Thomas D. Hoisch
Professor of Geology
Northern Arizona University
metamorphic petrology,
tectonics
thomas.hoisch@nau.edu
Phone: (928) 523-1904
FAX: (928) 523-9220

 

 

 


 

Professional
Background

Research

M.S. Theses Supervised

Graduate Research
Opportunities 07-09

Teaching

Publications

Geology Home Page

THERMOD7 software

Click here for information on Arizona Opera

Professional Background

Education

1985 Ph. D. in Geological Sciences, University of Southern California
1982 M.S. in Geology, Vanderbilt University, minor in chemistry
1979 B.A. in Geology, Pomona College, cum laude.

Occupational Experience

1998-present   Professor of Geology, Northern Arizona University

2000-2003  Chair, Department of Geology, Northern Arizona University 
1992-1998     Associate Professor of Geology, Northern Arizona University
Spring 1995    Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey (Denver)
1988 - 1995    Geologist, WAE (faculty) appointment to the U.S. Geological Survey
1987 - 1992    Assistant Professor of Geology, Northern Arizona University
1985 - 1987    National Research Council-U.S. Geological Survey Research Associate (Denver)

Teaching

Courses I regularly teach:

Undergraduate:

  • GLG101 Physical Geology
  • GLG309 Mineralogy:  Introduction to Earth Materials

           Graduate:

  • GLG615 Metamorphic Petrology*
  • GLG616 Petrologic Phase Equilibria*

*taught every other year in alternate years

Current Research

In and east of Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada:

Studies of metamorphic petrology and thermochronology were undertaken in the Funeral Mountains, California, and at Bare Mountain, Nevada. The exposed rocks belong to a 13-km thick sedimentary sequence of Neoproterozoic to Mississippian age. Metamorphism took place when the rocks were buried by thrusting in Mesozoic time. Deeply buried rocks became exposed in Miocene time when crustal extension resulted in the development of a regional detachment fault. The hangingwall slid off to the west-northwest forming the Grapevine Mountains and exposing the metamorphic rocks underneath in the Funeral Mountains and at Bare Mountain. Studies in this area have established the pressure and temperature conditions of the metamorphism, the direction of transport along the fault, and the timing of its movement. For further information, see publications and recent abstracts.

 
 

Northern Funeral Mountains, view looking north. Gently east-dipping surface in the foreground is a detachment fault. Lower greenschist facies rocks of the Wood Canyon Formation in the hanging wall are juxtaposed against middle amphibolite facies rocks of the Crystal Spring Formation in the footwall, representing a stratigraphic omission of ~7 km and metamorphic discontinuity of ~200 degrees C. In the distance are the Grapevine Mountains.

Northwest Utah and Southern Idaho:

Rocks are being studied in the Raft River Mountains, Grouse Creek Mountains, and Albion Range.  All are located in the hinterland of the Sevier orogenic belt. A series of subhorizontal faults juxtapose metasedimentary packages of differing age and metamorphic grade. Some of these faults were probably synconvergent normal faults. Two major shear zones and a Miocene detachment fault were responsible for the exhumation of the terrain. Studies of this area involve metamorphic petrology, 2-d numerical thermal modeling, thermochronology, geologic mapping and structural kinematics. Numerical simulations of garnet growth in pelitic schist document a pressure increase of 2.5 kb at constant temperature, corresponding to the emplacement of a 9-km thick thrust sheet (see garnet pictured below). This work is collaborative with Dr. Michael L. Wells at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. For further information, see list of publications and recent abstracts. There is current NSF funding to support graduate student research on this project.
 

Garnet with allanite inclusions from Neoproterozoic schist from the northern Grouse Creek Mountains, northwest Utah. Line on left image is 2.3 mm long. Left: Map of Mn concentration showing growth zoning, rim consumption, and secondary enrichment of Mn at the rim. Right: Garnet is surrounded by clinozoisite-free matrix consisting of quartz, plagioclase, biotite, and muscovite. Plane polarized light.

