I am currently working on several projects. Most of my projects are in the fields of Metamorphic Petrology, Igneous Petrology, Tectonics, and Environmental Assessment:
- Petrology, Geochemistry, and Structural Geology of Ultramafic Rocks
- Petrology, Geochemistry, and Structural Geology of Pegmatites
- Petrology, Geochemistry, and Structural Geology of Granites
- Structural Geology of Large Fracture Zones in the Allegheny Plateau
- Environmental Assessment and Remediation
Current Students
- Kyle Sarver (graduating in Spring 20): The Petrology and Tectonic significance of the Lima and Newtown Square Ultramafic Bodies
- Susan Ma (graduating in Fall 20): The Petrogenesis and Characterization of the Lima Granodioritic Body, Lima, Pennsylvania
- Kyle Sarver and Susan Ma: They are also working on a geophysics project on Piedmont lithologies with Neil Coleman (UPJ Geophysics Prof)
- Shane Sikora (graduating in Spring 22): The Petrology and Tectonic significance of the Lima Granodioritic Body, Lima, Pennsylvania
- Lauren Raysich (graduating in Spring 21): The Petrogenesis and Characterization of Piedmont Ultramafics (maybe Delaware ones...)
- Always looking for more students interested in research!
Research Group Alumni
- Olivia Wolff (graduated Spring 18):Thesis Title: "Serpentinization of the Unionville Serpentine Barrens: A Geochemical and Petrographic Study."
- Now a graduate student at Ohio University
- Ben Shirley (graduated Spring 18): Thesis Title: "Investigating the Origin of Pegmatite Dikes in Unionville, Pennsylvania and the Geochemical Interactions with Surrounding Serpentinites."
- Now mudlogging fracking drill site in Oklahoma
- Sam Louderback (graduated Fall 17): Thesis Title: "Snaking Through the Pennsylvania Piedmont: Serpentinites of Southern Pennsylvania."
- Now working for PA Department of Environmental Protection in Williamsport PA
- Lorin Simboli (graduated Spring 17): Thesis Title: "Petrographic and Geochemical Evidence for the Tectonic Origin of the Bells Mill Road Ultramafic Body of Southeastern PA."
- Now working for a Materials Engineering company in Georgia
- Courtney Hunsinger (graduated Spring 17): Thesis Title: "Determining the Origin of Granodiorites in the Pennsylvanian Piedmont using Geochemical and Petrographic Methods."
- Now working for an oil company
- Kris Miller (graduated Fall 16): Thesis Title: "Petrological, geochemical and structural investigation of alteration zones in the Youngsford Road ultramafic body, Southeastern PA."
- Now working for the Federal Govt doing environmental work in Hawaii
Top images (left to right): Geologic Map of the Youngsford Road ultramfic body; field work at Bells Mill Road with Ryan Kerrigan, Loring Simboli, and Sam Louderback; XPL image of orthopyroxene altering to anthophyllite; Secondary electron image of relict olivine altering to serpentine; field contact between the Bells Mill granodiorite and the Wissahickon schist; trace element chemical discrimination diagram for serpentinites. Copyright © 2020 Ryan Kerrigan (last updated Mar 2020)