,
and Ore Deposits
A Symposium Sponsored by the
Arizona Geological Society
Honoring the Career of
William R. Dickinson
September 24-30, 2007
Hilton El Conquistador
Tucson, Arizona
The focus of Ores and Orogenesis is on tectonics, geologic
evolution, and ore deposits in the Circum-Pacific region;
it seeks to attract industry, academic and government
geologists, mining engineers, mining industry strategic
planners, and managers. Cosponsors of the symposium
include the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG), the Tucson
section of the Society of Mining Engineers (SME), the US
Geological Survey (USGS), and the Geological Society of
Nevada (GSN).
Venue: Hilton El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort,
10000 N. Oracle Road, Tucson, Arizona
Sessions: Plenary Keynote sessions, Island Arcs and BackArc Basins, Circum-Pacific Orogenesis, NW Plate Tectonics,
SW Pacific Plate Tectonics, South American and North
American Tectonics, Porphyry Systems, Epithermal Systems,
Volcanic-Hosted Massive Sulfide Ore Deposits, SW Pacific
Ore Deposits, NW Pacific Ore Deposits, North American
Ore Deposits, South American Ore Deposits, Mining Life
Cycles (From Exploration to Reclamation), Porphyry Copper
Life Cycles, Southwest US and Mexico Geology and Ore
Deposits, Hot Topics in Tectonics, and New Discoveries and
Exploration Frontiers
Symposia:
UNESCO IGCP Symposium – “Palaeoproterozoic
Supercontinents and Global Evolution”
SEG Symposium – “Supergene Processes”
SME Symposium – “Future of Mining”
Dickinson Banquet: Thursday Evening, September 27, 2007
Reunion Night: Reunion functions for corporations,
universities, and friends of Bill Dickinson
Special Attractions: Core Shack, Vendor Exhibit Hall, Short
Courses and Workshops, Family Recreational Activities
Contact: See the Symposium web site for instructions and
further information:
http://www.agssymposium.org
Geosciences Newsletter • Page The Arizona Geochronology Center laboratories and research
programs include:
· The Arizona Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Lab (AMS),
directed by Tim Jull, analyzing 14C, 10Be, and other
cosmogenic isotopes for an enormous range of research
including dating biologic materials, artifacts, and
extraterrestrial materials, and determining exposure age
and sedimentation and erosion rates on timescales of
102 to 106 yr. [http://www.physics.arizona.edu/ams/].
· The Arizona LaserChron Center (ALC), directed by George
Gehrels and Joaquín Ruiz, providing (U-Th)/Pb dating
of zircon, apatite, and other minerals by laser-ablation
multi-collector ICP-MS, for a large number of researchers
around the world [http://www.geo.arizona.edu/alc/].
· The Arizona Radiogenic Helium Dating Lab (ARHDL), directed
by Peter Reiners, specializing in (U-Th)/He thermochronology
and geochronology of a wide range of minerals and phases,
for tectonic and geomorphologic studies and other applications
[http://www.geo.arizona.edu/~reiners/arhdl/arhdl.htm].
· The Noble Gas Isotope Lab, directed by Tim Swindle, with two
gas-source sector mass spectrometers for 40Ar/39Ar, He/ 3He,
and other noble gases for geochronology and thermo chronology of extraterrestrial and geologic samples.
· The four thermal ionization mass spectrometers (TIMS)
and supporting labs, directed by Jon Patchett,
Joaquín Ruiz, Mihai Ducea, and John Chesley,
for measuring the radiogenic isotope systems
U/Pb, Rb/Sr, Lu/Hf, Sm/Nd, and Re/Os for
dating rocks and minerals over timescales of
106 to 109 yr, and tracing sources and cycles of
hydrocarbons, economic ores, groundwater,
and environmental contaminants.
· The U-series disequilibria lab, run by Jon
Patchett, with an enormous range of
applications from magmatic processes
to climate reconstructions over time scales of 102-106 yr.
One of the goals of the AGC is to facilitate interaction among the
AGC’s groups, to promote transfer of technical and scientific ideas,
and to further promote interdisciplinary research combining the
diverse applications listed.
