Arthur Merschat is a Research Geologist at the USGS Florence Bascom Geoscience Center.
"I have worked for the USGS from 2006 until present, a period that includes a SCEP appointment during my Ph.D., and as a Research Geologist (2009–present). My research is focused on (1) the structure and tectonics of the Appalachian orogen; (2) the provenance of the different crystalline terranes of the Blue Ridge and Piedmont; and (3) the thermochronologic evolution of the orogen. I have integrated geologic mapping, structural analysis, SHRIMP U-Pb geochronology, petrology, and geochemistry into my research. Currently, I am involved with bedrock geologic mapping projects in the Blue Ridge — Mount Rogers area, VA–NC–TN, and Roan Mountain, NC–TN — and in New England — southwest NH and parts of VT."
Science and Products
Blue Ridge and Inner Piedmont Geologic Mapping
Piedmont and Blue Ridge Project
Whole rock geochemistry data from the Ordovician Bronson Hill arc and Silurian and Devonian Connecticut Valley - Gaspé trough, Vermont and New Hampshire
Database for the geologic map of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region, Tennessee and North Carolina
Photoluminescence Imaging of Whole Zircon Grains on a Petrographic Microscope - An Underused Aide for Geochronologic Studies
GIS and Data Tables for Focus Areas for Potential Domestic Nonfuel Sources of Rare Earth Elements
Bedrock geologic map of the Springfield 7.5- x 15-minute quadrangle, Windsor County, Vermont, and Sullivan County, New Hampshire
Bedrock geologic map of the Worcester South quadrangle, Worcester County, Massachusetts
Bedrock geologic map of the Worcester South quadrangle, Worcester County, Massachusetts
Geologic map of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region, Tennessee and North Carolina
Geologic map of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region, Tennessee and North Carolina
Geology of the Mount Rogers area, revisited: Evidence of Neoproterozoic continental rifting, glaciation, and the opening and closing of the Iapetus Ocean, Blue Ridge, VA–NC–TN
Preliminary map of the surface rupture from the August 9, 2020, Mw 5.1 earthquake near Sparta, North Carolina—The Little River fault and other possible coseismic features
Defining the timing, extent, and conditions of Paleozoic metamorphism in the southern Appalachian Blue Ridge terranes of Tennessee, North Carolina, and northern Georgia
Don't judge an orogen by its cover: Kinematics of the Appalachian décollement from seismic anisotropy
Implementation plan of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program strategy — Appalachian Piedmont and Blue Ridge Provinces
Photoluminescence imaging of whole zircon grains on a petrographic microscope—An underused aide for geochronologic studies
The refractory nature of zircon to temperature and pressure allows even a single zircon grain to preserve a rich history of magmatic, metamorphic, and hydrothermal processes. Isotopic dating of micro-domains exposed in cross-sections of zircon grains allows us to interrogate this history. Unfortunately, our ability to select the zircon grains in a heavy mineral concentrate that records the most ge
Geochronology of the Oliverian Plutonic Suite and the Ammonoosuc Volcanics in the Bronson Hill arc: Western New Hampshire, USA
U-Pb zircon geochronology by sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe–reverse geometry (SHRIMP-RG) on 11 plutonic rocks and two volcanic rocks from the Bronson Hill arc in western New Hampshire yielded Early to Late Ordovician ages ranging from 475 to 445 Ma. Ages from Oliverian Plutonic Suite rocks that intrude a largely mafic lower section of the Ammonoosuc Volcanics ranged from 474.8 ± 5.2 to 4
Kinematic, deformational, and thermochronologic conditions along the Gossan Lead and Fries shear zones: Constraining the western-eastern Blue Ridge boundary in northwestern North Carolina
Linkages and feedbacks in orogenic systems: An introduction
Temporal and spatial distribution of Paleozoic metamorphism in the southern Appalachian Blue Ridge and Inner Piedmont delimited by ion microprobe U-Pb ages of metamorphic zircon
Confirmation of the southwest continuation of the Cat Square terrane, southern Appalachian Inner Piedmont, with implications for middle Paleozoic collisional orogenesis
Geology along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
Science and Products
- Science
Blue Ridge and Inner Piedmont Geologic Mapping
