Lithosphere & Deep Earth

Program lead: Dr. Marc Hesse

By studying the evolution and state of terrestrial planets, faculty in this research area seek to better constrain and understand how the dynamic processes within the Earth’s crust and mantle interact with other components of the Earth system as well as how surface, lithospheric, and deep mantle dynamics are expressed and recorded in Earth’s surface geology (mountain building, plate boundary deformation and volcanism). The tools used arise from the fields of geology, geochemistry, and geophysics and include field work, theoretical and experimental analysis, and numerical modeling. Please check out the informal LDE Seminar Series.

LDE Course Lists
Jaime Barnes Lde
Jaime D. Barnes uses stable isotope geochemistry to research metamorphism, fluid-rock interaction, geochemical cycling.
Miriam Barquero Molina Research
Miriam Barquero-Molina‘s research focuses on structural geology, tectonics, and field methods in geology.
Thorsten Becker Lde
Thorsten Becker works on mantle dynamics, fault system dynamics & structural seismology using numerical modeling.
Kenneth Befus Lde Page
Kenny Befus studies crystals, and their imperfections, to understand volcanoes, magmas, and tectonics.
Liz Catlos Lde
Elizabeth J. Catlos uses geochemistry of garnet-bearing rocks, granites and other materials to research the Earth’s past.
Ian Dalziel Lde
Ian W. Dalziel‘s research includes tectonics, geodynamics, geography of ancient times, plate reconstructions, structural geology.
James Gardener Lde
James E. Gardner investigates volcanic eruption & magmatic processes, experimental petrology, volatiles & degassing.
Gulick.res
Sean S. Gulick studies tectonic processes, the role of catastrophism in the geologic record, and marine and planetary geophysical imaging.
Hesse
Marc A. Hesse studies geological fluid dynamics. He is currently interested in the brine dynamics & habitability of icy ocean worlds.
RIchard Ketcham
Richard A. Ketcham uses 3D imaging across many fields, from petrology to paleontology, and also specializes in the theory and application of thermochronology.
John Lassiter Research
John C. Lassiter studies Earth’s origin and evolution with isotope & trace element geochemistry, focusing on the convecting & lithospheric mantle and surface-to-interior chemical fluxes.
Luc Lavier
Luc L. Lavier focuses on tectonics (collisional environments & the structural and geodynamical evolution of continental and oceanic rifts), modeling, deformation, subduction.
Jung Fu Lin
Jung-Fu Lin investigates mineral physics, physics & chemistry of planetary materials, solid-Earth geophysics & geochemistry, high-pressure diamond anvil cell.
Marek Locmelis focuses on the genesis of magmatic, hydrothermal and sedimentary ore deposits and the development of novel mineral exploration strategies.

 
Craig Martin Res
Craig R. Martin uses structural geology, paleomagnetism & geochronology to study plate tectonics on Earth. He also investigates processes that shape other planetary bodies.
Claudia Mora
Claudia I. Mora works on stable isotope geochemistry, isotope proxy records of (paleo-) climate, (paleo-) environment & extreme climate events, metamorphic petrology & mineralogy.
Saffer Observatory Wellhead
Demian M. Saffer focuses on geomechanics, fluid flow, active faulting, & Tectonics, through a combination of laboratory, field, and numerical modeling approaches.
Daniel Stockli Research
Daniel Stockli works on thermo/ geochronology, tectonics & structural geology, isotopic provenance analysis, archeometry, geothermal exploration, thermal maturation.
 
C Sun Research
Chenguang Sun studies magmatic processes, deep volatile cycling & planetary habitability using lab experiments, field observations, and geochemical modeling.
 
  

LDE Course Lists

Fall 2024
Spring 2025

Fall 2024

Lower Division

Day Time Instructor Course Link
GEO 416E SOLID EARTH PROCESSES
TTH + Lab 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. SUN, CHENGUANG
BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM		  
GEO 401 PHYSICAL GEOLOGY
MWF + Lab 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. BEFUS, KENNETH S  
GEO 302N GEOLOGY OF NATIONAL PARKS
MWF 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. CATLOS, ELIZABETH JACQUEL  
GEO 171H HONORS RESEARCH METHODS
M 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. KETCHAM, RICHARD A  
GEO 110T GEOSCI MATH TUTORIAL
F
M		 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.		 LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 110T GEOSCI CHEMISTRY TUTORIAL
TH
F
W
T		 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.		 LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 366M MATHEMATICAL METHS IN GEOPHYS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 428 STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
TTH + Lab 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. MARTIN, CRAIG  

Upper Division or Graduate

Day Time Instructor Course Link
GEO 327G GIS & GPS APPLICS IN EARTH SCI
MW
W		 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.		 BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM  
GEO 391 SPECTROSCPY FOR EARTH MATLS
MWF
T		 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.		 BEFUS, KENNETH S  
GEO 341F MICROST AND ROCK RHEOLOGY
TTH 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CATLOS, ELIZABETH JACQUEL  
GEO 381F MICROSTRUCTRS/ROCK RHEOLOGY
TTH 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CATLOS, ELIZABETH JACQUEL  
GEO 338J MARINE GEOLOGY
MWF 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. GARDNER, JAMES E
LOWERY, CHRISTOPHER		  
GEO 366P PLANETARY GEO/GEOPHYSICS
TTH 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. LASSITER, JOHN C
GULICK, SEAN S		  
GEO 326D EARTH IN DEEP TIME
TTH 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. LASSITER, JOHN C  
GEO 191 GEOMECHANICS SEMINAR
TH 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. FLEMINGS, PETER BARRY
SAFFER, DEMIAN M		  
GEO 325C CONTINUUM MECHANICS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. HESSE, MARC ANDRE  
GEO 380J MATH MTHDS IN GEOPHYS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 193 TECHNICAL LECTURE SERIES
TTH 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. LAVIER, LUC L  