Graduate Research Opportunites. I have current (will be available through 2010) funding from the National Science Foundation to pursue studies in the Funeral Mountains (Death Valley National Park, California) and in Northwest Utah. The focus of this project is to determine pressure-temperature from garnet growth zoning, dating the paths using the Lu-Hf method, and comparing to numerical simulations of tectonic processes in an effort to understand the mechanism that triggers extension at depth during compression in orogens.  The work is collaborative with structural geologist Dr. Michael Wells (UNLV) and isotope geochemist Dr. Jeff Vervoort (WSU).  The work will likely involve one or more trips to the SHRIMP-RG (Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe – Reverse Geometery) lab at Stanford University.  In addition to the four semesters of Graduate Assistant salary normally given to graduate students to teach undergraduate laboratory courses, the student on this project will receive at one additional semester of salary to conduct research.  The grant will also cover research (field and laboratory) expenses.  Please contact me if you are interested in pursuing graduate research studies at NAU on this project.

An article featuring my graduate student Cici Cruz-Uribe was published in the Winter 2009 newsletter of the NAU Graduate College.

Publications and Recent Abstracts

Publications:

  • Hoisch, T.D, Wells, M.L., and Grove, M., 2008, Age trends in garnet-hosted monazite inclusions from upper amphibolite facies schist from the Grouse Creek Mountains, Utah.  Geochim. Cosmochim Acta, v. 72, 5505-5520.
  • Wells, M.L., Spell, T.L., Hoisch, T.D., and Zanetti, K.A., 2008, Laserprobe 40Ar/39Ar dating of strain fringes:  Mid-Cretaceous synconvergent orogen-parallel extension in the interior of the Sevier orogen:  Tectonics, v. 27, TC3012, doi:10.1029/2007TC002153.
  • Everett, B.C., and Hoisch T.D, 2008, Conditions of metamorphism of the Colorado Yule Marble:  Mountain Geologist, v. 45, p. 69-76
  • Wells, M.L., and Hoisch, T.D., 2008, The role of mantle delamination in widespread Late Cretaceous extension and magmatism in the Cordilleran orogen, western United States:  Geological Society of America Bull., v. 120, p. 515-530.
  • Harris, C.R., Hoisch, T.D., and Wells, M.L., 2007, Construction of a composite pressure-temperature path:  revealing the synorogenic burial and exhumation history of the Sevier hinterland, U.S.A.:  Journal of Metamorphic Geology, v. 25, p. 915-934
  • Hoisch, T.D., 2005, THERMOD7:  A general two-dimensional numerical modeling program for heat conduction and advection, with special application to faults.  Computers & Geosciences, v. 31, 698-703
  • Hoisch, T.D., Wells, M.L., and Hanson, L.M., 2002, Pressure-temperature paths from garnet-zoning:  evidence for multiple episodes of thrust burial in the hinterland of the Sevier orogenic belt:  American Mineralogist, v. 87, p. 115-131.
  • Hoisch, T.D., 2000, Conditions of metamorphism in lower plate rocks at Bare Mountain Nevada–Implications for extensional faulting, in Geological and Geophysical Characterization Studies of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, A Potential High-Level Radioactive-Waste Repository:  U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series 058, CD-ROM Chapter B. download pdf
  • Wells, M.L., Hoisch, T.D., Peters, M.T., Miller, D.M., Wolff, E.D. and Hanson, L.M., 1998, The Mahogany Peaks fault, a Late Cretaceous-Paleocene normal fault in the hinterland of the Sevier Orogen:  Journal of Geology, v. 106, p. 623-634.
  • Wells, M.L., Hoisch, T.D., Hanson, L.M, Wolff, E.D, and Struthers, J., 1997, Large magnitude crustal thickening and repeated extensional exhumation in the Raft River, Grouse Creek, and AlbionMountains, Brigham Young University Geological Studies, v. 42, pt. 1, p. 325-340.
  • Hoisch, T.D., Heizler, M.T., and Zartman, R.E., 1997, Timing of detachment faulting in the Bullfrog Hills and Bare Mountain area, southwest Nevada:  Inferences form 40Ar/39Ar, K-Ar, U-Pb, and fission track thermochronology:  Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 102, p. 2815-2833.
  • Simonds., F.W., Fridrich, C.J., Hoisch, T.D., and Hamilton, W.B., 1996, A synthesis of detachment fault studies in the Yucca Mountain region; FOCUS '95, Proceedings of the Topical Meeting on Methods of seismic hazards evaluation,  American Nuclear Society, Inc., LaGrange Park, Ill. p.107-114.
  • Hoisch, T.D., 1995, Chapter 2:  Conditions of metamorphism in lower plate rocks at Bare Mountain, Nevada--Implications for extensional faulting, in Simonds, F.W., ed., Characterization of detachment faults in the Yucca Mountain region, summary report for site characterization plan 8.3.1.17.4.5:  U.S. Geological Survey administrative report for milestone number 3GTD500M, p. 16-47. 
