Research Activities
The department had a truly outstanding year in garnering outside funding. Over $175,000 was obtained on two
different grants from NSF to upgrade our microprobe and our Unix network, thus achieving a major goal. In
addition a number of major research grants were funded including three grants from the Texas Advanced Research
Program, a $438,000 EPA grant, a $390,000 NSF grant to promote diversity in the Geosciences, and a $5.5 million
in-kind donation of oil exploration and production software from Landmark Graphics. Major funding that crossed
departmental lines includes a $200,000 annual increase to PACES funding and $1.7 million NIH grant led by Dr.
Amaya in Health Sciences. That the number of individuals who are successful in obtaining outside funding is on the
rise is shown by the fact that seven individual faculty members serve as the principal investigator on these awards.
Andronicos
NSF: Deciphering Tectonic History of Slowly Cooled Precambrian. Polymetamorphic Terranes in the American
Southwest
UTEP Research Inst.: Testing Models of Proterozoic Tectonics in Northern New Mexico
Anthony
Nuclear Science Center, Texas A&M Univ. DOE Reactor Sharing Program, Gamma-ray Spectroscopy Lab.
NSF: Refining Geothermal Exploration via Geochemical Modeling of young Volcanic Centers in the Kenya Rift.
Doser
DOE/Dept Threat Agency: Seismological & Lithospheric Studies of the Libya Region
NSF: Modeling Stress Changes Induced by Earthquakes in the South Island, New Zealand, & Prince William South,
Alaska, Regions
Texas Advanced Research Program: Geological Constraints on Inversion of Surface Geophysical Surveys
Texas Advanced Research Program: Character Fault Control of Groundwater Movement
USGS: Crustal Earthquakes of the Prince William Sound Region and Their Relation to the Rupture Process of the
1964 Great Alaska Earthquake.
USGS: Assessing Seismic Hazard in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands Using the Historical Earthquake Record and
Mixed-mode GPS Geodesy
USGS: Studies of Historical Earthquakes in the South-central Alaska.
USGS: Source Parameter Studies of Historical (1930-1964) Intraslab & Crustal Earthquakes of Washington and
Oregon
Goodell
Dept. of Agriculture: Absorption Features of Salt & Salt-affected Soils in Field, Laboratory, and Aviris Reflectance
Spectra: Mapping and Applications
EPA: Reflectance Spectra of the Common Salts Prevalent in Arid Soils: Application of Remote Sensing.
Keller
NMSU/Hewlett Packard: Creating a Single Map: Combining Data Bases to Form a Single Regional GIS System
NIMA: The Calculation of Terrain Corrections for Gravity Measurements Using New Digital Elevation Models and
Multispectral Imagery
NSFTR: ITR/IM+AP (GEO: A collaborative Project for the -creation of a Geospatial Data System for the
Transition Zone between the Colorado Plateau & Basin & Range Province (Geoinformatics in Action)
NSF: Lithospheric Structure & Evolution of the Rocky Mountain Transect of Western U.S.: an Integrated
Geological & Geophysical Investigation
NSF: Collaborative Research: Lithospheric: Rocky Mountains; Phase 2 - Geodynamics
Texas Advanced Research Program: Capacity Bldg for Resource Assessment & Responsible Development, TexasMexico Border
Texas Advanced Research Program: A Cooperative Geophysical Study of Lithospheric Structure in Central Europe
includes a Supplement for High-school Teacher Participant
Langford
EPA: Riverbank Filtration Effectiveness in an Arid Environment.
DOE/CERM: Investigations of Potential Hazards to Groundwater Created by Illegal Dumping in the Rio Grande
Alluvial Aquifer, El Paso County, Texas.
LeMone
Sandia National Laboratory/CERM Collaborative Program
Texas Low-level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority: Evaluation and Comparison of the Disposal Repository
Compared with the Assured Isolation Facility Concept.
Miller
NSF
Building Pathways into Geosciences for the Hispanic Community of Learners in El Paso
NSF: Deployment of Temporary Earthquake Monitoring Network in Bhutan
NSF: Upgrade to Geophysical Computing at UTEP
USGS: Controlled-source Study of the Structure of the Seattle and Tacoma Basins-SHIPS
USGS: Collaborative Research: Seismic Hazards Investigations of Puget Sound (SHIPS)
Texas Advanced Research Program: Geophysical & Petrological View: Magmatic Contribution to Intracontinental
growth: Rio Grande Rift
Texas Advanced Research Program: Formation and Evolution of Proterozoic Crust in West Texas and Eastern New
Mexico
Pingitore
Bureau of Reclamation: Experimental Dating Project for Petroglyphs-chemical Analyses of Rock Varnish and Base
Rock Samples.
DOE: Induced Subsurface Mineral Growth to Sequester Radionuclides and Toxic Elements by Coprecipitation
EPA: Speciation of Metals in El Paso-Juarez Air Particulates and Soils
NIE/NIEHS: Community-based Participatory Research in Environmental Health
NSF: Acquisition of X-ray Microfluorescence Instrumentation
NSF: Synthesis; Characterization, & Simulations of Silver Chalcogenisis
NSF: Incorporation of Minor & Trace Elements in to Coral Skeletal Aragonite: an X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy
& Microstructural Study
Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lab.: Beam Time Allotment for "Incorporation of Minor and Trace Elements in
Coral Skeleton.
