David P. West, Jr. Professor - Geology Dept. 428 McCardell Bicentennial Hall Middlebury College Middlebury, Vermont 05753 Collecting my typical sized hand sample in the Western Gneiss Region, Norway.

Edge of the Mother's Day flow on the Big Island of Hawaii. Colleague Jeff Munroe and I taught a Winter Term class in 2003 (17 students) that included visits to three of the Hawaiian Islands. To see more photos from our trip to Hawaii please visit the following link Hawaii Images

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Education

B.S. (Geology) - Appalachian State University (1986)
M.S. (Geological Sciences) - University of Maine at Orono (1988)
Ph.D. (Geological Sciences) - University of Maine at Orono (1993)

e-mail: dwest@middlebury.edu; Tel: (802) 443-3476; Fax: (802) 443-2072

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Background and Teaching Philosophy

Prior to my arrival at Middlebury in the fall of 2001, I taught for five years at Earlham College in east-central Indiana. I have taught a wide variety of introductory and upper-level geology courses during my teaching career, including: Physical Geology, Earth Resources, Mineralogy, Petrology, Structural Geology, Tectonics, and Field Methods. In addition, I have supervised numerous undergraduate thesis projects in structural geology and petrology. The basic tenet of my teaching philosophy involves the integration of "hands-on" field experience with class work. Field experience lies at the heart of active learning in the Earth Sciences, and I am convinced that a thorough understanding of geology is best gained by actively observing and interpreting Earth features. Teaching geology at Middlebury has been a joy given the diversity of rock types exposed in the area, and that spectacular examples of folding, faulting, ductile shear, and cleavage development can all be found within a relatively short distance of campus. In addition, I have organized and led several off-campus multi-week field courses during my teaching career including trips to Maritime Canada, northwestern Scotland and the Hawaiian Islands.

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Research Interests

Broadly speaking, my research interests lie in the temporal and spatial distribution of deformational and thermal events during mountain building processes. In laypersons terms, I study the ways in which mountain systems grow and evolve in time and space. As one might expect, mountain belt evolution involves a number of complexly interrelated processes and I employ a multi-disciplinary field-based approach to studying such processes. I consider myself to be what is often referred to in the field as a "hard-rock geologist" and my research involves bedrock mapping, structural and microstructural analysis, igneous and metamorphic petrology as well as thermochronology. One of the main goals of my research has been to understand the evolution of deformational processes with time. Because most of this deformation is occurring many kilometers beneath active tectonic zones and is therefore inaccessible, most of my studies have concentrated on the deeply eroded roots of an older mountain belt - the Appalachians. I am currently working with several colleagues on a number of "sub-projects" within this Appalachian context, including projects on the thermal and deformational history of central and coastal Maine, the post-orogenic uplift history of the northern Appalachians, and the temporal and spatial evolution of strike-slip fault systems.

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Publications

Books Edited

West, D.P., Jr. (editor), 2011, Guidebook for Field Trips in Vermont and Adjacent New York: New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference Guidebook, 347 p.

West, D.P., Jr., and Bailey, R.H. (editors), 2001, Guidebook for Geological Field Trips in New England: Geological Society of America National Meeting Field Trip Guidebook, Boston, MA, 401 pages.

Ludman, A., and West, D.P., Jr. (editors), 1999, The Norumbega Fault System of the Northern Appalachians: Geological Society of America Special Paper 331, 202 pages.

Refereed Journal Articles and Book Chapters

Dorais, M.J., Atkinson, M., Kim, J., West, D.P., Jr., and Kirby, G.A., 2011, Where is the Iapetus suture in northern New England? A study of the Ammonoosuc Volcanics, Bronson Hill terrane, New Hampshire: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 49, p. 1-17.

Roden-Tice, M.K., West, D.P., Jr., Potter, J.K., Raymond, S.M., and Winch, J.L., 2009, Presence of a long-term lithospheric thermal anomaly: Evidence from apatite fission-track analysis in northern New England: Journal of Geology, v. 117, p. 627-641.

