Amy Gilmer
Biography
I joined the USGS GEC Science Center in Denver, Colorado in 2017. I am interested in the role magmatic processes play in driving plate tectonics, building mountains, forming of volcanic belts and their associated geologic hazards, and forming hydrothermal ore deposits. I am working on the Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West Project investigating the ignimbrites and post-caldera intrusions of the Platoro caldera complex and how they relate to the San Juan magma reservoir, Rio Grande extension-related magmatism, and ore deposition in the region.
Before joining the USGS, my research focused on the primary magmatic features and petrogenesis of the Don Manuel igneous complex and associated porphyry copper system in the Andean Cordillera of central Chile. I also worked for the Virginia Division of Geology and Mineral Resources conducting mineral resource assessments and geologic mapping in the Virginia Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.
Other Publications (see Publications tab below for main list):
Gilmer, A. K., Sparks, R. S. J., Rust, A., Tapster, S., Webb, A. D., and Barfod, D. N., in press, The volcanic-porphyry copper deposit connection: Insights from the Don Manuel igneous complex, central Chile: Geological Society of America Bulletin.
Blundy, J., Mavrogenes, J., Tattitch, B., Sparks, S., and Gilmer, A. 2015, Generation of porphyry copper deposits by gas-brine reaction in volcanic arcs. Nature Geoscience.
Pratt, T. L., Horton, J. W., Spears, D. B., Gilmer, A. K., and McNamara, D. E., 2014, The 2011 Virginia Mw 5.8 earthquake: Insights from seismic reflection imaging into the influence of older structures on eastern US seismicity. Geological Society of America Special Papers, 509, SPE509-16.
Shah, A. K., Horton, J. W., Burton, W. C., Spears, D. B., and Gilmer, A. K., 2014, Subsurface geologic features of the 2011 central Virginia earthquakes revealed by airborne geophysics. Geological Society of America Special Papers, 509, SPE509-17.
Gilmer, A. K., Kyle, J. R., Connelly, J. N., and Mathur, R. D., and Henry, C. D., 2003, Extension of Laramide magmatism in southwestern North America into Trans-Pecos Texas: Geology, v. 31, no. 5, p. 447-450.
Science and Products
Intermountain West Transect
The USGS Intermountain West project was launched with the goal of producing an new digital geologic map database and 3D geologic model of a transect from the Rio Grande rift to the Basin and Range, based on a synthesis of existing geologic maps with new targeted new mapping, subsurface data, and other data sets. This database will integrate disparate map data, resolve inconsistent...
Cenozoic Landscape Evolution of the Southern Rocky Mountains
The Cenozoic Landscape Evolution of the Southern Rocky Mountains Project is a multi-year investigation funded by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. This project utilizes a combination of geologic mapping, geophysical surveys, basin modeling, and structural, neotectonic, geomorphic, volcanic, stratigraphic, and geochronologic studies to...
Protracted multipulse emplacement of a post-resurgent pluton: The case of Platoro caldera complex (Southern Rocky Mountain volcanic field, Colorado)
Many eroded calderas expose associated postcollapse plutons, but detailed fieldwork‐supported studies have rarely focused on the internal structure that can contribute to understanding of emplacement dynamics. The Alamosa River monzonite pluton is a postcollapse intrusion at the Platoro caldera complex that erupted six large ignimbrites between 30...
Tomek, Filip; Gilmer, Amy; Petronis, M. S.; Lipman, Peter W.; Foucher, M. S. A supervolcano and its sidekicks: A 100 ka eruptive chronology of the Fish Canyon Tuff and associated units of the La Garita magmatic system
Establishing temporal constrains on major volcanic eruptions is limited by the precision of existing geochronometers. Prior work on the La Garita caldera, created by the eruption of the Fish Canyon Tuff, failed to resolve temporal differences between pre-, syn-, and post-collapse eruptive units. Here, we report 40Ar/39Ar geochronologic data...
Morgan, Leah E.; Johnstone, Samuel A.; Gilmer, Amy; Cosca, Michael A.; Thompson, Ren A.