Ongoing research foci of the AGC include interdisciplinary
research projects in:
1) integrated studies of mountain belts, including
the new nearly department-wide project studying
the integrated history of the central Andes,
2) understanding Pleistocene and Holocene climate
records, especially using high-resolution 14C,
dendrochronology, and U-series isotopes, combined
with stable isotopes and other records, and
3) technological innovation in geochronology, including
combined dating techniques on single crystals, and Tim
Swindle’s efforts to develop a portable or spacecraftmounted mass spectrometer for “field” geochronology.
Another goal of the AGC is to enhance scientific collaboration
and research opportunities between the USGS and the UA. The
formation of the AGC has already led to shared funding for the
purchase of a new multi-collector ICP-MS designed to foster
collaborative efforts in areas of U-Pb dating with the Arizona
LaserChron Center and in environmental challenges in the
Southwestern US and along the US - Mexico Border.
In addition, a new
Mendenhall PostDoctoral Fellow,
Dick Hermance, has
just arrived at the
UA to work jointly
with USGS and UA
Geoscience personnel
and the AMS facility
to develop geomorphic
applications of cosmogenic 10Be-26Al dating.
An ongoing activity of
the AGC is a seminar
series featuring both
Scientist Stefan Nicolescu and graduate student Lynn Peyton in
external and internal
the Arizona Radiogenic Helium Dating Lab analyzing apatite
speakers. This series
crystals from Precambrian rocks found on the Wyoming/Montana
border to determine 1) the helium content, 2) the uranium and
will begin in Fall 2007,
thorium content, and 3) the (U-Th)/He age of the crystals.
with funding from
Geosciences, LTRR,
· The NSF-Arizona IGERT Program in Archeological Sciences,
and the College of Science. Many AGC seminars have already
hosted by researchers in UA Anthropology and with strong
occurred thanks to the nearly constant flow of visiting scientists
ties to Geosciences and LTRR, with a major emphasis on
through the Arizona LaserChron Center.
chronometry and its use in archeology, paleoclimate, and
subsistence studies [datamonster.sbs.arizona.edu/IGERT/].
Another AGC goal is establishment of an outreach program in web
and teaching resources on geochronology, geologic time, and the
To some degree, each of these diverse research groups has its own
importance of deep time, rates, and temporal contexts in general
scientific agenda and areas of application including paleoclimate,
in understanding natural processes.
geoarcheology, environmental tracers, sedimentary processes,
Earth resources, geomorphology, tectonics, and planetary
The AGC also has its sights set on two other ambitious initiatives
processes. However, they share commonalities in scientific
that hold great potential for interdisciplinary research at the UA
approaches, technology, and the emphasis on accurate temporal
and for which we hope to raise funding through charitable/alumni
contexts for interpreting and understanding Earth and planetary
contributions.
science, as well as human history.
· The Laboratory for Tree-Ring Research (LTRR),
directed by Tom Swetnam, combining precise
absolute dating through dendrochronology
with climate dynamics, geologic events,
and human history, over timescales of
100-104 yr [www.ltrr.arizona.edu/].
Page • Geosciences Newsletter
The first is an AGC Distinguished Visiting Scientist Program. This
program would partially fund sabbaticals or other long-term visits
by distinguished scientists seeking collaborative projects with
AGC researchers, or high-profile teaching or policy-related studies
related to AGC research. Visiting scientists are naturally drawn to
the UA, Tucson, and the outstanding geochronologic facilities and
expertise in the AGC for sabbaticals and other visits. Making these
visits realities would bring valuable outside expertise and exposure
to the AGC and its allied departments and programs and foster
collaborative research among AGC members and distinguished
scientists outside the UA.
The second initiative is the establishment
of an AGC Postdoctoral Fellowship.
A competitive postdoctoral program
bringing an outstanding young researcher
to the UA to work collaboratively among
AGC labs on interdisciplinary research
would benefit many research groups
and attract visibility to outstanding
programs here.
Titley Service Award
By Carlotta B. Chernoff
On behalf of the Geosciences Advisory Board
The Geosciences Advisory Board recently honored Professor
Spencer R. Titley, who is celebrating 50 years of employment
at the UA. By itself, this is an exceptional accomplishment,
but it is the many contributions that
Spence has made to the University, to
the greater scientific community, and
to scores of students that make him a
remarkable individual.
