University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES

FACULTY

Allen F. Glazner

Igneous Petrology and Tectonics

Professor of Geological Sciences

On the Late Cretaceous Paradise pluton, west arete of Junction Peak at about 13,500', with fog forming over Forester Pass. August 2003

Education | Contact Information | What's New | Research Interests
Research Activities | Death Valley | Books | Teaching | Research Publications | Running and Flying

Education

    Ph.D., University of California-Los Angeles, 1981.

    B.A., Pomona College, 1976.

Contact Information

    Department of Geological Sciences
    311 Mitchell Hall, CB#3315
    University of North Carolina
    Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3315

    email: afg@unc.edu

    telephone: 919-962-0689

    fax: (919) 966-4519

What's New

Aerial Tours of Eastern California's Geology; Deep Springs Valley tour added October 04

Latest NAVDAT animations of Cenozoic volcanism in the western U.S.

Other Stuff of Interest

First-Year Seminar trip to eastern California, October 2003

Shaded geologic map of Long Valley caldera

Pictures from First-Year Seminar trip to the Sierra Nevada and Death Valley, October 2002

GSA Memoir 195: Geologic Evolution of the Mojave Desert and Southwestern Basin and Range

Some photos from a 50K run in Yosemite National Park, August 2001

Photos from Geology 184 field trip to eastern California, October 2000

Atlas of Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks, Minerals, and Textures

Geology Image Gallery

Draped and shaded geologic maps of Yosemite and other areas

Pictures from flight to Death Valley, January 1999

Pictures from the Geology 184 Spring Break field trip to Death Valley and Owens Valley, March 1998

The Kemo Page

I received a Tanner Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, Spring 2000. Many thanks to the great students over the years who've made this possible, to the other faculty I've relied on for advice, to the UNC Center for Teaching and Learning, and to Kurt Frankel, who nominated me for the award.

Co-editor of the Geological Society of America Bulletin, 1999-2002

Research Interests

My principal research interests are igneous petrology, tectonics, and the geologic evolution of western North America. Tools employed in these studies include field work, whole-rock geochemistry, radiogenic isotope studies, U-Pb geochronology, and structural geology.

Research Activities

Current research centers on magmatism in eastern California. The continental margin of western North America has a complex and magmatically diverse history, and we are using magmatism as a measure of its evolution. Mafic magmas (basalts and their intrusive equivalents) drive magmatic systems and provide a glimpse of mantle behavior.

Current projects include:
  • Significance of thin interpluton septa for pluton emplacement processes. This project, jointly funded by the National Science Foundation with John Bartley (University of Utah) and Drew Coleman (Boston University), is aimed at understanding how thin, continuous, pluton-separating screens of wall rock develop, and what they mean for the emplacement mechanisms of plutons. Field examples in Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks are under study by the three of us and students Scott Grasse (Utah), Ryan Taylor (UNC), and John Templeton (UNC). Photos and maps of the Split Mountain screen are useful ways to study the rocks.
  • Petrologic and tectonic studies of the Coso and Eagle Crags volcanic fields. A study of mafic and felsic Late Cenozoic magmas in and around the Coso geothermal area, funded by the Navy. This work is in conjunction with Doug Walker (University of Kansas), with former postdocs Jonathan Miller and Curtis Manley, and with a consortium led by the Geothermal Program Office at the China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center.
  • Age, deformation, and significance of the Independence dike swarm, California. Structural and geochronologic studies of the huge Jurassic and Cretaceous Independence dike swarm, funded by the National Science Foundation. This study formed Brian Carl's Ph.D. thesis work.
  • Continental Mountains in Extensional Environments: The Sierran Paradox. A Collaborative Research Proposal. A study of Late Cenozoic basalts and ultrapotassic rocks in the southern Sierra Nevada. This project, collaborative with Lang Farmer (University of Colorado), is part of the Southern Sierra Continental Dynamics project. Ours goals are to use the basalts as indices of mantle evolution under the range. Funded by the National Science Foundation.
  • Time-space variability of mafic plutons in the Sierra-Mojave batholith. Kent Ratajeski's Ph.D. work. Funded by the National Science Foundation.
Recent research publications are noted below.

    Death Valley

    Hear me pontificate about Death Valley in a very nice web article (with many pictures and audio clips) on the web site of the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Thanks to Jim Spadaccini for the nice article.

Books

    Be sure to check out these books, coauthored with Bob Sharp:

Both are available from Mountain Press.

