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204 Heroy Geology Laboratory Syracuse University Syracuse, NY 13244-1070 USA Office: 222 and 204 Heroy Geology Laboratory Phone: 315.443.7976 Department: 315.443.2672 Fax: 315.443.3363 Email: jakarson@syr.edu Current Research Interests
The focus of my research is structural and tectonic analysis of rift and transform plate boundaries. My approach involves the systematic collection of geological data in order to determine the geometry, chronology, and mode of formation of outcrop-scale deformation structures and their relation to crustal processes that operate on a regional scale. These studies are undertaken with the collaboration of geophysicists, petrologists, and geochemists in order to help understand the interplay of various geologic processes during deformation. Integrating the diverse perspectives available from different settings provides a cross-pollination of concepts that might not be possible from a single approach. Courses
Graduate Students
Facilities Available for Investigations of Spreading Center Tectonics
• Olympus and Zeiss Research Microscopes equipped for photomicroscopy• Geocompass- a device for use in measuring the orientation of structural features on the seafloor from Human Occupied Vehicles (e.g., Alvin) and Remotely Operated Vehicles (e.g., Jason II) • 42-inch video monitor and other displays • Macintosh computers and peripherals for image processing • Tape decks for viewing digital video tape of seafloor geology • JOEL JXA 733 Scanning Electron Microscope for imaging and ESBD analyses • 4WD Vehicle for fieldwork in Iceland • Rock saws and facilities for making petrographic thin sections • Rock drills and accessories for paleomagnetic sampling Selected PublicationsKarson, J.A., G.L. Früh-Green, D.S. Kelley, E.A. Williams, D.R. Yoerger, and M. Jakuba, Detachment shear zone on the Atlantis Massif Core Complex, Mid-Atlantic Ridge 30°N, G-Cubed 7 (6), doi:10.1029/2005GC001109, 2006.Sæmundsson, K. and J. A. Karson, Stratigraphy and tectonics of the Húsavík-Western Tjörnes area, Unpublished Report, prepared for Alcoa and HRV Engineering, ÍSOR-2006/-32, 35 pp and 1:20,000 Geological Map, 2006. Christeson, G.L., K.D. McIntosh and J.A. Karson, Inconsistent correlation of seismic layer 2a and lava layer thickness in oceanic crust, Nature 445, doi:10.1038/nature05517, 2007. Hayman, N.W. and J.A. Karson, Faults and damage zones in fast-spread crust exposed on the north wall of the Hess Deep Rift: Conduits and seals in seafloor hydrothermal systems, G-Cubed, 8, 10, Q10002, doi:10.1029/2007GC001623, 2007. Kelley, D.S., G.L. Früh-Green, J.A. Karson, and K.A. Ludwig, Lost City hydrothermal field revisited, Oceanography 20, 4, 90-99, 2007. Perk, N.W., L.A. Coogan, J.A. Karson, J.A., E.M. Klein, and H.D. Hanna, The primitive lower oceanic crust from Pito Deep: Implications for the accretion of the lower crust at the southern east Pacific Rise, Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, doi:10.1007/ s00410-007-0210-z, 2007. Varga, R.G., A. Horst, J.S. Gee and J.A. Karson, Direct evidence from anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility for lateral melt migration a superfast spreading centers, G-Cubed 9 (8), Q08008, doi:10.1029/2008GC002075, 2008. Hayman, N.W. and J.A. Karson, Faulting and hydrothermal alteration in superfast spread crust of the East Pacific Rise exposed at Pito Deep, G-cubed 10, Q02013, doi:10.1029/2008GC002319, 2009. Pollock, M.A., E.M. Klein, J.A. Karson and D.S. Coleman, Compositions of dikes and lavas from the Pito Deep Rift: Implications for accretion at superfast spreading centers, Journal of Geophysical Research 114, B03207, doi:10.1029/2007JB005436, 2009. Siler, D.L. and J.A. Karson, Three-dimensional structure of inclined sheet swarms: Implications for crustal thickening and subsidence in the volcanic rift zones of Iceland, J. Volcanology Geothermal Res., 188, 333–346, 2009. Christeson, G.L., J.A. Karson, and K.D. McIntosh, Mapping of seismic layer 2A/2B boundary above the sheeted dike unit at intermediate-spreading crust exposed near the Blanco Transform, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems (G-Cubed), 11, Q03015,doi: 10.1029/2009GC002864, 2010.
