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...

Stratigraphy and structure of the Miocene Bear Canyon Conglomerate, Imperial County SE California: Evidence for the episodic growth of the Chocolate Mountains anticlinorium: Krista Muela, B.S. Candidate, Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University - Between Indian Pass and Picacho State Recreation Area crystalline basement is overlain by early Miocene (~23 Ma) volcanic rocks. These units are in turn unconformably overlain by undated alluvial sedimentary rocks of the...

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....

Effect of Heterogeneous Prestress on Near-Field Rupture Directivity Andrew Gritz M.S. Candidate Department of Geological Sciences San Diego State University Advisor Steven Day To supplement the very limited number of strong motion recordings in areas near to earthquake sources, numerical modeling of the rupture process and radiated seismic energy was carried out to study such ground motion. The near fault region is susceptible to very strong shaking both because of proximity to the...