David M. Miller, Ph.D
David is an Emeritus at Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. He received a Ph.D from UCLA in 1978 and a BS from Binghamton University in 1973 in Geology. He began by studying metamorphic rocks of core complexes in the Intermountain West and is now focusing on evaluating earthquake hazards by studying Cenozoic materials.
David is currently an Emeritus at Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. He worked on metamorphic rocks of core complexes and Cenozoic igneous and sedimentary rocks of basins in the Intermountain West for two decades, pursuing structural origins of mineral resources and hydrocarbon resources. He shifted to study of late Cenozoic materials, mainly for evaluating earthquake hazards, during the last two decades.
David is now working on the neotectonics of the Northern Mojave Desert. Through surficial geologic mapping and surface process studies, he is improving understanding of earthquake risks by evaluating recently active faults, folds, and warps of tectonic origin. The mapping is focused on several active faults identified by recent regional mapping of the Mojave Desert. A long-term goal is to arrive at a new tectonic synthesis of this part of the eastern California shear zone.
He is also involved with studying the Mojave Desert Ecosystem through surficial geologic mapping and surface process studies. He is developing data for a regional study of biotic and abiotic systems of the Mojave Desert, such as ground-based studies of surficial geology, material properties, eolian transport, overland flow, and Holocene climate history.
Finally, he is working on the Paleoclimatic records of the southwest. He examines spring and marsh records, lake shoreline records, and lake-bottom deposits to detail glacial and post-glacial sediment histories to extract paleo climatic information. These studies range from Mojave Desert to Great Salt Lake and its precursor lake, Lake Bonneville.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D in Geology, University of California, 1978
BS in Geology with "Distinguished Independent Study", Binghamton University, 1973
Science and Products
Geohydrology, geochemistry, and groundwater simulation (1992-2011) and analysis of potential water-supply management options, 2010-60, of the Langford Basin, California
Stratigraphy and chronology of Provo shoreline deposits and lake-level implications, Late Pleistocene Lake Bonneville, eastern Great Basin, USA
U.S. Geological Survey core science systems strategy: characterizing, synthesizing, and understanding the critical zone through a modular science framework
Paleogeographic insights based on new U-Pb dates for altered tuffs in the Miocene Barstow Formation, California
Regional geophysical expression of a carbonatite terrane in the eastern Mojave Desert, California
Preliminary surficial geologic map of the Newberry Springs 30' x 60' quadrangle, California
Science strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2013-2023
Progress report geologic map of the Grouse Creek 30' x 60' quadrangle, and Utah part of the Jackpot 30' x 60' quadrangle, Box Elder County, Utah, and Cassia County, Idaho (Year 3 of 4);
A half-million-year record of paleoclimate from the Lake Manix Core, Mojave Desert, California
Magnetostratigraphy and tectonic rotation of the Miocene Spanish Canyon Formation at Alvord Mountain, California
The influence of stream channels on distributions of Larrea tridentata and Ambrosia dumosa in the Mojave Desert, CA, USA: Patterns, mechanisms and effects of stream redistribution
Stratigraphy and chronology of offshore to nearshore deposits associated with the Provo shoreline, Pleistocene Lake Bonneville, Utah
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
Geohydrology, geochemistry, and groundwater simulation (1992-2011) and analysis of potential water-supply management options, 2010-60, of the Langford Basin, California
Stratigraphy and chronology of Provo shoreline deposits and lake-level implications, Late Pleistocene Lake Bonneville, eastern Great Basin, USA
U.S. Geological Survey core science systems strategy: characterizing, synthesizing, and understanding the critical zone through a modular science framework
Paleogeographic insights based on new U-Pb dates for altered tuffs in the Miocene Barstow Formation, California
Regional geophysical expression of a carbonatite terrane in the eastern Mojave Desert, California
Preliminary surficial geologic map of the Newberry Springs 30' x 60' quadrangle, California
Science strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2013-2023
Progress report geologic map of the Grouse Creek 30' x 60' quadrangle, and Utah part of the Jackpot 30' x 60' quadrangle, Box Elder County, Utah, and Cassia County, Idaho (Year 3 of 4);
A half-million-year record of paleoclimate from the Lake Manix Core, Mojave Desert, California
Magnetostratigraphy and tectonic rotation of the Miocene Spanish Canyon Formation at Alvord Mountain, California
The influence of stream channels on distributions of Larrea tridentata and Ambrosia dumosa in the Mojave Desert, CA, USA: Patterns, mechanisms and effects of stream redistribution
Stratigraphy and chronology of offshore to nearshore deposits associated with the Provo shoreline, Pleistocene Lake Bonneville, Utah
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.