    Teaching

In a typical year I teach the following courses:
  • Introductory Geology (Geology 11)
  • Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (Geology 53)
  • Advanced Field Seminar in Geology (Geology 184)
  • A seminar in tectonics or petrology (recent seminar topics include subduction zones, heat flow, and the tectonic evolution of the western United States)
 
I have also taught courses in the following:
  • Graduate igneous petrology
  • Graduate igneous geochemistry
  • Volcanology
  • Graduate mineralogy and crystal chemistry
  • Summer field course
 
Web-based image collections include images for my introductory geology class and the Atlas of Igneous and Metamorphic Rocks, Minerals, and Textures, which Kent Ratajeski and I are developing.

Running and Flying

When not doing geology, spending time with my family, walking the dog, etc., I like to run, swim, bike, and fly. I am a member of the Cardinal Track Club, Godiva Track Club, and the Wings of Carolina Flying Club.
  • Running (and Triathlon) Resume
  • Flying: instrument-rated, checked out in Cessna 152 and Piper Warrior aircraft. I typically fly out of Sanford-Lee County Airport (TTA) in Chapel Hill, and Bishop Airport (BIH) while doing field work in California.

Selected Research Publications

Reverse chronological order.

Glazner, A. F., Bartley, J. M., Coleman, D. S., Gray, W., and Taylor, R. Z., 2004, Are plutons assembled over millions of years by amalgamation from small magma chambers? GSA Today, v. 14, p. 4-11.

Coleman, D. S., Gray, W., and Glazner, A. F., 2004, Rethinking the emplacement and evolution of zoned plutons: Geochronologic evidence for incremental assembly of the Tuolumne Intrusive Suite, California: Geology, v. 32, p. 433-436.

Glazner, A. F., Bartley, J. M., Hamilton, W. B., and Carl, B. S., 2003, Making space for batholiths by extrusion of sub-batholithic crust: International Geology Review, v. 45, p. 959-967.

Mahan, K. H., Bartley, J. M., Coleman, D. S., Glazner, A. F., and Carl, B. S., 2003, Sheeted intrusion of the synkinematic McDoogle pluton, Sierra Nevada, California: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 115, p. 1570-1582.

Coleman, D. S., Briggs, S., Glazner, A. F., and Northrup, C. J.,2003, Timing of plutonism and deformation in the White Mountains of eastern California: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 115, p. 48-57.

Farmer, G. L., Glazner, A. F., and Manley, C. R., 2002, Did lithospheric delamination trigger late Cenozoic potassic volcanism in the southern Sierra Nevada, California?: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 114, p. 754–768.

Glazner, A. F., Walker, J. D., Bartley, J. M., and Fletcher, J. M., 2002, Cenozoic evolution of the Mojave block and environs: Geological Society of America Memoir 195, p. 19-41.

Carl, B. S., and Glazner, A. F., 2002, Present extent of the Independence dike swarm: Geological Society of America Memoir 195, p. 117-130.

Walker, J. D., Martin, M. W., and Glazner, A. F., 2002, Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic development of the Mojave Desert and environs: Geological Society of America Memoir 195, p. 1-18.

Fletcher, J. M., Miller, J. S., Boettcher, S. S., Glazner, A. F., Martin, M. W., and Bartley, J. M., 2002, Cretaceous arc tectonism in the central Mojave Desert: profound crustal modification that controlled subsequent tectonic regimes: Geological Society of America Memoir 195, p. 131-149.

Ratajeski, K., Glazner, A. F., and Miller, B. V., 2001, Geology and geochemistry of mafic to felsic plutonic rocks associated with the Cretaceous intrusive suite of Yosemite Valley, California: Geological Society of America Bulletin ,v. 113, p. 1486–1502

Manley, C. R., Glazner, A. F., and Farmer, G. L., 2000, Timing of volcanism in the Sierra Nevada of California: evidence for Pliocene delamination of the batholithic root?: Geology, v. 28, p. 811-814.

Coleman, D. S., Glazner, A. F., Bartley, J. M., and Carl, B. S., 2000, Cretaceous dikes within the Independence dike swarm in eastern California: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 112, p. 504-511.

Miller, J. S., Glazner, A. F., Farmer, G. L., Suayah, I. B., and Keith, L. B., 2000, Middle Tertiary magmatism across the Mojave Desert and southeastern California: A Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic study of mantle domains and crustal structure: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 112, p. 1264-1279.

Glazner, A. F., Bartley, J. M., and Sanner, W. K., 2000, Nature of the southern boundary of the central Mojave Tertiary province, Rodman Mountains, California: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 112, p. 34-44.

Glazner, A. F., Bartley, J. M., and Carl, B. S., 1999, Oblique opening and noncoaxial emplacement of the Independence dike swarm, California: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 21, p. 1275-1283.

