Peter Crowley Ryan
Geology Department, 279 Bicentennial Rd. Middlebury College Middlebury, Vermont 05753 USA
Phone: 1-802-443-2557 -- FAX: 1-802-443-2072 e-mail: pryan@jaguar.middlebury.edu
Associate Professor of Geology and Environmental Studies
Director of the Program in Environmental Studies
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Background
As a member of the Geology Department and the Environmental Studies Program I teach courses in both geology and ES and advise senior research projects in both areas. The focus of my teaching and research here at Middlebury is low-temperature geochemistry. Prior to my arrival here, I taught earth science and environmental chemistry courses from 1994-1998 in the Environmental Science Program at Salish Kootenai College, a tribal college on the Flathead Indian Reservation of western Montana.
A. . B. C. D.
Images from left to right:
A. Early Holocene fluvial sediments and soil profile, Esterillos, Costa Rica
B. Ordovician K-bentonite, Lake Champlain
C. Feb graduation at the Snowbowl with Prof. Miguel Fernandez
D. Water chemistry lab with GEOL 112
B.A.- Dartmouth College (Earth Sciences), 1988 M.S.- University of Montana (Geology), 1991 Ph.D.- Dartmouth College (Earth Sciences), 1994
Visiting Research Scientist at the Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK. Summer 1999, 2002.
Visiting Research Scientist at Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Granada, Spain, 2007-08.
Courses Taught at Middlebury College
* Environmental Geochemistry (incl. lab) (GEOL 283) Syllabus
* Soils, Geology and the Environment (incl. lab) (GEOL/GEOG 257) Syllabus
* Surface and Groundwater (incl. lab) (GEOL/GEOG 255) Syllabus
* Sedimentary Rocks (incl. lab) (GEOL 321) Syllabus
* Climate Change Through Geological Time (GEOL 012) Syllabus
* Natural Science and the Environment (ENVS 112) Syllabus
* Earthquakes and Volcanoes (incl. discussion) (GEOL 104)
* Environmental Geology (incl. lab) (GEOL 112)
* Environmental Studies Senior Seminar (ENVS 401)
* Environmental Science Practicum (ENVS 360)
* Geology Research Seminar (GEOL 400)
* Geology and Natural History of Costa Rica (ID 082, field course with HJ Young, Biology)
Research Interests
My research interests generally lie within the areas of surficial geology and low-temperature mineralogy/geochemistry, especially as applied to soils, sedimentary rocks and aquifers. Research methods include X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, ICP-AES and other complementary methods of major and trace element analysis, laser diffraction particle size analysis and field reconnaissance and mapping.
Research Papers (* = student co-author)
Munroe JS, Farrugia G*, Ryan PC. 2007. Parent material and chemical weathering in alpine soils on Mount Mansfield, Vermont, USA. Catena 70(1), 39-48.
Fisher GB*, Ryan PC. 2006. The smectite to disordered kaolinite transition in a tropical soil chronosequence, Pacific Coast, Costa Rica. Clays & Clay Minerals 54, 571-586.
Kautz CQ*, Ryan PC. 2003. The 10 Å to 7 Å halloysite transition in a tropical soil sequence, Costa Rica. Clays and Clay Minerals 51, 252-263.
Sears JW, Ryan PC. 2003. Cenozoic evolution of the Montana Cordillera: evidence from paleovalleys. Cenozoic Systems of the Rocky Mountain Region (Raynolds RG, Flores RM, Eds.), SEPM Special Publication, Denver, CO.
Ryan PC, Wall AJ*, Hillier S, Clark L. 2002. Insights into sequential chemical extraction from quantitative XRD: A study of trace metal partitioning in sediments related to frog malformities. Chemical Geology 184, 337-357.
Ryan PC, Hillier S. 2002. Facies relationships of Fe-rich clays in the Sundance Formation. American Mineralogist 87, 1607-1615.
Hillier S, Ryan PC. 2002. Identification of halloysite (7Å) by ethylene glycol solvation: The MacEwan effect. Clay Minerals 37, 395-404.
Ryan PC, Conrad ME, Brown K*, Chamberlain CP, Reynolds, RC Jr. 1998. Oxygen isotopic compositions of serpentine/chlorite and illite/smectite in the Tuscaloosa Formation (US Gulf Coast): Implications for pore fluids and mineralogic reactions. Clays and Clay Minerals 46, 357-368.
Ryan PC, Buckley SN. 1998. Sedimentation, stratabound Cu-Ag mineralization, and syndepositional tectonics in the Revett Formation, Flathead Indian Reservation, western Montana: in The Belt Supergroup, Proc. Belt Symposium III, Special Pub. 112, Mont. Bur. of Mines Geol., 278-289.