Johnson, S.E., Lenferink, H.J., Price, N.A., Marsh, J.H., Koons, P.O. West, D.P., Jr., and Beane, R., 2009. Clast-based kinematic vorticity gauges: the effects of slip at matrix/clast interfaces: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 31, p. 1322-1339.

Marsh, J.H., Johnson, S.E., Yates, M.G. and West, D.P. Jr., 2009. Coupling of deformation and reactions during shear zone development at the frictional-to-viscous transition: Journal of Metamorphic Geology, v. 27, p. 531-553.

Johnson, S.E., Lenferink, H.J., Marsh, J.H., Price, N.A., Koons, P.O. and West, D.P., Jr., 2009, Kinematic vorticity analysis and evolving strength of mylonitic shear zones: new data and numerical results: Geology, v. 37, 1075-1078.

West, D.P., Jr., Roden-Tice, M.K., Potter, J.K., and *Barnard, N.Q., 2008, Accessing the role of orogen-parallel faulting in post-orogenic exhumation: Low-temperature thermochronology across the Norumbega fault system, Maine: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 45, p. 287-301.

West, D.P., Jr., Yates, M.G., Gerbi, C., and *Barnard, N.Q., 2008, Metamorphosed Ordovician iron- and manganese-rich rocks in south-central Maine: from peri-Gondwanan deposition through Acadian metamorphism: American Mineralogist, v. 93, p. 270-283.

Gerbi, C., and West, D.P., Jr., 2007, Use of U-Pb geochronology to identify successive, spatially-overlapping tectonic episodes during Silurian-Devonian orogenesis in south-central Maine, USA: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 119, p. 1218-1231.

West, D.P., Jr., Tomascak, P.B., Coish, R.A., Yates, M.G., and *Reilly, M.J., 2007, Petrogenesis of the Lincoln Syenite, Maine: Late Silurian-Early Devonian melting of a source region modified by subduction driven metasomatism. American Journal of Science, v. 307, p. 265-310.

West, D.P., Jr., Coish, R.A., and Tomascak, P.B., 2004, Tectonic setting and regional correlation of Ordovician metavolcanic rocks of the Casco Bay Group, Maine: Evidence from trace element and isotope geochemistry: Geological Magazine, v. 141, p. 125-140.

West, D.P., Jr., *Beal, H.M., and Grover, T.W., 2003, Silurian deformation and metamorphism of Ordovician arc rocks of the Casco Bay Group, south-central Maine: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 40, p. 887-905.

West, D.P., Jr., and Roden-Tice, M.K., 2003, Late Cretaceous reactivation of the Norumbega fault zone, Maine: Evidence from apatite fission track ages: Geology, v. 31, p. 649-652.

West, D.P., Jr., 1999, The timing of displacements along the Norumbega fault system, south-central and south-coastal Maine: in Ludman, A. and West, D.P., Jr., eds., The Norumbega Fault System of the Northern Appalachians: Geological Society of America Special Paper 331, p. 167-178.

Ludman, A., and West, D.P., Jr., 1999, Preface, Norumbega fault system of the Northern Appalachians, in Ludman, A. and West, D.P., Jr., eds., The Norumbega Fault System of the Northern Appalachians: Geological Society of America Special Paper 331, p. v-xii.

West, D.P., Jr., and Hubbard, M.S., 1997, Progressive localization of deformation during exhumation of a major strike-slip shear zone: Norumbega fault zone, Maine: Tectonophysics, vol. 273, p. 185-201.

West, D.P., Jr., Guidotti, C.V., and Lux, D.R., 1995, Silurian orogenesis in the Western Penobscot Bay region, Maine: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, vol. 32, p. 1845-1858.

Hubbard, M.S., West, D.P., Jr., Ludman, A., and Guidotti, C.V., 1995, The Norumbega fault zone, Maine: a mid to shallow level crustal section in a transcurrent shear zone: Atlantic Geology, v. 31, p. 109-116.

