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R. DOUGLAS ELMORE Phone:405-325-4493 |
I am currently the Interim Associate Provost (60%) and Robert and Doris Klabzuba
Professor of Geology (40%) at the University of Oklahoma. As Interim Associate
Provost,
I coordinate the Campus Departmental Review process, work on student writing
curriculums issues, and provide advice to the Provost on academic, personnel,
and budget
issues.
My research interests are focused on understanding the origin of remagnetization in sedimentary rocks and testing/developing a paleomagnetic/geochemical approach for dating diagenetic events. I am particularly interested in studying how burial diagenetic processes (e.g., maturation of organic matter; smectite-to-illite transformation) can cause remagnetization. Angela Blumstein Mike Engel and I just finished a study of the Deseret Limestone in Utah that supports a hypothesized connection between burial diagenesis or organic matter and a Jurassic chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) (Blumstein et al., JGR, in press). Don Walker is currently investigating the origin of a CRM in the organic rich Woodford Shale in Oklahoma. In addition, we are continuing our preliminary studies (e.g., Gill et al., 2002) of the clay diagenesis/remagnetization connection in the Mesozoic units of the Disturbed belt in Montana. We are also currently investigating the origin of synfolding CRMs. For example, Kerry Moreland is investigating the origin of a synfolding CRM in the Madison Formation on one fold, the Teton anticline in Montana.
In collaboration with Mike Engel and John Parnell, we are also dating fluid migration events along faults in Scotland. Raleigh Blumstein recently completed a study where he dated several fluid migration events along the Moine thrust Zone in Scotland. This study complements a recently completed study of the Highland Boundary Fault in Scotland that suggests a major fluid migration event in the Late Paleozoic (Elmore et al., 2002). We are currently studying the Old Red Sandstone around the Great Glen Fault to test for fluid migration events.
Eric Cox is developing a reduction/oxidation model for the origin of CRMs in Devonian redbeds in West Virginia. Other current projects include Shannon Dulin’s study dating sandstone dykes that occur in basement rocks in Scotland and a preliminary study by Shannon Dulin, Kathryn Gardner, and Louise Totten on deformed limestones and fall-back breccias from the Weaubleau-Osceola impact structure in Missouri. Go to Ongoing Research Projects for details on these as well as other current projects. A link to a recent presentation at Georgia State is provided below.
Remagnetization and Paleomagnetic Dating... [ppt]
Each year I teach “Sedimentology and Sedimentary Petrology”, a sophomore/junior majors course, one graduate course, either Paleomagnetism or Clastic Facies, and a graduate seminar. In past years I also taught “The Dynamic Earth”, an introductory Geology course for non-majors, and an Honors colloquium, “Deep Space/Deep Time” with Dr. Dick Henry, an astronomer. In the fall of 2003 I taught an undergraduate course on shallow marine geology. This course started with a fieldtrip to the Florida Keys the week before classes started to study how modern carbonates form. You may visit my web site (http://geosciences.ou.edu/~delmore/) and view a Powerpoint Presentation with annotated pictures from the trip.
Bodo Katz, Ph.D., 1998
Mica Davidson, M.S., 1999
Jeff Kelly, M.S., 1999
Sharon Woods, M.S., 2000.
Jeff Gill, M.S., 2001
Monika Cogoini, Ph.D., 2001
Kimaka Willis, M.S., 2002
Jamie Foucher, M.S., 2002
Angela Blumstein, M.S., 2003
Raleigh Blumstein, M. S., 2003
I currently have three graduate students.
The shielded Paleomagnetic laboratory is used for paleomagnetic and rock-magnetic studies in order to better understand the origin of remagnetization in sedimentary rocks and to date diagenetic events. Students are currently working on dating burial diagenetic processes (e.g., maturation of organic matter; smectite-to-illite transformation) and fluid flow events along faults. Equipment includes a 2G cryogenic magnetometer with DC squids, AF and thermal demagnetizers, impulse magnetizer, and magnetic susceptibility system.