UTEP Border Health: Childhood Lead Exposure in El Paso-Juarez
Schulze-Makuch
CDRF: Electromagnetic Fields as Energy Sources for Microbial Metabolism
EPA/SCERP: Transport and Removal of Viruses Using a Constructed Wetland.
NASA: Exploration of Geothermal Discharge Areas Using Remote Sensing and Hydrogeological Methods.
NASA: Locating Hydrothermal Areas Using Remote Sensing
UTEP Research Institute: The Water Resource Potential of the Sacramento Mountains
UTEP Research Institute: Investigation of Virus Transport in Ground Water
Selected Publications: 19992002
Andronicos
Andronicos, C.L., L.S. Hollister, C. Davidson, C., and D. Chardon, D., 1999, Kinematics, and tectonic significance
of transpressive structures in the Coast Plutonic Complex, British Columbia: Jour. Struct. Geol., v. 21, p. 229243.
Hollister, L.S. and Andronicos, C. L., 2000, The Central Gneiss Complex, Coast Mountains, British Columbia, GSA
Special Paper 343, p. 45-59.
Anthony
Allchin, D., E. Anthony, J. Bristol, A Dean, D. Hall, D., and C. Lieb, 1999, History of Science - with labs. Science
and Education, v. 8, p. 619-632.
Barnes, M.A., R. Rohs, E.Y. Anthony, W.R. Van Schmus, and R.E. Denison, 1999, Isotopic and elemental
chemistry of subsurface Precambrian igneous rocks, west Texas and eastern New Mexico: Rocky Mountain
Geology (Special Issue on Proterozoic magmatism) v. 34, p. 245-262.
Clark
Nandigam, Ravi, Kenneth F. Clark, Elizabeth Y. Anthony, Tom Williams, and Oscar Comaduran, 1999, Rare-earth
element and zinc-bearing carbonatite occurrences near Villa Ahumada, Chihuahua, northern Mexico: XXIII
Convencion Nacional Asociacion de Ingenieros de Minas, Metalurgistas y Geologos de Mexico, 31 p.
Doser
Doser, D.I., T. H. Webb and D. E. Maunder, 1999, Source parameters of historic (1918-1962) earthquakes, South
Island, New Zealand: Geophys. J. International, v. 139, p. 769-794.
Doser, D.I. and R. Lomas, 2000, The transition from strike-slip to oblique subduction in southeastern Alaska from
seismological studies: Tectonophysics, v. 316, p. 45-65
Doser, D.I., and W.A. Brown, 2001, A study of historic earthquakes of the Prince William Sound, Alaska, region,
Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 91, 842-857, 2001.
Goodell
Bader, Janet L., P.C. Goodell, G. Gonzalez, A.S. Ali, and S.D. Pillai, 1999, Chromium-resistant bacterial
populations from a site heavily contaminated with hexavalent chromium: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, v. 109,
p. 263-276.
Wong, Virgina, P.C. Goodell, and E.Y. Anthony, 1999, Characterization of U-series disequilibria at the Pena Blanca
natural analogue site, Chihuahua, Mexico; in Wronkiewicz, D.J. and J.H. Leeds (eds.), Scientific Basis for
Nuclear Waste Management XXII: Material Research Society Proceedings v. 556, p. 801-808.
Howari, F.M., P.C. Goodell, and S.Miyamoto, 2000, Spectral properties of treated silty clay loam and fine sandy
loam with gypsum, halite and their mixtures: Remote Sensing 2000: From laboratory spectroscopy to remotely
sensed spectral observation: Soil Sci. Soc. Amer., p. 2-27.
Goodell, P.C., 2001, Learning activities for an undergraduate mineralogy/petrology course: ”I AM/WE ARE”: Jour.
Geol. Educ., v.49, p. 370-377.
Harder
Hodgson, J.A., P.W. Readman, B.M. O’Reilly, P.S Kennan, S.H. Harder, G.R. Keller, and H. Thybo, 1999, Leinster
granite seismic project (LEGS): A wide-angle study of a late Caledonian granite: EOS, v. 80, p. F-1029.
Snelson, C.A.,LH.M. Rumpbel, G.R. Keller, C. Prodehl, K.C. Miller, and S.H. Harder, 2000, Continental dynamics
Rocky Mountains Project (CD-ROM): Preliminary results from the 1999 Seismic refraction/wide-angle
reflection experiment: EOS, v. 81, p. F-1235.
Hoffer
Hoffer, Jerry M., and Robin L. Hoffer, 1999, Geological excursions of the El Paso area, Vol. III: Geology along the
border: Santa Teresa to Columbus, New Mexico: El Paso Geol. Soc. Guidebook, 65 p.
Hurtado
Hurtado, J.J., Jr., K.V. Hodges, and K.X.Whipple, 1999, Evidence for ongoing tectonic activity at the position of the
South Tibetan Fault System and the Main Central Thrust in the recent past; in 14th Himalaya-Karakoram-Tibet
Workshop: Terra Nostra, no. 2, p. 73-75.