Hubbard, M.S., Spencer, D.A., and West, D.P., Jr., 1995, Tectonic exhumation of the Nanga Parbat massif, northern Pakistan: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 133, p. 213-225.

West, D.P., Jr., Lux, D.R., and Hussey, A.M., II, 1993, Contrasting thermal histories across the Flying Point fault, southwestern Maine: Evidence for Mesozoic displacement: Geological Society of America Bulletin, vol. 105, p. 1478-1490.

West, D.P., Jr. and Lux, D.R., 1993, Direct dating of mylonitization by the 40Ar/39Ar method: An example from the Norumbega fault zone, Maine: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 120, p. 221-237.

Marchant, D.R., Swisher, C.C., III, Lux, D.R., West, D.P., Jr., and Denton, G.H., 1993, Pliocene paleoclimate and East Antarctic Ice Sheet history from surficial ash deposits and geomorphological studies of southern Victoria Land: Science, vol. 260, p. 667-670.

West, D.P., Jr., Ludman, A., and Lux, D.R., 1992, Silurian age for the Pocomoonshine Gabbro-Diorite, southeastern Maine and its regional tectonic implications: American Journal of Science, vol. 292, p. 253-273.

Crelling, J.C., Hippo, E.J., Woener, B.A., and West, D.P., Jr., 1992, Combustion characteristics of selected whole coals and macerals: Fuel, vol. 71, p. 151-158.

West, D.P., Jr., Lux, D.R., and Hussey, A.M., II, 1988, 40Ar/39Ar hornblende ages from southwestern Maine:Evidence for Late Paleozoic metamorphism: Atlantic Geology, vol. 24, p. 225-240.

Field Trip Guidebook Chapters

West, D.P., Jr., Kim, J., Klepeis, K., and Webber, J., 2011, Classic bedrock teaching localities in the Champlain Valley between Middlebury and Burlington, Vermont, in West, D.P., Jr., editor, Guidebook for Field Trips in Vermont and Adjacent New York: New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference Guidebook, p. 325-347.

Marvinney, R.G., West, D.P., Jr., Grover, T.W., and Berry, H.N. IV, 2010, A stratigraphic review of the Vassalboro Group in a portion of central Maine, in C. Gerbi, M. Yates, and D. Lux, eds, Guidebook for Field Trips in Coastal and Interior Maine: 102^nd New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference Guidebook, p. 61-76.

Price, N.A., West, D.P., Jr., Johnson, S.E., and Marsh, J.H., 2010, Coupled deformation and metamorphism, ultramylonite development, and evidence for paleoseismicity during protracted dextral shearing in the Norumbega fault system, south-central Maine, in C. Gerbi, M. Yates, and D. Lux, eds, Guidebook for Field Trips in Coastal and Interior Maine: 102^nd New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference Guidebook, p. 109-131.

West, D.P., Jr., Hussey, A.M., II, Berry, H.N., IV, and *Cubley, J.F., 2006, Bedrock geology of the Falmouth-Brunswick and central Maine sequences, Bowdoinham quadrangle, southern Maine, in D.G. Gibson, J. Daly, and D. Reusch, editors, 98^th New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference Guidebook, p. 43-56.

West, D.P., Jr., *Senese, M.A., and *Sterrett, J.B., 2000, Structural geology and tectonics of Silurian- Devonian terrane accretion in south-central Maine, in Yates, M.G., Lux, D.R., and Kelley, J.T., eds., Guidebook for Field Trips in Coastal and East-Central Maine, New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference Guidebook (92nd Annual Meeting), p. 107-128.

West, D.P., Jr., 1995, The Norumbega fault zone in south-central Maine: A trip through 80 million years of dextral shear deformation: in Hussey, A.M., II and Johnston, R.A., editors, Guidebook to Field Trips in Southwestern Maine and Adjacent New Hampshire, 87th New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference Guidebook, p. 125-143.