Full CV is available for Jeff Karson
An abbreviated CV follows:
Education B.S. (Geology) Case Institute of Technology (CWRU), 1972 M.S. (Geology) State University of New York at Albany (SUNYA), 1975 Ph.D. (Geology) State University of New York at Albany, 1977 Positions & Awards Teaching Assistant, Department of Geological Sciences, SUNYA, 1972-1976 Research Assistant, Department of Geological Sciences, SUNYA, 1976-1977 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Toronto, 1977-1979 Postdoctoral Scholar, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), 1979-1980 Assistant Scientist, Department of Geology and Geophysics, WHOI, 1980-1984 Summer Faculty Fellow, Department of Geology and Planetology, Jet Propulsion Lab, California Institute of Technology, 1984 and 1985 Associate Scientist, Department of Geology and Geophysics, WHOI, 1984-1986 Associate Professor, Department of Geology, Duke University, 1986-1992 Professor, Department of Geology, Duke University, 1992-1996 Adjunct Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, 1992-2002 Research Fellow, Danish Lithosphere Center, 1994-2000 Professor, Division of Earth & Ocean Sciences, NSEES, Duke University, 1996-2006 Chairman, Division of Earth & Ocean Sciences, NSEES, Duke University, 1996-2000 Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, Syracuse University, August 2006-present Jessie Page Heroy Professor and Chair, Department of Earth Sciences, July 2007-preseent Research Interests Structural and tectonic analysis of extensional and transform fault environments from ophiolites, contemporary oceanic crust, Iceland, continental rifts, and continental margins; fault geometry and kinematics; deformation and metamorphism in high-strain zones. Professional Affiliations Fellow of the Geological Society of America; American Geophysical Union; International Association of Structural and Tectonic Geologists; Working Group on Mediterranean Ophiolites Web Sites Department of Earth Sciences, Syracuse University: http://earthsciences.syr.edu Hess Deep Expedition: http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/hessdeep/hessdeep.html Lost City Cruise 2003: http://www.lostcity.washington.edu Lost City NOAA Exploration: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/05lostcity Macquarie Island: http://www.aad.gov.au/stations/macca Pito Deep Cruise 2005: http://www.nicholas.duke.edu/pitodeep/index.html Professional Activities National Research Council, Ocean Studies Board: Continental Margins Workshop and Strength of the Lithosphere Workshop, 1989 Ocean Drilling Program: Tectonics Panel, Liaison to Lithosphere Panel and Member of Offset Drilling Working Group, 1990-1993 Geological Society of America, Structural Geology & Tectonics Division, Short Course Committee, 1992-1995 Co-Convener, RIDGE RISES Workshop on Crustal Accretion Variables, Sept. 1994 Co-Convener, RIDGE Theoretical Institute on Faulting and Magmatism at Mid-Ocean Ridges, June 1995 Chief, Editorial Review Board, ODP Leg 153, Scientific Results Volume, 1995-1997 Editorial Review Committee, 4th RIDGE Theoretical Institute, Proceedings Volume, 1997-1998 National Science Foundation, Ocean Sciences Research Section Panel, 1996-1998, 2001-2004 Invited Lecturer, RIDGE & Nordic Volcanological Institute, Summer School on Active Processes at Mid-Ocean Ridges, August 1997 Reviewer for Council for the International Exchange of Scholars, Senior Fulbright Scholar Program, 1998-1999 RIDGE 2000 Education & Outreach Advisory Committee, 2003-2008 National Science Foundation MARGINS Program Review Committee, 2004 Editorial Board, Geology, 2004-2006 UNOLS Deep Submergence Science Committee (DESSC), 2004-present University Activities Geology/Nicholas School of the Environment Merger Task Force, 1996 Duke University Academic Tenure and Promotions Committee, 1995-6 NSEES Faculty Council, 1996-1999 Duke University Ad Hoc Committee on Scientific Misconduct, 1999 Division of Earth & Ocean Sciences website design & upgrades, 2001-2006 Duke University Library Council, August 2004-2006 Science and Engineering Library Committee, August. 2004-2006 Duke University Fulbright Reviewer, 2004-2006 Syracuse University Lecture Series 2007-present Research Experience 1. Field Geology Reconnaissance mapping of thrust faults in the Taconic Mountains, Petersburg, New York, September-December 1973 Mapping and structural studies in the Bay of Islands Ophiolite and Coastal Complex, Western Newfoundland, Summers of 1973-1984 Detailed mapping and structural analysis of glaciotectonic thrust faults and associated features on Cape Cod and nearby islands, January-September 1982 Mapping and structural studies around Lake Turkana, East African Rift Valley, Kenya, August-September 1984, August 1986, and July-September 1991 and 1992 Mapping and structural studies in the Malawi Rift and