Ryan PC, Reynolds RC, Jr. 1997. The chemical composition of serpentine/chlorite: SEM-EDX vs. XRD determinations, implications for mineralogic reactions, and the origin of anatase. Clays and Clay Minerals 45, 339-352.
Ryan PC, Reynolds RC, Jr. 1996. The origin and diagenesis of grain-coating serpentine/chlorite in Tuscaloosa Formation sandstone, U.S. Gulf Coast. American Mineralogist 81, 213-225.
Moe JA, Ryan PC, Elliott WC, Reynolds RC, Jr. 1996. Petrology, chemistry, and clay mineralogy of a K-bentonite in the Proterozoic Belt Supergroup of western Montana: Journal of Sedimentary Research 66, 95-99.
Buckley SN, Sears JW, Ryan PC, and Lauer D. 1994. Base-metal and PGE mineralization, sedimentation and mafic magmatism related to rifting of the Middle Proterozoic Belt Supergroup, western Montana: Northwest Geology 23 (Metallogeny of the Belt-Purcell Basin), 13-18.
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Recent Abstracts/Conference Presentations (* = student co-author)
Gleason, Michael J.*, Kim, Jonathan, Coish, Raymond and Ryan, Peter C, (2007) Radionuclide-enriched groundwater, Knox Mountain pluton, Vermont: occurrence and lithologic controls, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, n. 1, p. 102.
Ryan, Peter C., Coish, Ray, and Joseph*, Kristiaan (2007), Ordovician K-Bentonites in western Vermont : mineralogic, stratigraphic and geochemical evidence for their occurrence and tectonic significance, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, n. 1, p. 50.
Sullivan, Colleen*, Bright, Kevin*, Kim, Jonathan, and Ryan, Peter C. (2007) Potential ultramafic-derived arsenic contamination in bedrock water wells in north-central Vermont, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 39, n. 1, p. 71.
North KP*, Kim J, Ryan P. 2005. Evaluation of geologic controls on elevated naturally-occurring radioactivity in bedrock ground water wells, NW Vermont. Geological Society of America 37 (1), 78.
Fisher GB*, Ryan PC. 2005. The ferruginous beidellite to halloysite transition in a tropical soil chronosequence. Clay Minerals Society 43rd Annual Meeting, 41. ** This paper won best student presentation at the meeting.
Cowden S*, Ryan PC, Greenglass N*. 2004. Lead in groundwater derived from a fractured carbonate aquifer (Clarendon Springs Formation), northwestern Vermont. Geological Society of America 36 (2), 66.
Ryan P, Hillier S, Wall A*, Wesolowski M*. 2004. Serpentinite weathering and trace metal mobility in dry tropical forest (NW Costa Rica) and cool temporate grassland (SW England). Geological Society of America 36 (5), 27.
Fisher GB*, Ryan PC. 2004. Clay mineral weathering sequence in a tropical terrace progression, Costa Rica. Geological Society of America 36 (2), 73.
Ryan PC, Hillier S, Wall AJ*. 2003. Trace metal speciation in soils derived from ultramafic rock, northwestern Costa Rica. Geological Society of America 34 (7), 241. Cook R*, Ryan PC, Miller EK. 2003. Spatial variability in exchangeable calcium concentrations in Vermont spodosols. Geological Society of America 34 (7), 406.
Ryan PC, Hillier S. 2002. Berthierine-chamosite, corrensite and discrete chlorite from evolved verdine and evaporite-associated facies in the Jurassic Sundance Formation, Wyoming, USA. Prog. Abs., Clay Minerals Society, 39th Annual Mtg, Boulder, CO, p. 149.
Cook RC, Ryan PC, 2002. Differentiation of two Quaternary lahars by clay mineralogical, quantitative X-ray diffraction and particle size analyses. GSA Abstracts with Programs v. 34 (5), p. A28. ** This presentation won the best student poster award.
Kautz CQ*, Ryan PC. 2002. The mineralogical record of climate change in the John Day Formation, central Oregon. GSA Abstracts with Programs v. 34 (5), p. A26
Parris A, Bosley A, Noren A, Bierman P, Lini A, Ryan P. 2002. Holocene flood frequency in New England: Large, episodic events in the sediment record. GSA Abstracts with Programs v. 34.
Carlson HA*, Ryan PC. 2001. Quantitative XRD analysis of spodosols as a means of assessing response to acid deposition. GSA Abstracts with Programs v. 33, p. A362.
Kautz CQ*, Ryan PC. 2001. Formation of multiple halloysitic phases in a neotropical fluvial terrace Sequence. GSA Abstracts with Programs v. 33, p. A437.
Ryan PC, Hillier S. 2001. Paleoenvironmental significance of Fe-Mg clays in sandstones. GSA Abstracts with Programs v. 33, p. A73.
Ryan PC, Kautz CQ*. 2001. Formation of multiple halloysitic phases in a neotropical fluvial terrace sequence. Prog. Abs., Clay Minerals Society, 38th Annual Mtg, Madison, WI, p. 73.