The Blue Ridge and Inner Piedmont Geologic Mapping Task (BRIP) is the western focus of geologic mapping and framework studies of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge Project. BRIP will conduct modern geologic mapping and geologic framework studies in the Wytheville, Hickory and Boone 30x60-min. sheets. Collectively, the objectives of BRIP are to (1) characterize the geologic framework of the Blue Ridge and...Piedmont and Blue Ridge Project
The Piedmont and Blue Ridge Project is a geologic mapping project supported by the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. The Piedmont Blue Ridge Project aims to understand the geologic framework and tectonic evolution of terranes and basins in the Appalachian Piedmont and Blue Ridge, and their significance for water, mineral and energy resources, natural hazards, and engineering... - Data
Whole rock geochemistry data from the Ordovician Bronson Hill arc and Silurian and Devonian Connecticut Valley - Gaspé trough, Vermont and New Hampshire
This data release includes whole rock (WR) geochemical data for 94 samples. Whole rock geochemistry data were analyzed at Actlabs in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. Rock samples were collected by Peter Valley, Greg Walsh, Arthur Merschat, and Ryan McAleer. The whole rock geochemistry data characterize the composition of mapped meta-igneous rocks in eastern Vermont and western New Hampshire, USA. The daDatabase for the geologic map of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region, Tennessee and North Carolina
The geologic map database of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region of Tennessee and North Carolina is a result from studies from 1993 to 2003 as part of a cooperative investigation by the U.S. Geological Survey with the National Park Service (NPS). This work resulted in a 1:100,000-scale geologic map derived from mapping that was conducted at scales of 1:24,000 and 1:62,500. The geologicPhotoluminescence Imaging of Whole Zircon Grains on a Petrographic Microscope - An Underused Aide for Geochronologic Studies
The refractory nature of zircon to temperature and pressure allows even a single zircon grain to preserve a rich history of magmatic, metamorphic, and hydrothermal processes. Isotopic dating of micro-domains exposed in cross-sections of zircon grains allows us to interrogate this history. Unfortunately, our ability to select the zircon grains in a heavy mineral concentrate that records the most geGIS and Data Tables for Focus Areas for Potential Domestic Nonfuel Sources of Rare Earth Elements
In response to Executive Order 13817 of December 20, 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) coordinated with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to identify 35 nonfuel minerals or mineral materials considered critical to the economic and national security of the United States (U.S.). Acquiring information on possible domestic sources of these critical minerals is the basis of the USGS Earth Mappi - Maps
Bedrock geologic map of the Springfield 7.5- x 15-minute quadrangle, Windsor County, Vermont, and Sullivan County, New Hampshire
The bedrock geology of the 7.5- by 15-minute Springfield quadrangle consists of highly deformed and metamorphosed Mesoproterozoic through Devonian metasedimentary and meta-igneous rocks. In the west, Mesoproterozoic gneisses of the Mount Holly Complex are the oldest rocks and form the eastern side of the Chester dome. The Moretown slice structurally overlies the Chester dome along the Keyes MountaBedrock geologic map of the Worcester South quadrangle, Worcester County, Massachusetts
The bedrock geology of the 7.5-minute Worcester South quadrangle, Massachusetts, consists of deformed Neoproterozoic to Paleozoic crystalline metamorphic and intrusive igneous rocks in three fault-bounded terranes (zones), including the Avalon, Nashoba, and Merrimack zones (Zen and others, 1983). This quadrangle spans the easternmost occurrence of Ganderian margin arc-related rocks (Nashoba zone)Bedrock geologic map of the Worcester South quadrangle, Worcester County, Massachusetts
The bedrock geology of the 7.5-minute Worcester South quadrangle, Massachusetts, consists of deformed Neoproterozoic to Paleozoic crystalline metamorphic and intrusive igneous rocks in three fault-bounded terranes (zones), including the Avalon, Nashoba, and Merrimack zones (Zen and others, 1983). This quadrangle spans the easternmost occurrence of Ganderian margin arc-related rocks (Nashoba zone)Geologic map of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region, Tennessee and North Carolina