At GeoDaze, I reminisced about a
road trip I made with Spence. He told
me about growing up in Colorado
and spending time working on cattle
ranches near Denver in the 1940’s. In
1946 he headed off to a college prep
Over the next year, we will be working
high school in Washington, D.C. and
hard on the AGC Seminar Series, on
in the summers returned to work in
our interdisciplinary research efforts,
some of the Colorado mines. After high
and on finding ways to make the AGC
Advisory Board members Steve Naruk (left) and
school, he enrolled in the Colorado
Distinguished Visiting Scientist and AGC
Carlotta Chernoff with Professor Spence Titley.
School of Mines as a Geological
Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs realities.
Engineer. Upon graduation, his entire
ROTC unit enlisted in the Colorado National Guard and were
For more information, see our website at: www.geo.arizona.edu/agc/
immediately called for service in the Korean War. Spence is
or contact Peter Reiners at reiners0@email.arizona.edu.
extremely proud of his military duty, but he rarely mentions
the fact that he received a bronze star for this distinguished
service. After the war, he made his way to the UA to pursue
a PhD. In 1956 he began as a university instructor, and
University News
in 1960 he became an Assistant Professor, initiating an
outstanding UA faculty career that continues to today.
Regents Professor George Davis will be
returning to the Department of Geosciences
It is clear that Spence considers the most important pursuit
this fall after serving seven years (2000of his career to be that of teaching others — whether
2007) as Provost and Senior Vice President of
Geosciences or non-major students, or even Apollo
Academic Affairs at the UA. We are thrilled to
astronauts. He has advised well over 100 PhD and MS
have George come back to the Department,
students, and his contributions to the field of Economic
and we are looking forward to having him in
Geology have been significant. It is nearly impossible to
the classroom and engaged in research. George
talk about the subject of porphyry copper deposits without
will be in the field in Greece this summer as
mentioning Spence’s work. True to his humble nature,
part of his geoarcheology project, and he will be on sabbatical next
Spence never mentioned to me the many accolades he has
fall to finish the new edition of his structural geology textbook.
received. He never said anything about his Penrose Medal,
the highest professional honor bestowed by the Society of
Faculty News
Economic Geologists, or the fact that he has been elected
into the National Academy of Engineering, or even that
Vance Haynes was on Arizona Illustrator (KUAT Channel 6, Public
he had received the Career Distinguished Teaching award
Television) talking about his research in Russia that was published
from the UA. He did, however, tell me about training English
in the journal Science.
setters with his wife Helen, how he is a licensed commercial
pilot, and that he is a registered firearms instructor. And, of
Jay Quade received a Galileo Circle Fellowship for faculty research.
course, how he and Helen are avid UA basketball fans!
Jon Pelletier was offered a joint faculty appointment in the Lunar
and Planetary Laboratory.
Alumni Drawing Winner
Amy Marie Liermann from Scottsdale, Arizona, will receive a
Geosciences T-shirt for sending in her updated contact information.
Send in your updated contact information, and have your name
added to the next drawing for a Geosciences T-shirt!
Spence has spent a career in the service of others, seeking
to unravel the complexities of economic mineral resources
and inspiring others through his teaching to do the same.
But in reality, it is Spence who is the true resource, an
absolute gem who has made an irreplaceable contribution
to the UA. We all join together in congratulating Professor
Spencer R. Titley as he celebrates 50 years of working for the
UA, and we wish him well for all the teaching and research
that still lies ahead.
Geosciences Newsletter • Page Winter Degrees
Bachelor of Science
Erin Gleeson • Christopher Gryszan • Eric Gurule
Owen Hurd • Ben Kaur • Jeffry Moomaugh
Master of Science &
Doctor of Philosophy
Linah Ababneh, PhD
“Analysis of radial growth patterns of
strip-bark and wholebark bristlecone pine
trees in the White Mountains of California:
Implications in paleoclimatology and
archaeology of the Great Basin,” Laboratory
for Tree-Ring Research, Jeffrey Dean
Toby Ault, MS
“A new synthesis of coral d18O records to
evaluate spatiotemporal characteristics of
tropical decadal variability,” Julia Cole
Jerome Guynn, PhD
“Age and tectonic evolution of the Amdo
basement: Implications for development
of the Tibetan plateau and Gondwana
paleogeography,” Paul Kapp
Timothy Shanahan, PhD
“West African monsoon variability from a
high-resolution paleolimnological record
(Lake Bosumtwi, Ghana),” Jonathan Overpeck
Jennifer Wagner, PhD
Speleothem record of southern Arizona
paleoclimate, 54 to 3.5 ka,” Julia Cole
Congratulations and best wishes
to all of our graduates!
