Petrology, Structural Geology and Tectonics at FSU
RESEARCH AREAS
Students may choose to concentrate in several specialties under the broad framework of tectonics, including structural geology,
petrology, and sedimentary or isotope geology applied to tectonics. Current research at FSU covers a broad range of topics including:
petrogenesis of igneous suites in the context of tectonic setting, quantification of environmental conditions associated with regional
metamorphism, structural evolution of orogenic core and terrane evolution, geochronological studies focused on the timing of orogenic
activity, fabric evolution in metamorphic tectonites, and processes operating in active collisional orogens.
FACILITIES
The department owns a fleet of field vehicles that can be used in connection with field studies and field trips. Analytical and
sample preparation facilities are described under the Geochemistry program. The department also has a large digitizer and plotter for use
in the preparation of geologic maps. Microcomputers and mainframe computers are available for research projects, as are several research
grade petrographic microscopes.
FACULTY
Munir Humayun
Siderophile element geochemistry of mantle and crustal rocks; geochemical interaction between core and
mantle; cosmic bombardment history of the Earth and planets; Early differentiation of the Earth and planets.
Stephen A. Kish
Igneous and Metamorphic petrology applied to the study of ore deposits; igneous petrology studies
in the Appalachians and southern Rocky Mountain regions; use of isotopes in geochronological and geochemical studies.
Neil Lundberg (emeritus)
Convergent margin tectonics and sedimentation; synorogenic sedimentation at collision zones;
petrology of clastic deposits in tectonically active settings; and deformational fabrics at active margins.
Leroy Odom
Geochronology, radiogenic isotopes, radiation dosimetry.
Vincent Salters
Investigations of mantle evolution and MORB magma generation using isotopic tracers. Lu-Hf
isotopic systematics and the evolution of the continental crust.
James F. Tull
Structural and metamorphic core evolution, thrust belt evolution, successor basin formation and genesis,
tectonic modeling of Paleozoic orogenic belts, emphasis on Appalachian and Caledonian mountain systems.
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