My research interests span many fields in Earth Science. One interest concerns the igneous and metamorphic evolution of the crust during orogenesis with emphasis on the role of magmas, fluids, and thermobarometry. Another relates to sediments, diagenesis, and the rock record of past climate. Projects generally stress an integrated approach to field oriented studies, combining isotope geochemistry and mineral chemistry.

Many of these projects have involved use of laboratories for advanced geochemical analysis in the Department of Geology & Geophysics, UW-Madison including: the Stable Isotope Lab, the Electron Microprobe, the Radiogenic Isotope Lab, and the new CAMECA 1280 Ion Microprobe.

Recent graduate theses include:

• Seasonality in Holocene Climate, Speleothems From Soreq Cave Israel (Ian Orland, MS 2008).
  
  
• Migmatites in the Adirondacks (Penny Lancaster, MS 2007).
  
  
• Analysis of oxygen isotope ratios in quartz overgrowths in St. Peter Sandstone, migration of basin brines and the genesis of MVT-type Pb-Zn ore deposits (Jacque Kelly, MS 2006).
  
  
• Oxygen isotope geochemistry of the Sierra Nevada batholith: magmatic source, wall rock contamination, cooling history (JS Lackey, PhD 2005).
  
  
• 4.4-4.0 Ga, Early Archean detrital zircons, Jack Hills, W. Australia, U-Pb and O isotopes, oceans on Early Earth (Aaron Cavosie, PhD 2005).
  
  
• Origin of subduction-related silicic magmas, Nicaragua and Costa Rica (Jake Eaton, MS 2004).
  
  
• Contact metamorphism of the Biwabik Fe Formation, MN, oxygen isotope speedometry. (Beth Valaas MS 2004).
  
  
• Carbon isotope thermometry in granulite facies marbles, Salinian Block, CA (Joyashish Thakurta, MS 2003).
  
  
• Source and alteration of granitic magmas, western US (Liz King PhD, 2001).
  
  
• Genesis of polymetamorphosed skarns, Marcy Anorthosite Massif, Adirondack Mts, NY (Cory Clechenko, MS 2001).
  
  
• Fluid flow and formation of wollastonite skarns, Mt. Morrison Pendant, CA (JS Lackey, MS 2000).
  
  
• Crustal input to anorthosite magmas, Grenville Province, Quebec and NY (William Peck, PhD 2000).
  
  

I teach a variety of courses including Physical Geology, Principles of Mineralogy, Elementary Petrology, Advanced Metamorphic Petrology, and Seminars in Stable Isotope Geochemistry, and Metamorphic Petrology.

Professional Responsibilities

• American Journal of Science: Associate Editor, 1996-
  
  
• Geochemical Society: Program Committee, 1988-91
  
  
• Associate Editor, G.S.A. Bulletin, 1985-91
  
  
• Mineralogical Society of America: Council, 1993-96, President 2005-06