Sullivan MY*, Ryan PC. 2001. Geochemical analysis of sediments in the Ompompanoosuc River near the Elizabeth Mine, South Strafford, Vermont. Geol Soc. America 33 (1).
Nichols D*, Ryan PC. 2001. Hydrothermal origin of kaolinite at Brandon and Monkton, Vermont. Geol Soc. America 33 (1).
2007
An Historical Analysis of Sedimentation in Otter Creek, Pre-settlement to the Present
Carrie Childs ('07). Co-advised with Pat Manley
Occurrence of and Lithologic Controls on Naturally Occurring Radioactivity in Groundwater, Northern Half of the Knox Mountain Pluton, Vermont.
Michael Gleason ('07). Co-advised with Ray Coish
Evaluation of a Potential Ultramafic Source of Arsenic Contamination in Bedrock Water Wells in Central Vermont.
Colleen Sullivan ('07)
2006
Geochemistry and mineralogy of spodosols along an elevational gradient, Bolton Mountain, Vermont.
Dan Berkman ('06)
An evaluation of arsenic sources and extent in ground water in north-central Vermont..
Kevin Bright ('06)
An assessment of the mineralogy and geochemistry of Ordovician K-bentonites in western Vermont.
Kristiaan Joseph ('06)
Soil Geochemistry and mineralogy of the Bartlett Experimental Forest, White Mountains, New Hampshire..
Lynne Zummo ('06)
2005
Selective chemical extraction of a series of natural soil specimens, and implications for reagent selectivity.
Trevor Cloak (05 - Environmental Chemistry).
Selective chemical extraction of a series of clay mineral standards, and implications for reagent selectivity.
Nicole Grohoski (05 - Environmental Chemistry).
The chemical composition of precipitation and stream outflow in a small watershed in the Breadloaf area, Ripton, Vermont..
Caitlyn Long(05 - Environmental Chemistry).
Evaluation of geological controls on elevated naturally-occurring radioactivity in bedrock ground water wells, NW Vermont.
Katharine North (05).
2004
Lead in ground water derived from a fractured carbonate aquifer (Clarendon Springs Formation), northwestern Vermont.
Susannah Cowden ('04)
Rates of soil mineral formation in a tropical terrace progression, Pacific Coast, Costa Rica.
G. Burch Fisher (03.5).
2003
Evaluation of the Hazens Notch Formation as a source of trace metals to streams and soils, northern Vermont.
Dana Chapin (03).
Geochemical, stratigraphic and structural framework for natural sources of lead and uranium in groundwater in Addison County.
Nora Greenglass (03). Co-advised with David West.
Geochemical and mineralogical correlation of volcanic ash deposits, northern Chile.
Brian McCurdy (03).
Chemical weathering of serpentinites and trace metal mobility in soils and streams on the Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, England.
Marty Wesolowski (03).
2002
Paleoclimatic record of clay minerals in the John Day Formation, Oregon.
Christopher Kautz (02).
Application of clay mineralogy and chemical analysis to stratigraphic correlation of Quaternary lahars, Mt. Hood.
Robyn Cook (02).
Trace metal mobility in association with ultramafic rock, East Dover, Vermont.
Dana Drummond (02).
2001
Mineralogy and origin of the Brandon Residual Formation/Brandon Lignite, Vermont.
Drew Nichols (01).
Sediment chemistry downstream of the Elizabeth copper mine, S. Strafford, VT.
Maggie Sullivan (01).
Modeling snow avalanche spatial and temporal distributions using snow-tel data, western US.
David Selkowitz (01- Geography).
Analysis of soil mineral formation in the wake of the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens.
Matt Whitcomb (01).
2000
Heavy metal speciation and chemical weathering of ultramafic rock in Vermont.
Brooke Laundon (00). Co-advised with Ray Coish.
Mineralogy and geochemistry of the Raasay Ironstone, Inner Hebrides, Scotland.
Elizabeth Hunter (00).
Geochemical analysis of the logged and old growth forests, Middlebury Vermont.
Josh Nothwang (00).
Geochemical and macrofossil analysis of a lake sediment core as a record of Holocene environmental change in the Ritterbush Pond basin, northern Vermont.
Amanda Ayres (00). Co-advised with Andrea Lloyd.
1999
Analysis of heavy metals in 2 Vermont wetlands associated with frog malformations.
Andrew Wall (99.5).
Geochemistry and mineralogy of iron-oxide acid drainage coatings, Pike Hill Mine, Vermont.
Brian Totten (99).
Geochemistry and mineralogy of sulfide-rich mine tailings, Pike Hill Mine, Vermont.
Scott Wiercinski (99).
Geochemistry of lateritic sediments in western Montana.
Bryan Hopping (99).