Kutztown University Geology Program - Recent activities and trips

Kutztown University Geology Program Research

Current research projects around the world
Student Abstracts and Poster Sessions Presented at Professional Meetings
Papers published with undergraduate student co-authors in major, peer-reviewed scientific journals

Resent research projects around the world

Deep-sea AUV magnetic and seismic study of the Hawaiian Jurassic crust beneath the Pacific Ocean floor

Dr. Adrienne Oakley traveled with five Kutztown University undergraduate students on a six-week oceanographic research cruise to western Pacific to study the oldest and deepest seafloor on the planet.
Please visit the expedition's website with blogs written by Dr. Oakley and her students, plus pictures to see how they fared!

Namibia - economic geology of an exceptionally ancient copper deposit

Kutztown University geology student Jewels Wilk spent a month in the Namibian desert with Dr. Kurt Friehauf studying one of the oldest intrusion-related copper deposits in the world. Remarkably, the two billion year old deposit is almost completely untouched by subsequent metamorphism. Studying this deposit will help us understand how copper mineralizing processes may have differed in the ancient geologic past compared to processes that formed more recent deposits.

New York Adirondacks - geophysical mapping of the biggest landslide in New York history

Dr. Laura Sherrod, working with Kutztown Geology students Ken Schlosser and Jarred Swiontek, in cooperation with geologists Andrew Kozlowski and Brian Bird of the NY State Geological Survey, used Ground Penetrating Radar to map and characterize an actively-moving massive landslide in upstate New York. This landslide is the largest in the state's history. Ken presented the some of the results of this project at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco in December 2011. Please click here to read his abstract.

Salton Sea, California - geology of a beach made of fish bones and barnacles

Dr. Erin Kraal and Dr. Ed Simpson worked with Kutztown Geology students Liz Heness and Jewels Wilk along the shores of the Salton Sea on a multi-disciplinary project studying the interplay between sedimentological and geomorphological processes. The site is unusual because the beach sand is composed almost entirely of fish bones!
Liz and Jewels presented some of their results at the Geological Society of America meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota in October 2011. Please click here to read Liz's abstract.
Please click here to read Jewels' abstract.

Wallops Island - Virginia - erosion and migration of beaches

Dr. Adrienne Oakley, working with Kutztown Geology students Eric Sergent and Matt Sabetta, and Kutztown Marine Science Jaclyn Chariw,
profiling beach forms using total station surveying and quantitatively analyzing sediment samples. They are integrating that data with tidal and wave data, as well as storm surge information to learn how weather affects coastal processes and beach morphology.

Pennsylvania - geophysical tracking of Acid Mine Drainage

Dr. Laura Sherrod, working with Kutztown Geology students Jarred Swiontek, Jeff Kadegis, and Eric Stecker, used electrical resistivity geophysics to track water contamination near abandoned coal mines in Pennsylvania. This is new way to use geophysics to peer beneath the Earth's surface and study subterranean processes.

Alaska - economic geology of hydrothermal alteration of volcanic complex

Kutztown University geology students Melania Tkach, Dan Ruth, and Ken Schlosser spent a month in the interior of Alaska with Dr. Kurt Friehauf where they geologically mapped a Tertiary volcanic complex. Parts of the mountain were hydrothermally-altered, a characteristic of many gold deposits. The students also quantitatively analyzed drill core to assess the potential of a prospect of metamorphic rocks for zinc mineralization.
Dan will present some of the results of this study at the Association for Mineral Exploration - British Columbia Mineral Exploration Roundup 2012 meeting in Vancouver, Canada in January 2012.
Please click here to read Dan's abstract.

Pennsylvania - geophysical search for a historic mass grave

Dr. Laura Sherrod and Dr. James Higgins, working with Kutztown Geology student Connor Messler, used Ground Penetrating Radar to assess whether or not a historic cemetery in eastern Pennsylvania is the site of a mass burial related to the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic that killed between 50 and 100 million people worldwide in just two years. They presented their findings at the Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems in Charleston, South Carolina (10-14 April 2011).

South Africa - two billion year old biological soil crusts

Dr. Edward Simpson took several students to do research with him on ancient sedimentary rocks in South Africa. The expedition was very successful. Results of this research will be presented by Dr. Simpson and his students at the national Geological Society of America meeting in Denver. Samples taken during the trip are the subject of ongoing analysis in the labs at Kutztown University.

Henan and Beijing, China - economic geology of molybdenum deposits

Kutztown geology undergraduate students Anthony Moorehead and Lauren Storm traveled to Beijing, China with Dr. Kurt Friehauf to participate in a graduate course in economic geology taught by Dr. Friehauf at the China University of Geosciences. While there, they took time off to visit the many wonderful historic sites in and around Beijing, including the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Great Wall of China, and a historic farming village.

The group then traveled to the remote Qinling Mountains in Henan Province to study molybdenum mineral deposits. Because mineral deposits have strategic value, geologic access was restricted in some areas by the Chinese government (indeed! We were evicted from one city because it was too close to a military base - no foreigners were permitted in the area!) We were, however, lucky to get access to some remarkable rocks never before seen by westerners!

We are currently studying samples taken on that expedition to determine the geological/geochemical processes that formed the mineral deposits over 100 million years ago!

Southern Utah - fossils and ancient sedimentary deposits

One of the most prolific and exciting research projects at Kutztown University combines Dr. Sarah Tindall's studies of structural geology (how mountains form, and how rocks fracture and fold) with Dr. Edward Simpson's studies of the sedimentology (how sand and silt deposit), stratigraphy (layering of sedimentary rocks), and paleontology (fossils). Some of the exciting things they've discovered include evidence of ancient earthquakes that violently shook the region when the sandstone was still just a mush of sediment, resulting in the eruption of mud volcanoes and contorting the bedrock like a twisted puzzle. Their studies have also helped unravel the history of when and how the Rocky Mountains formed during the time of the dinosaurs.

