Mytilus californianus as an environmental monitor: a case study from central California: Frank Forcino, M.S. Candidate, Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University - Intraskeletal oxygen stable-isotope ratios (δ18O) and minor element ratios (Mg/Ca) were examined in modern Mytilus californianus specimens to test the hypothesis that these variables record ambient seawater temperature, and therefore can be measured in fossil specimens as a means of reconstructing...

Magnetotelluric Investigation of the Santo Domingo Basin, Rio Grande Rift, New Mexico: Peter Winther, M.S. Candidate, Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University - Magnetotelluric (MT) investigations of the Santo Domingo Basin were made in 2000-2007 to assess the deep stratigraphy and tectonics of an intra rift basin. The studies were conducted during the SAGE (Summer of Applied Geophysical Experience) program to provide ‘hands-on’ learning experiences for students and...

Latitunal Controls on the Martian Crater Densities: Dylan Collins, B.S. Candidate, Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University: In order to gain new insight into Mars’ planetary dynamics, an examination of Martian crater densities as a function of latitude was completed. There are two complete crater catalogs of the Martian surface; one manually compiled by Nadine Barlow and one compiled by crater counting software created by Tomasz Stepinski and colleagues. After loading...

Using XRD Peak Broadening Analysis on Quartz to Identify Shatter Cones of the Santa Fe New Mexico Impact Structure: Robert Edie, B.S. Candidate, Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University - In addition to such large-scale features as craters and remote sensing anomalies, evidence for meteorite impact events is abundant at both micro- and mesoscopic scales. Micro-structural damage, planar deformation features, and planar fractures within quartz and other silicate mineral...

Seismic Anisotropy in the Julian Schist, San Diego CA: Robert Gallardo, B.S. Candidate, Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University - P-wave velocity measurements of a Julian Schist rock sample collected in the Laguna Mountains region of East San Diego County show significant P-wave velocity anisotropy at near surface conditions. Multiple P-wave velocity measurements were taken from orthorhombic cut sample of Julian Schist using the Tico Ultrasonic Instrument with varying...

Possible relationship of the Iron Mountain metavolcanic assemblage to the El Cajon Mtn ring complex, San Diego Country, California: Justin Kerl, B.S. Candidate, Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University - The Cretaceous Santiago Peak Volcanics are exposed along the western edge of the Peninsular Ranges batholith(PRB) and are interpreted as the volcanic cover of the batholitic intrusions. Ring dikes are also a common feature in the western PRB and were first described...

Petrology of the Santiago Peak Volcanics, San Diego County, California: Jerehme Acosta, B.S. Candidate, Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University - The Santiago Peak Volcanics (SPV) is exposed discontinuously in a belt along the western side of the Peninsular Ranges batholith in southern and Baja California. The SPV is intruded by ~125-100 Ma intrusions of the batholith and unconformably overlain by Late Cretaceous forearc basin strata of the Rosario Group. The SPV has...

The Recent Prehistoric Geochemical Evolution of Summit Lavas From Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii: Dale Burns, M.S. Candidate, Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University - Lavas from Kilauea Volcano display rapid geochemical and isotopic variations (e.g., 206Pb/204Pb or Nb/Y ratios) on a time scale of decades to centuries. The wall of Kilauea Caldera at Uwekahuna Bluff exposes a sequence of recent prehistoric, caldera-filling lavas (erupted mostly between AD 900-1400). Here we...

Chemical and Physical Characteristics of Pulverized Tejon Lookout Granite Adjacent to the San Andreas and Garlock Faults: Implications for Earthquake Physics: Matthew Sisk, M.S. Candidate, Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University - We present new detailed analysis of pulverized Tejon Lookout granite from sections adjacent to the San Andreas and Garlock faults in southern California. The granite is pulverized in all exposures within about 100 m from both faults....

TIR spectroscopy of shocked Deccan basalt: Implications for Mars and Martian meteorites: Shawn Wright, Institute of Meteoritics, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico - Hundreds of thousands of impact craters dominate the surfaces of the Moon, Mercury, and Mars. There exists much geomorphic and spectral evidence for basalt on those surfaces, so basaltic target rocks are most likely common. However, little work has been done on the thermal infrared (TIR)...