C.V., Mark E. Stelten

Mark Evan Stelten

2309 I Street, Apt. 11 (919) 308-5462

Sacramento, CA 95816

Education

Ph.D., University of California - Davis September 2010 – December 2014 (Expected Graduation)

Concentration: Geochemistry, Geochronology, Volcanology

Dissertation: Examining the origin and evolution of the magmatic system at Yellowstone caldera, WY

Cumulative GPA: 4.0

Advisory committee: Dr. Kari M. Cooper, Dr. Jorge A. Vazquez, and Dr. Charles Lesher

M.S., University of California – Davis September 2008 – August 2010

Concentration: Geochemistry, Geochronology, Volcanology

Thesis: Constraints on the nature of rhyolite genesis at South Sister volcano, Oregon through 238U-230Th zircon ages and 230Th-226Ra plagioclase ages

Cumulative GPA: 4.0

Advisory committee: Dr. Kari M. Cooper, Dr. Charles Lesher, and Dr. Qing-zhu Yin

B.S., University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill August 2004 – May 2008

Major: Geology

Undergraduate thesis: Questioning the relationship between high-silica rhyolites and aplite dikes

Cumulative GPA: 3.684

Analytical, Laboratory, and Data Analysis Skills

  • Skilled at wet chemical separations for trace-element and isotopic analyses using ion-exchange chromatography
  • Set up and calibrated column chemistry for Hf separation at UC Davis
  • Proficient at quantitative chemical and isotopic analysis on the following instruments:[1] multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICPMS), [2] single-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, [3] laser ablation (multi-collector) inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA-MC-ICPMS), [4] electron microprobe (EMP), and [5] secondary ionization mass spectrometer (SIMS)
  • Experience in imaging and qualitative chemical analysis using a scanning electron microscope (SEM)
  • Proficientat Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and IgPet
  • Basic knowledge of MATLAB
  • Experience managing a class 100 clean lab with four undergraduate and graduate workers
  • Three years experience training graduate and undergraduate students in clean room laboratory techniques

Research Experience

Doctoral Research, University of California – Davis September 2010 – present

Dissertation: Examining the origin and evolution of the magmatic system at Yellowstone caldera, WY

Summary: Integrated 238U-230Th disequilibrium ages, trace-element concentrations, and isotopic compositionsof minerals and glass from volcanic rocksat Yellowstone caldera to (1) investigate the origin and evolution of the magmatic system, (2) constrain timescales of magma generation, and (3) document magma mixing.

Research highlights:

  • Analyzed zircon crystals for 238U-230Th disequilibrium ages, trace-element concentrations, and oxygen isotopic compositionsvia SIMS to characterize the crystallization history of the magmas hosting the zircons
  • Chemically separated Hf, U, and Th from samples of volcanic minerals and glasses using ion-exchange chromatography
  • Measured U and Thconcentrations and U and Th isotope ratios of bulk mineral and glass separates via solution MC-ICPMS to calculate 238U-230Thisochron ages for minerals
  • Measured Hf isotopic compositions of volcanic glasses using solution MC-ICPMS
  • Measured Hf isotopic and Pb isotopic compositions of volcanic minerals via LA-MC-ICPMS to (1) constrain the sources of the crystals and magmatic liquids and (2) document active processes such as magma mixing
  • Measured major-element and Ba concentrations of feldspar crystals via electron microprobeto chemically fingerprint crystal populations
  • Imaged zircon and sanidine crystals using a SEMto document intra-grain chemical zoning patterns and guide microanalytical analyses
  • Performed mass balance modeling of magma mixing scenarios to constrain magma generation processes
  • Collaborated with Dr. Andrew Calvert of the United States Geological Survey to measure 40Ar-39Ar ages of volcanic sanidine

Masters Research,University of California – Davis September 2008 – August 2010

Thesis: Constraints on the nature of rhyolite genesis at South Sister volcano, Oregon through 238U-230Th zircon ages and 230Th-226Ra plagioclase ages

Summary:Integrated age, compositional, and isotopic data from mineral phases and volcanic glass to constrain magma generation processes at South Sister volcano, OR (published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters).

Research highlights:

  • Measured U, Th, Ra, and Ba concentrations along with U and Th isotope ratios of bulk feldspar and glass separates via solution MC-ICPMS to calculate 238U-230Th-226Ra disequilibrium ages
  • Analyzed zircon crystals for 238U-230Th disequilibrium ages and trace-element concentrations via SIMS to characterize the zircon crystallization history of the host magma
  • Measured major-element and minor-element concentrations in mineral phases and volcanic glasses using an electron microprobe for geothermometry and chemical fingerprinting of crystal populations
  • Analyzed feldspars for trace-element concentrations via LA-ICPMS for use in mass balance modeling

Senior Undergraduate Research, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill August 2007 – August 2008

Thesis: Questioning the relationship between high-silica rhyolites and aplite dikes

Summary: Integrated trace-element data and petrographic information from aplite dikes and granodiorite batholiths in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, CA, into a quantitative model to constrain the origin of aplite dikes.