This project involves undergraduate students traveling to the Utah desert every summer. Almost a dozen students have now contributed to the science on this project and presented their findings at Geological Society of America meetings.

Student Abstracts and Poster Sessions Presented at Professional Meetings

Student researchers shown in bold red font - Kutztown University geology professors shown in blue font.

2014

Ryan, Meghan M., Dowdy, Natalie L., and Tindall, Sarah E., 2014, Effects of a lateral facies change on structural patterns in physical models [abs.]: GSA Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia (19–22 October 2014).

Malenda, Margariete, Friehauf, Kurt, and Mathur, Ryan, 2014, Re-Os isotopic dating of the Mesoproterozoic Haib porphyry copper deposit, southern Namibia [abs.]: GSA Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia (19–22 October 2014).

Racosky, Alexandra and Friehauf, Kurt, 2014, Biotite alteration in the Precambrian Haib porphyry copper district, Namibia – Hydrogen isotope constraints on fluid origins [abs.]: GSA Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia (19–22 October 2014).

Livingston, Kelsey M., Bogner, Emily, Ireland, Scott M., Simpson, Edward L., Betts, Tomas A., and Laub, Eric, 2014, The geomorphic evolution of shallow-sourced methane produced mud volcanoes Lake Powell, Hite Utah [abs.]: GSA Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia (19–22 October 2014).

Musa, Dea, Laura Sherrod, Kozlowski, Andres, Bird, Brian, Snyder, Emily, Treciak, Sebastien, and Spielman, Alex, 2014 Geophysical Mapping of Brine Springs in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, NY [abs.]: 27th Annual Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems (SAGEEP), Boston, MA, (March 17-19).

Snyder, Emily, Treciak, Sebastien, Carl Peterson, and Laura Sherrod, 2014, Geophysical Investigations of Local Cemeteries in Eastern Pennsylvania [abs.]: 27th Annual Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems (SAGEEP), Boston, MA, (March 17-19).

Hillegas, L., Cravotta, C., Levine, L., Sherrod, L., 2014, Chemical Mass Balance Improves Estimates of Total Streamflow Gains and Losses for a Stream Crossing Underground Coal Mines [abs.]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Northeastern Section - 49th Annual Meeting Lancaster, PA, (23–25 March), v. 46, no. 2.

Bailey, Jacob, Nowicki, Amanda, Morgano, Kelly, Guinan, Richard, Palkendo, Julie, and Kraal, Erin, 2014, Heavy metal concentrations in soil samples within the Saucony Creek active channel and floodplain [abs.]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Northeastern Section - 49th Annual Meeting Lancaster, PA, (23–25 March), v. 46, no. 2.

Shoup, Jenae, and Kraal, Erin, 2014, Analysis of physical properties for small landslides in Aram-Ares channels, Mars [abs.]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Northeastern Section - 49th Annual Meeting Lancaster, PA, (23–25 March), v. 46, no. 2.

Fox, Odysseus, and Kraal, Erin, 2014, Statistical analysis of crater distribution compared to geologic units on Mars [abs.]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Northeastern Section - 49th Annual Meeting Lancaster, PA, (23–25 March), v. 46, no. 2.

Ireland, Scott M., Simpson, Edward L., Fillmore, David, Szajna, Michael J., and Lucas, Spencer G., 2014, Continental ichnofossil diversity from the Silurian Bloomsburg Formation, Schuylkill Gap, Pennsylvania [abs.]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Northeastern Section - 49th Annual Meeting Lancaster, PA, (23–25 March), v. 46, no. 2.

Stickler, Brandon, and Tindall, Sarah, 2014, Comparison of different methods of strain analysis within the Tamaqua Syncline, central Pennsylvania [abs.]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Northeastern Section - 49th Annual Meeting Lancaster, PA, (23–25 March), v. 46, no. 2.

Livingston, Kelsey M., and Wise, Michael, 2014, Patterns of Mn enrichment in fine-grained apatite from the Black Mountain Pegmatite, Maine [abs.]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Northeastern Section - 49th Annual Meeting Lancaster, PA, (23–25 March), v. 46, no. 2. (Kutztown University advisor on the project Friehauf, Kurt)

Young, R., Horner, A., Dowdy, N., Van Zee, A., Musa, D., Hillegas, L., Burns, S., Sherwood, W., Rock, M., and Sewall, J., 2014, Channel Morphology Controls on Sediment Transport in Jordan Creek, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.: Geological Society of America Northeastern Section - 49th Annual Meeting (Lancaster, PA, March 23–25, 2014) Paper No. 40-3.

2013

Elizabeth Heness wins the 2013 gold medal Chambliss Academic Achievement Award for excellence in research!
Congratulations, Liz!

Eric Sergent wins the 2013 silver medal Chambliss Academic Achievement Award for excellence in research!
Congratulations, Eric!

Mathews, N. J.; Oakley, A. J.; Lizarralde, D; Tominaga, M.; Tivey, M.; Sager, W., 2013, Seafloor structure and uppermost sedimentation in the Pigafetta Basin, Magellan Seamount Chain, and East Mariana Basin of the Central-Western Pacific [abs.]: Eos Trans. AGU, Fall Meet. Suppl., San Francisco, CA

Rock, Marlena; Mason, Kelsey; Friehauf, Kurt, 2013, Lateral Zonation of Gold Mineralogy in the Grasberg Porphyry Cu-Au Deposit, Indonesia [abs.]: Geological Society of America National Meeting, Denver, Colorado (27–30 October, 2013).

Mason, Kelsey; Rock, Marlena; Friehauf, Kurt, 2013, Reconnaissance Study of District-Scale Geochemical Trends in the Bayan Obo REE District, Inner Mongolia [abs.]: Geological Society of America National Meeting, Denver, Colorado (27–30 October, 2013).

