Los Alamos Geological Society to Feature Dr. Shari A. Kelley

Geologist Dr. Shari A. Kelley is an adjunct professor of geology at New Mexico Tech. Courtesy/NMT

LAGS News:

The next meeting of the Los Alamos Geological Society is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 at the 1st Christian Church, 92 East Road.

The featured speaker is Dr. Shari A. Kelley, a geophysicist and field geologist at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources in Socorro and an adjunct professor of geology at New Mexico Tech.

Kelley received her B.S. in Geological Sciences from New Mexico State University in1979 and her Ph.D. in Geophysics from Southern Methodist University in1984.

Her talk is entitled, “Timing of the incision of the Grand Canyon from a unique perspective.”

This talk will explore a stunning new model of the evolution of the Grand Canyon including speculation that the dinosaurs saw the Grand Canyon 80 million years ago!

This new model raises significant debate with other theories which place the formation of the Grand Canyon at 5-6 million years ago.

The age of the carving of the Grand Canyon remains a century-old topic of debate. The youthful nature of the landscape in the vicinity of Grand Canyon Village and geologic evidence argues for 5-6 Ma incision.

In contrast, recent interpretations of thermochronometic data suggest that a valley of uncertain orientation was present in the western Grand Canyon at 80 Ma, leading to sensational speculation that dinosaurs saw the “Grand Canyon.”

The speaker has had the unique opportunity to work with all the major players involved in the recent debate.

Each scientist involved has contributed important data that eventually will be integrated into a stunning new model of the evolution of the Grand Canyon.

 

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