Education B.S. Geology, 2000 Texas A&M University Current Research July 2005 – Present: (masters thesis – University of Kansas) Neogene Exhumation and Incision of the Grand Canyon Region, Arizona Despite its popularity, the Grand Canyon retains an enigmatic incisional history. Initiating sometime after 6 Ma and ending before 1.2 Ma, the onset of canyon cutting and its rate, are not well known. However, by temporally and spatially modeling the geothermal field migration due to cooling as a result of relief amplification (i.e. canyon cutting), it should be possible to gain insight into: (1) the onset of incision, (2) the rate of incision, (3) variations in incision rates through time, and (4) the significance of widespread Laramide erosion on the southwest Colorado Plateau. Low temperature (U-Th/He) apatite thermochronology is well suited for this investigation due to lower temperature sensitivity and its ability to record near-surface topography induced isotherm migration. A three dimensional framework of samples has been collected, including near-vertical transects from rim to river, horizontal transects along the Colorado River, and exploration bore holes from the Coconino Plateau. Together, this framework should provide a comprehensive dataset from which possible cooling histories can be modeled. Past Research My undergraduate research was conducted in the experimental rock deformation laboratory at exas A&M University Last updated 31 October 2006. |