  • Hoisch, T.D., 1995, Chapter 3:  Timing of detachment faulting west of Yucca Mountain, in Simonds, F.W., ed., Characterization of detachment faults in the Yucca Mountain region, summary report for site characterization plan 8.3.1.17.4.5:  U.S. Geological Survey administrative report for milestone number 3GTD500M, p. 48-76. 
  • Miller, D.M., and Hoisch, T.D., 1995, Jurassic tectonics of northeastern Nevada and northwestern Utah from the perspective of barometric studies:  Geol. Soc. America Special Paper 299, p. 267-294.
  • Rothstein, D.A., and Hoisch, T.D., 1994, Multiple intrusions and low pressure metamorphism in the central Old Woman Mountains, southeastern California:  J. Metamorphic Geol., v. 12, p. 723-734.
  • Rothstein, D.A., Karlstrom, K.E., Hoisch, T.D., and Morrison, J.M., 1994, Determination of synkinematic plutonism from fluid-infiltrated rocks, central Old Woman Mountains, California:  J. Metamorphic Geol., v. 12, p. 709-722.
  • Richard, S.M., Ballard, S.N., Boettcher, S.S., Hamilton, W.B., Hoisch, T.D., and Tosdal, R.M., 1994, Mesozoic tectonics of the Maria belt, west-central Arizona and southeasthern California, in McGill, S.F. and Ross, T.M., eds., Geological Investigations of an Active Margin, Cordilleran Section Guidebook:  San Bernardino County Museum Association, San Bernardino, California, p. 272-292.
  • Morrison, J., and Hoisch, T.D., 1994, Outward flow of magmatic fluids from the Old Woman granodiorite, Old Woman Mountains, southeastern California:  Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 99, p. 9469-9476.
  • Hoisch, T.D., and Simpson, C., 1993, Rise and tilt of metamorphic rocks in the lower plate of a detachment fault in the Funeral Mountains, Death Valley, California:  Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 98, p. 6805-6827.
  • Hoisch, T.D., 1992, Thermodynamic properties of muscovite and biotite:  inferences from natural compositions: Trends in Mineralogy, v. 1, p. 107-115 (invited).
  • Ashwal, L.D., Morgan, P., and Hoisch, T.D., 1992, Tectonics and heat sources for granulite metamorphism of supracrustal-bearing terranes:  Precambrian Research, v. 55, p. 525-538.
  • Miller, D.M., and Hoisch, T.D., 1992, Mesozoic structure, metamorphism, and magmatism in the Pilot Range and the Toano Range, in Wilson, J.R., ed., Field guide to geologic excursions in Utah and adjacent areas of Nevada, Idaho, and Wyoming:   Utah Geological Survey Misc. Pub. 92-3, p. 79-92.
  • Foster, D.A., Miller, C.F., Harrison, M., and Hoisch, T.D., 1992,  40Ar/39Ar thermochronology of the Old Woman Mountains area, California with implications for Mesozoic shortening, metamorphism, and denudation: Geol. Soc. America Bulletin, v. 104, p. 176-191.
  • Hoisch, T.D., 1991, The thermal effects of pervasive and channelized fluid flow in the deep crust:  Journal of Geology, v. 99, p. 69-80.
  • Hoisch, T.D., 1991, Equilibria within the mineral assemblage quartz + muscovite + biotite + plagioclase + garnet, and implications for the mixing properties of octahedrally-coordinated cations in muscovite and biotite: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 108. p. 43-54.
  • Hoisch, T.D., and Hamilton, W., 1990, A granite origin by fluid-induced anatexis, in Miller, C.F., ed., FROGS (Friends of Granites) Report:  Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 71, p. 694.
  • Hoisch, T.D., 1990, Empirical calibration of six geobarometers for the mineral assemblage quartz + muscovite + biotite + garnet + plagioclase:  Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 104, p. 225-234.
  • Hoisch, T.D., 1989, A muscovite biotite geothermometer:  American Mineralogist, v. 74, p. 565-572.
  • Hoisch, T.D., Miller, C.F., Heizler, T.M., Harrison, M.T., and Stoddard, E.F., 1988, Late Cretaceous regional metamorphism in southeastern California, in Ernst, W.G., ed., Metamorphic and Crustal Evolution of the Western United States, Rubey Volume VII:  Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersy, p. 538 571.
  • Hoisch, T.D., 1987, Heat transport by fluids during Late Cretaceous regional metamorphism in the Big Maria Mountains, southeastern California:  Geol. Soc. of America Bulletin, v. 98, p. 549 553.
  • Hoisch, T.D., 1985, The solid solution chemistry of vesuvianite:  Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 89, p. 205 214.
  • Miller, C.F., Howard, K.A., and Hoisch, T.D., 1982, Mesozoic thrusting, metamorphism, and plutonism, Old Woman-Piute, southeastern California, in Frost, E.G., and Martin, D.L., eds., Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Colorado River region, California, Arizona, and Nevada:  San Diego, Cordilleran Publishers, p. 561-582.

