My research centers around using (micro)structural techniques and petrochronology to better understand aspects of collisional and noncollisional orogenesis, including:
- Spatial, temporal, and kinematic partitioning of deformation at all scales;
- Exhumation of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic terranes;
- Interactions between magmatism/partial melting and deformation;
- Structure of continental crust in accretionary orogens;
- Reactivation of brittle and ductile structures in areas with complex tectonic histories
From macro
…
to micro
To investigate the above topics, I take a field-based approach with an emphasis on lithologic/structural mapping at regional and outcrop scales. I share the sentiment of many geologists that careful field observation remains an essential tool for understanding tectonic processes: Field work provides necessary context for lab-based analyses, and also serves as a test for the plausibility of modeling results.
My field work is coupled with (micro)structural analyses, trace element thermobarometry of major and accessory phases, and accessory phase (zircon, titanite, rutile) petrochronology. I have a keen interest in understanding the behavior of titanite in high strain zones as it relates to tracking changing P-T conditions through time. To support this interest, I am currently working on experimental deformation of titanite coupled with EBSD characterization and diffusion experiments.
If you have an interest in any of the above topics, please feel free to contact me.
CV (current as of 02/14/2022): Blatchford_CV.