Currently, three of graduate students (Kerry Moreland, Shannon Dulin, and Eric Cox), one paleontologist (Brooke Wilborn) and several undergraduates (Alicia Branch, Don Walker, Rebecca Kepler, Kathryn Gardner) are conducting research in the lab.
Since coming to the University of Oklahoma, I have received the Baldwin Outstanding Teaching Award, a Regents Award for Outstanding Teaching, the Cunningham Award for Undergraduate Teaching, and the Outstanding Faculty Member in the College of Geosciences (three times).
In terms of research, I received Sigma Xi Faculty Research Award, the outstanding paper award at the 1991 SEPM National Meeting, and I was an American Association of Petroleum Geologists Distinguished Lecturer in 1993-94.
Tramp, K.L., Soreghan, G.S., and Elmore, R.D., in review, Integrated sedimentologic, geochemical, and magnetic records of pedogenesis in the Pennsylvanian Maroon Formation loessite: Implications for paleoclimatic interpretations: Geological Society of America Bulletin. In press.
Retallack, G. J., Sheldon, N., Cogoini, M., and Elmore, R. D., 2002, Magnetic Susceptibility of early Paleozoic and Precambrian paleosols. Paleo3, in press.
Blumstein, A., Elmore, R. D., and Engel, M., 2003, Paleomagnetic Dating of Burial Diagenesis in Mississippian Carbonates, Utah, JGR, in press.
Parnell, J., G. Watt, H. Chen, H. Wycherley, A. Boyce, D. Elmore, R. Blumstein, and M. Engel, Kaolin polytype evidence for a hot fluid pulse along Caledonian thrusts during rifting of the European Margin, Minerolgical Magazine, in press.
Evans, M. A, Lewchuk, M.T., and Elmore, R.D., 2003, Strain partitioning of deformation mechanisms in limestones : Examining the relationship of strain and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS), Journal of Structural Geology, 25, 1525-1549.
Lewchuk, M. T., Evans, M., and Elmore, R. D., 2003, Synfolding remagnetization and Deformation: Results from Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in West Virginia, J. Geophysical International, 152:2.
Elmore, R. D., Blumstein, R.. Engel., M., and J. Parnell, 2003, Paleomagnetic Dating of fluid-flow events along the Moine Thrust Zone, Scotland, J. Geochemical Exploration, v. 78-79, 45-49.
Woods, S., Elmore, R. D., and M. Engel, 2002, Paleomagnetic dating of the smectite-to-illite conversion: testing the hypothesis in Jurassic sedimentary rocks, Skye, Scotland, Journal of Geophysical Research, 107, 10.1029/2000JB000053, EPM 2-1-2-12.
Elmore, R. D., J. Parnell, M. Engel, S. Woods, M. Abraham, and M. Davidson, 2002, Paleomagnetic Dating of fluid-flow events in dolomitized Caledonian basement rocks, central Scotland, Geofluids, 2, 299-314.
Gill, J.D., Elmore, R. D., and Engel, M.H., 2002, Chemical remagnetization and clay diagenesis: Testing the hypothesis in the Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of northwestern Montana, Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 27/25-31, 1131 – 1139.
Lewchuk, M. T., Evans, M., and Elmore, R. D., 2002, Remagnetization signature of Paleozoic sediments from the Patterson Creek Anticline in West Virginia, Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 27, 1141-1150.
Soreghan, G.S., Elmore, R.D., and Lewchuk, M., 2002, Linked sedimentologic-magnetic proxies of paleoclimate in upper Paleozoic loessite (lower Cutler beds, Utah): Geological Society of America Bulletin, 114, 1019-1035.
Elmore, R. D., J. Kelley, M. Evans, M. Lewchuk, 2000a, Remagnetization and Orogenic Fluids: Testing the hypothesis in the central Appalachians, Geological Journal International, 144, 568-576.
Elmore, R. Douglas, 2000b, A Review of Paleomagnetic Data on the Timing and Origin of Multiple Fluid-Flow Events in the Arbuckle Mountains, Southern Oklahoma, Petroleum Geoscience, 7, 223-229.
