• Assistant / Associate Professor, University of California, Los Angeles (1984-1990)


• Geophysical Lab, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Post-doc (1981-1983)


• University of Chicago, Geology, PhD (1981)


• Virginia Tech, Geology, BS (1977) MS (1978)

My research interests broadly deal with understanding energy and mass transfer in the Earth's lithosphere and applications to natural resources. Current research focuses on magmatic evolution and links with hydrothermal systems, the role of surficial conditions in mass transfer systems, and regional and global patterns in mineralizing systems through time. Regional studies have centered on southwestern North America in the context of the Pacific Rim. Porphyry, skarn, Fe-oxide(-REE-Cu-Au) and other igneous-related systems remain the focus of deposit studies.

I am involved in many projects with currrent and former students, post-docs and colleagues. Some current projects where I take a leading role include: (1) Porphyry Cu Lifecycles in southwestern North America and its broader crustal context (CMR project, joint with USGS); (2) Regional geologic framework and origin of Carlin-type gold deposits (with Eric Seedorff, Greg Ghidotti); (3) Characteristics and origin of Fe-oxide(REE-Cu-Au) mineralization (with David Johnson); (4) Granite petrogenesis and lithophile element mineralization in the Great Basin; (5) Metallogenic synthesis of Mexico and adjoining regions (with Lukas Zürcher, David Johnson, Sergio Castro, Julie Hamblock & others). See also projects described by David Maher, David Johnson, Eric Jensen, Carlotta Chernoff, Frank Mazdab, Julie Hamblock, Chao Li, Mark Rollog and Eric Seedorff.

Selected publications and abstracts:

Barton, M.D., and Johnson, D.A., 1996, An evaporitic-source model for igneous-related Fe-oxide(-REE-Cu-Au-U) mineralization: Geology, v. 24, p. 259-262.

Barton, M.D., 1996, Granitic magmatism and metallogeny of southwestern North America: Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Earth Sciences, v. 87, 261-280.

Barton, M. D., Dilles, J. H., Marco T. Einaudi, M. T., Johnson, D. A., 2000, Contrasting Styles of Intrusion-Associated Hydrothermal Systems - A Preface: in Dilles, J. H., Barton, M. D., Johnson, D. A., Proffett, J. M., and Einaudi, M. T., editors, 2000, Contrasting Styles of Intrusion Associated Hydrothermal Systems: Society of Economic Geologists Guide Book Series, v. 32, p. 1-7.