Matthew Dorsey
Graduate Student
structural geology, tectonics, stable/clumped isotope geochemistry
Research
My primary research interests reside at the intersection of structural geology and geochemistry. My work focuses on the chemical and physical processes operating in active and exhumed seismogenic faults and attempts to reconcile observations of shallow crustal deformation with repetition of seismic events. By focusing on the mineralogical and textural evolution of fault rocks, we can gain a better understanding of processes that lead to or inhibit localized slip, i.e. earthquakes.
Field work is an essential part of studying natural fault zones, but I also employ a wide array of laboratory techniques including but not limited to XRF, XRD, microscopy (optical & SEM), and stable and clumped isotope geochemistry. In addition, I have interest in employing thermo- and geochronological techniques (e.g., Ar-Ar dating of K-feldspars and illite) to fault rocks to better constrain deformation histories.
Secondary research interests include orogenesis, stable and clumped isotope climate records, and utilization of UAV in the geosciences.
Selected Publications
Dorsey, M. T., Rockwell, T. K., Girty, G. H., Ostermeijer, G. A., Browning, J., Mitchell, T. M., and Fletcher, J. M., 2021, Evidence of hydrothermal fluid circulation driving elemental mass redistribution in an active fault zone: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 144.
Ostermeijer, G. A., Mitchell, T. M., Aben, F. M., Dorsey, M. T., Browning, J., Rockwell, T. K., Fletcher, J. M., and Ostermeijer, F., 2020, Damage zone heterogeneity on seismogenic faults in crystalline rock; a field study of the Borrego Fault, Baja California: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 137.
Fletcher, J. M., Teran, O. J., Rockwell, T. K., Oskin, M. E., Hudnut, K. W., Spelz, R. M., Lacan, P., Dorsey, M. T., Ostermeijer, G., Mitchell, T. M., Akciz, S. O., Hernandez-Flores, A. P., Hinojosa-Corona, A., Peña-Villa, I., and Lynch, D. K., 2020, An analysis of the factors that control fault zone architecture and the importance of fault orientation relative to regional stress: GSA Bulletin, v. 132, no. 9-10, p. 2084-2104.
Azevedo, M., Parizek, J. R., Webb, H. N., Dennis, K. N., Dorsey, M. T., Fenton, N. C., Hall, C. M., and Girty, G. H., 2017, Recognizing Non-Steady-State Weathering Conditions In Ancient Submarine Fan Systems: Correcting For K-Metasomatism Reveals A Late Cretaceous Non-Steady-State Weathering Regime, Point Loma Formation, Southwestern California, USA: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 87, no. 7, p. 707-721.
Education
M.S. Geology, San Diego State University (2017)
B.S. Geology, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2015)
Awards
Graduate Student Teaching Award, Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, TAMU (2020)
Leonard Gage Larsen Memorial Fellowship, TAMU (2020)
Wayne M. Ahr ’65 Endowed Memorial Fellowship, TAMU (2020)
Graduate Student Service Award, Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, TAMU (2020)
Graduate Student Research Grant, Geological Society of America (2019)
Talisman Fellowship, TAMU (2017)
John Teagle Memorial Grant, American Assoc. of Petroleum Geologists (2016)
Norman R. Tilford Field Studies Scholarship, Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (2016)
ExxonMobil Scholarship, SDSU (2016)
Courses
Courses I have served as a Teaching Assistant for at TAMU:
Geol 102 Principles of Geology Laboratory
Geol 104 Physical Geology
Geol 207 Dinosaur World
Geol 250 Geological Field Methods
Geol 300/350 (Summer) Field Geology
Geol 312 Structural Geology and Tectonics
