Research Projects

Research Projects

From uncovering ice sheet histories in Antarctica to establishing records of pre-historic tectonic events in California or Japan, the AGES lab probes important geochronologic questions around the globe. 

Learn more below!

Map of field locations

II. Fault Dating

Roadcut of the San Andreas Fault

The geologic record preserves evidence of past earthquakes which can be measured using various geochemical techniques. Biomarkers - organic molecules produced by living organisms - are systematically altered during heating related to fault slip/rupture and can thus be used to estimate the temperature rise produced during faulting. Fault gouge clays rich in potassium can be used to determine the timing of large earthquakes, as the elevated temperatures during fault rupture reset their geologic ages. We incorporate K/Ar dating with clay mineralogy analyses, aiming to establish a more accurate record of prehistoric seismic events.


San Andreas Fault trace
SAFOD

K/Ar dating of clays from SAFOD (the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth) aims to address whether major earthquakes occur in - or propagate through - the central creeping section of the San Andreas Fault.

Map of Japan Trench
Japan Trench

Coring through the Japan Trench, particularly through the plate boundary fault, was achieved as part of IODP Expedition 405 (2024). Fault dating will refine seismic histories along the trench and help investigate how geologic ages reset due to faulting.

Image of El Paso Fault
El Paso Fault

More information coming soon!

Image of Panamint Valley
Panamint Valley

More information coming soon!

Columbia Affiliations