Fault Mechanics and Processes

Research focuses on faulting and fracturing of rocks and the accompanying geochemical and mechanical processes. Research on ductile faults (mylonites) includes the study of kinematic indicators and processes, fault interactions, chemical changes during shearing and mineralization. This research is both process based and applied to ore mineralization (magnetite, chromite, uranium) and environmental hazards such as radon and generation of mine waste. Techniques include geochronology (SHRIMP), mineral chemistry (electron microprobe), bulk chemistry (XRF, ICP). Research on brittle faulting is applied to cataclasites and mineralization, current seismicity in the NY/NJ area, fracture system control on groundwater and hydraulic fracturing.