Alan D Pitts, Ph.D.
Alan D Pitts is a geologist at the Florence Bascom Geoscience Center.
Alan is a geologist conducting geologic mapping and specialized geologic research for the Appalachian Basin Project. His current research interests include stratigraphy of the Appalachian Basin. Shallow-deep marine sedimentary systems, Tectonostratigraphic evolution of the Appalachian Valley and Ridge physiographic province, virtual outcrops, advanced desktop/field mapping applications in GIS.
Alan began a career with USGS in 2012 as a pathways intern. In 2022, he joined the Florence Bascom Geoscience Center in Reston, Virginia.
Science and Products
Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of reference sections of the Williamsport Sandstone and Bloomsburg Formation in eastern West Virginia and south-central Pennsylvania Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of reference sections of the Williamsport Sandstone and Bloomsburg Formation in eastern West Virginia and south-central Pennsylvania
This dataset consists of Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and detailed orthomosaic images of four exposures covering the Williamsport Sandstone and the Bloomsburg Formation in eastern West Virginia and south-central Pennsylvania. For each roadcut exposure, two datasets are published: an orthomosaic raster image and a point cloud. The orthomosaic raster image is a vertical...
Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of reference sections of the Silurian units including the Rose Hill Formation, Keefer Sandstone, McKenzie Formation, Bloomsburg Formation, Williamsport Sandstone, Tonoloway Limestone, and t Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of reference sections of the Silurian units including the Rose Hill Formation, Keefer Sandstone, McKenzie Formation, Bloomsburg Formation, Williamsport Sandstone, Tonoloway Limestone, and t
This dataset consists of Structure-from-Motion (SfM) - derived point clouds and highly detailed orthomosaic images of two exposures covering the the Rose Hill Formation, Keefer Sandstone, McKenzie Formation, Williamsport Sandstone, Bloomsburg Formation, Tonoloway Limestone, and the Keyser Limestone. For each railway exposure, two datasets are published: an orthomosaic raster image and a...
Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of deformed Foreknobs Formation within the Snyder Run syncline near Bergton, VA Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of deformed Foreknobs Formation within the Snyder Run syncline near Bergton, VA
This dataset consists of Structure-from-Motion (SfM) - derived point clouds and a highly detailed orthomosaic image of a roadcut exposure documenting the structural style of the middle part of the Late Devonian Foreknobs Formation within the Synder Run syncline near Bergton, Virginia. For the roadcut exposure, two datasets are published: an orthomosaic raster image and a point cloud. The
Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of reference sections of the Brallier and Foreknobs Formations, Baker, WV Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of reference sections of the Brallier and Foreknobs Formations, Baker, WV
This dataset consists of Structure-from-Motion (SfM) - derived point clouds and highly detailed orthomosaic images of four roadcut exposures covering the upper part of the Harrell Shale, the full Brallier Formation, the full Foreknobs Formation, and the lower part of the Hampshire Formation at Baker, West Virginia. For each roadcut exposure, two datasets are published: an orthomosaic...
Non-USGS Publications**
Kulenguski, J.T., Gilleaudeau, G.J., Kaufman, A.J., Kipp, M.A., Tissot, F.L.H., Goepfert, T.J., Pitts, A.D., Pierantoni, P., Evans, M.N., and Elrick, M., 2023, Carbonate uranium isotopes across Cretaceous OAE 2 in southern Mexico: New constraints on the global spread of marine anoxia and organic carbon burial: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 603, p. 111756, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111756.
Zambrano, M., Volatili, T., Mancini, L., Pitts, A., Giorgioni, M., and Tondi, E., 2023, Pore-scale dual-porosity and dual-permeability modeling in an exposed multi-facies porous carbonate reservoir: Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, v. 222, p. 110918, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2023.110918.