Betts, T., Heness, E.A., Semian, Z.M., Malenda, M.G., Simpson, E.L., and Friehauf, K., 2013, A unique occurrence of adipocere on the lacustrine shoreline, Salton Sea California [abs.]: Geological Society of America National Meeting, Denver, Colorado (27–30 October, 2013).

Simpson, Edward L., Koch, Robert, Heness, Elizabeth A., Wizevich, Michael C., Tindall, Sarah E., Hilbert-Wolf, Hannah L., Golder, Keenan B., and Steullet, Alex, 2013, Sedimentology and paleontology of late Cretaceous sag ponds, Upper Member, Wahweap Formation, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah [abs.]: Geological Society of America National Meeting, Denver, Colorado (27–30 October, 2013).

Bond, T., Sergent, E., Oakley, A., and Cornell, S.R., 2013, Grain Size Distribution and Sediment Transport Patterns Along Wallops Island, Virginia: Pre- and Post-Beach Replenishment, and Post-Hurricane Sandy [abs.]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs- 45 (1,) p. 93. GSA Northeastern Section Annual Meeting.

Wink, E.R., Oakley, A., Cornell, S.R., & Bollinger, A., 2013, Investigating Barrier Island Migration and Storm Overwash on Wallops Island, VA, Through Vibracoring [abs.]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Northeastern Section - 49th Annual Meeting Lancaster, PA, (23–25 March), v. 46, no. 2.

Musa, D., Sherrod, L., Kozlowski, A., Bird, B. 2013. Geophysical Investigations of Glacial History near the Montezuma Wetlands Complex in New York. [abs.]: Proceedings of the Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems (SAGEEP ’13), Denver, CO, (17 March – 21 March 2013).

Kadegis, J., Sherrod, L., Cravotta, C., Musa, D., Hillegas, L., Levine, L., Franz, T. 2013. A multifaceted approach to assessing the conductance of stream channels in an AMD impacted region. [abs.]: Proceedings of the Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems (SAGEEP ’13), Denver, CO, (17 March – 21 March 2013).

2012

Jarred Swiontek wins the 2012 silver medal Chambliss Academic Achievement Award for excellence in research!
Congratulations, Jarred!

Chariw, J. E., Sabetta, M. J., Oakley, A. J., Cornell, S. R., 2012, Monitoring in situ tidal range and surface aquifer recharge and discharge on Wallops Island, Virginia [abs.]: ASLO-AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting, Abstract ID:11742.

Woodlief, V. A., Cornell, S. R., Sabetta, M., Sergent, E., McGilliard, E., Oakley, A., 2012, A GIS analysis of the Chincoteague inlet eddy and its impact on the shoreline morphology of northern Wallops Island, Eastern Shore Virginia [abs.]: ASLO-AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting, Abstract ID:1121, 2012

Gaultney, C., and Kraal, E. R., 2012, Morphology of craters with alluvial fans in Terra Sabea, Mars. [abs.]: Geological Society of America National Meeting, Charlotte, North Carolina, Vol. 44, No. 7, p. 126.

Sherrod, L., Sauck, W., Swiontek, J., Schlosser, K., Simpson, E. 2012. Burrow geometry and hazards: Case histories of GPR for mapping animal burrows. [abs.]: Proceedings of the Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems (SAGEEP ’12), Tucson, AZ, (25 March – 29 March 2012).

Swiontek, J., Sherrod, L., Kadegis, J., 2012. Stream Channel Resistivity within the Schuylkill Headwaters to Identify Flow Loss in a Watershed Impacted by Abandoned Mine Drainage. [abs.]: Proceedings of the Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems (SAGEEP ’12), Tucson, AZ, (25 March – 29 March 2012).

Stecker, E. C., and Tindall, S. E., 2012, Influence of mechanical stratigraphy on thrust belt morphology in physical models [abs.]: Geological Society of America – Northeast Section Meeting in Hartford, CT (18–20 March 2012), Vol. 44, No. 7, p. 238.

Mcgilliard, E., Cornell, S. R., and Oakley, A., 2012, High resolution GIS mapping of shoreline change at Wallops Island, Virginia: A preliminary investigation of the impact of Hurricane Irene [abs.]: Geological Society of America – Northeast Section Meeting in Hartford, CT (18–20 March 2012), Vol. 44, No. 2, p. 85.

Williams, J., Cornell, S. R., and Oakley, A., 2012 Preliminary investigation of a barrier island beach aquifer at Wallops Island, Virginia using ground penetrating radar [abs.]: Geological Society of America Northeastern Section Meeting in Hartford, CT (18–20 March 2012), Vol. 44, No. 2, p. 53.

Heness, Elizabeth A., Wilk, Jewels, Malenda, H. Fitzgerald, Simpson, Edward L., and Kraal, Erin, 2012, An actualistic approach to the semi-quantitative scale for the taphonomy of fish disarticulation based on the observations from the Salton Sea shoreline, California, USA [abs.]: Geological Society of America – Northeast Section Meeting in Hartford, CT (18–20 March 2012), Vol. 44, No. 2, p. 64.

Bouknight, Adrian, Simpson, Edward L., Fillmore, David, Szajna, Michael J., and Lucas, Spencer G., 2012, Preliminary report on continental ichnofossil diversity from the Silurian Bloomsburg Formation, Eastern Pennsylvania [abs.]: Geological Society of America – Northeast Section Meeting in Hartford, CT (18–20 March 2012), Vol. 44, No. 2, p. 63.

Swiontek, Jarred P., Schlosser, Kenneth W., Sherrod, Laura A., and Simpson, Edward L., 2012, Ground penetrating radar application to resolve burrow complexity in modern Marmota monax burrows: implication for the recognition of mammal burrows in the rock record [abs.]: Geological Society of America – Northeast Section Meeting in Hartford, CT (18–20 March 2012), Vol. 44, No. 2, p. 63.

