Ian Hillenbrand
Ian Hillenbrand is a Geologist with the Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
Science and Products
Igneous and Metamorphic Working Group
The Igneous and Metamorphic Working Group supports the Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West Project by conducting research focused on understanding the magmatic and metamorphic processes that shaped the Intermountain West and their implications for mineral resource exploration and tectonic history.
USGS Geochron: A database of USGS geochronological and thermochronological data
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has developed an updated geochronology database (USGS Geochron) to include geochronology summary and analytical data created or funded by the USGS.
Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West
The Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project is creating a seamless, integrated, geologic map database that spans the Intermountain West region. The database will serve enhanced geologic map data to support geoscience research, environmental and resource assessments, and the communication of geologic information for all U.S. Geological Survey stakeholders. This innovative...
The National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB)
The National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB) is a distributed archive of geoscience information for the Nation. It was mandated by the Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 and is cooperatively built and maintained by the USGS and State Geological Surveys. We welcome you to explore the archive, view the maps, and help us to improve this resource.
Data release of isotope geochemistry, mineral chemistry, and geochronology for a Proterozoic paragneiss sampled from drill core from North Dakota
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release provides whole rock isotope geochemistry, zircon hafnium isotope geochemistry, feldspar mineral chemistry, and zircon, monazite, and xenotime geochronology for a paragneiss sampled from a drill core from North Dakota. The sample was collected from the 9-11R E-M Larson well in order to constrain the depositional age, provenance, metamorphic...
Zircon U-Pb data for Proterozoic rocks in southwestern Colorado and rocks from drill core from Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release provides U-Pb zircon data and geochronology for Proterozoic rocks in the Needle Mountains of southwestern Colorado and for Proterozoic rocks sampled from drill cores from Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska. Samples from the Needle Mountains were collected in order to constrain the polyphase tectonic evolution of the area. Drill core samples are...
Data release of geochemistry and geochronology for Proterozoic rocks in southwestern Colorado and rocks from drill core from Colorado, North Dakota, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release provides whole rock major, minor, and trace element geochemical data, mineral chemistry, and monazite and xenotime geochronology for Proterozoic rocks in the Needle Mountains of southwestern Colorado and for Proterozoic rocks sampled from drill cores from Colorado, North Dakota, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska. Samples from the...
USGS Geochron: A Database of Geochronological and Thermochronological Dates and Data (ver. 3.0, May 2024)
USGS Geochron is a database of geochronological and thermochronological dates and data. The data set contains published ages, dates, analytical information, sample metadata including location, and source citations. The following analytical techniques are represented in the data set: 40Ar/39Ar, K-Ar, U-Th-Pb, Sm-Nd, Rb-Sr, Lu-Hf, fission track, and luminescence. This data set incorporates...
Lead isotopes constrain Precambrian crustal architecture, thermal history, and lithospheric foundering in Laurentia
Laurentia (ancestral North America) records nearly 4 billion years of crustal evolution. Here, a newly compiled continental-scale Pb isotopic database is used to evaluate the Precambrian crustal evolution of Laurentia. Pb model ages yield a 2.7 Ga peak, a 2.5–1.8 Ga minimum and 1.8–0.9 Ga continuum. Pb model ages yield thermochronometric data and track crustal growth via arc-related...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand
Geochemical and geochronologic evidence for a contiguous northeastern Wyoming Province
The extent and nature of the Wyoming Province, an Archean craton in southwestern Laurentia, are poorly understood due to limited exposure between spatially isolated basement-cored uplifts. This lack of exposure has led to debate about whether the northeastern Wyoming Province is underlain by contiguous Archean crust or Proterozoic rocks and suture zone associated with the Trans-Hudson...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand, Amy K. Gilmer, Amanda (Kate) Souders, Ilya N. Bindeman
Paleoproterozoic reworking of Archean crust and extreme back-arc metamorphism in the enigmatic southern Trans-Hudson orogen
The crustal evolution of the southernmost ∼2000–1800 Ma Trans-Hudson orogen (THO) is enigmatic due to burial by Phanerozoic sediments. We provide new insights through petrochronologic analysis of a paragneiss drill core sample. Detrital zircon age peaks at 2625, 2340, and 1880 Ma and Hf isotopes suggest Paleoproterozoic arc development proximal to Archean source(s). Phase equilibria...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand, Amy K. Gilmer, Michael L. Williams, Amanda (Kate) Souders, Michael J. Jercinovic, Heather A. Lowers, Jorge A. Vazquez
Heterogeneous multi-stage accretionary orogenesis — Evidence from the Gunnison block in the Yavapai Province, southwest USA
