Peter Druschke

Ph.D. Candidate

Focus: Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Tectonics

Last Update 1/23/07

I am currently in my 6th semester of study with the Ph.D. program, and my dissertation project titled "The Sheep Pass Formation, Nevada: Record of a two-phase Maastrichtian to Eocene extensional basin developed atop the Sevier Plateau?" focuses on the sedimentology, chronology, paleoelevation history and tectonic setting of the lacustrine and fluvial Sheep Pass Formation basin system(s) within the southern Egan Range of east-central Nevada. Current work involves stratigraphic measurement and geologic mapping of the Sheep Pass Formation type section, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of tuffs to constrain the timing of deposition and tilting, ICP-MS detrital zircon provenance analysis, U-Pb lacustrine carbonate dating, and examination of the δ¹⁸O ratios of lacustrine carbonates as a paleoclimate/paleoelevation proxy. The Sheep Pass Formation is one of the thickest and most complete Maastrictian(?) to Paleogene sedimentary sections within the Great Basin, and records a history of megabreccia and conglomerate deposition as well as the deposition of fine-grained, organic-rich lacustrine carbonates. Reconstructing the history of the Sheep Pass Formation is important for understanding the history of the Basin and Range during the transition from contraction to extension, and serves as one of the principle petroleum reservoir rocks in Railroad Valley, Nevada. Support for this project has been provided for by the following organizations: AAPG (2005, 2006), SEPM Smith grant (2005, 2006), Geological Society of America Wanek Fund grant (2004) Nevada Petroleum Society (2004, 2005, 2006), UNLV Bernada French Geoscience Scholarship (2004, 2005, 2006), UNLV GREAT assistantship ( 2005, 2006), UNLV Graduate and Professional Student grant (2004, 2005, 2006), and the National Science Foundation Tectonics Division Grant #EAR-0610103 (Hanson and Wells 2006-2008). My professional interests include siliciclastic and mixed carbonate sedimentology/ stratigraphy, tectonic analysis of basin systems, volcaniclastic depositional systems, and SHRIMP/ICP-MS detrital zircon provenance analysis.

Photos: Above Left: View to the north of the Stinking Spring cgl (SS cgl) in Sheep Pass Canyon, southern Egan Range. The SS cgl is a Middle-Late Eocene, wedge-shaped deposit that separates the Sheep Pass Fm. from the overlying Late Eocene to Oligocene Garrett Ranch Group volcanic sequence. The SS cgl contains megabreccia derived from both Pz. units and the Sheep Pass Fm., and was deposited as a series of westward draining alluvial fans. Does the SS cgl record Middle/Late Eocene extension on the Sevier Plateau? How does is relate to tuffaceous alluvial/fluvial and lacustrine sequences in the northern Egan Range and Schell Creek Range previously correlated to the Sheep Pass Fm? Photo by advisor Andrew Hanson. Above Right: View to the south of hikers atop the prominent cliffs of brecciated and deformed Devonian Guilmette Fm. on the western flanks of the southern Egan Range. Sheep Pass Canyon lies directly to the south, and Pz. units seen in the image form the basement for the Sheep Pass basin system. How do faults and folds within the Pz. basement influence and interact with deposition of the Sheep Pass Fm? What does this reveal about the transition from contraction to extension in the Sevier Plateau?

Education and Experience:

Seasonal geological technician, North American Exploration, Sparks, NV, 1996-1997

B.S. Geology Sonoma State University, 1999

Geologist, GeoEngineering Inc., San Rafael, CA, 1999-2001

M. S. Geoscience, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 2003

Consultant, Pioneer Gypsum, Las Vegas, NV, 2006

Organizations and Memberships:

I am currently a member of the Geological Society of America, AAPG, the Society for Sedimentary Geologists, and the National Speleological Society. I am also currently vice-chair of the Northern Nevada Grotto and president of the UNLV Geology Club.

Publications

Druschke, P., Hanson, A. D., Yan, Q., Wang Z., and Wang T., 2006, Stratigraphic and SHRIMP detrital zircon evidence for a Neoproterozoic continental arc, central China: Rodinia implications: Journal of Geology, v. 114, p. 627-636.

Druschke, P., Hanson, A. D., and Wells, M., 2006, The Sheep Pass Formation, Nevada: Stratigraphic Evidence for a Paleogene Transition from Contraction to Extension in the Sevier Hinterland?: GSA Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 37, p. 145.

