People | Faculty
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P. Jonathan Patchett
Professor, Geochemistry and Radiogenic
Isotopes |
My research
is broad, and can be described as evolution of the mantle-crust-hydrosphere
of the Earth over geologic time reflected by geochemistry and isotopes.
I am involved in collaborations on tectonics of mountain belts, large-scale
sedimentary provenance, origin of granitoid batholiths, growth of
continental crust through geologic time, development of the Colorado
River and Grand Canyon, and evolution of Pleistocene climate in North
and South America. Although some papers present models and reinterpretations
of existing databases or problems, most of my publications involve
major analytical efforts, in which geochemical and/or isotopic data
are provided as a constraint on histories and processes. Most projects
involve collaboration with other scientists within and beyond our
department. Specific
broad projects from 1990 onwards (see Current Biography) include:
early crust-mantle evolution from Hf and Nd isotopes on meteorites
and early crustal rocks; origin of terrane components of orogenic
belts; Nd isotopic and geochemical study of sedimentary provenance
at continent scale; Sr isotopes applied to the evolution of the Colorado
River system; and U-Th disequilibrium geochronology applied to climate
evolution in the Bolivian Altiplano and the desert Southwest.
Courses
- Geos
430/530, Chemical Evolution of the Earth
- Nats
101 – Geological Perspective
- Geos
596, Topical Seminars
Laboratory Facilities
- I
oversee a suite of laboratories dedicated to chemistry and thermal
ionization radiogenic isotope mass spectrometry. Together with
rock and mineral processing facilities, and a laboratory housing
a Multicollector ICPMS instrument, these areas are broadly shared
with George Gehrels, Joaquin Ruiz, Jay Quade and Mihai Ducea. Radiogenic
isotopic techniques under my supervision include Sm-Nd, Lu-Hf,
Rb-Sr and U-Th (U-series). I apply these, often in collaborative
mode with other faculty in our department, to problems and rocks
with all ages from 3.8 Ga to Holocene.
Biography
Office: Gould-Simpson Bldg. 507
Phone: 520-621-2070
Fax: 520-621-2672
Email: patchett@email.arizona.edu
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