Ruth, Daniel; Schlosser, Kenneth; Tkach, Melania; Friehauf, Kurt; and McLeod, Rob, 2012, Collaborative exploration of the Mount Fairplay porphyry target - training undergraduate students while searching for ore [abs]: Mineral Exploration Roundup 2012 (23-26 January, 2012 - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada).

2011

Riihimaki, C.A., Sewall, J.O., Kadegis, J., and Reiners, P.W., 2011, Modeling the connection between orbital parameters, precipitation, and landscape evolution in the Rocky Mountains, USA: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA, Abstract EP51C-07.

Schlosser, Kenneth W.; Sherrod, Laura A. ; Kozlowski, Andrew; Bird, Brian; and Swiontek,

Ken
Schlosser and Jarred Swiontek pulling GPR sled

Jarred, 2011, Exploratory Study of an Active Landslide in the Adirondacks Using Applied Geophysics [abs]: American Geophysical Union - Fall Meeting in San Francisco, California (5-9 December 2011).

Wilk, Jewels, Kraal, Erin, Simpson, Edward, and Heness, Elizabeth, 2011, Characterizing shoreline processes in barnacle beaches: The Salton Sea, California [abs]: Geological Society of America - Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota (9–12 October 2011), Vol. 43, No. 5, p. 372.

Heness, Elizabeth A., Wilk, Jewels, Kraal, Erin, Malenda, H. Fitzgerald, and Simpson, Edward, 2011, Taphonomy of barnacle and fish shoreline accumulations of the Salton Sea, California, USA [abs]: Geological Society of America - Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota (9–12 October 2011), Vol. 43, No. 5, p. 425.

Jeff Kadegis working in the field with Dr. Laura Sherrod

Kadegis, Jeffrey, Sewall, Jacob, and Riihimaki, Catherine A., 2011, Orbital eccentricity, clinker formation, and the climate-landscape evolution link in the North American Rockies and High Plains [abs]: Geological Society of America - Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota (9–12 October 2011), Vol. 43, No. 5, p. 272.

Charlse Connor Messler and Dr. James Higgins using GPR

Messler, Charles, Sherrod, Laura, and Higgins, James, 2011, Geophysical Investigations at a Potential Mass Grave Site in Bethlehem, PA [abs]: Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems - Charleston, South Carolina (10-14 April 2011).

Helen Malenda wins the 2011 gold medal Chambliss Academic Achievement Award for excellence in research!
Congratulations, Helen!

Max Needle wins the 2011 silver medal Chambliss Academic Achievement Award for excellence in research!
Congratulations, Max!

2010

Malenda, H. Fitzgerald, Simpson, Edward L., Wizevich, Michael C., Tindall, Sarah E., and Boling, Kenneth S., 2010, Morphological variation and experimental compaction in the Colorado Plateau biological soil crusts: Implications for their possible recognition in the rock record [abs]: Geological Society of America - Denver Annual Meeting (31 October –3 November 2010).

Malenda, H. Fitzgerald, Simpson, Edward L., Szajna, Michael, Fillmore, David L., and Hartline, B.W., 2010, Strandline deposits of the Salton Sea, California: An integrated analogue for Triassic fish-part conglomerates of the Newark Basin [abs]: Geological Society of America - Denver Annual Meeting (31 October –3 November 2010).

Malenda, H., Simpson, E., Szajna, M., Fillmore, D., Hartline, B., 2010, Depositional setting of fishpart sandstones and conglomerates: A taphonomic interpretation of a rare lacustrine strand line: Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 70th Annual Meeting (October 12, 2010).

Shane Folk presenting research at Denver GSA

Folk, Shane N., Needle, Mattathias D., and Tindall, Sarah E., 2010, Modeled effects of deep-seated fault offset and strike on supracrustal geometries in basement-cored uplifts [abs]: Geological Society of America - Denver Annual Meeting (31 October –3 November 2010).

Needle, Mattathias D., Tindall, Sarah E., and Sussman, Aviva, 2010, A deeper look into orogenic curvature: Analog models in cross section [abs]: Geological Society of America - Denver Annual Meeting (31 October –3 November 2010).

Xiao Ping and Kurt Friehauf at Denver GSA

Xiao, Ping, Friehauf, Kurt, Wang, Yanbin, and Wang, Cuizhi, 2010, The implication of similarities and systematic variations among the monometallic high-fluorine porphyry deposits in the East Qinling Molybdenum Belt, China [abs]: : Geological Society of America - Denver Annual Meeting (31 October –3 November 2010).

Lauren Storm wins the 2010 gold medal Chambliss Academic Achievement Award for excellence in research! (see the Youtube video)

Congratulations, Lauren!
(Photo left to right: President Javier Cevallos, Prof. Sarah Tindall, Prof. Kurt Friehauf, gold medal winner Lauren Storm, and Prof. Ed Simpson)

Max Needle wins the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Poster Award at the Joint Northeastern-Southeastern Sections Meeting of the Geological Society of America Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland - March 2010!

The competition was impressive! There were 253 undergraduate student posters at the meeting!
Congratulations, Max!

Needle, Mattathias D., Tindall, Sarah E., and Sussman, Aviva, 2010, Physical Modeling of Primary and Progressive Orogenic Curvature [abs]: Geological Society of America Northeastern Section (45th Annual) and Southeastern Section (59th Annual) Joint Meeting (13-16 March 2010).

