The geology of Utah is awe-inspiring.
Most of my research has occurred in Utah. I have always considered my research interests and teaching field camp for Ohio State each summer as a symbiotic relationship. The more that I learn while teaching field camp about the geology of Utah, the more questions that I ask about the geology of the region. These questions then become the framework for my personal research and the research of many of my students. Much of what I work on falls within two broad domains:
Structural Geology / Tectonics
Broadly, I am interested in the tectonic evolution of the Sevier and Laramide orogenies of the western U.S. and superimposed pre-Basin and Range extension, with special emphasis on these geologic events in Utah. These interests are focused more directly on: (a) the formation of monoclines in the region, (b) the significance of fold-related fractures, and (c) the formation of structural discontinuities (such as faults, joints, deformation bands, and stylolites) in the rock record.
Sedimentology / Stratigraphy
The stratigraphy of central Utah has provided a rich framework for many of my smaller projects and for many of my students’ I.S. theses. These projects have focused primarily on the depositional environments of several formations in the region. For example, we more recently have undertaken studies of (a) a comparison of oncoid growth and development in the Flagstaff Formation, (b) paleosol development at Salina Canyon, Utah, and (c) caddisfly documentation in the Green River Formation.
I owe a debt of thanks…
My research in Utah has been enhanced through the years by wonderful collaborations with colleagues from several sources, but several are worth noting here. Continued work with colleagues from Ohio State University has enriched my knowledge of central Utah, because all these individuals have been instructors at field camp multiple times. Also, close collaboration with the Utah Geological Survey, especially the Geologic Mapping Program and Energy & Minerals Program, has provided significant regional insights. Finally, I am indebted to the landowners of the Sanpete-Sevier Valley region. Their continued generosity in allowing my students and I to access their private lands for geologic teaching, learning, and research can never be underestimated. I owe all of them my thanks.