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Alexander Lusk

Alexander Lusk is a Geologist with the Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center.

Alexander takes a multidisciplinary approach to reconstructing tectonic histories of active and ancient orogens as well as investigating lithospheric deformation within associated plate boundary-scale fault zones. He uses a combination of geologic mapping, structural and microstructural analysis, petrology, and geophysics to address these research topics from different perspectives and scales.

Professional Experience

  • Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey (2022-present)

  • NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2021-2022)

  • Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2020-2021)

  • Intern, California Geological Survey (2019-2020)

  • Teaching Assistant and Graduate Research Fellow, University of Southern California (2013-2019)

  • Intern, NAGT/USGS Cooperative Summer Field Training Program (2010)

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D., Geological Sciences, University of Southern California (2019)

  • B.Sc., Geological Sciences, University of Washington (2011)

Science and Products

Hydration state and rheologic stratification of the lithospheric mantle beneath the North Anatolian Fault, Turkey

We present constraints on the hydration state and rheology of the lithospheric mantle beneath the North Anatolian fault zone (NAFZ). Peridotite xenoliths from the Biyikali and Çorlu volcanic centers record deformational microstructures consistent with shearing in a lithosphere-scale transcurrent fault system. Analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicates that nominally...
Authors
Alexander Dmitri Lusk, Vasileios Chatzaras, Ercan Aldanmaz, Basil Tikoff
By
Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Ratschbacher B. C., Cawood, T., Larrovere, M. A., Alasino, P. H., Lusk, A. D., Memeti, V., 2021. The ≥6-km Cuesta de Randolfo mylonite zone in Ordovician Famatinian peraluminous granites, NW Argentina: Strain-localization as a function of protolith composition. South American Journal of Earth Sciences. doi: 10.1016/j.jsames.2021.103561.
Chatzaras, V., Lusk, A. D., Chapman, T., Aldanmaz, E., Davis, J. R., Tikoff, B., 2021. Transpressional deformation in the lithospheric mantle beneath the North Anatolian fault. Tectonophysics. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2021.228989.
Lusk, A. D., Platt, J. P., and Platt, J. A., 2021. Natural and experimental constraints on a flow law for dislocation dominated creep in wet quartz. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. doi:10.1029/2020JB021302.
Lusk, A. D. and Platt, J. P., 2020. The deep structure and rheology of a plate boundary-scale shear zone: constraints from an exhumed Caledonian shear zone, NW Scotland. Lithosphere. doi:10.2113/2020/8824736.
Nourse, J. A., Swanson, B., Lusk, A. D., Barth, N., Schwartz, J., Vermillion, K., 2020. Recent Advancements in Geochronology, Geologic Mapping, and Landslide Characterization in Basement Rocks of the San Gabriel Mountains Block, GSA Cordilleran Section 2020. doi:10.1130/2020.0059(02).
Lusk, A. D., et al., 2020. Upper-crustal architecture and record of Famatinian arc activity in the Sierra de Narváez and Sierra de Las Planchadas, NW Argentina. South American Journal of Earth Sciences. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102895.

**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.

link
Rippling marine deposits with hammer shown for scale

Sedimentology and Structure Working Group

The Sedimentology and Structure Working Group supports the Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project by conducting geologic mapping and research focused on the structural and sedimentary processes that shaped the Intermountain West region and their implications for resource exploration and tectonic history. This research provides a process-based framework for understanding mineral...
By
Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
link

Sedimentology and Structure Working Group

The Sedimentology and Structure Working Group supports the Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project by conducting geologic mapping and research focused on the structural and sedimentary processes that shaped the Intermountain West region and their implications for resource exploration and tectonic history. This research provides a process-based framework for understanding mineral...
Learn More
link
Close up view of metagreywacke

Igneous and Metamorphic Working Group

The Igneous and Metamorphic Working Group supports the Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project by conducting geologic mapping in igneous terranes and research focused on understanding the magmatic and metamorphic processes that shaped the Intermountain West region and their implications for mineral resource exploration and tectonic history. This research provides a process-based...
By
Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
link

Igneous and Metamorphic Working Group

The Igneous and Metamorphic Working Group supports the Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project by conducting geologic mapping in igneous terranes and research focused on understanding the magmatic and metamorphic processes that shaped the Intermountain West region and their implications for mineral resource exploration and tectonic history. This research provides a process-based...
Learn More
link
Mt. Ouray, Colorado with aspen colors

Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West

The Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project conducts 1:24,000- to 1:100,000-scale geologic mapping to support framework geologic investigations. The IMW project is prioritizing development of a seamless, integrated geologic map database in targeted areas of the Intermountain West region of the United States that host substantial mineral, energy, water, and industrial material...
By
Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
link

Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West

The Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project conducts 1:24,000- to 1:100,000-scale geologic mapping to support framework geologic investigations. The IMW project is prioritizing development of a seamless, integrated geologic map database in targeted areas of the Intermountain West region of the United States that host substantial mineral, energy, water, and industrial material...
Learn More

Science and Products

Hydration state and rheologic stratification of the lithospheric mantle beneath the North Anatolian Fault, Turkey

We present constraints on the hydration state and rheology of the lithospheric mantle beneath the North Anatolian fault zone (NAFZ). Peridotite xenoliths from the Biyikali and Çorlu volcanic centers record deformational microstructures consistent with shearing in a lithosphere-scale transcurrent fault system. Analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicates that nominally...
Authors
Alexander Dmitri Lusk, Vasileios Chatzaras, Ercan Aldanmaz, Basil Tikoff
By
Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Ratschbacher B. C., Cawood, T., Larrovere, M. A., Alasino, P. H., Lusk, A. D., Memeti, V., 2021. The ≥6-km Cuesta de Randolfo mylonite zone in Ordovician Famatinian peraluminous granites, NW Argentina: Strain-localization as a function of protolith composition. South American Journal of Earth Sciences. doi: 10.1016/j.jsames.2021.103561.
Chatzaras, V., Lusk, A. D., Chapman, T., Aldanmaz, E., Davis, J. R., Tikoff, B., 2021. Transpressional deformation in the lithospheric mantle beneath the North Anatolian fault. Tectonophysics. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2021.228989.
Lusk, A. D., Platt, J. P., and Platt, J. A., 2021. Natural and experimental constraints on a flow law for dislocation dominated creep in wet quartz. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. doi:10.1029/2020JB021302.
Lusk, A. D. and Platt, J. P., 2020. The deep structure and rheology of a plate boundary-scale shear zone: constraints from an exhumed Caledonian shear zone, NW Scotland. Lithosphere. doi:10.2113/2020/8824736.
Nourse, J. A., Swanson, B., Lusk, A. D., Barth, N., Schwartz, J., Vermillion, K., 2020. Recent Advancements in Geochronology, Geologic Mapping, and Landslide Characterization in Basement Rocks of the San Gabriel Mountains Block, GSA Cordilleran Section 2020. doi:10.1130/2020.0059(02).
Lusk, A. D., et al., 2020. Upper-crustal architecture and record of Famatinian arc activity in the Sierra de Narváez and Sierra de Las Planchadas, NW Argentina. South American Journal of Earth Sciences. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102895.

**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.

link
Rippling marine deposits with hammer shown for scale

Sedimentology and Structure Working Group

The Sedimentology and Structure Working Group supports the Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project by conducting geologic mapping and research focused on the structural and sedimentary processes that shaped the Intermountain West region and their implications for resource exploration and tectonic history. This research provides a process-based framework for understanding mineral...
By
Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
link

Sedimentology and Structure Working Group

The Sedimentology and Structure Working Group supports the Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project by conducting geologic mapping and research focused on the structural and sedimentary processes that shaped the Intermountain West region and their implications for resource exploration and tectonic history. This research provides a process-based framework for understanding mineral...
Learn More
link
Close up view of metagreywacke

Igneous and Metamorphic Working Group

The Igneous and Metamorphic Working Group supports the Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project by conducting geologic mapping in igneous terranes and research focused on understanding the magmatic and metamorphic processes that shaped the Intermountain West region and their implications for mineral resource exploration and tectonic history. This research provides a process-based...
By
Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
link

Igneous and Metamorphic Working Group

The Igneous and Metamorphic Working Group supports the Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project by conducting geologic mapping in igneous terranes and research focused on understanding the magmatic and metamorphic processes that shaped the Intermountain West region and their implications for mineral resource exploration and tectonic history. This research provides a process-based...
Learn More
link
Mt. Ouray, Colorado with aspen colors

Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West

The Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project conducts 1:24,000- to 1:100,000-scale geologic mapping to support framework geologic investigations. The IMW project is prioritizing development of a seamless, integrated geologic map database in targeted areas of the Intermountain West region of the United States that host substantial mineral, energy, water, and industrial material...
By
Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
link

Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West

The Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project conducts 1:24,000- to 1:100,000-scale geologic mapping to support framework geologic investigations. The IMW project is prioritizing development of a seamless, integrated geologic map database in targeted areas of the Intermountain West region of the United States that host substantial mineral, energy, water, and industrial material...
Learn More
USGS Location
Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
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