Recent Abstracts:

·        Wells, M.L., Spell, T.L., Hoisch, T.D., Arriola, T., and Zanetti, K.A., 2008, Laserprobe 40Ar/39Ar dating of strain fringes: An example from the interior of the Sevier orogen.  Eos Trans. AGU, 98(52), Fall Meet. Suppl, Abstract T21E-02.

·        Cruz-Uribe, A.M., Hoisch, T.D., Wells, M.L., and Vervoort, J.D., 2008, Ages of Sevier thrusting from dating of metamorphic garnet using the Lu-Hf method. Eos Trans. AGU, 98(52), Fall Meet. Suppl, Abstract T23C-2026.

·        Hoisch, T.D., Manone, M. F., Newell, S., and Austin, B.A., 2008, Application of Digital Ink Technology and Interactive Classroom Software to Lecturing on Mineral Optics:  Geol. Soc. America Abstract with Programs, v. 40, no. 6, p. 348.

·        Eastman, K., and Hoisch, T.D., 2008, Quartz crystal inclusions from the Bradshaw Mountains, Arizona.  Minerals of Arizona, 16th annual symposium, Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum. 

·        Wells, M.L., and Hoisch, T.D., 2008, Multiple triggers for multiple episodes of synconvergent extension in the Sevier hinterland.  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 40, no. 1, p. 76.

·        Manone, Mark, *Umhoefer, Paul J., Springer, Abe, Hoisch, Thomas, and Newell, Shawn,, 2008, An incremental approach for teaching field mapping using rugged tablet computers and GIS.  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 40, no. 1, p. 89.

·        Sample, James, Best, David M.,, Manone, Mark, Csar, Alex J., Newell, Shawn, Hoisch, Thomas, and Solop, Fred,, 2008.  Using tablet computers in large lectures.  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 40, no. 1, p. 90.

·        Hoisch, T.D., and Wells, M.L., 2008, Textural evidence from garnet schist for a major synconvergent exhumation event in the hinterland of the Sevier orogenic belt.  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 40, no. 1, p. 76.

·        Styger, S., and Hoisch, T.D., 2008, A preliminary metamorphic pressure-temperature path from the Funeral Mountains, California: a record of thrusting and exhumation in the Sevier Orogen.  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 40, no. 1, p. 94.

·        Cruz-Uribe, A.M., Hoisch, T.D., Wells, M.L., and Vervoort, J.D., 2007, Adding t to garnet P-T paths using the Lu-Hf method:  Age constraints on thrusting and exhumation events in the hinterland of the Sevier orogen.  AGU 2007 fall meeting.