Storm, Lauren, Needle, Mattathias D., Smith, Casey J., Fillmore, David L., Szajna, Michael, Simpson, Edward L., and Lucas, Spencer G., 2010, A Mississippian Vertebrate Burrow? [abs]: Geological Society of America Northeastern Section (45th Annual) and Southeastern Section (59th Annual) Joint Meeting (13-16 March 2010).
(Note: This research was ultimately published in the highly prestigious, international journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology under the title "Large vertebrate burrow from the Upper Mississippian Mauch Chunk Formation, eastern Pennsylvania, USA" (Storm et al. 2010).

Smith, Casey J., Fillmore, David L., Simpson, Edward, and Lucas, Spencer G., 2010, Depth and Intensity of Bioturbation in Channel Deposits of the Mississippian-Age Mauch Chunk Formation [abs]: Geological Society of America Northeastern Section (45th Annual) and Southeastern Section (59th Annual) Joint Meeting (13-16 March 2010).

2009

Casey Smith wins the 2009 gold medal Chambliss Academic Achievement Award for excellence in research!
Congratulations, Casey!

Ross, Sunshyne T., and Mangan, Jennifer M., 2009, Effects of Climate Change on Regional Crop Production in Eastern Pennsylvania [abs]: American Geophysical Union Fall meeting (14-18 December 2009, San Francisco, CA) (abstract no. B23A-0350)

Storm, Lauren, Friehauf, Kurt, Yuan, Zhenlei, Xiao, Ping, and Moorehead, Anthony, 2009, Mineralization within the Dong Gou porphyry molybdenum deposit, Eastern Qinling Mountains, Henan, China [abs]: 2009 Portland GSA Annual Meeting (18-21 October 2009), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 41, No. 7, p. 84.

Smith, Casey J., Moran, Kelli L., Fillmore, David L., Simpson, Edward L., and Lucas, Spencer G., 2009, Taphonomic controls on the preservation of vertebrate tracks in ephemeral-braided river deposits of the Middle and Upper Members of the Mississippian Mauch Formation, Eastern Pennsylvania [abs.]: 2009 Portland GSA Annual Meeting (18-21 October 2009), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 41, No. 7, p. 119.

Moran, Kelli L., Simpson, Edward L., Hilbert-Wolf, Hannah L., Wizevich, Michael C., Golder, Keenan B., and Tindall, Sarah E., 2009, The recognition and implications of the wood-boring trace fossil Asthenopodichnium xylobiotum in Upper Cretaceous strata of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah [abs]: 2009 Portland GSA Annual Meeting (18-21 October 2009), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 41, No. 7, p. 262.

Wizevich, Michael C., Simpson, Edward L., Hilbert-Wolf, Hannah L., and Tindall, Sarah E., 2009, Syndeformational origin for internal laminations of spectacular seismogenic load structures in the Late Cretaceous Wahweap Formation, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah [abs]: 2009 Portland GSA Annual Meeting (18-21 October 2009), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 41, No. 7, p. 121.

Smith, Casey J., Simpson, Edward L., and Fillmore, David, 2009, The First Reported Arthropod Trackways from the Pennsylvanian Llewellyn Formation: Bear Valley Strip Mine, Shamokin, PA [abs]: Geological Society of America Northeastern Section - 44th Annual Meeting (Portland, Maine 22–24 March 2009).

2008

Ed Tester wins the 2008 gold medal Chambliss Academic Achievement Award for excellence in research!
Congratulations, Ed!

Storm, Lauren P., Tindall, Sarah E., Simpson, Edward L., and Wizevich, Michael C.,, 2008, Syntectonic sedimentation in the East Kaibab Monocline: Evidence for the timing of the onset of Laramide deformation in South-Central Utah [abs]: Cordilleran Section (104th Annual) and Rocky Mountain Section (60th Annual) Joint Meeting (19–21 March 2008), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 40, No. 1, p. 65.

Wolf, Hannah L., Simpson, Edward L., Storm, Lauren P., Tindall, Sarah E., Wizevich, Michael C., and Simpson, Wendy S., 2008, Implications of a sand volcano in the Late Cretaceous Upper Member of the Wahweap Formation [abs]: Cordilleran Section (104th Annual) and Rocky Mountain Section (60th Annual) Joint Meeting (19–21 March 2008), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 40, No. 1, p. 40.

Wizevich, Michael C., Simpson, Edward L., Tindall, Sarah E., Bernard, Jonathan, Wolf, Hannah L., Simpson, Wendy S., Storm, Loran P., and Paese, Steven, 2008, Tectonic control on the alternating fluvial style in the Late Cretaceous Upper Member of the Wahweap Formation, Southern Utah [abs]: Cordilleran Section (104th Annual) and Rocky Mountain Section (60th Annual) Joint Meeting (19–21 March 2008), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 40, No. 1, p. 42.

2007

Wolf, Hannah L., Simpson, Wendy S., Simpson, Edward L., and Tindall, Sarah E.,, 2007, Trends in Late Cretaceous Seismites: Upper and Capping Sandstone Members, Wahweap Formation, Kaiparowits Basin, Utah [abs]: 2007 GSA Denver Annual Meeting (28–31 October 2007), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 39, No. 6, p. 310.

Wolf, Hannah L., Tindall, Sarah E., Simpson, Edward L., Simpson, Wendy S., Bernard, Jonathan, and Jenesky, Timothy, 2007, Proximal seismites in the Upper Cretaceous Upper and Capping Sandstone Members of the Wahweap Formation in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah [abs]: 2007 GSA Denver Annual Meeting (28–31 October 2007), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 39, No. 6, p. 631.

Tester, Edward, Simpson, Edward L., Bernard, Jonathan, Wolf, Hannah L., Tindall, Sarah S., Simpson, Wendy S., and Jenesky, Timothy, 2007, Isolated vertebrate tracks from the Upper Cretaceous Capping Sandstone Member of the Wahweap Formation: Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument, Utah [abs]: Rocky Mountain Section - 59th Annual Meeting (7–9 May 2007), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 39, No. 5, p. 42.