Cogoini, M., R. D. Elmore, G.S. Soreghan, and M. Lewchuk, 2000, Contrasting rock magnetic characteristics of two upper Paleozoic loessite/paleosol profiles, Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 26, 905-910.
Elmore, R. D., J. Parnell, M. Engel, S. Woods, M. Abraham, and M. Davidson, 2000c, Paleomagnetic Dating of fluid-flow events in dolomitized Caledonian basement rocks, central Scotland, Journal of Geochemical Exploration, v. 69-70, p. 369-372.
Katz, B., R. D. Elmore, M. H. Engel, M. Cogoini, and S. Ferry, 2000, Associations between burial diagenesis of smectite, chemical remagnetization and magnetite authigenesis in the Vocontian Trough of SE-France, Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 105, 851-868.
Parnell, J., Baron, M., Davidson, M., Elmore, D., and Engel, M., 2000, Dolomitic breccia veins as evidence for extension and fluid flow in the Dalradian of Argyll, Geological Magazine, v. 137, p.447-462.
Davidson, M., J. Egger, R. D. Elmore, M. Engel, S. Woods, and M. Abraham, 2000, Orogenic fluids and secondary magnetizations: Testing the relationship in the South Wales coalfield foreland basin, Journal of Geochemical Exploration, v. 69-70, p. 581-584.
Elmore, R. D., Banerjee, S., Campbell, T., and Bixler, G., 1999, Paleomagnetic dating of ancient fluid-flow events and paleoplumbing in the Arbuckle Mountains, Southern Oklahoma: In: Parnell, J., ed., Dating and Duration of Fluid Flow Events and Rock-Fluid Interaction. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Pub. 144, 9-25.
Katz, B., R. D. Elmore, M. Cogoini, and S Ferry, 1998, Widespread chemical remagnetization: Orogenic fluids or burial diagenesis of clays, Geology, 26, 603-606.
Katz, B., R. D. Elmore, and M.H. Engel, 1998, Authigenesis of magnetite in organic-rich sediment next to a dike: Implications for thermoviscous and chemical remagnetizations, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 163, 221-234.
Ripperdan, R. L., L. Riciputi, D. Cole, R. D. Elmore, S. Banerjee, and M.H.Engel, 1998, SIMS measurement of oxygen isotope ratios in authigenic magnetites from the Belden Formation, Colorado, Journal of Geophysical Research, 103, 21015-21024.
Bixler, W. G., R. D. Elmore , and M.H. Engel, 1998, The origin of magnetization and geochemical alteration in a basin-bounding Fault Zone, Kilve, England, Geological Journal, 33, 89-105.
Diagenetic investigations are frequently limited by the difficulty in constraining the time frames in which most past events have occurred. Paleomagnetic analysis is one method that can provide information on such events. Remagnetization or acquisition of a secondary magnetization is usually tangible evidence of a secondary chemical (i.e., diagenetic) event and these events can be dated by isolation of the chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) carried by the diagenetic magnetic minerals and comparison of the pole position for the CRM to an independently established time scale, the Apparent Polar Wander Path. Field tests and geochemical/ petrographic studies are used to determine the origin of the fluid/diagenetic event and to relate the event to the authigenic magnetic phases.
One of the most commonly invoked remagnetization mechanisms is the migration of orogenic fluids which are hypothesized to be triggered by mountain building. Much of our current work is focused on testing this orogenic fluid hypothesis. For example, in the central Appalachians we are testing for a connection between remagnetization and alteration by orogenic fluids by examining units that were paleoaquifers as well as the units that were aquitards (Elmore et al., 2001). Whereas there is no question that orogenic fluids can cause remagnetization, particularly in and around conduits for flow, the evidence for the connection between many pervasive CRMs and orogenic fluids is circumstantial and tenuous (Elmore et al., 2000a). We are testing burial diagenetic processes such as maturation of hydrocarbons and the smectite/illite transformation as remagnetization mechanisms for such pervasive CRMs (Woods et al., 2002; Katz et al., 2000). This could lead to a method to date such events.
