Robert McDermott

Robert researches low temperature thermochronology, the study of the thermal evolution of a region of the planet, and tectonics. He’s studying the Willard area of the Wasatch Fault, using uranium-thorium/helium (U-Th/He) dating to capture the big picture of the fault’s history, including its earthquakes. The surface of fault damage zones, or fractures caused by tectonic activity, are coated in a mineral called hematite. When a fault moves, the hematite-coated rock surfaces are exposed to frictional heat. Current theory states that the temperature sensitivity of the hematite causes the uranium-thorium/helium system to reset during this temperature rise.

 

“By dating the hematite on the fault surface we can potentially date the earthquake,” McDermott said.