Spring & Summer
Geosciences Scholarships
Undergraduate Scholarships
Carla Eichler received an Orlo Childs Scholarship for $700
Andrew McCallister received a Voorhees Scholarship for $700
Jennifer McGraw received a Voorhees Scholarship for $1,400
Michael Strickler received a Voorhees Scholarship for $250
Sally Thurner received a Lovstrom Scholarship for $400
Graduate Scholarships
Serkan Arca received a BP Amoco Scholarship for $4,632
Toby Ault received a Bert S. Butler Scholarship for $1,000
Meg Blome received a Bert S. Butler Scholarship for $1,000
Joshua Calkins received an ExxonMobil Scholarship for $2,000
Robinson Cecil received an ExxonMobil Scholarship for $2,000
Jessica Conroy received a Bert S. Butler Scholarship for $1,000
Robert Dietz received a Bert S. Butler Scholarship for $726, a
Charles Evenson Scholarship for $349, and a Geosciences
Scholarship for $925
Bailey Dugan received a Charles Evenson Scholarship for $278,
a Geosciences Scholarship for $1,075, and a Wilson Thompson
Scholarship for $647
Facundo Fuentes received a ChevronTexaco Scholarship for $1,750
James Girardi received an ExxonMobil Scholarship for $2,000
Kevin Jones received a Kartchner Caverns Scholarship for $1,500
David Keeler received a Bert S. Butler Scholarship for $25 and a
Ruben Winslow Scholarship for $1,475
Andrew Kowler received a Bert S. Butler Scholarship for $77, a
Geosciences Scholarship for $1,056, and a Maxwell Short
Scholarship for $867
Lepolt Linkimer received a ChevronTexaco Scholarship for $1,250
Scott McBride received a ChevronTexaco Scholarship for $2,000
Michael McGlue received a ChevronTexaco Scholarship for $1,750
David Pearson received an ExxonMobil Scholarship for $2,000
Lynn Peyton received an ExxonMobil Scholarship for $2,000
Ryan Porter received a ConocoPhillips Scholarship for $4,507 and
a ChevronTexaco Scholarship for $2,000
Alex Pullen received a ChevronTexaco Scholarship for $1,750
Amanda Reynolds received a Sulzer Scholarship for $4,632 and
an H. Wesley Peirce Scholarship for $2,000
Jennifer Roskowski received an H. Wesley Peirce Scholarship for
$2,000
Gabriel Rotberg received a ChevronTexaco Scholarship for $750
Joel Saylor received a ChevronTexaco Scholarship for $1,250
Maria Soledad Velasco received a BP Amoco Scholarship for $4,507
Kelley Stair received a ChevronTexaco Scholarship for $1,750
Alex Strugatskiy received a ConocoPhillips Scholarship for $4,082
Alyson Thibodeau received a ChevronTexaco Scholarship for $1,750
Hinako Uchida received a Kartchner Caverns Scholarship for $1,500
John Volkmer received a Sulzer Scholarship for $4,507 and a Coney
Scholarship for $5,000
Geosciences awarded a total of $78,817
for spring and summer support
Page • Geosciences Newsletter
Lovstrom Endowment
T
he Lovstrom endowment was established in
December 2005 in memory of Kenneth A. Lovstrom.
Mr. Lovstrom was an alumnus of the UA with a BS degree
from the Department of Geosciences in 1969.
Kenneth Lovstrom was a geochemist and worked in
the minerals industry in exploration, development,
and environmental projects for 30 years. He was chief
geochemist with Amax Exploration and later a successful
consultant. His company, Lovstrom & Associates, provided
state-of-the-art geochemistry services for mineral deposit
exploration and development, as well as environmental
services. During his personal time, he enjoyed coaching
soccer and mentoring young people.
The purpose of the Lovstrom endowment is to provide a
scholarship for an undergraduate student concentrating
in geochemistry. This spring, the “first” Lovstrom
scholarship was awarded to Sally Thurner, a senior in the
Department from Brookfield, Wisconsin.
Sally took her first geology class in the 6th grade and has
been interested in geology ever since. She came to the
UA to study engineering. Along the way, she signed up
for a few geology classes, and she changed her major to
Geosciences as a result. Sally loves math, so her degree
will include an area of concentration in geophysics.
