Geological Research

Currently a PhD Candidate in the Department of Imaging and Applied Physics at Curtin University in Perth, Australia.

2011-2012: On the lookout for postdoctoral research positions, feel free to contact me: eric [at] thern.org

Geochronological and isotope geochemistry-based research, with a recent focus on ~3 billion year old metamorphosed sandstones from the Southern Cross Terrane, Western Australia, with an emphasis on their provenance, abundant >4 billion year old detrital zircons, and thermal history spanning 4,372 million years to today.

Application of multiple techniques to solve geological problems (mostly in reference to the above recent focus):

  1. U-Th-Pb geochronology: detrital zircon and (detrital and metamorphic) rutile
  2. 40Ar/39Ar geochronology: fuchsite/muscovite, tourmaline (hydrothermal)
  3. Scanning electron microscopy of minerals: EDS, Cathodoluminescence, BSE.
  4. Characterization of samples using XRD, SHRIMP REE & Depth profiling, EPMA, and other methods.

Here’s a few (currently very large) photos of zircon-bearing mineral separates and preparation of a SHRIMP (Sensitive High Resolution Ion MicroProbe) sample mount.

 

Selected Publications

J. Chiarenzelli, D. Valentino, M. Lupulescu, E. Thern, and S. Johnston (2011) Differentiating Shawinigan and Ottawan orogenesis in the Central Adirondacks. Geosphere, Feb 2011; 7: 2 – 22.

J. Chiarenzelli, M. Lupulescu, E. Thern, and B. Cousens (2011) Tectonic implications of the discovery of a Shawinigan ophiolite (Pyrites Complex) in the Adirondack Lowlands. Geosphere, April 1, 2011; 7(2): 333 – 356

Chiarenzelli, J., Lupulescu, M., Cousens, B., Thern, E., Coffin, L., Regan, S. (2010) Enriched Grenvillian Lithospheric Mantle as a Consequence of Long-Lived Subduction Beneath Laurentia. Geology, February 2010; v.38; no. 2; p. 151-154. (Geology Journal Link)

Gates, A.E., Valentino, D.W., Gorring M.L., Thern, E.R., and Chiarenzelli, J. (2006) Rodinian collisional and escape tectonics in the Hudson Highlands, New York. in Pazzaglia, F.J., ed., Excursions in Geology and History: Field Trips in the Middle Atlantic States: Geological Society of America Field Guide 8, p. 65–82. (GSA Field Guide Link)

Thern, E. R. (2005).  Investigation of trace element and U-Th-Pb isotopic variation in >4 Ga zircons.  Thesis (M.Sc.) Curtin University of Technology, xxvii, 294 pages.

Selected Abstracts and Posters

Eric Thern, David Nelson (2011) Principal component analysis applied to 3.0-4.35 Ga detrital zircon populations within ca. 3.0 Ga metasediments of the Yilgarn Craton. Goldschmidt conference, Prague 2011: Workshop on Detrital Zircon U-Pb Geochronology 13th-14th August 2011. (Poster)

E. Thern, F. Jourdan, N.J. Evans, B.J., McDonald, M. Danisik, R.A. Frew, D.R. Nelson. (2011) Post-depositional thermal history of the 4364–3060Ma zircon-bearing metasandstones of the Illaara and Maynard Hills granite greenstone belts Western Australia. Goldschmidt conference, Prague 2011. (Abstract)

B.I.A. McInnes, N.J. Evans1, B.J. McDonald,  E. Thern, and D.H. Corbett (2010) U-Th-Pb-He double-dating of zircon from the diamondiferous Ellendale lamproite pipe, Western Australia. Goldschmidt conference, Knoxville 2010. (Abstract)

LUPULESCU, Marian V., CHIARENZELLI, Jeffrey R., COUSENS, Brian, THERN, Eric, and NELSON, David. (2008) Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Mafic-Ultramafic intrusions from Pyrities, Adirondack lowlands, New York, GSA Northeastern Section – 43rd Annual Meeting (27-29 March 2008) (Abstract)

CHIARENZELLI, Jeffrey R., LUPULESCU, Marian, COUSENS, Brian, THERN, Eric, and NELSON, David. (2007) Recognition of oceanic crust in the Adirondack lowlands, 2007 GSA Denver Annual Meeting (28–31 October 2007), Paper No. 121-7. (Abstract)

CHRAPOWITZKY, Lauren, THERN, Eric, VALENTINO, David, NELSON, David, GEHRELS, George, and CHIARENZELLI, Jeffrey R. (2007) Zircon chronology of the Chimney Mountain metasedimentary sequence, Adirondack Highlands, 2007 GSA Denver Annual Meeting (28–31 October 2007) Paper No. 117-16. (Abstract)

Gates, A., Valentino, D., Thern, E., and Chiarenzelli, J., (2006).  Fragment of Amazonia (?) in the Hudson Highlands, NY:  Provenance of granulite metasandstones using SHRIMP:  Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, October 22-25. Abstract.

Thern, E. R., Nelson, D. R. and Hitchen, G. (2004). Thermal history of the hadean earth inferred from trace-element diffusion within >4 Ga zircons. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 68(11S):A71. Abstract.

Thern, E. R., Nelson, D. R. and Hitchen, G. (2004). Trace element diffusion within >4 Ga zircons: Implications for the thermal history of the Hadean Earth.  Poster Presentation at the Goldschmidt Geochemistry Conference, Copenhagen June 5-11.  Poster 1.3.P06

 

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