Description:

This project is funded by the NSF Continental Dynamics program. It involves nearly 20 PIs and is focusing on the evolution of the Rocky Mountains. The project has two main groups; geology and geophysics. My role is application of 40Ar/39Ar thermochronology towards determining crustal exhumation histories in New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. A major goal of the project is to use surface geology to constrain reflection images determined by seismic experiments. Towards this goal we are mapping and using thermochronology to determine timing and significance of major shear zones throughout the Rocky Mt. Transect. (http://www.geo.utep.edu/CDROM).