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Department of Earth Sciences:
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"Studies in the Earth Sciences at the University
of Southern California date back to the beginning
of the University itself. In 1881, the study of
geology was required in the first programs
offered by the University. From its first
professorship in 1909, the Department has grown
to a faculty of twenty-one, and represents most
major disciplines within modern earth sciences.
The Department of Earth Sciences is composed of a spectrum of
Research Disciplines focused on understanding the
processes that influence the tectonics and environment of the planet,
on using this understanding to read the record of
earth history written in rocks and sediments, and on developing models that can be used to predict future changes due to
natural phenomena and mankind's perturbations. Issues of societal concern related to seismic risk, climate change,
environmental contamination and other geologic hazards play an important role. Research topics of the department include
geobiology, geochemistry, geophysics, marine geology, paleoceanography, paleontology, paleoseismology, petrology,
physical and chemical oceanography, sedimentology, and structural geology.
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Igneous & Metamorphic Petrology Program:
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"The igneous and metamorphic petrology program interrelates with other department specialities
including tectonics, structure, geochemistry, and geophysics. Igneous studies include:
- late Precambrian anorthosite and rapakivi massifs across the North American craton
(Wisconsin, Colorado, southwest United States);
- Mesozoic granodiorite plutonism (in metamorphic core complexes and suspect terranes of
the southern Cordillera); and
- Miocene basalt-andesite volcanism (Mojave Desert and Whipple Mountains, southern
California) with emphasis on interrelation of magmatism to tectonics.
Metamorphic studies utilize both phase equilibria and stable isotopic analyses to address
questions regarding the role of fluids in crustal processes. Current studies are focused on the
role of fluids in the development of metamorphic core complexes in southern California and
Arizona.
Many of our petrological studies are also petrochemically oriented and in addition to the usual
petrographic and rock preparation laboratories, we have facilities for mineral and whole rock
analysis. The petrochemistry lab includes a clean lab for major and trace element geochemistry
of crystalline rocks. Our x-ray lab houses a new automated, wavelength dispersive x-ray
fluorescence spectrometer. A new light stable isotopic lab includes a VG PRISM gas ratio mass
spectrometer and extraction lines to conduct C, O, H, N and S analysis of rocks and minerals. A
new laser based extraction system is now operational and allows in situ isotopic analyses of
minerals. Mineral microanalysis is done on a SEM-EDS system housed on the USC campus and
on electron microprobes at UCLA and Caltech."
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