Michael Cosca
Michael Cosca is a research geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, who combines 40Ar/39Ar geochronology with mineralogy, petrology, and field geology to understand igneous, metamorphic, and tectonic processes at the regional, local, and sub-grain scale.
Mike received his undergraduate degree in geology from the University of California, Berkeley (1981) and M.Sc. (1985) and Ph.D. (1989) in geology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. After completing his Ph.D., he moved to Switzerland and for nearly 19 years conducted scientific research at the University of Lausanne. During this time he constructed a 40Ar/39Ar research laboratory and obtained research funding that supported 4 Ph.D. students, 2 M.Sc. students and 2 post-doctoral scholars and worked closely with colleagues from Lausanne. This research was funded primarily with grants he obtained from the Swiss National Science Foundation with additional support from the University of Lausanne.
Mike joined the U.S Geological Survey in 2008 and supervises the 40Ar/39Ar geochronology laboratory in Denver. His research is broadly focused on understanding the geochronology of ore deposits, mountain building, volcanic stratigraphy, landscape formation, near-surface faulting, physical and chemical controls of argon distribution in minerals and rocks, and developing novel methods for 40Ar/39Ar analysis. Much of his research involves collaborations with USGS scientists from the Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center and the Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center. Current research projects include the Cenozoic landscape evolution of the Southern Rocky Mountains, igneous activity related to mineralization in the Basin and Range province, and the timing of fluid flow and mineralization in the Proterozoic mid continent rift of North America.
Science and Products
Thermochronometry across the Austroalpine-Pennine boundary, Central Alps, Switzerland: Orogen-perpendicular normal fault slip on a major ‘overthrust’ and its implications for orogenesis
Emergence and evolution of Santa Maria Island (Azores)—The conundrum of uplifted islands revisited
Episodic formation of the world-class Waihi epithermal Au-Ag vein system, Hauraki Goldfield, New Zealand
Preservation of ancient impact ages on the R chondrite parent body: 40Ar/39Ar age of hornblende-bearing R chondrite LAP 04840
Tracking the timing of subduction and exhumation using 40Ar/39Ar phengite ages in blueschist- and eclogite-facies rocks (Sivrihisar, Turkey)
U-Pb, Re-Os, and Ar/Ar geochronology of rare earth element (REE)-rich breccia pipes and associated host rocks from the Mesoproterozoic Pea Ridge Fe-REE-Au deposit, St. Francois Mountains, Missouri
Mid-Cretaceous oblique rifting of West Antarctica: Emplacement and rapid cooling of the Fosdick Mountains migmatite-cored gneiss dome
Himalayan gneiss dome formation in the middle crust and exhumation by normal faulting: New geochronology of Gianbul dome, northwestern India
The emergence of volcanic oceanic islands on a slow-moving plate: The example of Madeira Island, NE Atlantic
Application of U-Th-Pb phosphate geochronology to young orogenic gold deposits: New age constraints on the formation of the Grass Valley gold district, Sierra Foothills province, California
Pre-eruptive conditions of the Hideaway Park topaz rhyolite: Insights into metal source and evolution of magma parental to the Henderson porphyry molybdenum deposit, Colorado
Book review: Advances in 40Ar/39Ar dating: From archaeology to planetary sciences
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Thermochronometry across the Austroalpine-Pennine boundary, Central Alps, Switzerland: Orogen-perpendicular normal fault slip on a major ‘overthrust’ and its implications for orogenesis
Emergence and evolution of Santa Maria Island (Azores)—The conundrum of uplifted islands revisited
Episodic formation of the world-class Waihi epithermal Au-Ag vein system, Hauraki Goldfield, New Zealand
Preservation of ancient impact ages on the R chondrite parent body: 40Ar/39Ar age of hornblende-bearing R chondrite LAP 04840
Tracking the timing of subduction and exhumation using 40Ar/39Ar phengite ages in blueschist- and eclogite-facies rocks (Sivrihisar, Turkey)
U-Pb, Re-Os, and Ar/Ar geochronology of rare earth element (REE)-rich breccia pipes and associated host rocks from the Mesoproterozoic Pea Ridge Fe-REE-Au deposit, St. Francois Mountains, Missouri
Mid-Cretaceous oblique rifting of West Antarctica: Emplacement and rapid cooling of the Fosdick Mountains migmatite-cored gneiss dome
Himalayan gneiss dome formation in the middle crust and exhumation by normal faulting: New geochronology of Gianbul dome, northwestern India
The emergence of volcanic oceanic islands on a slow-moving plate: The example of Madeira Island, NE Atlantic
Application of U-Th-Pb phosphate geochronology to young orogenic gold deposits: New age constraints on the formation of the Grass Valley gold district, Sierra Foothills province, California
Pre-eruptive conditions of the Hideaway Park topaz rhyolite: Insights into metal source and evolution of magma parental to the Henderson porphyry molybdenum deposit, Colorado
Book review: Advances in 40Ar/39Ar dating: From archaeology to planetary sciences
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.