·        Everett, B.E., and Hoisch, T.D., 2007, Metamorphic processes of the famous Colorado Yule Marble:  NAU CENS undergraduate research celebration, poster presentation.  Won $100 prize

·        Eastman, K., and Hoisch, T.D., 2007, Quartz crystal incusions from the Bradshaw Mountains, Arizona:  NAU CENS undergraduate research celebration, poster presentation

·        Hoisch, Thomas D., 2007, Thermod8:  A user-friendly program for two-dimensional finite difference thermal modeling:  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, p. 591

·        Manone, M.F., Umhoefer, P.J., Springer, A., Hoisch, T., Newell, S., and Solop, F., 2007, An incremental approach for teaching field mapping using rugged tablet computers and GIS:  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, p. 623

·        Wells, M.L., Spell, T.L., Arriola, T., and Hoisch, T.D., 2007, A mid-Cretaceous age for synconvergent orogen-parallel extension in the interior of the Sevier orogen contrained by laserprobe 40Ar/39Ar dating of strain fringes:  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, p. 229

·        Hoisch, Thomas D., and Wells, Michael L, 2004, Correlation between Th-Pb ion microprobe ages of monazite inclusions in garnet and garnet growth zoning from upper amphibolite facies schist–implications for garnet dating: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, p. 134

·        Wells, Michael L., Hoisch, Thomas D., Kula, Joseph L., and Burgett, Darren, 2004, Removal of mantle lithosphere, synconvergent extension and crustal anatexis in the Late Cretaceous cordilleran interior: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, p. 119-120

·        Wells, Michael L., Sheeley, Jay C., Spell, Terry L., Kelly, Eric D., and Hoisch, Thomas D., 2004, Eocene extension in northwestern Utah-southern Idaho: early motion on the polyphase Middle Mountain shear zone: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, p. 73

·        Kelly, Eric D., Hoisch, Thomas D., and Wells, Michael L., 2004, Metamorphic pressure-temperature paths and isotopic dating in the hanging wall  of a major thrust, Sevier hinterland, south-central Idaho:  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, p. 9

·        Harris, Caroline F., and Hoisch Thomas D., 2003, A record of repeated thrusting and exhumation in footwall rocks of the Basin-Elba fault, southern Idaho, Sevier hinterland:  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 35, p. 224

·        Kelly, Eric D., Hoisch, Thomas D., and Wells, Michael L., 2003, Pressure-temperature paths and Thorium-Lead monazite dating in the hanging wall of a major thrust in the hinterland of the Sevier orogenic belt, Albion Mountains, south-central Idaho: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 35, p.632

·        Manone, Mark F., Umhoefer, Paul J., and Hoisch, Thomas D., 2003, A digital field camp: applying emerging technology to teach geologic field mapping: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 35, p. 411

·        Hoisch, Thomas D., Wells, Michael, Grove, Marty, Bailey, Treasure, Harris, Caroline, and Kelly, Eric, 2002, Dating of garnet growth in upper amphibolite facies schist by thorium-lead ion microprobe dating of monazite inclusions:  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 34, p. 311-312

·        Wells, Michael L., and Hoisch, Thomas D., 2002, Latest Cretaceous to Early Eocene renewed shortening in the interior of the Sevier-Laramide orogen: insitu Th-Pb ion microprobe dating of monazite:  Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 34, p. 510-511

·        Dudash, S.L., Hoisch, T.D., and Wells, M.L., 2001, Polymetamorphism of Archean pelitic schist in the Grouse Creek Mountains, northwestern Utah: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs (Cordilleran Section meeting), v. 33, p. A51.

·        James, S.C., Duebendorfer, E.M., and Hoisch, T.D., 2001, Location of the granulite-amphibolite facies transition in northwestern Arizona: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs (Rocky Mountain Section meeting), v. 33, p. 24.

·        Duebendorfer, E., and Hoisch, T.D., and Chamberlain, K.R., 2001, structural and metamorphic similarities between Proterozoic rocks in the Cerbat and Hualapai mountains, northwestern Arizona: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs (Rocky Mountain Section meeting), v. 33, p. 3-4. 

·        Hoisch, T.D. 2000, Use of thrust-related pressure-temperature-time paths in metamorphic rocks to constrain thrust geometry and velocity: Geol. Soc. America Abstracts with Programs (national meeting), v.32, p. A114.

·        Hoisch, T.D., and *Southam, G., 2000, Analysis of mineral content in the varnish of a cello made by Antonio Stradivari in 1711:  Geol. Soc. America Abstracts with Programs (national meeting), v. 32 p. A439.

·        Mahlen, N.J., Hoisch, T.D., and Dufrane, S.A., 2000, Use of volumetric titration to determine ferrous iron content in biotite from pelitic schist from the Grouse Creek Mountains, Utah: Geol. Soc. America Abstracts with Programs, v. 32, p. A365.

 

M.S. Theses Supervised