Syracuse University Department of Earth Sciences
Thermochronology and Tectonics Research Group

Research:

Methods and Applications

Regional Expertise

  • Noble gas thermochronology: 40Ar/39Ar, (U-Th)/He
  • Fission track thermochronology
  • In situ dating of zircon via ion microprobe in conjunction with trace and REE analyses
  • Structural geology, petrology, and tectonics
  • Pressure-temperature-time-deformation (P-T-t-D) paths
  • Timing and rates of tectonic processes
  • Thermal evolution of crustal terranes
  • Landscape evolution
  • Exhumation of high and ultrahigh-pressure rocks
  • Timing of fabric development in tectonites
  • South Pacific: Papuan Peninsula, D'Entrecasteaux Islands, Misima Island, New Caledonia, New Zealand
  • Antarctica: Transantarctic Mountains
  • Eastern and Central Asia: Qinling-Dabie-Sulu Orogen, southeastern Mongolia
  • Mediterranean region: Pyrenees, Aegean
  • North America: Alaska, Basin and Range, Baja California, Adirondacks
  • Caribbean: Barbados

    Areas of active research are highlighted

 

People:

Suzanne Baldwin Professorsbaldwin@syr.edu
Paul Fitzgerald Professor pgfitzge@syr.edu
Laura WebbResearch Assistant Professor lewebb@syr.edu
James Metcalf Research Associate jrmetcal@syr.edu
Scott Miller Research Associate srmill02@syr.edu
Mike CheathamSenior Research Specialistmmcheath@syr.edu
Stephanie Perry PhD Studentseperr01@syr.edu
Joshua TaylorPhD Studentjtaylo03@syr.edu
Jessica Terrien PhD Student jjterrie@syr.edu
Alec Waggoner Masters Student agwaggon@syr.edu
Emily Feinberg Masters Student ebfeinbe@syr.edu

 

Research Group Laboratory Facilities:

SUNGIRL: Syracuse University Noble Gas Isotopic Research Laboratory

  • Micromass 5400 mass spectrometer and extraction line with cryogenic cold trap system for working with any of the noble gases. Gas extraction methods include a custom double-resistance furnace and CO2 laser system. An excimer laser system is currently under construction.
  • Balzers quadrapole mass spectrometer and extraction line dedicated to (U-Th)/He studies

FILTH: Fission track Investigations of Lithospheric and Tectonic Histories

  • Nikon Optiphot-2 research scope with Kinetek automated counting stage with video system
  • Nikon Optiphot-2POL research petrographic scope with camera system
  • Olympus SZX-12 Sterographic microscope

Crushing & Mineral Separation Facilities

  • Full rock crushing facilities including a jaw-crusher, bico disc mill and a Gemini table are shared with others in the department.
  • Full mineral separation facilities utilizing heavy liquids and a Frantz model LB-1 are housed in a newly renovated laboratory.
Visit http://earthsciences.syr.edu/ESResearchFacilities.html to see a description of all departmental facilities.

 

Funding:

We acknowledge financial support from the Earth Sciences Division of the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this website, or links therein, are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Active NSF Awards:

0709054, Collaborative Research: How Is Rifting Exhuming the Youngest High-pressure and Ultrahigh-pressure (HP/UHP) Rocks on Earth? EAR CONTINENTAL DYNAMICS 07/15/2007 Suzanne Baldwin (PI), Paul Fitzgeral & Laura Webb (Co-PIs, Collaborative research with: G. Abers, T. Plank, J. Gaherty & R. Buck, Lamont-Doherty Eath Observatory at Columbia University; B. Hacker, UCSB; P. Mann & B. Horton, UT Austin)

0538216, Along-Strike Variation of the Uplift and Exhumation of the Pyrenean Orogen: Constraining the Evolution of an Intraplate Collisional Orogen, EAR TECTONICS 07/01/2006 Paul Fitzgerald (PI), Suzanne Baldwin (Co-PI)

0537165, Collaborative Research: Strike-Slip History of the East Gobi Fault Zone, Mongolia: Modes of Intraplate Deformation, Sedimentary Basin Evolution, and Regional Fault Linkages, EAR GLOBAL SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS, TECTONICS 03/01/2006 Laura Webb (PI; Collaborative research with Cari Johnson from University of Utah)

Recently Expired NSF Awards:

0338009 Collaborative Research: Dynamic Models for the Tectonic Evolution of the Transantarctic Mountains and Ross Embayment ANT ANTARCTIC GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS 05/01/2004 Paul Fitzgerald (PI; Collaborative research with Roger Buck & Michael Studinger from Lamont-Doherty Eath Observatory at Columbia University)

0208334, Continental Extension in the western Woodlark Basin: P-T-t-D constraints from Normanby and Misima Islands, EAR TECTONICS 06/01/2002 Suzanne Baldwin (PI), Paul Fitzgeral (Co-PI)

0447305, Phase II Technician Support: Syracuse University Noble Gas Isotope Research Laboratory (SUNGIRL), EAR INSTRUMENTATION & FACILITIES 08/15/2005 Suzanne Baldwin (PI), Paul Fitzgerald (Co-PI)

0345822, Acquisition of an Excimer Laser System for Syracuse University Noble Gas Isotope Research Laboratory (SUNGIRL), EAR INSTRUMENTATION & FACILITIES 07/15/2004 Suzanne Baldwin (PI), Laura Webb (Co-PI)

0002008, Collaborative Research: Four-Dimensional Evaluation of a Major Continental Detachment Fault: Structural, Paleomagnetic, and Thermochronologic Constraints, EAR TECTONICS 04/01/2000 Paul Fitzgerald (PI; Collaborative research with Ernie Duebendorfer from Northern Arizona University and Jim Faulds from University of Nevada, Reno)

0096352, Collaborative Research: Investigation of the Evolution of the Southern Alps of New Zealand through Thermochronological Analysis of West Coast Granites, EAR ACTIVE TECTONICS 07/01/2000 Suzanne Baldwin (PI; Collaborative research with Geoff Batt & Mark Brandon from Yale University)

0130833, Technician Support: Syracuse University Noble Gas Isotope Research Laboratory (SUNGIRL), EAR ANTARCTIC GEOLOGY & GEOPHYSICS, INSTRUMENTATION & FACILITIES 03/01/2002 Suzanne Baldwin (PI), Paul Fitzgerald (Co-PI)