The Department of Geology at the University of Maryland has focussed its research efforts in the applications of geochemistry to solid earth and earth surface processes. This focused approach enables participation in the two threads of modern and future Earth System Science, resources and environment, without diluting effort. Our particular strengths are as follows:

• Mineralogy, petrology and geochemistry, in particular of granites and associated mineralization;
• Hydrological processes, in particular of watersheds and wetlands; and,
• Isotope geochemistry, in support of the above strengths and in meteoritics and tectonics studies.

Resident Faculty And Their Research

Michael Brown, Professor and Chair, Ph.D., Keele (UK), 1975. High-T metamorphism, crustal anatexis and melt segregation, ascent and emplacement; the P-T-t evolution/tectonics of metamorphic belts. (Tel. 301-405-4080; e-mail: mbrown@geol.umd.edu)

Andrew Campbell, Assistant Professor, Ph.D. University of Chicago, 1993. Mineral physics and solid earth geochemistry; high-pressure, temperature phase equilibria and equations of state; siderophile element cosmochemistry. ( Tel: (301) 405-4086; e-mail: ajc@geol.umd.edu)

Philip A. Candela, Professor, Ph.D., Harvard, 1982. Thermodynamics and mass transfer dynamics of magmatic-hydrothermal systems; experimental studies of the distribution of ore metals in high-temperature, multi-component, polyphase systems; field studies of granitic rocks in the western United States. (Tel. 301-405-2783; e-mail: candela@geol.umd.edu)

Luke L.Y. Chang, Professor Emeritus, Ph.D., Chicago, 1963. Structural and stability relations in mineral systems, mineralogy of Pb-Ag-Cu-Sb-Bi-Sn sulfides, selenides, and tellurides, and process mineralogy of industrial materials. (Tel. 301-405-4086; e-mail: llychang@geol.umd.edu)

James Farquhar, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Alberta, 1995. Stable isotope geochemistry: atmosphere-surface interactions,atmospheric evolution, sulfur and oxygen biogeochemistry, meteorite studies, isotopic exchange and thermometry (Tel. 301-405-4365; e-mail: jfarquha@es.umd.edu)

Saswata Hier-Majumder, Assistant Professor (arriving Summer 2006) Ph.D. University of Minnesota, 2004. A part of my current research focuses on theoretical modelling of multicomponent fluid dynamics in problems of geophysical interest. More specifically, I am interested in segregation and transport of magma in the mantle. Another aspect of my research is experimental determination of influence of water on the kinetic properties of silicates.

Thomas R. Holtz, Senior Lecturer, Ph.D., Yale, 1992. The evolution, functional morphology, biomechanics, and adaptive trends of major groups of extinct vertebrates, especially theropod dinosaurs; phylogenetic reconstruction of late Mesozoic global paleobiogeography and important periods of adaptive radiations in the history of terrestrial life. (Tel. 301-405-4084; e-mail: tholtz@geol.umd.edu)

Alan Jay Kaufman, Assistant Professor, Ph.D. University of Indiana, 1990. Determination of changes in isotopic composition of oceans through time, analysis of stragraphic suites of little-altered carbonate rocks, tectonic, biogeochemical, and paleoenvironmental events in Earth history. (Tel: 301-405-4365 e-mail:  kaufman@geol.umd.edu)

William F. McDonough , Associate Professor, Ph.D., Australian National University, 1988. Solid earth geochemistry, cosmochemistry including elemental and isotopic studies (Tel. 301-405-5561; e-mail: mcdonough@geol.umd.edu)

Aaron J. Martin, Assistant Professor (wef July 1, 2006), Ph.D. University of Arizona, 2005. Spatial and temporal relationships between compression and extension in orogenic belts; lithospheric evolution in compressional and extensional settings; quantitative analysis of the records of tectonic evolution preserved in sedimentary basins. Integration of field- and laboratory-based techniques. Current foci on the Himalaya and the western United States. (Tel. (301) 405-8763; e-mail: martinaj@geol.umd.edu)