Hodges, K.V., K.X. Whipple, and J.M. Hurtado Jr., 2000, Himalayan neotectonics may implcay active southwest
extrusion of Tibetan middle curst: EOS Amer. Geop. Union, v. 81, n. 48, p. 1094
Hurtado, J.M. Jr., K.V. Hodges, K.X. Whipple, 2001, Neotectonics of the Thakkhola Graben and implications for
Recent activity on the South Tibetan Fault system in central Nepal Himalaya: Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v. 113, n.
2, p. 222-240.
Keller
Keller, G. R., and R. D. Hatcher, Jr., 1999, Comparison of the lithospheric structure of the Appalachian - Ouachita
orogen and Paleozoic orogenic belts in Europe: Tectonophysics, v. 314, p. 43-68.
Simiyu, S., and G.R. Keller, 2000, Seismic monitoring of the Olkario geothermal area, Kenya rift valley: Jour.
Volcanol. and Geotherm. Rsrch, v. 95, p. 197-298.
Simiyu, S., and G.R. Keller, 2001, An integrated geophysical analysis of the upper crust of the southern Kenya rift:
Geop. Jour. Internat., v. 147, p. 543-561.
Langford
Scanlon, B.P., and R.P. Langford, 1999, Relationship between geomorphic settings and unsaturated flow in an arid
setting: Water Resources Research, v. 35, p. 983-999.
Langford, R.P., 2000, Nabkha (Coppice Dune) Fields of south-central New Mexico, USA: Jour. Arid Environ., v.
45, no. 1, p. 41
LeMone.
LeMone, D.V., D. Bell, and T.A. Kerr, 1999.
Establishing an Assured Isolation Facility for Low- or Intermediate-Level Radioactive Waste Management:
Institute of Nuclear Materials Management, Proceedings of the 40 th Annual Meeting, Waste Management
Division, Session E, Paper 1, Waste Management - Low-Level Waste, 8 p., published on CD-ROM.
LeMone, D.V., P. Vaganov, S. Turchenko, R. Dodge, and H. Xie, 2000. The Salmi Complex of Karelia,
Northwestern Russia: Potential High Level Radioactive Waste Repository: R. G. Post (ed.), HLW, LLW, Mixed
Wastes, and Environmental Restoration - Working Towards a Cleaner Environment, Waste Management 2000,
American Nuclear Society, International Atomic Energy Agency, and University of Arizona, Session 59
[Progress in Repository Development in Europe], Paper 5, 7 p., published on CD-ROM.
Miller
Chang, J.-Y., K.C. Miller, and G.R. Keller, 1999, Seismic expression of late Cretaceous to Recent structure in
southwestern New Mexico: Rocky Mountain Geology, v. 34, p. 131-148.
Brocher, T.M., T.L. Pratt, K.C. Creager, R.S. Crosson, W.P. Steele, C.S. Weaver, A.D. Frankel, A.M. Trehu, C.M.
Snelson, K.C. Miller, and S.H. Harder, 2000, Urban Seismic Experiments Investigate Seattle Fault and Basin,
EOS Trans. Am. Geophys. Un., v. 81, no. 46, p. 545-551.
O'Donnell, T.M. Jr., K.C. Miller, and J.C. Witcher, 2001, A Seismic and Gravity Study of the McGregor
Geothermal System, Southern New Mexico, Geophysics, v. 66, p.1002-1014.
Pingitore
Rodriguez P., J.A., N.E. Pingitore, G.R. Keller, and A. Perez, 1999, An integrated gravity and remote sensing
assessment of basin structure and hydrologic resources in Chihuahua City region, Mexico: Engineer. and
Environ. Geop., v. 5 p. 73-85.
Orquiz, R., W.W. Li, N.E. Pingitore, T.T. Espino, and J. Gardea-Torresdey, 2000, Temporal measurements of PM
fine and coarse concentrations in El Paso: Proceed., Air and Waste Management. Assoc., 93 rd Annual Conf.
Schulze-Makuch
Schulze-Makuch, D., D.A. Carlson, D.S. Cherkauer, and P. Malik, 1999, Scale Dependency of Hydraulic
Conductivity in Heterogeneous Media. Ground Water, v. 37, n. 6, p. 904-919.
Schulze-Makuch, D. and J.F. Kennedy, 2000, Microbiological and chemical characterization of geothermal fluids at
the Tortugas Mountain Geothermal Area, southern New Mexico, USA. Hydrogeology Jour., v. 8, p. 295-309.
Irwin, L.N. and D. Schulze-Makuch, 2001 Assessing the plausibility of life on other worlds. Astrobiology, vol. 1,
no. 2, p. 143-160.
Schulze-Makuch, D., S.D. Pillai, H. Guan, R. Bowman, E. Couroux, F. Hielscher, S. Emmert, J. Totten, I.Y.
Espinosa, and T. Kretzschmar, 2002, Surfactant modified zeolite can protect drinking water wells from viruses
and bacteria. EOS, Transactions American Geophysical Union, feature article, vol. 83., no. 18, p. 193 & 200201
Velasco