Glazner, A. F., Manley, C. R., Marron, J. S., and Rojstaczer, S., 1999, Fire or ice: anticorrelation of volcanism and glaciation in California over the past 800,000 years: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 26, p. 1759-1762.

Glazner, A. F., 1999, Exposure of deep, dense rocks: interplay between erosion and sinking: in Ring, U., Brandon, M. T., Lister, G. S., and Willett, S. D., eds., Exhumation Processes: Normal Faulting, Ductile Flow and Erosion, Geological Society of London Special Publication 154, p. 233-239.

Beard, B.L., and Glazner, A.F., 1998, Petrogenesis of Pliocene high-K basanites from Deep Springs Valley, California: Evidence for recycling crust back into the mantle: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 133, p. 402-417.

Glazner, A.F., and Miller, D. M., 1997, Late-stage sinking of plutons: Geology, v. 25, p. 1099-1102.
 
Coleman, D. S., and Glazner, A.F., 1997, The Sierra crest magmatic event: rapid formation of juvenile crust during the Late Cretaceous in California: International Geology Review, v. 39, p. 768-787.
 
Coleman, D. S., Glazner, A.F., Miller, J. S., Bradford, K. J., Frost, T. P., Joye, J. L., and Bachl, C. A., 1995, Exposure of a Late Cretaceous layered mafic-felsic magma system in the central Sierra Nevada batholith, California: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 120, p. 129-136.
 
Hanson, R. B., and Glazner, A.F., 1995, Thermal requirements for extensional emplacement of granitoids: Geology, v. 23, p. 213-216.
 
Beard, B. L., and Glazner, A.F., 1995, Trace element and Sr and Nd isotopic composition of mantle xenoliths from the Big Pine volcanic field, California: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 100, p. 4169-4179.
 
Miller, J. S., and Glazner, A.F., 1995, Jurassic plutonism and crustal evolution in the central Mojave Desert, California: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 118, p. 379-395.
 
Farmer, G. L., Glazner, A.F., Wilshire, H. G., Wooden, J. L., Pickthorn, W. J., and Katz, M., 1995, Origin of late Cenozoic basalts at the Cima volcanic field, Mojave Desert, California: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 100, p. 8399-8415.
 
Glazner, A.F., 1994, Foundering of mafic plutons and density stratification of continental crust: Geology, v. 22, p. 435-438.
 
Glazner, A.F., and Bartley, J. M., 1994, Eruption of alkali basalts during crustal shortening in southern California: Tectonics, v. 13, p. 493-498.
 
Glazner, A.F., and Farmer, G. L., 1992, Production of isotopic variability in basalts by cryptic crustal contamination: Science, v. 255, p. 72-74.
 
Ussler, W. III, and Glazner, A.F., 1992, Enthalpy-composition relationships in mixed magmas: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 51, p. 23-40.
 
Coleman, D. S., Frost, T. P., and Glazner, A.F., 1992, Evidence from the Lamarck Granodiorite for rapid Late Cretaceous crust formation in California: Science, v. 258, p. 1924-1926.
 
Glazner, A.F., Farmer, G. L., Hughes, W. T., Wooden, J. L., and Pickthorn, W., 1991, Contamination of basaltic magma by mafic crust at Amboy and Pisgah craters, Mojave Desert, California: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 96, p. 13,673-13,691.
 
Glazner, A.F., 1991, Plutonism, oblique subduction, and continental growth: An example from the Mesozoic of California: Geology, v. 19, p. 784-786.
 
Bartley, J. M., Glazner, A.F., and Schermer, E. R., 1990, North-south contraction of the Mojave block and strike-slip tectonics in southern California: Science, v. 248, p. 1398-1401.
 
Glazner, A.F., 1990, Recycling of continental crust in Miocene volcanic rocks from the Mojave block, southern California: Geological Society of America Memoir 174, "The Nature and Origin of Cordilleran Magmatism", edited by J. L. Anderson, v. 174, p. 147-168.
 
Glazner, A.F., Bartley, J. M., and Walker, J. D., 1989, Magnitude and significance of Miocene crustal extension in the central Mojave Desert, California: Geology, v. 17, p. 50-53.
 
Ussler, W., III, and Glazner, A.F., 1989, Phase equilibria along a basalt-rhyolite mixing line: implications for the origin of calc- alkaline intermediate magmas: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 101, p. 232-244.
 
Glazner, A.F., and Ussler, W., III, 1989, Crustal extension, crustal density, and the evolution of Cenozoic magmatism in the Basin and Range: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 94, p. 7952-7960.
 
Glazner, A.F., and Ussler, W., III, 1988, Trapping of magma at midcrustal density discontinuities: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 15, p. 673- 675.