Sally also happens to be a member of the UA woman’s
soccer team. She was a walk-on during her freshman
year and currently
plays striker
position. In her
own words,
“receiving
the Lovstrom
scholarship was
proof to me that
I could balance
academics and
athletics at the
collegiate level.”
Congratulations
Sally, and best
wishes in your
search for a
graduate program!
For more information about how you can contribute to
the Lovstrom endowment, or other endowments in the
Department of Geosciences, please call (520) 626-8204,
or go to http://www.geo.arizona.edu/about/support.htm.
Other Scholarships, Internships,
and Awards
Galileo Circle Scholarships
Each academic year, the College of Science awards Galileo
Circle Scholarships to students in the College. This year, eight
Geosciences students received a $1,000 scholarship:
Charlene Estrada
Majie Fan
Andrew Frassetto
Jennifer McGraw
David Pearson
Lynn Peyton
Alyson Thibodeau
John Volkmer
IGERT Fellowships
(Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship)
Funds from a National Science Foundation grant and the UA
are used to support interdisciplinary graduate education in
archaeological sciences. The following graduate students
received fellowships for 2007-2008:
Erica Bigio
Margaret Blome
Jessica Conroy
Lisa Molofsky
Jill Onken
Summer Internships
The following graduate students have summer interships with
different oil and mineral exploration companies:
Serkan Arca, BP Corporation
Andy Frassetto, ExxonMobil
Christine Gans, ConocoPhillips
Mike McGlue, ChevronTexaco (Houston)
Shundong He, ChevronTexaco
Amanda Reynolds, ExxonMobil
Jason Stein, ConocoPhillips
Alex Strugatskiy, Newmont (Wyoming)
Sarah Thompson, ConocoPhillips
Other Student Awards
Owen Hurd received the Geosciences Excellence in Undergraduate
Research Award for the academic year.
Michael Strickler received the Geosciences Outstanding Senior
Award for the academic year.
Lynn Peyton received a scholarship from the Colorado Scientific
Society and a Courtright Scholarship from the Arizona Geological
Society.
Geosciences Newsletter • Page T
The 35th Annual GeoDaze
he 35th annual GeoDaze Symposium
was held at the UA Student Union on
April 12th and 13th, 2007.
Twenty awards were given during a
ceremony that followed the keynote
address and slide show.
The 28 talks and 12 posters showcased the
diversity and multi-disciplinary nature of
Geosciences research today. Presentation
and poster topics included economic
geology, geochemistry, geophysics, geodesy
and seismology, structure and tectonics,
surface processes and geochemical tracers,
paleoclimatology, and planetary science.
Activities ended with the annual GeoDaze
party at Susan Beck and George Zandt’s
house. Tucson alumni and friends were
invited to the party and approximately 115
individuals attended this year.
Charles Ferguson from the USGS led
the GeoDaze field trip. The trip focused
on “Laramide
Both graduate and
multiphase folding,
undergraduate
Late Cretaceous
students participated,
magmatism,
and the audience
and Cenozoic
included faculty, staff,
extension and
and students from
sedimentation in
the Department;
the Mt. Fagan and
Geosciences Advisory
Cienega Gap area,
Board members;
eastern margin of
alumni; and individuals
the Tucson basin.”
from other academic
Our thanks go to
Amanda Reynolds and John Volkmer, GeoDaze
and professional
ConocoPhillips for
co-chairs, with Carmala Garzione (center).
communities.
sponsoring the
field trip.
Dr. Carmala Garzione, Associate Professor
in the Department of Earth and
A big round of applause goes to co-chairs
Environmental Science at the University
Amanda Reynolds and John Volkmer for
of Rochester, was the keynote speaker.
all of their dedication and hard work, and
Dr. Garzione’s talk was titled “Sediment
to all of the individuals on the planning
accumulation and surface uplift in the
committees who made this event possible.
Altiplano Basin: Geodynamic implications
for the growth of orogenic plateaus.”
A special thanks goes to all of our alumni,
friends, and
sponsors whose
financial support
makes GeoDaze
possible each year.
Finally, thanks
to all of the
students, faculty,
staff, advisory
board members,
alumni, and friends
for making the
GeoDaze tradition
of showcasing
student research
a great success
again this year!
The 35th annual GeoDaze Symposium
award recipients; see the list of
student names and their specific
awards listed on the next page.