Stewart, D.B., Tucker, R.D., and West, D.P., Jr., 1995, Genesis of Silurian composite terrane in northern Penobscot Bay: in Hussey, A.M., II and Johnston, R.A., editors, Guidebook to Field Trips in Southwestern Maine and Adjacent New Hampshire, 87th New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference Guidebook, p. 29-49.

Bedrock Geologic Maps and Reports

Grover, T.W., and West, D.P., Jr., 2011, Bedrock geology of the East Pittston 7.5’ quadrangle, Maine: Maine Geological Survey Map 11-26, Scale = 1:24,000.

West, D.P., Jr., Berry, H.N. IV and Corbett, L.B., 2010, Bedrock geology of the Richmond 7.5’ quadrangle, Maine: Maine Geological Survey Map 10-19, Scale = 1:24,000.

West, D.P., Jr., and *Ellenberger, E.D., 2008, Bedrock Geology Purgatory 7.5’ Quadrangle, Maine: Maine Geological Survey Map 08-35: Scale = 1:24,000.

West, D.P., Jr. and *Cubley, J.F., 2006, Bedrock Geology of the Bowdoinham 7.5' Quadrangle, Maine: Maine Geological Survey Map 06-54, Scale 1:24,000, includes 17 p. report.

West, D.P., Jr., 2006, Bedrock Geology of the Washington 7.5' Quadrangle, Maine: Maine Geological Survey Map 06-79, Scale 1:24,000.

West, D.P., Jr. and *Peterman, E.M., 2004, Bedrock Geology of the Razorville 7.5' Quadrangle, Maine: Maine Geological Survey Map 04-29, Scale 1:24,000 (Geologic Map and Explanation).

Berry, H.N. IV, West, D.P., Jr., and *Dupee, M.E., in review, Bedrock Geology of the Searsmont 7.5' Quadrangle, Maine: Maine Geological Survey Map, Scale 1:24,000.

Norton, S.A., Berry, H.N. IV, and West, D.P., Jr., in review, Preliminary Bedrock Geology of the Union 7.5’ Quadrangle, Maine, Maine Geological Survey Map, Scale 1:24,000

Recent Conference Abstracts

*Condit, C.B., and West, D.P., Jr., 2011, Igneous petrogenesis and superimposed deformation of the Blinn Hill plutonic complex, east-central Maine: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 42, p.

West, D.P., Jr., Pollock, S.G., and Grover, T.G., 2010, Mapping the deeply eroded roots of a major strike-slip fault system: A summary of recent mapping along the Norumbega fault system in Maine: Eos Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, 91(52), V11C-2305.

West, D.P., Jr., Abbott, R.N., Bandy, B., and Madourie, M., 2010, Geochemistry and tectonic setting of Cretaceous metamorphic rocks in the Blue Mountain inlier, eastern Jamaica, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 42, no. 5, p. 267.

West, D.P., Jr., Berry, H.N. IV, Marvinney, R.G., Grover, T.W., and Pollock, S., 2010, Progress towards a new bedrock map for the Augusta 1:100,000 quadrangle, south-central Maine: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 42, no. 1, p. 128.

Wang, C., West, D.P., Jr., and Ludman, A., 2010, The Norumbega fault system (NFS): Long-lived transcurretnt faulting in eastern and south-central Maine: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 42, no. 1, p.

West, D.P., Jr., and *Sanford, J., 2009, Mylonite, cataclasite, and pseudotachylyte in the Jones Corner fault zone, south-central Maine: A polyphase history of shearing, faulting and seismicity: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 41, no. 7, p. 460.

Johnson, S.E., Koons, P., West, D.P., Jr., and Price, N., 2008, Rheological heterogeneity and the state of stress in the roots of a large displacement, strike-slip, seismogenic fault, the Norumbega fault system in Maine: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 40, p. 29.