Proterozoic rocks exposed in the southwestern U.S.A. represent one of the best examples of crustal growth by arc-related magmatism and accretionary orogenesis. Within the Southwest the 1.8–1.7 Ga Yavapai Province is widely regarded as a classic example of juvenile arc crust, however 1.8–2.5 Ga inherited zircon and Nd and Hf model ages have been recognized near Gunnison in central...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand, Amy K. Gilmer, Michael L. Williams, Karl E. Karlstrom, Amanda (Kate) Souders, Jorge A. Vazquez, Wayne R. Premo
Geochemical evidence for evolving Proterozoic crustal thickness and orogenic styles in southwestern Laurentia
It has long been challenging for researchers to track the crustal thickness and mode(s) of crustal modification in ancient convergent margins, limiting evaluation of the tectonic styles and processes that modify continental crust during orogenesis. We present trace element igneous geochemical crustal thickness proxies that quantitatively track the crustal thickness evolution of the long...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand, Karl E. Karlstrom, Michael L. Williams, Amy K. Gilmer, Wayne R. Premo, Peter B Davis
Monazite and xenotime petrochronologic constraints on four Proterozoic tectonic episodes and ca. 1705 Ma age of the Uncompahgre Formation, southwestern Colorado, USA
The Proterozoic tectonic evolution of the south-western USA remains incompletely understood due to limited constraints on the timing and conditions of the tectono-metamorphic phases and depositional age of metasedimentary successions. We integrated multi-scale compositional mapping, petrologic modeling, and in situ geochronology to constrain pressure-temperature-time paths from samples...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand, Michael L. Williams, Karl E. Karlstrom, Amy K. Gilmer, Heather A. Lowers, Michael J. Jercinovic, Kaitlyn Suarez, Amanda (Kate) Souders
Geochemical evidence for diachronous uplift and synchronous collapse of the high elevation Variscan hinterland
Competing end-member models for the late Paleozoic Variscan orogeny (ca. 360-290 Ma) alternatively suggest moderate 2-3 km elevations underlain by relatively thin crust (55 km) that supported high 4-5 km elevations. We tested these models and quantified the crustal thickness and elevation evolution of the Variscan orogeny using igneous trace element geochemical proxies. The data suggest...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand, Michael L. Williams
Science and Products
Igneous and Metamorphic Working Group
The Igneous and Metamorphic Working Group supports the Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West Project by conducting research focused on understanding the magmatic and metamorphic processes that shaped the Intermountain West and their implications for mineral resource exploration and tectonic history.
USGS Geochron: A database of USGS geochronological and thermochronological data
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has developed an updated geochronology database (USGS Geochron) to include geochronology summary and analytical data created or funded by the USGS.
Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West
The Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project is creating a seamless, integrated, geologic map database that spans the Intermountain West region. The database will serve enhanced geologic map data to support geoscience research, environmental and resource assessments, and the communication of geologic information for all U.S. Geological Survey stakeholders. This innovative...
The National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB)
The National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB) is a distributed archive of geoscience information for the Nation. It was mandated by the Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 and is cooperatively built and maintained by the USGS and State Geological Surveys. We welcome you to explore the archive, view the maps, and help us to improve this resource.
Data release of isotope geochemistry, mineral chemistry, and geochronology for a Proterozoic paragneiss sampled from drill core from North Dakota
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release provides whole rock isotope geochemistry, zircon hafnium isotope geochemistry, feldspar mineral chemistry, and zircon, monazite, and xenotime geochronology for a paragneiss sampled from a drill core from North Dakota. The sample was collected from the 9-11R E-M Larson well in order to constrain the depositional age, provenance, metamorphic...
Zircon U-Pb data for Proterozoic rocks in southwestern Colorado and rocks from drill core from Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release provides U-Pb zircon data and geochronology for Proterozoic rocks in the Needle Mountains of southwestern Colorado and for Proterozoic rocks sampled from drill cores from Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska. Samples from the Needle Mountains were collected in order to constrain the polyphase tectonic evolution of the area. Drill core samples are...
Data release of geochemistry and geochronology for Proterozoic rocks in southwestern Colorado and rocks from drill core from Colorado, North Dakota, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release provides whole rock major, minor, and trace element geochemical data, mineral chemistry, and monazite and xenotime geochronology for Proterozoic rocks in the Needle Mountains of southwestern Colorado and for Proterozoic rocks sampled from drill cores from Colorado, North Dakota, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, and Nebraska. Samples from the...
