Edward Meyer Instructor / Research Associate, Director of Field Programs

Overview of Research:

My work focuses on using K/Ar to date illite in K-bentonites involved in orogenic belts. The illitization of bentontie beds can be used as a proxy for hydrocarbon maturation because the illite to smectite transition occurs at temperatures similar to when orogenic rich source rocks produce hydrocarbons. K-bentonites sampled from imbricated thrust sheets can effectively track when overthrust systems are active and are helpful in modeling the interplay between tectonics and hydrocarbon formation. This research is focused on thrust belts in the Central and Southern Appalachians and Western Canada.

I also have interests in the trace element geochemistry of cap carbonate / diamictite pairs in the Neoproterozoic sediments. Trace element chemistry helps to constrain the proposed mechanisms for cap carbonate formation. Laboratory techniques include bulk power digestions, ICP-OES and ICP-MS, XRD, and synchrotron analysis.

Teaching:

I teach introductory classes, direct our field camp program (The Stretch), support research labs, and manage the Earth Sciences website and computer systems. Some recent courses are listed below:

Fall 2011 - How the Earth Works (co-tought with Meredith Kelly)

Fall 2011 - MT. Segment & AZ Segment - Off Campus Program - "The Stretch"

Fall 2010 - MT. Segment & AZ Segment - Off Campus Program - "The Stretch"

Fall 2010 - How the Earth Works (co-tought with Meredith Kelly)

Spring 2010 - Introduction to Earth Sciences

Fall 2009 - Grand Canyon Segment - Off Campus Program - "The Stretch"

Fall 2008 - Introduction to Earth Sciences

Fall 2008 - MT. Segment - Off Campus Program - "The Stretch"

Other:

On a more personal note I enjoy getting outside to pursue sports including cycling, backcountry sking and whitewater kayaking.

Research Group Website: Potassium-Argon Dating Laboratory

Courses:

Publications:

Meyer, E.E., Bostick, B.C., Quicksall, A.N., Landis, J.D., and Link, P 2011, Trace and Rare Earth Elemental Investigation of a Sturtian Cap Carbonate, Pocatello, Idaho: Evidence for Ocean Redox Conditions Before and During Carbonate Deposition: Precambrian Research. in press

Meyer, E.E., Aronson, J.L., and Haynes, J., 2010, Early Permian K/Ar Dates of the Alleghanian Overthrusting Along the Blue Ridge Front in the Central and Southern Appalachians: Geology. in prep

Meyer, E.E., Aronson, J.L., Nadeau, P., Reidiger, C., Hillier, S., and Asgar-Deen, M., 2010, Timing of K-bentonite Illitization as a Proxy for Hydrocarbon Maturation in the Exshaw and Fernie Formations, Alberta, Canada: GSA Bull. In Revision

Renshaw, C.E., Meyer, E.E. Dynamics and the Emplacement of the Heart Mountain Allochthon at White Mountain – Geology. In prep

Meyer, E.E., Burgreen, B.N., Lackey, H., Landis, J.D., Quicksall, A.N., and Bostick, B.C., 2008 Evidence for Basin Restriction During Syn-Collisional Basin Formation in the Silurian Arisaig Group, Nova Scotia., Chemical Geology, Vol. 256, p. 1-11

Meyer, E.E., Bostick, B.C., Landis, J.D., Quicksall, A.N., and Theissen, K.M., 2008, Reduced Depositional Environments of A Neoproterozoic Synglacial Carbonate in the Kingston Peak Formation, Southern Death Valley Region, CA Chemical Geology, in prep

Theissen, K. M., Meyer, E. E., Bostick, B. C., Holter, S. A., Landis, J., Redox status in the Post-Snowball Ocean: Geochemical Evidence from the Noonday Formation, Death Valley, USA., Precambrian Research, in prep

Meyer, E.E., Burgreen, B.N., Bostick, B.C., Aronson, J.L., and Lackey, H., 2008, Evidence for a Unified Avalon and Meguma Microcontinent Prior to the Acadian Orogeny; Illite Dates on Silurian K-Bentonites from Nova Scotia, Canada: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. in prep

Abstracts:

Meyer, E.E., Eberl, D.D, Ryan, P. C. 2010, Evidence for Mesozoic Reactivation of Faults in the Northern Appalachians: K/Ar Dating of Fault Gouge from the Champlain Thrust, Vermont American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, Abstract T33D-2294.