Spring 2025

Lower Division

Day Time Instructor Course Link
GEO 110T GEOSCI CHEMISTRY TUTORIAL
M 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 110T GEOSCI CHEMISTRY TUTORIAL
F 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 110T GEOSCI PHYSICS TUTORIAL
F 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 110T GEOSCI PHYSICS TUTORIAL
T 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 172H HONORS RESEARCH METHODS II
M 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. KETCHAM, RICHARD A
BARNES, JAIME D		  
GEO 302J CRISIS OF OUR PLANET
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. GARDNER, JAMES E
MOHRIG, DAVID		  
GEO 302N GEOLOGY OF NATIONAL PARKS
MWF 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CATLOS, ELIZABETH JACQUEL  
GEO 302Q GEMS AND GEM MINERALS
MWF + Lab 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. BEFUS, KENNETH S  
GEO 303 INTRODUCTION TO GEOLOGY
MW + Lab 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. KETCHAM, RICHARD A
OLARIU, CORNEL		  
GEO 303 INTRODUCTION TO GEOLOGY
TTH + Lab 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. KETCHAM, RICHARD A
OLARIU, CORNEL		  
GEO 303C INTRO TO THE SOLAR SYSTEM
MWF 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. LASSITER, JOHN C  
GEO 315L EARTH FROM LAB TO PLANET
MW 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. FLEMINGS, PETER BARRY
BECKER, THORSTEN		  
GEO 327G GIS & GPS APPLICS IN EARTH SCI
MW
W		 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.		 BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM  
GEO 338T MARINE TECTONICS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. GULICK, SEAN S
STOCKLI, DANIEL		  
GEO 339T CONTINENTAL TECTONICS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. GULICK, SEAN S
STOCKLI, DANIEL		  
GEO 341 MINERAL RESOURCES/SOCTY/ENVIR
TTH
W		 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.		 LOCMELIS, MAREK  
GEO 348K MARINE GEO/GEOPHYS FIELD CRS
May 6-June 4   GULICK, SEAN S
LOWERY, CHRISTOPHER
GOFF, JOHN A		  
GEO 354 PHYSICS OF EARTH
MW 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. MAO, SHUJUAN  
GEO 365P POTENTIAL FLD APPL IN GEOPHYS
TTH 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 386 METAMORPHIC PETROLOGY
TTH
T		 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.		 CATLOS, ELIZABETH JACQUEL  
GEO 401 PHYSICAL GEOLOGY
TTH + Lab 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. LIN, JUNG-FU  
GEO 416E SOLID EARTH PROCESSES
TTH + Lab 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. MARTIN, CRAIG
BEFUS, KENNETH S		  
GEO 426P IGNEOUS/METAMORPH PETROLOGY
MW + Lab 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. GARDNER, JAMES E  
GEO 420K INTRO TO FIELD/STRAT METHS
MW
F		 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.		 BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM
KERANS, CHARLES		  
GEO 660A FIELD GEOLOGY
May 6-June 4   BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM
FLEMINGS, PETER BARRY
MALKOWSKI, MATTHEW ALAN
OLARIU, CORNEL
FLAIG, PETER P		  
GEO 660B FIELD GEOLOGY
May 6-June 4   BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM
MARTIN, CRAIG
HORTON, BRIAN K
TISATO, NICOLA
STOCKLI, DANIEL
PRIOR, MICHAEL		  

Upper Division or Graduate

 

GEO 191 GEOMECHANICS SEMINAR
TH 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. FLEMINGS, PETER BARRY
SAFFER, DEMIAN M		  
GEO 193 TECHNICAL LECTURE SERIES
TTH 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 325M NUMERICAL MODELING GEOSCI
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. HESSE, MARC ANDRE  
GEO 350L 1-TECTONIC GEODYNAMICS
MW 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. BECKER, THORSTEN Syllabus (Spring 2025)
GEO 356S INS/OUTS OF SUBDUCTION ZONES
M 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. BARNES, JAIME D  
GEO 371T THERMODYN IN EARTH PLANET SCI
MW 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. SUN, CHENGUANG  
GEO 381T MARINE TECTONICS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. GULICK, SEAN S
STOCKLI, DANIEL		  
GEO 382T CONTINENTAL TECTONICS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. GULICK, SEAN S
STOCKLI, DANIEL		  
GEO 383P POTENTIAL FLD APPL IN GEOPHYS
TTH 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 384D PHYSICS OF EARTH
MW 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. MAO, SHUJUAN  
GEO 386G GIS & GPS APPLICS IN EARTH SCI

MW
W.

 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.		 BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM  
GEO 390M THERMODYN OF GEOL PROCESS
MW 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. SUN, CHENGUANG  
GEO 391 GEOCHRONOLOGY
TTH 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. STOCKLI, DANIEL  
GEO 393D 3D ANALYSIS OF VOLUMETRIC DATA
TTH 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. KETCHAM, RICHARD A  
GEO 397F MARINE GEO & GEOPHYS FIELD CRS
May 6-June 4   GULICK, SEAN S
LOWERY, CHRISTOPHER
GOFF, JOHN A		  

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