The geology of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region of Tennessee and North Carolina was studied from 1993 to 2003 as part of a cooperative investigation by the U.S. Geological Survey with the National Park Service (NPS). This work resulted in a 1:100,000-scale geologic map derived from mapping that was conducted at scales of 1:24,000 and 1:62,500. The geologic data are intended to supporGeologic map of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region, Tennessee and North Carolina
The geology of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park region of Tennessee and North Carolina was studied from 1993 to 2003 as part of a cooperative investigation by the U.S. Geological Survey with the National Park Service (NPS). This work resulted in a 1:100,000-scale geologic map derived from mapping that was conducted at scales of 1:24,000 and 1:62,500. The geologic data are intended to suppor - Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 18
Geology of the Mount Rogers area, revisited: Evidence of Neoproterozoic continental rifting, glaciation, and the opening and closing of the Iapetus Ocean, Blue Ridge, VA–NC–TN
Recent field and geochronological studies in eight 7.5-minute quadrangles near Mount Rogers in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee recognize (1) important stratigraphic and structural relationships for the Neoproterozoic Mount Rogers and Konnarock Formations, and the northeast end of the Mountain City window; (2) the separation of Mesoproterozoic rocks of the Blue Ridge into three age groups; aAuthorsArthur J. Merschat, Ryan J. McAleer, Christopher Holm-Denoma, C. Scott SouthworthPreliminary map of the surface rupture from the August 9, 2020, Mw 5.1 earthquake near Sparta, North Carolina—The Little River fault and other possible coseismic features
This publication is a preliminary map and geodatabase of the coseismic surface rupture and other coseismic features generated from the August 9, 2020, Mw 5.1 earthquake near Sparta, North Carolina. Geologic mapping facilitated by analysis of post-earthquake quality level 0 to 1 lidar, document the coseismic surface rupture, named the Little River fault, and other coseismic features. The Little RivAuthorsArthur J. Merschat, Mark W. CarterDefining the timing, extent, and conditions of Paleozoic metamorphism in the southern Appalachian Blue Ridge terranes of Tennessee, North Carolina, and northern Georgia
The tectonometamorphic evolution of the southern Appalachians, which results from multiple Paleozoic orogenies (Taconic, Neoacadian, and Alleghanian), has lacked a consensus interpretation regarding its thermal-metamorphic history. The Blue Ridge terranes have remained the focus of the debate, with the interpreted timing of regional Barrovian metamorphism and associated deformation ranging from eaAuthorsJ. Ryan Thigpen, David P. Moecher, Harold H. Stowell, Arthur J. Merschat, Robert D. Hatcher, Nicholas Edwin Powell, Brandon M. Spencer, Calvin A. Mako, Elizabeth M. Bollen, Andrew R C Kylander-ClarkDon't judge an orogen by its cover: Kinematics of the Appalachian décollement from seismic anisotropy
As North America collided with Africa to form Pangea during the Alleghanian orogeny, crystalline and sedimentary rocks in the southeastern United States were thrust forelandward along the Appalachian décollement. We examined Ps receiver functions to better constrain the kinematics of this prominent subsurface structure. From Southeastern Suture of the Appalachian Margin Experiment (SESAME) and othAuthorsMichael G. Frothingham, Vera Schulte-Pelkum, Kevin H. Mahan, Arthur J. Merschat, Makayla Mather, Zulliet Cabrera GomezImplementation plan of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program strategy — Appalachian Piedmont and Blue Ridge Provinces
The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program is publishing a strategic plan titled “Renewing the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program as the Nation’s Authoritative Source for Modern Geologic Knowledge.” The plan provides a vision, mission, and goals for the program for the years 2020–30:Vision: create an integrated, three-dimensional, digital geologic map of the United States.MissionAuthorsArthur J. Merschat, Mark W. CarterPhotoluminescence imaging of whole zircon grains on a petrographic microscope—An underused aide for geochronologic studies