Page • Geosciences Newsletter
Mark Your Calendars
The 36th annual GeoDaze will take place
April 3rd-5th, 2008, in Tucson, at the UA
Student Union.
GeoDaze Donors
Special thanks goes to the following
individuals and organizations for
their financial support, which helps
make GeoDaze possible each year.
— Individuals —
Megan Anderson
Gerard Beaudoin
Elwood Brooks
Cheryl Butler
Carlotta Chernoff
Anthony Ching
Donald Dietrich
Anna Felton
Terrence Gerlach
Brian Gross
John Guilbert
James Hays
Tom Heidrick
Corolla Hoag
Camille Holmgren
Gary Huckleberry
Kerry Inman
William Jenney, Jr.
Richard Jones
William Keller
Peter Kresan
Louis Lepry, Jr.
John Matis
Edgar McCullough, Jr.
Leslie McFadden
Sally Meader-Roberts
Mark Melton
Wade Miller
Joseph Mitchell
Kevin Mosser
Nancy Naeser
Robert Parker
Bernard Pipkin
John Schaefer
Jack Schlemmer
John Schloderer
Miles Shaw
Douglas Silver
Gilbert Stern
John Sweet
Louis Taylor
Raymond Turner
Margaret Venable
Wes Ward
Nicea Wilder
Mary Lin Windes
Donald Witter, Jr.
Kenneth Zonge
— Corporations —
BP Corporation
ConocoPhillips
ChevronTexaco
Errol L. Montgomery & Assoc.
ExxonMobil
Hydrogeophysics, Inc.
2007 GeoDaze Awards
The Errol Montgomery & Associates
Best Overall GeoDaze Talk
Tamara Goldin
The Tom Heidrick and Kerry Inman
Best Structure/Tectonics Talk
Lynn Peyton
The Stephen Enders and William Jenney
2nd Place Paleoclimate Talk
Scott St. George
The BP Corporation
Best Geophysics Talk
Andrew Frassetto
The Tom Heidrick and Kerry Inman
2nd Place Structure/Tectonics Talk
Joel Saylor
The Louis Lepry
Best Undergraduate Talk
Mike Strickler
The BP Corporation
2nd Place Geophysics Talk
María Soledad Velasco
The Golder Associates, Inc.
Best Processes/Geochemical Tracers Talk
Alyson Thibodeau
The Geosciences Advisory Board
Best Poster Award
Joshua Calkins
The John Guilbert
Best Economic Geology Talk
Daniel Russin
The Leslie McFadden
2nd Place Processes/Geochemical Tracers Talk
Amanda Reynolds
The Gilbert Stern
2nd Place Poster Award
Jennifer McGraw
The John Guilbert
2nd Place Economic Geology Talk
Michael Takaichi
The BP Corporation
Best Paleoclimate Talk
Kevin Anchukaitis
Other Department News
Memorials
The Geosciences Co-Rec Softball Team won the 2007 Intramural
Championship. Participants included the following individuals:
Abdul-Mannan Sheikh (MS 66) passed away in August 2001
in Moscow, Idaho. Abdul-Mannan left Tucson and went to the
University of Idaho in Moscow where he received his Ph.D in
Geology. He got married, had three children, and was a successful
businessman.
Kelsey Allen
Pete Barney (Geography Student)
Margaret Blome
Robinson Cecil
Jessica Driscoll (Hydrology Student)
Bailey Dugan
Eric Ferguson (Eller College Admin)
Andy Frassetto (Captain)
Doug Hirschberg (USGS)
David Keeler
Shannon Langdon
Scott McBride
Lisa Molofsky
Mike Strickler
Mike Takaichi
María Soledad Velasco
According to his son, Amtul Siddiqui, his father always spoke highly
of his time at UA and of his friends there. “My brother, sister, and
I were inundated with Tucson stories about him being involved in
student politics and the international club there.”
Amtul Siddiqui saw his father’s name on our “List of the Lost” and
sent the information above about his father.
Sidney Williams (PhD 62) died at his home in Douglas, Arizona, on
December 8, 2006 from lung cancer.
Sid attended the Michigan College of Mining and Technology
(currently Michigan Technological University), where he completed
a BS program in Geology and an MS program in Mineralogy in
1957. He continued his education at the University of Arizona and
graduated with a PhD in 1962 under the guidance of Dr. Anthony.