Meyer, E.E., Aronson, J.L., Nadeau, P.H., Riediger, C., Hillier, S., Richards, B., 2009, Dating the Progressive Burial of the Source Rocks of the Alberta Tar Sands Deposits, Program and Abstracts - Annual Meeting of the Clay Minerals Society, vol.46, p. 115.

Meyer, E. E., Aronson, J.L., Nadeau, P.H., Riediger, C., Hillier, S., 2008, Dating the Tectonic Burial and Maturation of the Principal Source Rocks of the Alberta Tar Sands in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, Paper No. 211-10

Meyer, E.E. , Quicksall, A.N., and Bostick, B.C., 2007, Iron Speciation using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Neoproterozoic Cap Carbonates from the Pocatello Formation (Idaho) , American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting, Abstract PP13A-1030.

Meyer, E.E., Bostick, B.C., Landis, J.D., Quicksall, A.N., and Link, P.K., 2007, Trace Element Geochemistry of a Sturtian Cap Dolostone in the Scout Mountain Member of the Pocatello Formation: Evidence for Ocean Anoxia Following Low Latitude Glaciation, Geological Society of America, Paper No. 172-27.

Burgreen, B.N., Bostick, B.C., Meyer, E.E., Lackey, H., and Aronson, J.L., 2007, Northern Appalachian accretion of Avalonia: Evidence from chemostratigraphy and K/Ar dating of illitization in the Silurian Arisaig Group, Nova Scotia, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 39, No. 1, p. 51.

Nadeau, P.H., Meyer, E.E., Aronson, J.L., Riediger, C., Fowler, M., Hillier, S., and Asgar-Deen, M., 2007, Origin of the Alberta Oil Sands Bitumen Deposits: Isotopic Evidence from K-Bentonites in Key Source Rock Horizons, The Clay Minerals Society 44th Annual Meeting.

Meyer, E.E. , Aronson, J.L., Nadeau, P., Reidiger, C., Hillier, S., and Asgar-Deen, M., 2007, Timing of K-Bentonite Illitization as a Proxy for Hydrocarbon Maturation in the Exshaw and Fernie Formations, Alberta Canada, AAPG/SEG Spring Student Expo.

Meyer, E.E ., Bostick, B.C., Landis, J.D., and Quicksall, A.N., 2006, Trace Element Geochemistry of Neoproterozoic Low Latitude Glacial Strata of the Death Valley Region, CA, Dartmouth College Graduate Student Poster Presentations.

Nadeau, P.H., Meyer, E.E., Aronson, J., and Hillier, S., 2006, Clay Diagenesis in Foreland Basins, The Clay Minerals Society 43rd Annual Meeting.

Meyer, E.E., Bostick, B.C., Landis, J.D., Quicksall, A. M, and Theissen, K. M. 2006. Paleoredox Conditions During Deposition of Neoproterozoic Low Latitude Glacial Strata of the Death Valley Region, CA Eos Trans. AGU, 87(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract PP41B-1190 . View the abstract.

Meyer, E.E., Aronson, and J., Haynes, J. 2005 K/Ar dating of Blue Ridge thrusting and its influance on sediment input to two Pennsylvanian-age depocenters in the Appalachian Basin Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, Volume 37,No 1. p. 73. Download my 2005 NE-GSA Poster or view the abstract.

Meyer, E.E.; Aronson, J.; Haynes, J. 2005 “K/Ar Dating of Ordovician K-Bentonites Illitized by Blue Ridge Overthrusting During the Alleghenian Orogeny” Programs and Abstracts - Clay Minerals Society, 42nd Meeting.

Meyer, E.E., Beane, R.J., 2000, A petrographic study of the Spring Point Formation, Casco Bay, Maine, Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, Volume 33, p. 10. View the abstract.