While much of our previous work has been on limestones, Eric Cox is conducting a study of Paleozoic sandstones in West Virginia which contain synfolding CRMs to determine the origin of the magnetizations.
Monika Cogoini recently completed simulation experiments which suggest that magnetite authigenesis can occur during smectite diagenesis. Angela Blumstein is completing a project on the Mississippian Deseret Limestone in Utah. Three fold tests from western Utah indicate the presence of a pre-folding Triassic to Jurassic CRM. The age of the CRM is just prior to the modeled time for organic matter maturation in the unit. This CRM is interpreted to be the result of burial diagenesis, such as an early stage of organic matter maturation within the source rock or clay alteration. We are also collaborating with Crawford Elliot at Georgia State University to acquire radiometric dates from authigenic illites to compare with the paleomagnetic dates for clay diagenesis.
We are investigating the origin of synfolding remagnetizations by testing for connections between remagnetization, strain levels and lithological variation in Paleozoic units across several folds in West Virginia. The fold test results from the Patterson Creek Anticline are consistent with the hypothesis that strain may alter the directional characteristics of the CRM that could produce an apparent synfolding CRM (Lewchuk et al., 2003). Jamie Foucher recently completed her thesis on the second fold, the Wills Mountain anticline, and also found results consistent with strain alteration of the CRM. Kerry Moreland is studying the origin of a synfolding CRM on one fold in the Sawtooth Mtns. in Montana. Last summer she collected 25 sites from the flanks and hinge of the Teton anticline in Montana.
We are also dating fluid migration events in veins and along faults in Scotland. We have dated fluid flow events associated with dolomite veins in the Dalradian Schist in the Southern Highlands (Parnell et al., 2000) and along the Highland Boundary Fault (e.g., Elmore et al., 2000c; Elmore et al., 2002). We are currently working on dating and determining the origin of fluid events along the Moine thrust zone (Elmore et al., 2003). Raleigh Blumstein has found a Permian CRM and associated alteration along that fault zone that are direct evidence for post-orogenic activity, in which the thrusts vented excess heat during regional crustal extension.
We are also continuing our preliminary studies (e.g., Gill et al., 2002) of the clay diagenesis/remagnetization connection in the Mesozoic units of the Disturbed belt in Montana.
This research is interdisciplinary, involving paleomagnetism, geochemistry, and sedimentology, and includes collaborations with sedimentologists (John Parnell, University of Aberdeen), structural geologists (Mark Evans, Univ. Pittsburgh), and geochemists (e.g., Mike Engel, University of Oklahoma). This research is currently being supported by a DOE grant.
A project on testing a sedimentologic/rock magnetic approach to obtain paleoclimatic data from upper Paleozoic loessite with Lynn Soreghan is currently winding down. Results from paleosols in the Maroon Formation in Colorado suggests that magnetic susceptibility variations relate to increases in pedogenic-derived superparamagnetic magnetite and record changes in pedogenesis related to paleoclimate (Tramp et al., 2004). Results from the Cutler Group in Utah suggest that the magnetic susceptiblity variations are more complex and it is not clear if it is related to paleoclimate (Cogoini et al., 2000; Soreghan et al., 2002).
Several summers ago we collaborated with Alan Witten on a field study at Tinker Air Force Base where we used several different techniques, including soil magnetic susceptibility (SMS) and electrical resistivity, in an to attempt to locate subsurface organic-rich contaminate plumes. We found a correlation between the SMS anomalies and the anomalies detected using the other techniques. We hypothesize that the in situ microbial Fe (III) reduction coupled with hydrocarbon degradation may be responsible for the SMS anomalies. Monika Cogoini has recently completed a project investigating the connection between microbes and magnetic material.
We recently conducted a study where sub-micron magnetite from a variety of sources on Earth were characterized and compared to magnetite in the meteorite, ALH84001. Without a thorough study of minerals and bacteria-like morphologies which often occur naturally under abiotic conditions on Earth, there will never be a fair-witness comparison or data or an equivocal result pointing to life or its absence in ALH84001. This work is being done in collaboration with David Blake, a NASA scientist, and was supported by a NASA grant.=