Sid was a remarkable mineralogist. His contribution to
mineralogical research provided science with 53 new mineral
species and a much greater understanding of the occurrence and
character of many other species.
Sid authored or co-authored more than 80 papers on mineralogy
and related exploration geology. His greatest contribution was the
monumental effort that he put into co-authoring Mineralogy of
Arizona (all three editions).
The Geosciences Diamond Cutters after their win!
Geosciences Newsletter • Page Alumni News
Sumit Chakraborty (PhD 90)
Currently a Professor of Petrology and
Geochemistry at the University of
Bochum, Germany, Dr. Chakraborty has
assumed an additional responsibility as
the Director of the Accelerator facility of
the University.
Joe Chmielowski (MS 99)
My wife Jessie gave birth to twins on
October 30, 2006!!! Their names are
Henry Josef Chmielowski and Nathan
John Chmielowski (born two minutes
later than Henry). As of today, they
are fat and happy. They are currently 6
months old, 17lbs each, and 26.5” long.
I am a geophysicist working for BP Alaska,
and my wife is an engineer working
for BP Alaska. We enjoy snowboarding,
hiking, skiing, traveling, and anything
outdoors!
~ Josef.Chmielowski@bp.com
been working part-time as a scuba dive
guide and instructor in Kona on the big
island, Hawaii.
~LAScubaDon@msn.com
Carmala Garzione (PhD 00)
Carmala received the UA Geosciences
2007 Outstanding Alumni award, and
she recently received the 2007 Donath
Medalist (aka Young Scientist Award) from
the Geological Society of America.
~garzione@earth.rochester.edu
Terry Gerlach (PhD 74)
My advisor was Bert Nordlie, and
my principal research has been the
thermodynamic modeling of volcanic gas
compositions. I was at the UA for most
of 1975 as a post-doc with Denis Norton.
Late in 1975, I began working at Sandia
National Laboratory in Albuquerque, New
Mexico. At Sandia, I continued my research
on volcanic gases and worked on advanced
geothermal energy projects directed at
extracting energy from magma bodies.
In January 1990, after 14 years at Sandia,
I joined the US Geological Survey as a
research geologist and was stationed at the
Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver,
Washington, where I worked for 17 years
until my retirement in October, 2006. I was
part of the USGS Volcano Hazards Team and
involved in monitoring gas emissions from
volcanoes in the Cascade Range, the Long
Valley Caldera-Mammoth Mountain-Mono
Craters region in eastern central California,
Terry Gerlach (right) and Francois Le Guern
from CNRS in France collecting fumarolic
gases from the dome formed in the 1980s
at Mount St. Helens.
Yellowstone, the Aleutian Arc, and
Hawaii. I was involved with the USGS
Volcano Disaster Assistance Program
for providing aid to other nations. In
retirement, I am a volunteer for the USGS
and continue to do some research, most
of it related to degassing during the
on-going eruption that began in
Joe and Jessie Chmielowski with thier
twins Nathan (left) and Henry (right).
Brooke Clements (MS 1991)
Brooke provided the photo to the right
of alumni who attended the 2007
Annual Cordilleran Exploration Roundup
Conference in Vancouver, BC.
~ Brooke.Clements@ashton.ca
Christy Confar (BS 96)
I recently left AMEC Earth and Environmental in Portland, Oregon, and moved
to Thousand Oaks, California. I am
now working at SECOR as an Associate
Geologist.
~cconfar@msn.com
Donald Dietrich (MS 86)
I retired after working sixteen years as a
member of technical staff in the Ceramics
Department at Rockwell Scientific
Company, which is located in Thousand
Oaks, California. For the past year, I have
Page 10 • Geosciences Newsletter
Front row, left to right, Brooke Clements (MS 91), Danny Sims (PhD 96), John-Mark Staude
(PhD 95), Jennifer Roskowski (graduate student), Michael Takaichi (graduate student), David
Keeler (graduate student), and Tom McCandless (PhD 93).
Second row, left to right, Stan Keith (MS 79), Rick Frederickson (74), Tom Corbett, Frank Nelson
(MS 63), Eugene Schmidt (MS 73), Clancy Wendt (MS 78), and Robert Ilchik.
