RESEARCH: 

My research focuses on the origin and 
evolution of the continents, particularly the 
lower continental crust and the underlying 
mantle lithosphere. Emphasis is placed on 
integration of data from a wide diversity 
of sources, including petrography, petrology, 
major and trace element geochemistry, isotope
 geochemistry and geophysics. 
More recently I have also begun exploring the
utility of lithium isotopes in tracing crustal 
recycling in the mantle. 

TEACHING – FALL 

Geol 100 (sections 0101, 0103):
Introduction to Physical Geology 

Geol 100S (section 0103):
Introduction to Physical Geology (CPS) 

Geol 445 (section 0101): 
Principles of Geochemistry 

In alternate fall semesters I teach 
Geol 489J/789J: Origin and Evolution of the 
Continents (in lieu of Geol 100) 

SPRING 

Geol 443 (section 0101): 
Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
(co-taught with Rich Walker) 

Current graduate students and their 
projects: 

Fang-zhen Teng : Lithium isotopic composition
of the continental crust 

Sean Timpa : Thermochronology of lower crustal
xenoliths from the Mozambique fold belt, Tanzania 

Current Undergraduate research projects: 

Allie Gale : Geological history of high-grade rocks 
from the Mozambique fold belt, Tanzania 

Marc Lipella : Refractory element fractionation in 
Ca- Al-rich inclusions from the Allende meteorite 

Jonathan James : Ore metal content of sulfides in 
the Ellicott City granodiorite