The refractory nature of zircon to temperature and pressure allows even a single zircon grain to preserve a rich history of magmatic, metamorphic, and hydrothermal processes. Isotopic dating of micro-domains exposed in cross-sections of zircon grains allows us to interrogate this history. Unfortunately, our ability to select the zircon grains in a heavy mineral concentrate that records the most ge
AuthorsRyan J. McAleer, Aaron M. Jubb, Paul C. Hackley, Gregory J. Walsh, Arthur J. Merschat, Sean P. Regan, William C. Burton, Jorge A. VazquezGeochronology of the Oliverian Plutonic Suite and the Ammonoosuc Volcanics in the Bronson Hill arc: Western New Hampshire, USA
U-Pb zircon geochronology by sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe–reverse geometry (SHRIMP-RG) on 11 plutonic rocks and two volcanic rocks from the Bronson Hill arc in western New Hampshire yielded Early to Late Ordovician ages ranging from 475 to 445 Ma. Ages from Oliverian Plutonic Suite rocks that intrude a largely mafic lower section of the Ammonoosuc Volcanics ranged from 474.8 ± 5.2 to 4
AuthorsPeter M. Valley, Gregory J. Walsh, Arthur J. Merschat, Ryan J. McAleerKinematic, deformational, and thermochronologic conditions along the Gossan Lead and Fries shear zones: Constraining the western-eastern Blue Ridge boundary in northwestern North Carolina
The fault boundary between the western and eastern Blue Ridge (WBR-EBR) in the southern Appalachians separates Mesoproterozoic basement rocks and their cover from Neoproterozoic to Paleozoic accreted rocks. Several northeast striking faults delineate the boundary, including the Gossan Lead shear zone in northwestern North Carolina. Varying tectonic interpretations of WBR-EBR boundary include a preAuthorsJamie S. F. Levine, Arthur J. Merschat, Ryan J. McAleer, G. Casale, K. R. Quillan, K. I. Fraser, T. G. BeDellLinkages and feedbacks in orogenic systems: An introduction
Orogenic processes operate at scales ranging from the lithosphere to grain-scale, and are inexorably linked. For example, in many orogens, fault and shear zone architecture controls distribution of heat advection along faults and also acts as the primary mechanism for redistribution of heat-producing material. This sets up the thermal structure of the orogen, which in turn controls lithospheric rhAuthorsJ. Ryan Thigpen, Richard D. Law, Arthur J. Merschat, Harold StowellTemporal and spatial distribution of Paleozoic metamorphism in the southern Appalachian Blue Ridge and Inner Piedmont delimited by ion microprobe U-Pb ages of metamorphic zircon
Ion microprobe U-Pb zircon rim ages from 39 samples from across the accreted terranes of the central Blue Ridge, eastward across the Inner Piedmont, delimit the timing and spatial extent of superposed metamorphism in the southern Appalachian orogen. Metamorphic zircon rims are 10–40 µm wide, mostly unzoned, and dark gray to black or bright white in cathodoluminescence, and truncate and/or embay inAuthorsArthur J. Merschat, Brendan R. Bream, Matthew T. Huebner, Robert D. Hatcher, Calvin F. MillerConfirmation of the southwest continuation of the Cat Square terrane, southern Appalachian Inner Piedmont, with implications for middle Paleozoic collisional orogenesis
Detailed geologic mapping, U-Pb zircon geochronology and whole-rock geochemical analyses were conducted to test the hypothesis that the southwestern extent of the Cat Square terrane continues from the northern Inner Piedmont (western Carolinas) into central Georgia. Geologic mapping revealed the Jackson Lake fault, a ∼15 m-thick, steeply dipping sillimanite-grade fault zone that truncates lithologAuthorsMatthew T. Huebner, Robert D. Hatcher, Arthur J. MerschatGeology along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
Detailed geologic mapping and new SHRIMP (sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe) U-Pb zircon, Ar/Ar, Lu-Hf, 14C, luminescence (optically stimulated), thermochronology (fission-track), and palynology reveal the complex Mesoproterozoic to Quaternary geology along the ~350 km length of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. Traversing the boundary of the central and southern Appalachians, rocks alongAuthorsMark W. Carter, C. Scott Southworth, Richard P. Tollo, Arthur J. Merschat, Sara Wagner, Ava Lazor, John N. Aleinikoff