Druschke, P., 2005, The Sheep Pass Formation, Nevada: Record of a Late Cretaceous to Eocene Basin developed on the Sevier Plateau: GSA Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 37, p. 273.

Druschke, P., Honn, D., McKelvey, M., Nastanski, N., Rager, A., Smith, E. I., and Belliveau, R., 2004, Volcanology of the northern Eldorado Mountains, Nevada: New evidence for the source of the tuff of Bridge Spring? GSA Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, p. 431.

Druschke, P., 2003. The age, stratigraphy, and tectonic provenance of clastic deposits in the western Bikou terrane, southwestern Qinling Mountains, China [M.S. thesis]: University of Nevada Las Vegas, 160 p.

Druschke, P., Hanson, A. D., Yan, Q., and Wang, Z., 2003, Is the Bikou terrane of the southwest Qinling Mountains, central China, the result of Late Proterozoic subduction along the north margin of the Yangtze Plate? GSA Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 35, p. 343.

Druschke, P. A., Hanson, A. D., Yan, Q., and Wang, Z., 2002, Recognition of a Late Paleozoic arc/forearc system developed on the north margin of the South China Plate, southwestern Qinling Mountains, China, GSA Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 34, p. 376-377.

Hanson, A. D., and Druschke, P. A., 2006, Incorporating problem based research into an undergraduate sed/strat class: An alternate to the same old format: GSA Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 37, p. 524.

Hanson, A. D., Druschke, P., Howley, R. A., Suurmeyer, N., Benneman, B., Erwin, M., and McLaurin, B., 2005, Deformation of the Mio-Pliocene Muddy Creek Formation, southern Nevada: Lake Mead fault system, salt tectonics, or both? GSA Cordilleran Section Meeting Program, p. 19.

Hanson, A. D., Yan, Q., Druschke, P. A., and Wang, Z., 2002, The southwestern Qinling Shan of central China: A Late Paleozoic subduction/accretionary wedge system and continental arc/forearc constructed upon the north-facing Devonian passive margin of the South China Block, GSA Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 34, p. 509.

Yan, Q., Hanson, A. D., Wang, Z., Druschke, P., Yan, Z., Wang, T., Liu, D., Song, B., Jian, P., Zhou, H., and Jiang, C, 2004. Neoproterozoic subduction and rifting on the northern margin of the Yangtze Plate, China: Implications for Rodinia reconstruction: International Geology Review, v. 46, p. 817-832.

Yan Q., Hanson, A. D., Wang, Z., Druschke, P. A., Yan, Z., Wang, T., and Lu, H. 2004, The timing and setting of Guanjiagou conglomerate in South Qinling and their tectonic implications: Chinese Science Bulletin, v. 49, p. 1722-1729.

Yan, Q. R., Hanson, A. D., Wang, Z. Q., Yan, Z., Druschke, P. A., Wang, T., Liu, D., Song, B., and Jiang, C. F., 2004, Geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes and their constraints on tectonic setting of the Bikou volcanic terrane on the northern margin of the Yangtze block: Acta Petrologica Et Mineralogica, v. 23, p. 1-11. (in Chinese with English abstract).

Yan, Q., Wang, Z., Yan, Z., Hanson, A. D., Druschke, P. A., Liu, D. Song, B., Jian, P., and Wang. T., 2003, SHRIMP age of the Bikou volcanic terrane: Geological Bulletin of China, v. 22, p. 456-458 (in Chinese).

Yan, Q., Wang, Z., Hanson, A. D., Druschke, P. A., Yan, Z., Liu, D., Jian, P., Song, B., Wang, T., and Jiang, C, 2003, SHRIMP age and geochemistry of the Bikou volcanic terrane: Implications for Neoproterozoic tectonics on the northern Margin of the Yangtze Craton: Acta Geologica Sinica, v. 77, p. 479-490.

Yan, Q. R., Wang, Z. Q., Hanson, A. D., Druschke, P. A., Wang, T., Yan, Z., 2002, Hengdan turbidite terrane: Filling in a late Paleozoic forearc basin developed on the passive margin of the Yangtze plate; Geological Bulletin of China, v. 21, p. 495-500 (in Chinese with English abstract).