Tanzania, October-November 1985. Structural studies in the Livingstone Mountains, Tanzania, and July-August 1986 Mapping and structural studies in the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas Mountains of Morocco, May 1988, 1989, and 1992 Structural analysis of the Arctic East Greenland Tertiary dike swarm and flexure, July-August 1994 and 1995 Investigation of major seafloor-spreading related faults and shear zones, Macquarie Island (Antarctic Australian Research Expedition), January-February 2000; March 2002 Structural study of the Tertiary flexure zones, northern Iceland, September 2001, July 2002, July-August 2003-present Kinematics of rift-parallel strike-slip faults, Kárahnjúkar & Gljúfurá Iceland, July 2006-present Kinematics of onshore extensions of transform faults in northern Iceland, July 2004-present 2. Marine Geology Sample preparation and dredging aboard R/V VEMA, Oceanographer Fracture Zone, May 1973 Structural and tectonic studies of the Tamayo Transform Fault from DSRV Alvin, October 1979 Structural geology studies at the Kane Fracture Zone with DSRV Alvin and the ANGUS Photographic system, June 1980 Structural geology studies at the Oceanographer Fracture Zone with DSRV Alvin and the ANGUS Photographic system, July 1980 Structural and tectonic studies of the mid-Atlantic Ridge at 26°N (TAG Hydrothermal Area) with DSRV Alvin and the ANGUS photographic system, July 1982 Structural and tectonic studies of the Clipperton Transform Fault, East Pacific Rise with DSRV Alvin and a deep-towed video system, June 1985 Site survey of drill sites in the MARK Area (Mid-Atlantic Ridge), January 1985-June 1986 Structural studies of along-axis variations in the style of tectonic extension in the MARK area (22°30' to 23°30'N on the MAR) with DSRV Alvin and the ANGUS photographic system (chief scientist), June 1986 Structural studies of extensional tectonics in the MARK Area with the submersible Nautile, June-July 1988 Detailed structural studies of fast-spread oceanic crust exposed in the walls of the Hess Deep Rift with Alvin, May 1990 Up- and Down-Looking Sonar Study of the Kane Transform and Adjacent Rift Valley in the MARK Area with the Scripps Deep-Tow System, February 1992 Structural studies of extensional and transform tectonics in the walls of the Kane Transform with the submersible Nautile Structural studies of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 23°N (SMARK Area) with Alvin and various video and photographic systems (chief scientist), March 1993 and January 1995. Deep crustal drilling of detachment fault zones in the MARK Area, Ocean Drilling Program, Leg 153, (co-chief scientist), November 1993-January 1994. Structural studies and sampling of fast-spread oceanic crust exposed at the Hess Deep Rift with Alvin, Argo II digital imaging system, and DSL-120 side-scan sonar, (chief scientist), March 1999. Investigation of an oceanic core complex and discovery of the Lost City Hydrothermal Vent Field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge 30°N, with Alvin, Argo II digital imaging system, and DSL-120 side-scan sonar, November 2000. Structural setting and detailed sampling of the Lost City Vent Field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge 30°N, with Alvin and ABE (Autonomous Benthic Explorer), (co-chief scientist), April 2003. Structure of fast-spread oceanic crust exposed at Pito Deep, Easter Microplate, SE Pacific, with Alvin, Jason II, and DSL-120 side-scan sonar, (chief scientist), February 2005. Virtual cruise to the Lost City Hydrothermal Vent Field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, NOAA Exploration Program, July 2005. 3. Other Research Compressional wave velocity measurement of ophiolite rocks at Mineral Physics Lab, Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, February 1977 High-pressure physical properties investigations and structural studies at Erindale College, University of Toronto, September 1977-June 1979 Remote sensing studies of ophiolite complexes using the Thermal-Infrared Multispectral Scanner at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, June-July 1984 and 1985 Digital image processing and interpretation of regional- to outcrop-scale structures in oceanic crust, Duke University, 1996-present Review of submersible and side-scan sonar investigations of the north wall of the Blanco Transform Fault, sabbatical leave at School of Oceanography, University of WA, and summer-fall 2000 Geometry and kinematics of syn-depositional faulting in the Jurassic Tank continental margin analog model, 2004-2005. Investigation of parameters influencing flow morphologies with basaltic lava in conjunction with Sculptor Robert Wysocki, Syracuse University, 2009-present. |
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• Olympus and Zeiss Research Microscopes equipped for photomicroscopy