Professor Emeritus, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin

Bill Muehlberger received his degrees in geology from California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Upon completing his doctorate in 1954, he began teaching at the University of Texas at Austin; he retired from active teaching there in 1992. In addition to his work in New Mexico, published by the New Mexico Bureau of Mines and the New Mexico Geological Society, he and his students have conducted field research in other regions of North America, Central America, Turkey and the Moon.

He led the research team that produced the first compilation of data on the buried basement rocks of the United States, and he recently compiled the new Tectonic Map of North America.

Bill was principal investigator for geology for the Apollo 16 and 17 missions to the Moon, and he has continued as an instructor/advisor to the astronauts on Earth observations from Skylab, Apollo-Soyuz, Space Shuttle, and the International Space Station. Two NASA medals attest to his contributions to astronaut and public instruction in geological and solar system exploration: the 1973 Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and the 1999 Public Service Medal.

Publications on New Mexico Geology

The following are in Beaumont, E.C., and Read, C.B., eds., 1960, New Mexico Geological Society Eleventh Field Conference, Rio Chama Country, 129 p:

Muehlberger, W.R., Precambrian roocks of the Tusas Mountains, Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, p. 45-47.

Muehlberger, W.R., Structure of the central Chama platform, vorthern Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, p. 103-109.

Muehlberger, W.R., Adams, G.E., Longgood, T.E., Jr, and St. John, B.E., Stratigraphy of the Chama quadrangle, northern Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, p. 93-102.

Smith, C.T., and Muehlberger, W.R., Road logs.

Smith, C.T., and Muehlberger, W.R., Geologic map of the Rio Chama Country.

Muehlberger, W.R., Baldwin, B., and Foster, R., 1961, Clayton-Raton-Capulin: New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Scenic Trips to the Geologic Past No. 7, 107 p. (Third edition, 1967).

Baldwin, B., and Muehlberger, W.R., 1959, Geologic studies of Union County, New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Bulletin 63, 171 p.

Muehlberger, W.R., 1967, Geology of the Chama Quadrangle, New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Bulletin 89, 114 p.

Muehlberger, W.R., 1968, Geology of the Brazos Peak Quadrangle, New Mexico: New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Geologic Map 22.

Muehlberger, W. R., 1978, Frontal fault zone of northern Picuris Range, in Guidebook to Rio Grande rift in New Mexico and Colorado: New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources, Circular 163, p. 44-45.

Muehlberger, W. R., and Hawley, J. W., 1978, Rio Grande gorge to Rio Embudo, New Mexico, in Guidebook to Rio Grande rift in New Mexico and Colorado: New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources, Circular 163, p. 42-43.

Muehlberger, W.R., 1979, The Embudo fault between Pilar and Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico: an active intracontinental transform fault: p. 77-82 in Ingersoll, R.V., ed., Guidebook of Santa Fe Country, New Mexico Geological Society Thirtieth Field Conference, 310 p.

Muehlberger, W. R., and Muehlberger, S., 1982, Española - Chama - Taos: A Climb through Time: New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources, Scenic Trips to the Geologic Past No. 13, 99 p.

Dungan, M.A., Muehlberger, W.R., Leininger, L., Peterson, C., McMillan, M.J., Gunn, G., Lindstrom, M., and Haskin, L., 1984, Volcanic and sedimentary stratigraphy of the Rio Grande gorge and the late Cenozoic geologic evolution of the southern San Luis valley: New Mexico Geological Society, 35th field conference guidebook, p. 157-170.

Muehlberger, W.R., 1991, Dedication to Frank E. Kottlowski: in Geology of Sierra Blanca, Sacramento and Capitan Ranges, New Mexico: New Mexico Geological Society, 42nd Field Conference Guidebook, p. V.