Orsulak, Megan, Simpson, Edward L., Wolf, Hannah L., Simpson, Wendy S., Tindall, Sarah S., Bernard, Jonathan, and Jenesky, Timothy, 2007, A lungfish burrow in Late Cretaceous Upper Capping Sandstone Member of the Wahweap Formation Cockscomb Area, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah [abs]: Rocky Mountain Section - 59th Annual Meeting (7–9 May 2007), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 39, No. 5, p. 43.

Wolf, Hannah L., Simpson, Edward L., Bernard, Jonathan J., Tindall, Sarah E., Simpson, Wendy S., and Jenesky, Timothy A., 2007, Sag pond development at the Upper and Capping Sandstone Member contact, Upper Cretaceous Wahweap Formation, Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, Utah [abs]: Rocky Mountain Section - 59th Annual Meeting (7–9 May 2007), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 39, No. 5, p. 12.

Jenesky, Timothy A., Tindall, Sarah E., and Simpson, Edward L., 2007, Physical analog models of basement fault segmentation and monoclinal folding [abs]: Rocky Mountain Section - 59th Annual Meeting (7–9 May 2007), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 39, No. 5, p. 37.

Bernard, Jonathan J., Simpson, Edward L., Wolf, Hannah L., Simpson, Wendy S., Tindall, Sarah E., and Jenesky, Timothy J., 2007, Possible debris flows in the Upper Cretaceous Capping Sandstone, Wahweap Formation, Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, Utah [abs]: Rocky Mountain Section - 59th Annual Meeting (7–9 May 2007), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 39, No. 5, p. 42.

2006

Smoyer, Justin, Kuhn, Michelle, Friehauf, Kurt, and Quinn, Paul V. Sr., 2006, Design for a manually controlled multiple electrode electrical resistivity array for student geophysical surveys [abs]: Geological Society of America Northeastern Section – 41st Annual Meeting (20–22 March 2006), Harrisburg, PA, Program with Abstracts, v. 38, no. 2, p. 89.

Simpson, Edward L., Wolf, Hannah, Simpson, Wendy S., Tindall, Sarah, and Jenesky, Timothy, 2006, Eolian strata of the Upper Cretaceous Capping Sandstone Member, Wahweap Formation, Cockscomb Area, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah [abs]: Rocky Mountain Section–58th Annual Meeting (17–19 May 2006), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 38, No.6, p. 6.

Wolf, H., Simpson, Wendy S., Simpson, Edward L., Tindall, Sarah, Bernard, J.J., Jenesky, T.A., Orsulak, M., and Tester, E.W., 2006, Sleuthing epicenter direction from seismites: Cretaceous Wahweap Formation, Cockscomb Area, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah [abs]: Rocky Mountain Section–58th Annual Meeting (17–19 May 2006), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 38, No.6, p. 6.

Orsulak, Megan, Tester, Edward, Jenesky, Timothy, Bernard, Jonathan, Tindall, Sarah E., Simpson, Edward L., 2006, Effects of local faulting on sedimentation of the Late Cretaceous Upper and Capping Sandstone Members of the Wahweap Formation, Kaibab Uplift, Utah [abs]: Rocky Mountain Section–58th Annual Meeting (17–19 May 2006) Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 38, No.6, p. 33.

Bernard, Jonathan, Jenesky, Timothy, Tester, Edward, Orsulak, Megan, Tindall, Sarah E., and Simpson, Edward L., 2006, Timing of Late Cretaceous fault-fold interactions, East Kaibab Monocline, Utah: implications for the onset of Laramide deformation [abs]: Rocky Mountain Section–58th Annual Meeting (17–19 May 2006), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 38, No.6, p. 38.

2005

Artz, Zachary J., Friehauf, Kurt C., and Xiao, Rongge, 2005, Comparison of Banded Ores in the Main/East, West, and South Orebodies of the Giant Bayan Obo REE District, Inner Mongolia, China [abs.]: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (October 16-19, 2005) Salt Lake City, UT, Program with Abstracts, vol. 37, no. 7, p. 500.

Jenesky, Timothy A., Tindall, Sarah E., Scalise, Renee L., Simpson, Edward L., and Simpson, Wendy S., 2005, Seismogenic normal faulting during deposition of the late Cretaceous Wahweap Formation, Kaiparowits Basin, Utah [abs]: Rocky Mountain Section - 57th Annual Meeting (May 23–25, 2005), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 37, No. 6, p. 10.

2004

Fillmore, D.L., Scalise, R.L., Zellner, G.C., and Simpson, E.L., 2004 [abs]: Mississippian-Age Swimming Tetrapod Trackways from the a Mauch Chunk Formation Near Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, Northeastern Section (39th Annual) and Southeastern Section (53rd Annual) Joint Meeting (March 25–27, 2004), Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 36, No. 2, p. 109.

Nase, A.M., Rhoads, C.L., Rosenberger, J.E., Szajna, M.J., Hartline, B.W., and Simpson, E.L., 2004 [abs]: Depositional Setting and Taphonomy of Phytosaur-Bearing Beds, Triassic Lockatong Formation near Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Northeastern Section (39th Annual) and Southeastern Section (53rd Annual) Joint Meeting (March 25–27, 2004), Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 36, No. 2, p. 96.

Hoefert, Catherine M. and Tindall, Sarah E., 2004, Orientation and spacing of joints in deformation band shear zones east of Mount Hillers, Utah. [abs]: Northeastern Section (39th Annual) and Southeastern Section (53rd Annual) Joint Meeting (March 25–27, 2004), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 36, No. 2, p. 102.

Zellner, G. C. and Tindall, S.E., 2004, Structural evidence for syntectonic sedimentation within the Cretaceous Wahweap Formation, Kaibab Uplift, Utah [abs]: Northeastern Section (39th Annual) and Southeastern Section (53rd Annual) Joint Meeting (March 25–27, 2004), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 36, No. 2, p. 102.