Research highlights:

  • Imaged and described textural characteristics of plutonic igneous rocks using a SEM
  • Mapped distributions of trace elements in igneous minerals using a SEM

Collaborative Research

Collaborator: Dr. Jorge Vazquez, United States Geological Survey April 2013 – August 2013

  • Aided in constraining eruption ages of rhyolites near Mono Lake, CA and the Salton Sea, CA by measuring U and Thisotopic compositions of erupted rhyolite glasses

Collaborators: Dr. Kari Cooper and Dr. Isabel Montanez, UC Davis April 2013 – August 2013

  • Assisted in development of speleothem (stalagmite) 238U-230Th dating using ion-exchange chromatography and solution MC-ICPMS

Publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals

  • Stelten, M.E, Cooper, K.M., Vazquez, J.A., Reid, M., Barfod, G., Wimpenny, J., and Yin, Q.-z., 2013, Magma mixing and the generation of isotopically juvenile silicic magma at Yellowstone caldera inferred from coupling 238U–230Th ages with trace elements and Hf and O isotopes in zircon and Pb isotopes in sanidine: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, Vol. 166, No. 2, p. 587-613, doi:10.1007/s00410-013-0893-2.
  • Stelten, M.E. and Cooper, K.M., 2012, Constraints on the nature of the subvolcanic reservoir at South Sister volcano, Oregon from U-series dating combined with sub-crystal trace-element analysis of plagioclase and zircon: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 313-314, p. 1-11, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2011.10.035.

Manuscripts in progress

  • Stelten, M.E., Cooper, K.M., Vazquez, J.A., Reid, M., in prep.,Mecahanimsand timescales of rhyolite generation at Yellowstone cladera inferred from crystal age, trace-element, and isotope data: to be submitted to Journal of Petrology for publication.
  • Stelten, M.E., Cooper, K.M., Vazquez, J.A., Wimpenny, J., and Yin, Q.-z., in prep., The sources of rhyolitic magmasfrom Yellowstone caldrea constrained by Hf isotope data from zircon and coexisting glass: to be submitted to Earth and Planetary Science Letters for publication.

Abstracts

  • Stelten, M.E., Cooper, K.M., Vazquez, J.A., Calvert, A.T., 2013, The mechanisms and timescales of rhyolite generation at Yellowstone caldera: New insights from 238U-230Th crystallization ages, trace-elements, and isotope compositions of zircon and sanidine, submitted to the 2013 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., 9-13 Dec.
  • Till, C.B., Vazquez, J.A., Boyce, J., Stelten, M.E., 2013, Probing the source and timing of intrusive hybridization and rejuvenation at Yellowstone caldera, WY, submitted to the 2013 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., 9-13 Dec.
  • Vazquez, J., Calvert, A., Marcaida, M., Mangan, M., Lidzbarski, M., Stelten, M.E., 2013, Resolving the early chronology of Mono Craters volcanism with combined 238U-230Th and 40Ar/39Ar dating, submitted to the 2013 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., 9-13 Dec.
  • Vazquez, J., Calvert, A., Matthews, N., Till, C., Stelten, M.E., Cooper, K.M., Marcaida, M., Lidzbarski, M., Coble, M., 2013, Dating widespread tephras and their proximal equivalents using high-spatial resolution dating of accessory mineral rims and argon geochronology, submitted to the 2013 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., 9-13 Dec.
  • Stelten, M.E., Cooper, K.M., Vazquez, J.A., Wimpenny, J., and Yin, Q.-z., 2013, Magmatic Evolution at Yellowstone: The role of isotopically juvenile magma inferred from zircon age, trace-element, and Hf isotope data: Mineralogical Magazine, Vol. 77, No. 5, p. 2261. Goldschmidt Geochemistry Conference, Florence, Italy, Aug. 25-30, 2013.
  • Cooper, K.M., Kent, A.J.R., Stelten, M.E., and Rubin, A.E., 2013, Timescales and thermal conditions of magma storage in the crust: Insights from crystal records: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 45, No. 7, p.0.
  • Cooper, K.M., Stelten, M.E., and Rubin, A.E., 2013, How do silicic magma reservoirs evolve? A "crystal's-eye" view: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 45, No. 7, p.0.
  • Stelten, M.E., Cooper, K.M., Vazquez, J.A., Barfod, G.H., Yin, Q.-z., and Wimpenny, J., 2012, Chemical and isotopic heterogeneity in the Yellowstone magma reservoir revealed through sub-crystal-scale zircon age, trace-element, and Hf-isotopic analyses: Abstract V31C-2793 presented at 2012 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., 3-7 Dec.
  • Stelten, M.E., Cooper, K.M., Vazquez, J.A., Wimpenny, J., Barfod, G.H., and Yin, Q.-z., 2012, Compositional heterogeneity within the Yellowstone magma reservoir: Insight from zircon age, trace-element, and Hf-isotopic analyses: Mineralogical Magazine, Vol. 76, No. 6, p. 2407.Goldschmidt Geochemistry Conference, Montreal, Canada, June 24-29, 2012.
  • Stelten, M.E., Cooper, K.M., Vazquez, J.A., Wimpenny, J., Barfod, G., Yin, Q.-z.,Magma mixing and crystal exchange at Yellowstone caldera revealed though sub-crystal-scale age, trace-element, and Hf-isotopic analyses of zircons: Abstract V31H-05 presented at 2011 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, Calif., 5-9 Dec.
  • Stelten, M.E., and Cooper, K.M., 2010, Constraints on the nature of the subvolcanic system at South Sister volcano, Oregon from 238U-230Th zircon ages and 238U-230Th-226Ra plagioclase ages: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 42, No. 5, p. 668.
  • Stelten, M.E., Cooper, K.M., Klemetti, E.W., 2009, U-series crystal ages from the Rock Mesa eruption at South Sister volcano, Oregon, suggest complex origin for rhyolite: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 41, No. 7, p. 65.
  • Stelten, M.E., Glazner, A.F., Coleman, D.S., 2008, Questioning the relationship between high-silica rhyolites and aplite dikes: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 40, No. 1, p. 66.
  • Bartley, J.M., Coleman, D.S., Glazner, A.F., Stelten, M.E., 2008, Rhyolites and Rhyolites: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 40, No. 6, p. 333.

