Galen Pippa Halverson

Associate Professor

Courses

Research

I integrate sedimentology, stratigraphy, and isotope geochemistry to reconstruct ancient environments within the context of secular and progressive tectonic, biospheric, and climatic evolution of the earth. The underlying theme of my research is to reconstruct paleoenvironmental change spanning from the late Proterozoic to the early Phanerozoic (~ 1200 to 500 ma) and to understand the interconnections between tectonics (i.e., supercontinental break-up and assembly), seawater chemistry and ocean redox, severe climatic fluctuations (including snowball Earth), and the origin and diversification of animals. This research is fundamentally field-based and geared around detailed geological studies of sedimentary basins that formed during this time.

Recent Publications

Halverson, G.P., Kunzmann, M., Strauss, J.V.,and Maloof, A.C., (in press). The Tonian-Cryogenian transition in Svalbard. Precambrian Research, doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2017.12.010.

Macdonald, F.A., Schimtz, M.D., Strauss, J.V., Halverson, G.P., Gibson, T.M., Eyster, A., Cox, G., Mamrol, P., Crowley, J.L., (in press). The Cryogenian of Yukon. Precambrian Research, doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2017.08.015.

Crockford, P.W., Hayles, J., Bao, H., Planavasky, N.J., Bekker, A., Fralick, P.W., Halver- son, G.P., Bui, T.H., Wing, B.A., Yongo Peng, (2018). Limited primary production sus- tained low mid-Proterozoic oxygen levels. Nature, 559, 613-616, doi:10.1038/s41586-018-0349-y.

Crockford, P.W., Hodgskiss, M.S.W., Uhlein, G.J., Caxito, F., Hayles, J.A., and Halverson, G.P., (2018). Linking paleocontinents through D17O anomalies. Geology, 46, 179-182.

Gibson, T.M., Shih, P.M., Cumming, V.M., Fischer, W.W., Crockford, P.W., Hodgskiss, M.S.W., Wörndle, S., Creaser, R.A., Rainbird, R.H., Skulski, T.M., and Halverson, G.P., (2018). Precise age of Bangiomorpha pubescens dates the emergence of eukaryotic photosynthesis. Geology, 46, 135–139.

Halverson, G.P., Porter, S.M., and Gibson, T.M., (2018). Dating the Late Proterozoic strati- graphic record. Emerging Topics in the Life Sciences, 2(2), 137-147, doi:10.1042/ETLS20170167.

Hodgskiss, M.S.W, Kunzmann, M., Poirier, A., Halverson, G.P., (2018). The role of microbial iron reduction in the formation of Proterozoic molar tooth structures. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 482, 1-11.

Hoffman, P.F. and Halverson, G.P., (2018). Discussion of “Depositional ages and provenance of the Neoproterozoic Damara Supergroup (northwest Namibia): Implications for the Angola-Congo and Kalahari cratons connection” by Debora B. Nascimento, Renata S. Schmitt, Andre Ribeiro, Rudolph A. J. Trouw, Cees W. Passcier, and Miguel A. S. Basei. Gondwana Research, 58, 235–238.

Lu, W., Wörndle, S., Halverson, G.P., Zhou, X., Bekker, A., Rainbird, R.H., Hardisty, D.S., Lyons, T.W., and Lu, Z., (2018). Iodine, oxygen and carbon perturbations during the Bitter Springs Anomaly. Geochemical Perspectives Letters, 5, 53–57.

Complete list