West, D.P., Jr., and Gerbi, C., 2007, Flat versus upright structures in south-central Maine: Evidence for distinct deformational events rather than strain partitioning: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, p. 98.

Gerbi, C., and West, D.P., Jr., 2007, The record of change from compressional to transpressional plate convergence in the south-central Maine Acadian hinterland: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, p. 97.

Johnson, S.E., Koons, P., and West, D.P., Jr., 2007, Stresses at the base of seismogenic faults and coupling of deformation across the frictional to viscous transition: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, p. 97-98.

West, D.P., Jr., *Barnard, N., and Gerbi, C., 2006, Metamorphosed iron-rich rocks in south-central Maine: From peri-Gondwanan sedimentation through Acadian metamorphism. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 38, p. 48.

West, D.P., Jr., Tomascak, P.B., and Coish, R.A., 2006, Petrogenesis of the Lincoln Syenite Maine: Evidence for Late Silurian-Early Devonian melting of a source region modified by subduction driven metasomatism: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 38, p. 31-32.

West, D.P., Jr., Roden-Tice, M., and *Barnard, N. (’06), 2006, Low temperature thermochronology along the Norumbega fault system in southwestern and south-central Maine: Accessing the role of orogen-parallel faults in post-Paleozoic exhumation: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 38, p. 92.

Roden-Tice, M., *Raymond, S.M., and West, D.P., Jr., 2006, Early to Late Cretaceous cooling across New Hampshire based on apatite fission track ages: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program, v. 38, p. 91-92.

West, D.P., Jr., Gerbi, C., Johnson, S.E., Aleinikoff, J., and Berry, H.N. IV, 2005, Strain partitioning and timing of high-grade Acadian metamorphism in south-central Maine: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 37, p. 31.

*Cubley, J.F., and West, D.P., Jr., 2005, Bedrock geology and igneous geochemistry in the northern half of the Bowdoinham 7.5' quadrangle, southwestern Maine: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 37, p. 60.

*Potter, J.K., *Winch, J.L., Roden-Tice, M.K., Reiners, P.W., West, D.P., Jr., and Wintsch, R.P., 2005, Mid-Cretaceous fault reactivation in central New England: Evidence from (U-Th)/He and apatite fission track thermochronology: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 37, p. 77.

West, D.P., Jr. and Stewart, D.B., 2004, Geology and tectonics of peri-Gondwanan terranes in coastal Maine: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, p. 129.

*Peterman, E.M., and West, D.P., Jr., 2004, Deciphering the Ordovician tectonic history of a portion of the Liberty-Orrington belt in south-central Maine: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, p. 100.

Roden-Tice, M.K., West, D.P., Jr., Wintsch, R.P., *Potter, J.K., and *Winch, J.L., 2004, Late Mesozoic exhumation of the northern Appalachian orogen: Information from apatite fission track ages: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, p. 75.

* Denotes Student Co-Author

Major Professional Service

Primary organizer and guidebook editor for the 103^rd Annual Meeting of the New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference: to be held in west-central Vermont, Sept. 30^th – Oct. 2^nd.

Joint Technical Programming Committee for the Geological Society of America Annual Meetings (Structural Geology and Tectonics Division representative) 2010 and 2011.

Editor of the Structural Geology and Tectonics Division Newsletter for the Geological Society of America (2008 – present)

Geological Society of America Northeastern Section Officer (Chair: 2006-2007; Vice Chair: 2005-2006)

Vermont Geological Society Secretary (2002-present)

New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference (Leader of 7 different NEIGC field trips)

NEGSA Theme Session Organizer: 2010, 2006, 2005, 1998

2002 GSA GeoHostel Field Trip leader (Co-leader of a multi-day field trip along the southern coast of Maine)

2001 Geological Society of America Field Trip Co-Chair (involved the organization & coordination of 26 field trips associated with the 2001 GSA national meeting in Boston, MA).

Elected Fellow of the Geological Society of America (2008)

Isoclinal recumbent folding in the Western Gneiss region, Norway

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