Teaching Experience

Teaching Assistant,Summer Course in Field Geology (enrollment ~30 students) 2009-2013

  • Prepared and presented lectures on volcanic processes related to the students assignments
  • Collaborated with the professor and two other teaching assistants to design field exercises
  • Guided students though field exercises in mapping and rock identification/interpretation

Teaching Assistant, Optical Mineralogy (enrollment ~30 students) 2008, 2009, 2011

  • Prepared and presented lectures on optical properties of minerals and the use of petrographic microscopes
  • Collaborated with the professor and one other teaching assistant to design lab assignment and exams
  • Aided students with laboratory work and held out of class review sessions to assist student learning
  • Graded lab assignments and exams

Teaching Assistant,Igneous Petrology (enrollment ~15 students) 2011

  • Prepared and presented lectures on (1) identification/interpretation of igneous minerals and rocks and (2) general igneous and geochemical processes
  • Collaborated with the professor and one other teaching assistant to design lab assignment and exams
  • Aided students with mineral identification, textural analysis of rocks, and modeling of geochemical data using excel
  • Held out of class review sessions to assist student learning
  • Graded lab assignments and exams

Teaching Assistant,Solar Systems (enrollment ~30 students) 2009

  • Prepared and presented lectures on lab assignments relating to solar system processes
  • Graded lab assignments and research papers
  • Aided students with in-class exercises and writing assignments

Reader,Volcanology (enrollment ~100 students) 2011, 2013

  • Monitored, guided, and graded a discussion forum for ~100 students
  • Proctored exams and graded tests

Awards and Special Distinctions

  • Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Award Winter 2012
  • Lipman Research Award from the Geological Society of America October 2011
  • Op White Prize in Geology, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill Fall 2008
  • Graduated with highest honors, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill Fall 2008

Grants/Scholarships Received

  • Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Award (Awarded $10,000) 2012
  • Durrell Grants from UC Davis (Awarded $7,000 total) 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Geological Society of America Graduate Student Research Grant (Awarded $4,000) 2011
  • Geological Society of America Graduate Student Research Grant (Awarded $2,500) 2009
  • Sigma Xi grant-in-aid of research(Awarded $500) 2009
  • Grant for undergraduate honors research at UNC-Chapel Hill (Awarded $200) 2008
  • Contributed to National Science Foundation grant EAR-1144945, awarded to Kari Cooper 2012

Professional Affiliations

  • Member of the Geological Society of America 2008 – present
  • Member of the American Geophysical Union 2009 – present
  • Member of the Geochemical Society 2013
  • Member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists 2013
  • Member of the Mineralogical Society of America 2010 – 2012

Academic Service

University of California - Davis

  • Organized the Geology Department's weekly seminar series (January 2013 – March 2014)
  • Served as the graduate student representative to the faculty in the Geology department (September 2013 – May 2013)