USGS Geochron: A Database of Geochronological and Thermochronological Dates and Data (ver. 3.0, May 2024)
USGS Geochron is a database of geochronological and thermochronological dates and data. The data set contains published ages, dates, analytical information, sample metadata including location, and source citations. The following analytical techniques are represented in the data set: 40Ar/39Ar, K-Ar, U-Th-Pb, Sm-Nd, Rb-Sr, Lu-Hf, fission track, and luminescence. This data set incorporates...
Lead isotopes constrain Precambrian crustal architecture, thermal history, and lithospheric foundering in Laurentia
Laurentia (ancestral North America) records nearly 4 billion years of crustal evolution. Here, a newly compiled continental-scale Pb isotopic database is used to evaluate the Precambrian crustal evolution of Laurentia. Pb model ages yield a 2.7 Ga peak, a 2.5–1.8 Ga minimum and 1.8–0.9 Ga continuum. Pb model ages yield thermochronometric data and track crustal growth via arc-related...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand
Geochemical and geochronologic evidence for a contiguous northeastern Wyoming Province
The extent and nature of the Wyoming Province, an Archean craton in southwestern Laurentia, are poorly understood due to limited exposure between spatially isolated basement-cored uplifts. This lack of exposure has led to debate about whether the northeastern Wyoming Province is underlain by contiguous Archean crust or Proterozoic rocks and suture zone associated with the Trans-Hudson...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand, Amy K. Gilmer, Amanda (Kate) Souders, Ilya N. Bindeman
Paleoproterozoic reworking of Archean crust and extreme back-arc metamorphism in the enigmatic southern Trans-Hudson orogen
The crustal evolution of the southernmost ∼2000–1800 Ma Trans-Hudson orogen (THO) is enigmatic due to burial by Phanerozoic sediments. We provide new insights through petrochronologic analysis of a paragneiss drill core sample. Detrital zircon age peaks at 2625, 2340, and 1880 Ma and Hf isotopes suggest Paleoproterozoic arc development proximal to Archean source(s). Phase equilibria...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand, Amy K. Gilmer, Michael L. Williams, Amanda (Kate) Souders, Michael J. Jercinovic, Heather A. Lowers, Jorge A. Vazquez
Heterogeneous multi-stage accretionary orogenesis — Evidence from the Gunnison block in the Yavapai Province, southwest USA
Proterozoic rocks exposed in the southwestern U.S.A. represent one of the best examples of crustal growth by arc-related magmatism and accretionary orogenesis. Within the Southwest the 1.8–1.7 Ga Yavapai Province is widely regarded as a classic example of juvenile arc crust, however 1.8–2.5 Ga inherited zircon and Nd and Hf model ages have been recognized near Gunnison in central...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand, Amy K. Gilmer, Michael L. Williams, Karl E. Karlstrom, Amanda (Kate) Souders, Jorge A. Vazquez, Wayne R. Premo
Geochemical evidence for evolving Proterozoic crustal thickness and orogenic styles in southwestern Laurentia
It has long been challenging for researchers to track the crustal thickness and mode(s) of crustal modification in ancient convergent margins, limiting evaluation of the tectonic styles and processes that modify continental crust during orogenesis. We present trace element igneous geochemical crustal thickness proxies that quantitatively track the crustal thickness evolution of the long...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand, Karl E. Karlstrom, Michael L. Williams, Amy K. Gilmer, Wayne R. Premo, Peter B Davis
Monazite and xenotime petrochronologic constraints on four Proterozoic tectonic episodes and ca. 1705 Ma age of the Uncompahgre Formation, southwestern Colorado, USA
The Proterozoic tectonic evolution of the south-western USA remains incompletely understood due to limited constraints on the timing and conditions of the tectono-metamorphic phases and depositional age of metasedimentary successions. We integrated multi-scale compositional mapping, petrologic modeling, and in situ geochronology to constrain pressure-temperature-time paths from samples...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand, Michael L. Williams, Karl E. Karlstrom, Amy K. Gilmer, Heather A. Lowers, Michael J. Jercinovic, Kaitlyn Suarez, Amanda (Kate) Souders
Geochemical evidence for diachronous uplift and synchronous collapse of the high elevation Variscan hinterland
Competing end-member models for the late Paleozoic Variscan orogeny (ca. 360-290 Ma) alternatively suggest moderate 2-3 km elevations underlain by relatively thin crust (55 km) that supported high 4-5 km elevations. We tested these models and quantified the crustal thickness and elevation evolution of the Variscan orogeny using igneous trace element geochemical proxies. The data suggest...
Authors
Ian William Hillenbrand, Michael L. Williams