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 2025

Fall 2025

Lower Division

Day Time Instructor Course Link
GEO 110T GEOSCI CHEMISTRY TUTORIAL

T,

W,

TH,

F

3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.,

12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.,

2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.,

9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

 LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 110T GEOSCI MATH TUTORIAL

M,

W,

F

12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.,

1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.,

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

 LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 171H HONORS RESEARCH METHODS I
M 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. KETCHAM, RICHARD A
BARNES, JAIME D		  
GEO 173H HONORS RESEARCH METHODS III
M 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. KETCHAM, RICHARD A
BARNES, JAIME D		  
GEO 302N GEOLOGY OF NATIONAL PARKS
MWF 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. CATLOS, ELIZABETH JACQUEL  
GEO 325C CONTINUUM MECHANICS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. HESSE, MARC ANDRE  
GEO 327G GIS & GPS APPLICS IN EARTH SCI
MW + Lab 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM  
GEO 358K VOLCANOLOGY
MW + Lab 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. GARDNER, JAMES E  
GEO 366M MATHEMATICAL METHS IN GEOPHYS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 376C ISOTOPE GEOLOGY
MWF 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. BARNES, JAIME D
KETCHAM, RICHARD A		  
GEO 401 PHYSICAL GEOLOGY
MWF + Lab 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. BARNES, JAIME D  
GEO 416E SOLID EARTH PROCESSES
TTH + Lab 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. SUN, CHENGUANG
BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM		  
GEO 428 STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
TTH + Lab 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. MARTIN, CRAIG  

Upper Division or Graduate

 

GEO 191 GEOMECHANICS SEMINAR
TH 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. FLEMINGS, PETER BARRY
SAFFER, DEMIAN M		  
GEO 371T FDMTLS GEOTHERMAL ENERGY SYS
W 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. ROSS, MALCOLM  
GEO 376T HIGH-TEMPERATURE GEOCHEMISTRY
TTH 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. LASSITER, JOHN C  
GEO 380J MATH MTHDS IN GEOPHYS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.  LAVIER, LUC L  
GEO 386G GIS & GPS APPLICS IN EARTH SCI
MW + Lab 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM  
GEO 386R GEOLOGY OF EARTH RESOURCES
TTH + Lab 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m  LOCMELIS, MAREK  
GEO 386T TOPICS IN VOLCANOLOGY
MW 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. GARDNER, JAMES E  
GEO 388L ISOTOPE GEOLOGY
MWF 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. BARNES, JAIME D
KETCHAM, RICHARD A		  
GEO 391 MINERAL PHYSICS
MW 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. LIN, JUNG-FU  
GEO 391 SPECTROSCPY FOR EARTH MATLS
MWF + Lab 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. BEFUS, KENNETH S  
GEO 398C CONTINUUM MECHANICS

TTH

 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.  HESSE, MARC ANDRE  

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Austin, TX 78712-1722

Phone
(512) 471-5172

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