Jablonska, D., Pitts, A.D., Di Celma, C., Volatili, T., Alsop, G. I., & Tondi, E. (2021). 3D outcrop modelling of large discordant breccia bodies in basinal carbonates of the Apulian margin, Italy. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104732
Di Celma, C., Pitts, A. D, Jablonska, D., & Haynes, J. T. (2020). Backset lamination produced by supercritical backwash flows at the beachface-shoreface transition of a storm-dominated gravelly beach (middle Pleistocene, central Italy). Marine and Petroleum Geology, 112(May 2019), 103987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2019.08.015
Pitts, A.D., Jablonska, D., Di Donato, V., Mazzoli, S., Spina, V., Di Celma, C., and Tondi, E., 2023, Sedimentological and stratigraphic signature of the Plio-Pleistocene tectonic events in the Southern Apennines, Italy: The Calvello-Anzi Basin case study: Marine and Petroleum Geology,116, June 2020, 104198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2019.104198
Zambrano, M., Pitts, A.D., Salama, A., Volatili, T., Giorgioni, M., and Tondi, E., 2019, Analysis of fracture roughness control on permeability using SfM and fluid flow simulations: implications for carbonate reservoir characterization: Geofluids, v. 2019, Article ID 4132386, https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/4132386.
Haynes, John T., Alan D. Pitts, Daniel H. Doctor, Richard J. Diecchio, B. Mitchell Blake, Jr., 2018, Appalachian Basin Stratigraphy, Tectonics, and Eustasy from the Blue Ridge to the Allegheny Front, Virginia and West Virginia: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, Field Trip Guide FTG-10, 86 p. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70203571
Pitts, A.D., Casciano, C.I., Patacci, M., Longhitano, S.G., Di Celma, C., and McCaffrey, W.D., 2017, Integrating traditional field methods with emerging digital techniques for enhanced outcrop analysis of deep water channel-fill deposits: Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 86, p. 30-41, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2017.05.001.
Aringoli, D., Farabollini, P., Giacopetti, M., Materazzi, M., Paggi, S., Pambianchi, G., Pierantoni, P.P., Pistolesi, E., Pitts, A., and Tondi, E., 2016, The August 24th 2016 Accumoli earthquake: surface faulting and Deep-Seated Gravitational Slope Deformation (DSGSD) in the Monte Vettore area: Annals of Geophysics, v. 59, p. AG7199, https://doi.org/10.4401/ag-7199.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of reference sections of the Williamsport Sandstone and Bloomsburg Formation in eastern West Virginia and south-central Pennsylvania Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of reference sections of the Williamsport Sandstone and Bloomsburg Formation in eastern West Virginia and south-central Pennsylvania
This dataset consists of Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and detailed orthomosaic images of four exposures covering the Williamsport Sandstone and the Bloomsburg Formation in eastern West Virginia and south-central Pennsylvania. For each roadcut exposure, two datasets are published: an orthomosaic raster image and a point cloud. The orthomosaic raster image is a vertical...
Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of reference sections of the Silurian units including the Rose Hill Formation, Keefer Sandstone, McKenzie Formation, Bloomsburg Formation, Williamsport Sandstone, Tonoloway Limestone, and t Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of reference sections of the Silurian units including the Rose Hill Formation, Keefer Sandstone, McKenzie Formation, Bloomsburg Formation, Williamsport Sandstone, Tonoloway Limestone, and t
This dataset consists of Structure-from-Motion (SfM) - derived point clouds and highly detailed orthomosaic images of two exposures covering the the Rose Hill Formation, Keefer Sandstone, McKenzie Formation, Williamsport Sandstone, Bloomsburg Formation, Tonoloway Limestone, and the Keyser Limestone. For each railway exposure, two datasets are published: an orthomosaic raster image and a...
Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of deformed Foreknobs Formation within the Snyder Run syncline near Bergton, VA Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of deformed Foreknobs Formation within the Snyder Run syncline near Bergton, VA
This dataset consists of Structure-from-Motion (SfM) - derived point clouds and a highly detailed orthomosaic image of a roadcut exposure documenting the structural style of the middle part of the Late Devonian Foreknobs Formation within the Synder Run syncline near Bergton, Virginia. For the roadcut exposure, two datasets are published: an orthomosaic raster image and a point cloud. The
Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of reference sections of the Brallier and Foreknobs Formations, Baker, WV Structure-from-Motion derived point clouds and orthomosaic images of reference sections of the Brallier and Foreknobs Formations, Baker, WV
This dataset consists of Structure-from-Motion (SfM) - derived point clouds and highly detailed orthomosaic images of four roadcut exposures covering the upper part of the Harrell Shale, the full Brallier Formation, the full Foreknobs Formation, and the lower part of the Hampshire Formation at Baker, West Virginia. For each roadcut exposure, two datasets are published: an orthomosaic...
Non-USGS Publications**
Kulenguski, J.T., Gilleaudeau, G.J., Kaufman, A.J., Kipp, M.A., Tissot, F.L.H., Goepfert, T.J., Pitts, A.D., Pierantoni, P., Evans, M.N., and Elrick, M., 2023, Carbonate uranium isotopes across Cretaceous OAE 2 in southern Mexico: New constraints on the global spread of marine anoxia and organic carbon burial: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 603, p. 111756, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111756.
Zambrano, M., Volatili, T., Mancini, L., Pitts, A., Giorgioni, M., and Tondi, E., 2023, Pore-scale dual-porosity and dual-permeability modeling in an exposed multi-facies porous carbonate reservoir: Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, v. 222, p. 110918, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2023.110918.
Jablonska, D., Pitts, A.D., Di Celma, C., Volatili, T., Alsop, G. I., & Tondi, E. (2021). 3D outcrop modelling of large discordant breccia bodies in basinal carbonates of the Apulian margin, Italy. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104732
Di Celma, C., Pitts, A. D, Jablonska, D., & Haynes, J. T. (2020). Backset lamination produced by supercritical backwash flows at the beachface-shoreface transition of a storm-dominated gravelly beach (middle Pleistocene, central Italy). Marine and Petroleum Geology, 112(May 2019), 103987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2019.08.015
Pitts, A.D., Jablonska, D., Di Donato, V., Mazzoli, S., Spina, V., Di Celma, C., and Tondi, E., 2023, Sedimentological and stratigraphic signature of the Plio-Pleistocene tectonic events in the Southern Apennines, Italy: The Calvello-Anzi Basin case study: Marine and Petroleum Geology,116, June 2020, 104198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2019.104198
Zambrano, M., Pitts, A.D., Salama, A., Volatili, T., Giorgioni, M., and Tondi, E., 2019, Analysis of fracture roughness control on permeability using SfM and fluid flow simulations: implications for carbonate reservoir characterization: Geofluids, v. 2019, Article ID 4132386, https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/4132386.
Haynes, John T., Alan D. Pitts, Daniel H. Doctor, Richard J. Diecchio, B. Mitchell Blake, Jr., 2018, Appalachian Basin Stratigraphy, Tectonics, and Eustasy from the Blue Ridge to the Allegheny Front, Virginia and West Virginia: West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, Field Trip Guide FTG-10, 86 p. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70203571
Pitts, A.D., Casciano, C.I., Patacci, M., Longhitano, S.G., Di Celma, C., and McCaffrey, W.D., 2017, Integrating traditional field methods with emerging digital techniques for enhanced outcrop analysis of deep water channel-fill deposits: Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 86, p. 30-41, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2017.05.001.
Aringoli, D., Farabollini, P., Giacopetti, M., Materazzi, M., Paggi, S., Pambianchi, G., Pierantoni, P.P., Pistolesi, E., Pitts, A., and Tondi, E., 2016, The August 24th 2016 Accumoli earthquake: surface faulting and Deep-Seated Gravitational Slope Deformation (DSGSD) in the Monte Vettore area: Annals of Geophysics, v. 59, p. AG7199, https://doi.org/10.4401/ag-7199.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.