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
Chronology, sedimentology, and microfauna of groundwater discharge deposits in the central Mojave Desert, Valley Wells, California
Stratigraphy and chronology of offshore to nearshore deposits associated with the Provo shoreline, Pleistocene Lake Bonneville, Utah
Great Basin Integrated Landscape Monitoring Pilot Summary Report
Conceptual ecological models to guide integrated landscape monitoring of the Great Basin
Reconnaissance geochronology of tuffs in the Miocene Barstow Formation: implications for basin evolution and tectonics in the central Mojave Desert
Correlation of the Miocene Peach Spring Tuff with the geomagnetic polarity time scale and new constraints on tectonic rotations in the Mojave Desert, California
Reconnaissance geochronology of tuffs in the Miocene Barstow Formation: Implications for basin evolution and tectonics in the central Mojave Desert
Stratigraphy, age, and depositional setting of the Miocene Barstow Formation at Harvard Hill, central Mojave Desert, California
Holocene landscape response to seasonality of storms in the Mojave Desert
Gravity and Magnetic Investigations of the Mojave National Preserve and Adjacent Areas, California and Nevada
Hydrologic characterization of desert soils with varying degrees of pedogenesis: 1. field experiments evaluating plant-relevant soil water behavior
Modeling habitat of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Mojave and parts of the Sonoran Deserts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona
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
Chronology, sedimentology, and microfauna of groundwater discharge deposits in the central Mojave Desert, Valley Wells, California
Stratigraphy and chronology of offshore to nearshore deposits associated with the Provo shoreline, Pleistocene Lake Bonneville, Utah
Great Basin Integrated Landscape Monitoring Pilot Summary Report
Conceptual ecological models to guide integrated landscape monitoring of the Great Basin
Reconnaissance geochronology of tuffs in the Miocene Barstow Formation: implications for basin evolution and tectonics in the central Mojave Desert
Correlation of the Miocene Peach Spring Tuff with the geomagnetic polarity time scale and new constraints on tectonic rotations in the Mojave Desert, California
Reconnaissance geochronology of tuffs in the Miocene Barstow Formation: Implications for basin evolution and tectonics in the central Mojave Desert
Stratigraphy, age, and depositional setting of the Miocene Barstow Formation at Harvard Hill, central Mojave Desert, California
Holocene landscape response to seasonality of storms in the Mojave Desert
Gravity and Magnetic Investigations of the Mojave National Preserve and Adjacent Areas, California and Nevada
Hydrologic characterization of desert soils with varying degrees of pedogenesis: 1. field experiments evaluating plant-relevant soil water behavior
Modeling habitat of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Mojave and parts of the Sonoran Deserts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona
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.