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.
Levy Headshot Research
Drew A. Levy uses structural geology and petrochronology to study the dynamics of continental fault systems.
Jung Fu Lin
Jung-Fu Lin investigates mineral physics, physics & chemistry of planetary materials, solid-Earth geophysics & geochemistry, high-pressure diamond anvil cell.
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

Spring 2024
Fall 2024

Spring 2024

Lower Division

Day Time Instructor Course Link
GEO 172H HONORS RESEARCH METHODS II
M 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. KETCHAM, RICHARD A
BARNES, JAIME D		 Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 420K INTRO TO FIELD/STRAT METHS
TTH + Lab 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. KERANS, CHARLES
MARTIN, CRAIG
BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM		 Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 327G GIS & GPS APPLICS IN EARTH SCI
TTH
W		 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.		 BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 660A FIELD GEOLOGY
  May 7-June 5 BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM
GARDNER, JAMES E
MALKOWSKI, MATTHEW ALAN
FLEMINGS, PETER BARRY
KERANS, CHARLES
MOHRIG, DAVID
HORTON, BRIAN K
OLARIU, CORNEL
BEFUS, KENNETH S		 Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 660B FIELD GEOLOGY
  May 7-June 5 BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM
HENNINGS, PETER H
MARTIN, CRAIG
STOCKLI, DANIEL		 Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 302Q GEMS AND GEM MINERALS
MWF + Lab 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. BEFUS, KENNETH S Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 302N GEOLOGY OF NATIONAL PARKS
MWF 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CATLOS, ELIZABETH JACQUEL Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 302J CRISIS OF OUR PLANET
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. GARDNER, JAMES E
OLARIU, CORNEL		 Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 426P IGNEOUS/METAMORPH PETROLOGY
MW + Lab 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. GARDNER, JAMES E Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 303 INTRODUCTION TO GEOLOGY
TTH + Lab 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CARDENAS, MEINHARD BAYANI
KETCHAM, RICHARD A		 Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 303C INTRO TO THE SOLAR SYSTEM
MWF 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. LASSITER, JOHN C Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 401 PHYSICAL GEOLOGY
TTH + Lab 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. LIN, JUNG-FU Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 315L EARTH FROM LAB TO PLANET
MW 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. FLEMINGS, PETER BARRY
BECKER, THORSTEN		 Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 110T GEOSCI MATH TUTORIAL
M
F		 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m		 LAVIER, LUC L Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 110T GEOSCI PHYSICS TUTORIAL
F 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. LAVIER, LUC L Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 365P POTENTIAL FLD APPL IN GEOPHYS
TTH 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. LAVIER, LUC L Syllabus (Spring 2024)

Upper Division or Graduate

GEO 386G GIS & GPS APPLICS IN EARTH SCI
TTH
W		 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.		 BARQUERO-MOLINA, MIRIAM Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 338T MARINE TECTONICS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. GULICK, SEAN S
STOCKLI, DANIEL		 Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 339T CONTINENTAL TECTONICS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. GULICK, SEAN S
STOCKLI, DANIEL		 Syllabus (Spring 2024) 
GEO 348K MARINE GEO/GEOPHYS FIELD CRS
  May 7-June 5 GULICK, SEAN S
LOWERY, CHRISTOPHER
GOFF, JOHN A		 Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 391 ADVANCED THERMOCHRONOLOGY
TTH 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. KETCHAM, RICHARD A  Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 191 GEOMECHANICS SEMINAR
TH 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. FLEMINGS, PETER BARRY
SAFFER, DEMIAN M		 Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 371T THERMODYN IN EARTH PLANET SCI
MW 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. SUN, CHENGUANG Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 354 PHYSICS OF EARTH
MW 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. BECKER, THORSTEN Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 325M NUMERICAL MODELING GEOSCI
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. HESSE, MARC ANDRE Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 383P POTENTIAL FLD APPL IN GEOPHYS
TTH 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. LAVIER, LUC L Syllabus (Spring 2024)
GEO 381S TECTONIC PROBLEMS
MW 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MARTIN, CRAIG
STOCKLI, DANIEL		 Syllabus (Spring 2024)

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		 Syllabus (Fall 2024)
GEO 401 PHYSICAL GEOLOGY
MWF + Lab 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. BEFUS, KENNETH S Syllabus (Fall 2024)
GEO 302N GEOLOGY OF NATIONAL PARKS
MWF 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. CATLOS, ELIZABETH JACQUEL Syllabus (Fall 2024)
GEO 171H HONORS RESEARCH METHODS
M 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. KETCHAM, RICHARD A Syllabus (Fall 2024)
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 Syllabus (Fall 2024)
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 Syllabus (Fall 2024)
GEO 366M MATHEMATICAL METHS IN GEOPHYS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. LAVIER, LUC L Syllabus (Fall 2024)
GEO 428 STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
TTH + Lab 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. MARTIN, CRAIG Syllabus (Fall 2024)

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 Syllabus (Fall 2024)
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 Syllabus (Fall 2024)
GEO 341F MICROST AND ROCK RHEOLOGY
TTH 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CATLOS, ELIZABETH JACQUEL Syllabus (Fall 2024)
GEO 381F MICROSTRUCTRS/ROCK RHEOLOGY
TTH 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CATLOS, ELIZABETH JACQUEL Syllabus (Fall 2024)
GEO 338J MARINE GEOLOGY
MWF 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. GARDNER, JAMES E
LOWERY, CHRISTOPHER		 Syllabus (Fall 2024)
GEO 366P PLANETARY GEO/GEOPHYSICS
TTH 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. LASSITER, JOHN C
GULICK, SEAN S		 Syllabus (Fall 2024)
GEO 326D EARTH IN DEEP TIME
TTH 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. LASSITER, JOHN C Syllabus (Fall 2024)
GEO 191 GEOMECHANICS SEMINAR
TH 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. FLEMINGS, PETER BARRY
SAFFER, DEMIAN M		 Syllabus (Fall 2024)
GEO 325C CONTINUUM MECHANICS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. HESSE, MARC ANDRE Syllabus (Fall 2024)
GEO 380J MATH MTHDS IN GEOPHYS
TTH 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. LAVIER, LUC L Syllabus (Fall 2024)
GEO 193 TECHNICAL LECTURE SERIES
TTH 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. LAVIER, LUC L Syllabus (Fall 2024)
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Austin, TX 78712-1722

Phone
(512) 471-5172

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