Third row, left to right, James Lang (PhD 91), David Lajack, Dave Johnson (PhD 2000), Moira
Smith (PhD 90), Michael Gross (MS 69), Eric Jensen (PhD 03), and Wojtek Wodzicki (MS 79)
2004 at Mount St. Helens. The UA is a
very special place to me. The education
I received in the Geosciences and
Chemistry Departments was excellent
preparation for my career, and it was at
the UA that I met my wife, Aniko, then a
graduate student in the Medical School.
~tgerlach@usgs.gov
Andrew Hennes (MS 04)
We moved up to Billings in October
2006: #1 to make it back home to
Montana, and #2 to begin employment
with Nance Petroleum. The Geo
community is small, but alive in Billings
with the Montana Geologic Society.
The twins turned two in April, and they
are keeping mom and dad very busy.
Would encourage anyone from the
Department, old or new, to look us up if
they are in the area and need a place to
stay or just want to catch up!
~ahennes@nancepetro.com
my years at the UA. All my best to
those past and present who make the
Geosciences Department such
an exciting place.
~ktrevena@adelphia.net
Graham and Hannah Keller with their
new brother Mason James Keller.
Bill Keller (BS 96)
Bill and his wife Hallie, who is also a UA
alum, welcomed baby Mason to their
family on August 30, 2006.
~wkeller@kmg.com
Melinda Longsworth (BS 86)
I’ve moved up north with my family
to escape the heat!
~samklong@msn.com
Valerie Walker Laidlaw (MS 79)
My geologist husband, eighteen-yearold daughter, and I returned to the
US in July after living seven out of the
past ten years in Chile. My daughter
is a freshman at Stanford, and I have
returned to the workforce after a fiveyear hiatus. I’m working part-time in
Denver as a consulting mining analyst.
It’s great to be using my geology degrees
again, and to be living in a town with so
many geologist friends from the past.
I live four-doors away from former UA
classmate, Lou Lepry, and I was able to
finally catch up with fellow Dick Beane
student, Jim Reynolds, whom I hadn’t
seen since 1979!
~vwlaidlaw@comcast.net
Brigette Martini (BS 97)
I’ve moved back from Australia and am
living in Ohio now. I’ve taken a job with
Riverside Research Institute and will be
developing courses and teaching at the
Air force Institute of Technology as an
Assistant Professor of Remote Sensing
here in Dayton.
~bmartini@rri-usa.org
Andy and Valerie Hennes with their
twins Bailey (left) and Libby (right).
Kathleen Trevena
Margo Jennison Ways alerted me that
the last newsletter had me on their “List
Brian Horton (PhD 98)
of the Lost.” I may be a UA grad student
Brian is spending a one-year sabbatical
dropout, but I can reassure those who
in Berlin, Germany, with wife Danielle
knew me in 1969-75 that I am not lost!
(BS 98) and their son Peter (nearly
After 30 years away from the UA, I find
two) as part of a fellowship from
myself a technical
the Alexander
writer/coordinator
von Humboldt
for a large software
Foundation to
firm in Costa
conduct research
Mesa, California.
at the University of
I still enjoy things
Potsdam. In the fall
geological, but
of 2007, Brian will
spend most of
join the faculty of
my spare time in
the Jackson School
genealogical activities
of Geosciences at
instead. Occasionally, I
the University of
look back on my days
Texas at Austin.
burning sloth dung
He will have a
for 14C age dating
joint position as
Danielle, Peter, and Brian Horton.
and hand-drawing
Associate Professor
charts for K-Ar dates. I know I didn’t belong
in the Department of Geological
in a science career, but I still value the
Sciences and Institute for Geophysics.
friendships and education I gained from
~briankhorton@gmail.com
A large number of Geosciences faculty
and alumni attended the GSA “Backbone
of the Americas” meeting in Mendoza,
Argentina, in April of 2006. On the
one-day field trip across the Andes, we
organized a photo (by George Davis)
of some of the UA folks. It was a great
meeting and a wonderful field trip.
Front row, left to right are George Davis,
Susan Beck, Robinson Cecil (current
PhD student), and George Zandt; back
row, Merrily Davis, Bill Dickinson, Jackie
Dickinson, Jason Barnes (MS, 2002), Lara
Wagner (PhD 2007), George Sanders,
Joaquín Ruiz, Nadine McQuarrie (PhD
2001), and Peter DeCelles.
Geosciences Newsletter • Page 11
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