Seth WOlfinger, Kristen Ward, Jeremy Holland, Andrew
Nase, Elizabeth Ferguson and Greg Zellner at GSA 2004

Wolfinger, Seth, Ward, Kristen, Holland, Jeremy, Nase, Andrew, Ferguson, Lisa, Zellner, Greg, Friehauf, Kurt, Tindall, Sarah, and Schultz, Lane, 2004, A Multidisciplinary Study of Controls on Ground-Water Flow in a Karst Aquifer in the Ordovician Beekmantown Group, Berks County, PA [abs.]: Geological Society of America Northeastern Section (39th Annual) and Southeastern Section (53rd Annual) Joint Meeting (March 25-27, 2004) Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 36, no. 2, p. 128.

2003

Cook, E., Friehauf, K., Gibbins, S., and Titley, S., 2003, Gold Occurrences in the Stockwork Mineralization in the Ertsberg Diorite, West Papua, Indonesia [abs.]: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting (November 2-5, 2003) Seattle, WA, Program with Abstracts, vol. 35, no. 6, p. 232.

Hoefert Catherine M., Burris, Lea, Yenchik, John, Black, Laurel E., and Friehauf, Kurt C., 2003, Mappin' Without Diggin': An Application of Magnetometry Techniques in the Rittenhouse Gap Mining District in Berks County, Pennsylvania [abs.]: Geological Society of America Northeastern Section - 38th Annual Meeting (March 27–29, 2003) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Program with Abstracts, vol. 35, no. 3, p. 94.

2000

Orner, Richard, and Friehauf, Kurt C., 2000, Geology of the Rittenhouse Gap Iron District, Berks County, Pennsylvania [abs]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 32, p. 83.

Older

Simpson, E. L., Kuklis, C.A., Eriksson, K.A., Eriksson, P.G., and Bumby, A. J., 1999 Interbedded eolian dune, interdune and playa deposits, ~1.8 GA Makgabeng Formation, Waterberg Group, South Africa: Climatic Implications: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 31.

Higgins, D. J., Simpson, E. L., Dilliard, K. A., Rowell, B. F., 1998 Fluvial to Marine Transition within the Lower Cambrian Hardyston Formation, Eastern Pennsylvania: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 30, A335.

Simpson. E. L, Dilliard, K. A., and Noto, R. C., 1997, Contrasting fluvial styles of the Catoctin and Weverton formations, central Virginia: Should hyperconcentrated flows be more common before the advent of land plants?: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 29, A273.

Dilliard, K. A., and Simpson, E. L., 1997, Computer simulation of superimposed trace fossils: analogs for Cambrian-age Skolithos distributions: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 29.

Dilliard, K. A., and Simpson, E. L., 1997, Characterization of fluvial systems within the Neoproterozoic Catcotin Formation of Central Virginia: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 29. p. 13.

Dilliard, K. A., Simpson. E. L., and Noto, R. C., 1997, Characterization of the preserved Neoproterozoic landsurface and associated Catoctin Formation fluvial deposits, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 29, A273.

Gledhill, H. M., Noto, R. C., Harrison, M. J., Dilliard, K. A., and Simpson, E. L., 1996, Characterization of parasequences within the Neoproterozoic to Lower Cambrian upper Unicoi Formation, James River, Virginia: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 28., no. 2, p. 13.

Simpson, E. L., Summers, S. A., and Jarosynski, W. M., 1996, The effect of pure and simple shear deformation on clustered, random, and uniform trace fossil distributions: uncertainty in the nearest neighbor technique results: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 28, p. 297.

Simpson, E. L., Bennington, J. B., Harrison, M. J., Gledhill, H. M., Noto, R. C., and Dilliard, K. A., 1995, Quadrat variance analysis of Lower Cambrian ichnofossil distribution across a sequence boundary, central Virginia: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 27. p. A365.

Harrison, M. J., Venn, C., Skoog, S. Y., Gledhill, H., Noto, R. C., and Simpson, E. L., 1994, Nearest neighbor analysis of Lower Cambrian Skolithos and Monocraterion ichnofossils: Implications for preservation and sequence boundary identification: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 26, no. 4, p. 18.

Barlet, K. E., Venn, C., Zimmerman, R., and Simpson, E. L., 1994, Migration and morphologic evolution of an ebb-tidal delta shoal, Chinoteaque inlet, Virginia: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 26, no. 4, p. 3.

Simpson, E. L., Walker, D., Noto, R. C., Gledhill, H. M., and Harrison, M. J., 1994, Process interpretation of tidal deposits within the Neoproterozoic to Lower Cambrian Unicoi Formation Central Blue Ridge Virginia: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 26, no. 7, p. A-493

Skoog, S., Venn, C., and Simpson, E. L., 1991, Three-dimensional distribution of Diopatra cuprea from modern tidal flat: Implications for the distribution of Skolithos in lower Cambrian rocks of Virginia. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 22, p. 129.

Simpson, E. L., Linski, D., Mull, M. F., Keiser, J. P., Horsnall, S. L. and Hendricks, J. S., 1991, Depositional processes in outer-shelf sediments of the Lower Cambrian Harpers Formation of the Chilhowee Group, south-central Pennsylvania. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,, v. 22, p. 127.

Simpson, E. L., Venn, C., and Skoog, S. Y., 1991, Statistical studies on the distribution of Diopatra cuprea across modern tidal flats: Implications for the autecology of the Cambrian Skolithos organism:Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 23, p. A164.

Papers published in refereed journals with student authors

Sherrod, L., Schlosser, K., Kozlowski, A., Bird, B., Werkema, D.D.Jr., Swiontek, J., (in press), Geophysical Characterization of the Keene Valley Landslide in New York State: Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics.