John W. Merck, Jr., Lecturer, Ph.D. The University of Texas at Austin, 1997. The phylogeny and evolutionary history of the euryapsids, primarily marine reptiles of the Mesozoic Era, including ichthyosaurs, placodonts, and sauropterygians; the empirical testing of cladistic methods of phylogeny reconstruction using digitally simulated phylogenies; the incorporation of data from CT scans of fossil specimens in the morphological description of fossil taxa. (Tel. 301-405-2808; e-mail: jmerck@umd.edu)

Sarah Penniston-Dorland, Assistant Professor, Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University, 2005. I am interested in learning about fluid flow in Earth's crust through the study of the record fluids leave behind in metamorphic and igneous rocks. I collect field data along with mineralogical, chemical, isotopic and textural data, and apply the concepts of equilibrium thermodynamics and mass transport. ( Tel: (301) 405-4087; e-mail: sarahpd@geol.umd.edu)

Philip M. Piccoli, Associate Research Scientist, Ph.D., University of Maryland at College Park, 1992. Field studies of silicic igneous rocks; role of accessory phases in granitic systems; microanalysis of rock-forming minerals; geochemistry of fluids associated with plutonic and volcanic systems. (Tel. 301-405-6966; e-mail: piccoli@geol.umd.edu)

Karen L. Prestegaard, Associate Professor, Ph.D., UC Berkeley, 1982. Sediment transport and depositional processes in mountain gravel-bed streams; mechanisms of streamflow generation and their variations with watershed scale, geology, and land use; hydrologic behavior of frozen ground; hydrologic consequences of climate change; hydrology of coastal and riparian wetlands. (Tel. 301-405-6982; e-mail: kpresto@ geol.umd.edu)

Roberta L. Rudnick, Professor, Ph.D., Australian National University, 1988. Continental crust, cratonic mantle-lithosphere, archean eclogite-TTG link, geochemical Earth reference model (Tel. 301-405-4365; e-mail: rudnick@geol.umd.edu)

Peter B. Stifel, Associate Professor Emeritus, Ph.D., Utah, 1964. Paleontology, paleobiology, biostratigraphy of mid-Atlantic Phanerozoic rocks; ontogenetic studies; mulluscan paleoecology, Tertiary otoliths and trace fossil studies. (Tel. 301-405-4078; e-mail: stifel@friend.ly.net)

Richard J. Walker, Professor, Ph.D., SUNY Stony Brook, 1984. Geochemical evolution of the Earth's crust and mantle; origin and evolution of early solar system materials, including iron meteorites and chondrites; petrogenesis of granites and granitic pegmatites; petrogenesis of ore systems. (Tel. 301-405-4089; e-mail: rjwalker@geol.umd.edu)

Ann G. Wylie, Professor, Ph.D., Columbia, 1972. Economic geology of Appalachian metal and industrial deposits; mineralogy and human health; the study of ore minerals as petrogenetic indicators; geology and tectonic history of the central Appalachian Piedmont. (Tel. 301-405-4079; e-mail: awylie@geol.umd.edu)

E-An Zen, Adjunct Professor, Ph.D., Harvard, 1955. Phase equilibria in metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, igneous petrology; tectonics of the Appalachians and Northern Rockies. (Tel. 301-405-4081; e-mail: ezen@geol.umd.edu)

ASSOCIATED NON-RESIDENT FACULTY

J.-K. Böhlke, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Ph.D., UC Berkeley, 1986. Geochemistry of hydrologic systems, petrogenesis of gold ores (U. S. Geological Survey).

James F. Luhr, Adjunct Associate Professor, Ph.D., UC Berkeley, 1980. Igneous petrology, volcanology (Smithsonian Institution).

Steven B. Shirey, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Ph.D., SUNY Stony Brook, 1984. Igneous petrology, isotope geochemistry (Carnegie Institution, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism).

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