Andreas Kronenberg
Professor and Michael T. Halbouty Chair in Geology
Assoc. Director, Center for Tectonophysics
Tectonophysics, Structural Geology, Rock Mechanics, Mineral Physics
Research
Dr. Kronenberg's expertise spans topics in structural geology, tectonophysics, and mineral physics with emphasis on the mechanical properties of Earth materials and the deformation mechanisms that govern rheology.
His research addresses the plasticity, creep, and failure of minerals and rocks, examining the roles of crystalline defects, grain boundaries, interfaces, and fluids in determining macroscopic behavior of the Earth's lithosphere. Taking an experimental approach, investigations have explored (1) water weakening of quartz and feldspar and chemical influences of fluids on mechanical properties of silicates, (2) crystal plasticity of layer silicates and anisotropic mechanical properties of foliated and layered rocks, (3) the high temperature creep mechanisms of silicates (quartz, feldspars, pyroxenes, micas, and clays) and carbonates (calcite, dolomite, and magnesite), and (4) the roles of hydrous species adsorbed at mineral-fluid interfaces in crack growth and crack healing.
Kronenberg is an active member of AGU's Mineral and Rock Physics (MRP) community, and its Focus Group on Physical Properties of Earth Materials (PPEM). He participates in the development of StraboSpot’s digital archiving of experimental rock mechanics data, funded by NSF, and the Research Coordination Network on In-situ Studies of Rock Deformation, serving on its Advisory Committee.
Impact
Mechanical Characterization of Earth’s Lithosphere
Kinetics of Deformation
Applications to Mechanics Problems in the Earth’s Crust
Selected Publications
Fukuda, J.-I., Holyoke III, C.W., and Kronenberg, A.K. (2018) Deformation of fine-grained quartz aggregates by mixed diffusion and dislocation creep, J. Geophys. Res., 123, 1-21, doi: 10.1029/2017JB015133.
Kronenberg, A.K., Hasnan, H.F.B., Holyoke III, C.W., Law, R.D., Liu, Z., and Thomas, J.B. (2017) Synchrotron FTIR imaging of OH in quartz mylonites, Solid Earth, 8, 1025-1045, doi: 10.5194/se-8-1025-2017.
van der Werf, T., Chatzaras, V., Kriegsman, L.M., Kronenberg, A., Tikoff, B., and Drury, M.R. (2017) Constraints on the rheology of lower crust in a strike-slip plate boundary: evidence from the San Quentin xenoliths, Baja California, Mexico, Solid Earth, 8, 1211-1239, doi: 10.5194/se-8-1211-2017.
Kronenberg, A., Hirth, G., Lapusta, N., Chester, J., Freed, A., Marone, C., and Tullis, T. (2016) Laboratory sharing to improve rock deformation research, EOS, 97, doi:10.1029/2016EO063465.
Kilian, R., Heilbronner, R., Holyoke C.W. III, Kronenberg, A.K., and Stünitz, H. (2016) Dislocation creep of dry quartz, J. Geophys. Res., 121, 3278–3299, doi: 10.1002/2015JB012771.
Groshong, R.H., Kronenberg, A., Couzens-Schultz, B.A., and Newman, J. (2014) Fluids and structures in fold and thrust belts with recognition of the work of David Wiltschko, J. Struct. Geol. 69, 281-283, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2014.09.003.
Holyoke, C.W. III, Kronenberg, A.K., Newman, J., and C. Ulrich (2014) Rheology of magnesite, J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth, 119, doi: 10.1002/2013JB010541.
Holyoke, C.W. III, Kronenberg, A.K., and Newman, J. (2014) Microstructural evolution during strain localization in dolomite aggregates, J. Struct. Geol, 69, 449-464, doi: 10.1016/j.jsg.2014.04.008.
Holyoke, C.W. III, and Kronenberg, A.K. (2013) Reversible water weakening of quartz, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 374, 185-190, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2013.05.039.
Holyoke, C.W. III, Kronenberg, A.K., and Newman, J. (2013) Dislocation creep of polycrystalline dolomite, Tectonophysics, 590, 72-82, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2013.01.011.
Stewart, E., Holyoke, C.W. III, and Kronenberg, A.K. (2013) High pressure deformation experiments using solid confining media and Griggs piston-cylinder methods: appraisal of stress and deformation in talc assemblies, Tectonophysics, 588 , 171-178, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2012.12.004.
Davis, N.E., Newman, J., Wheelock, P.B., and Kronenberg, A.K. (2011) Grain growth kinetics of dolomite, magnesite, and calcite: a comparative study, Phys. Chem. Minerals, 38, 123-138, doi:10.1007/s00269-010-0389-9.
Holyoke, C. W., III and Kronenberg, A.K. (2010) Accurate differential stress measurement using the molten salt cell and solid salt assemblies in the Griggs rig with applications to strength, piezometers and rheology, Tectonophysics, 494, 17-31, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2010.08.001.
Education
PhD, Brown University, 1983
MS, Brown University, 1979
BS, UCLA, 1977
Awards
Michel T. Halbouty Chair in Geology 2016
American Rock Mechanics Association Research Award 2009
Ray C. Fish Professorship in Geology 2002
Texas A&M College Level Distinguished Research Award 1997
Texas A&M College Level Teaching Award 1991
Links
TAMU Center for Tectonophysics https://tectono.tamu.edu/
AGU Tectonophysics https://tectonophysics.agu.org/
AGU Mineral and Rock Physics https://mrp.agu.org/
AGU Physical Properties of Earth Materials https://connect.agu.org/mrp/weblinks/ppemhttps://sites.agu.org/ppem/
StraboSpot Data System https://www.strabospot.org/overview
RCN on In-situ Studies of Rock Deformation https://www.isrdrcn.org/
Courses
Geol 101 Principles of Geology
Geol 104 Physical Geology
Geol 203 Mineralogy
Geol 330 Geologic Field Trips
Geol 350 Field Geology
Geol 665 Structural Petrology
Geop 615 Experimental Rock Deformation
Geop 660 Physics of the Earth’s Interior
Additional Information
Contributor to the Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
