Tyson Smith
I am a Research Geologist who investigates records of sedimentary and tectonic processes. I am particularly interested in the intersection of these two processes throughout Earth’s past.
My research combines tools from field geology, lab, and modeling approaches. Geologic maps and stratigraphic sections provide the framework in which I address questions of basin development, tectonic activity, and drainage reorganization. Within this framework, I use provenance tools (e.g., detrital zircon geochronology) and often apply source modeling methods to better understand the character and evolution of ancient sediment source areas. Much of my research has and continues to focus on late Paleozoic basin records of orogenesis across Laurentia, but I also work on records of Rio Grande rifting and Laramide deformation.
