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
Plutonism at the interior margin of the Jurassic magmatic arc, Mojave Desert, California
Timing of emplacement of the Haypress Creek and Emigrant Gap plutons: Implications for the timing and controls of Jurassic orogenesis, northern Sierra Nevada, California
Jurassic tectonics of northeastern Nevada and northwestern Utah from the perspective of barometric studies
Field guide to Proterozoic geology of the New York, Ivanpah, and Providence Mountains, California: Field Conference 1, Proterozoic Orogenesis and Metallogenesis Project
Preliminary geologic map of Fort Irwin basin, north-central Mojave Desert, California
Geologic map of the New York Mountains area, California and Nevada
Structure and fabric of metamorphic terrains in the northeastern Great Basin; implications for Mesozoic crustal short ening and extension
Geologic map of the Newark 7.5 minute Quadrangle, Alameda County, California
Mesozoic structure, metamorphism, and magmatism in the Pilot Range and the Toano Ranges
Late Cenozoic faulting at the boundary between the Mojave and Sonoran blocks; Bristol Lake area, California
Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the northeastern Great Basin
Jurassic normal and strike-slip faults at Crater Island, northwestern 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
Plutonism at the interior margin of the Jurassic magmatic arc, Mojave Desert, California
Timing of emplacement of the Haypress Creek and Emigrant Gap plutons: Implications for the timing and controls of Jurassic orogenesis, northern Sierra Nevada, California
Jurassic tectonics of northeastern Nevada and northwestern Utah from the perspective of barometric studies
Field guide to Proterozoic geology of the New York, Ivanpah, and Providence Mountains, California: Field Conference 1, Proterozoic Orogenesis and Metallogenesis Project
Preliminary geologic map of Fort Irwin basin, north-central Mojave Desert, California
Geologic map of the New York Mountains area, California and Nevada
Structure and fabric of metamorphic terrains in the northeastern Great Basin; implications for Mesozoic crustal short ening and extension
Geologic map of the Newark 7.5 minute Quadrangle, Alameda County, California
Mesozoic structure, metamorphism, and magmatism in the Pilot Range and the Toano Ranges
Late Cenozoic faulting at the boundary between the Mojave and Sonoran blocks; Bristol Lake area, California
Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the northeastern Great Basin
Jurassic normal and strike-slip faults at Crater Island, northwestern 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.