Simpson, E.L., Hartline, B.W., Szajna, M.J., Fillmore, D.L., and Heness, E.A., 2013, An Ensiferan (Cricket) fossil from the Late Triassic Lockatong Formation, Newark Basin, Pennsylvania, in Tanner, L.H., Spielmann, J.A., and Lucas, S.G., eds., The Triassic System: New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 61, p. 556-561.

Simpson, E.L., Heness, E.A., Bumby, A., Eriksson, P.G., Eriksson, K.A., Hilbert-Wolf, H.L., Linnevelt, S., Fitzgerald Malenda, H., Modungwa, T., Okafor, O.J., 2013, Evidence for 2.0 Ga continental microbial mats in a paleodesert setting: Precambrian Research, v. 237, 36-50.

Malenda, H.F., Simpson, E.L., Wizevich, M.C., and Tindall, S.E., 2012, Towards the recognition of biological soil crusts in the rock record: Key features from the study of modern and Cretaceous examples, In, Noffke, N., and Chafetz, H., Eds., Microbial Mats in siliciclastic depositional systems through time: SEPM (Society of Sedimentary Geology) Special Publication 101, p. 125-138.

Malenda, H.F., Simpson, E.L., Szajna, M.J., Fillmore, D.L., Hartline, B.W., Heness, E.A., Kraal, E.R., and Wilk, J.L., 2012 Taphonomy of lacustrine shoreline fish-part conglomerates in the Late Triassic Lockatong Formation (Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA): Toward the recognition of catastrophic fish kills in the rock record: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 313-314, p. 234-245.

Smith, C.J., Simpson, E.L., Fillmore, D.L., Lucas, S.G., and Szajna, M.J., 2012, High-density bioturbated sandstones in the Mississippian Mauch Chunk Formation, eastern Pennsylvania USA: implications for continental ecospace explotation: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 365-366, p. 294-301.

Smith, C.J., Fillmore, D.L., Simpson, E.L., Lucas, S.G., 2011, Invertebrate trace fossils from deposits of the Pennsylvanian-age Llewellyn Formation, eastern Pennsylvania, USA. In, Sullivan, R., et al., eds., Fossil Record 3: New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 53, p. 152-156.

Simpson, E.L., Malenda, H.F., Needle, M., Hilbert-Wolf, H.L., Steullet, A., Bowling, K., Wizevich, M.C., and Tindall, S.E., March 2011, Upper Cretaceous Dinosaur Tracks from the Upper and Capping Sandstone Members of the Wahweap Formation, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah, USA: In, Sullivan, R., et al., eds., Fossil Record 3: New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 53, 380-385.

Malenda, H.F., Simpson, E.L., Wizevich, M.C., and Tindall, S.E., 2010, Towards the recognition of biological soil crusts in the rock record: Key features from the study of modern and Cretaceous examples: in, Noffke, N., and Chafetz, H., eds., Microbial Mats in Sandy Deposits (Archean to Today): Society of Sedimentary Geology Special Publication.

Simpson, E. L., Hilbert-Wolf, H. L., Wizevich, M.C., Tindall, S.E., Fasinski, B. R., Storm, L. P., and Needle, M.D., 2010, Predatory Digging Behavior by Dinosaurs: Geology, v. 38, p. 699-702. (picked up by major internet news organizations, written up in he international magazine the Economist, and BBC 3 and Discovery News interviews).

Simpson, W.S., Simpson, E.L., Wizevich, M.C., Malenda, H.F., Hilbert-Wolf, H.L., and Tindall, S.E., 2010. A preserved Late Cretaceous biological soil crust in the capping sandstone member, Wahweap Formation, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah, Palaeoclimatic implications: Sedimentary Geology, v. 230, p. 139-145.

Moran, K., Hilbert-Wolf, H.L., Golder, K., Malenda, H.F., Smith, C.J., Storm, L.P., Simpson, E.L., Wizevich, M.C., and Tindall, S. E., 2010, Implications of the wood-boring trace fossil Asthenopodichnium in the Late Cretaceous Wahweap Formation, Utah, USA: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 297, p. 662-669.

Storm, L., Needle, M.D., Smith, C.J., Fillmore, D. L., Szajna, M., Simpson, E.L., and Lucas, S. G., 2010, An upper Mississippian vertebrate burrow from the Mauch Chunk Formation, Eastern Pennsylvania: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 298, p. 341-347.

Malenda, H.F., Simpson, E.L., Wizevich, M.C., and Tindall, S.E., Accepted February 2011, Towards the recognition of biological soil crusts in the rock record: Key features from the study of modern and Cretaceous examples: in, Noffke, N., and Chafetz, H., eds., Microbial Mats in Sandy Deposits (Archean to Today): Society of Sedimentary Geology Special Publication.

Dilliard, K. A., Simpson, E. L., and Noto, R. C., 1999, Characterization of a Neoproterozoic Paleosurface and Associated Colluvial and Fluvial Deposits, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia: Southeastern Geology. v. 38, p. 239-257.

Dilliard, K. A., Simpson, E. L., Noto, R. C., Wizevich, M., Simpson, E. L., 1999, Tectonic Implications of Fluvial Deposits Interbedded with Flood Basalts, Neoproterozoic Catoctin Formation, central Appalachians, U.S.A.: Precambrian Research, v. 97, p. 115-134.

Skoog, S. Y., Venn, C., and Simpson, E. L., 1994, Distribution of Diopatra cuprea across modern tidal flats: implications for Skolithos: Palaios, v. , p. 188-201.

Simpson, E. L., Walker, D., and Horsnall, S., 1993, Outer shelf to lower shoreface sediments in the lower Cambrian Harpers Formation; Chilhowee Group, south-central Pennsylvania: Northeastern Geology, v. 15, p. 126-136.

Kurt Friehauf - September 2014