Cynthia Dusel-Bacon
Cynthia Dusel-Bacon is a Scientist Emerita in the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center in Menlo Park, California. Since 1975 she has worked to decipher the geology, geologic setting of syngenetic and epigenetic mineral deposits, and tectonic history of east-central Alaska.
Cynthia Dusel-Bacon joined the USGS Branch of Alaskan Geology, headquartered in Menlo Park, California, in 1975. In 1977, during her third field season of geologic mapping in east-central Alaska, she was mauled by a black bear and lost both arms as a result of her injuries. Her disability has not kept her from enjoying a long and productive career that includes fieldwork in Alaska, petrologic studies, and publication of results.
Research Focus
Dusel-Bacon’s studies have involved deciphering the geologic and tectonic history of east-central Alaska utilizing geologic mapping, metamorphic petrology, whole-rock geochemistry, trace-element tectonic fingerprinting of (meta)igneous rocks, and geochronology (U-Pb zircon,40Ar-39Ar, and apatite fission track data) generated by collaborating scientists. Her studies also have included correlation of regional events in east-central Alaska with those in the western Canadian Cordillera; the age, character, and tectonic setting of submarine, syngenetic, hydrothermal mineral deposits (both volcanic- and sedimentary-hosted); and compilation of a Metamorphic Facies Map of Alaska.
Education
- San Jose State University, BA, Geology, 1975
- San Jose State University, Secondary Teaching Credential (Spanish), 1969
- University of California Santa Barbara, BA, Spanish, 1968
Professional Experience
- 2014 – Scientist Emerita, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California
- 1980 – 2014 Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California
- 1975 – 1979 Physical Science Technician, Branch of Alaskan Geology, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California
Affiliations
- 1974 – Geological Society of America (Fellow since 2005, former Associate Editor GSA Bulletin)
- 1980 – Mineralogical Society of America
- 1980 – American Geophysical Union
- 1996 – Geological Association of Canada
- 1998 – Society of Economic Geologists
Honors
- US Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award, 2011
- Outstanding Handicapped Federal Employee (1 of 10) for 1981
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 50
Distribution, facies, ages, and proposed tectonic associations of regionally metamorphosed rocks in east- and south-central Alaska
Most of the exposed bedrock in east- and south-central Alaska has been regionally metamorphosed and deformed during Mesozoic and early Cenozoic time. All the regionally metamorphosed rocks are assigned to metamorphic-facies units on the basis of their temperature and pressure conditions and metamorphic age. North of the McKinley and Denali faults, the crystalline rocks of the Yukon- Tanana upland
Authors
Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, Bela Csejtey, Helen L. Foster, Elizabeth O. Doyle, Warren J. Nokleberg, George Plafker
Geologic studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1991
This collection of twenty-one papers continues the annual series of U.S. Geological Survey reports on the geology of Alaska. These contributions, which include full-length Articles and shorter Geologic Notes, are grouped under two broad headings: Mineral Resource Studies (ten papers) and Geologic Framework Studies (eleven papers). Reports on mineral resources discuss exploration geochemistry in th
Metamorphic facies map of southeastern Alaska – Distribution, facies, and ages of regionally metamorphosed rocks
No abstract available.
Authors
Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, D. A. Brew, S. L. Douglass
Distribution, facies, ages, and proposed tectonic associations of regionally metamorphosed rocks in northern Alaska
Approximately half of the exposed bedrock in northern Alaska has been regionally metamorphosed. The most widespread metamorphic episode that affected northern Alaska occurred under low-grade, initially high-pressure (blueschist-facies) conditions during Mesozoic time. This episode is thought to have been related to the obduction of one or more oceanic terranes onto the continental margin of North
Authors
Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, William Peters Brosge, Alison B. Till, Elizabeth O. Doyle, Charles F. Mayfield, Hillard N. Reiser, Thomas P. Miller
Lead isotopic fingerprinting of tectono-stratigraphic terranes, east-central Alaska
Common lead isotopic compositions have been determined on feldspars from meta-igneous rocks from nine tectono-stratigraphic terranes or subterranes in east-central Alaska. Most of the terranes have distinct and well-defined signatures in terms of isotopic composition; thus, most can be distinguished on conventional lead isotopic diagrams. Lead isotopic ratios provide evidence for (1) possible sour
Authors
John N. Aleinikoff, Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, Helen Laura Foster, Warren J. Nokleberg
Geochronology of augen gneiss and related rocks, Yukon-Tanana terrane, east-central Alaska
Using several isotopic techniques, we have determined the ages of selected metamorphic rocks in the Yukon-Tanana terrane (YTT) of east-central Alaska. U-Pb zircon data from an augen gneiss body in the Big Delta quadrangle indicate that the granitoid protolith of the gneiss was intruded 341 ± 3 m.y. ago (lower intercept age). An upper intercept age of 2,136 ± 31 m.y. indicates an inherited early Pr
Authors
John N. Aleinikoff, Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, Helen L. Foster
Petrology and tectonic significance of augen gneiss from a belt of Mississippian granitoids in the Yukon-Tanana terrane, east- central Alaska
An approximately E-W-trending belt of porphyritic peraluminous granitic rocks, metamorphosed and deformed to augen gneiss, is exposed for 400 km across the Yukon-Tanana terrain. Chemical, textural, and isotopic data from large augen-gneiss bodies indicate that these bodies originated as early Mississippian granitic rocks that assimilated, or were anatectically derived from, early Proterozoic crust
Authors
Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, John N. Aleinikoff
A sillimanite gneiss dome in the Yukon crystalline terrane, east-central Alaska: Petrography and garnet-biotite geothermometry
No abstract available.
Authors
Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, H.L. Foster
Proterozoic zircon from augen gneiss, Yukon-Tanana Upland, east-central Alaska
U-Th-Pb analyses of zircons from an ortho-augen gneiss body in the Yukon-Tanana Upland of east-central Alaska yield strong evidence for the presence of early Proterozoic material in this area. U-Pb data define a chord that intersects concordia at about 2,300 and 345 m.y. We consider two interpretations: (1) the protolith was intruded during the Proterozoic and was subsequently metamorphosed in the
Authors
John N. Aleinikoff, Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, Helen L. Foster, Kiyoto Futa
Geochemical map showing the distribution and abundance of bismuth, antimony, and silver in the nonmagnetic heavy-mineral concentrate samples in the Big Delta quadrangle, Alaska
No abstract available.
Authors
Thomas D. Hessin, E.F. Cooley, Cynthia Dusel-Bacon
Preliminary geologic map of the Big Delta quadrangle, Alaska
No abstract available.
Authors
Florence R. Weber, H.L. Foster, T. E. Keith, Cynthia Dusel-Bacon
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Filter Total Items: 50
Distribution, facies, ages, and proposed tectonic associations of regionally metamorphosed rocks in east- and south-central Alaska
Most of the exposed bedrock in east- and south-central Alaska has been regionally metamorphosed and deformed during Mesozoic and early Cenozoic time. All the regionally metamorphosed rocks are assigned to metamorphic-facies units on the basis of their temperature and pressure conditions and metamorphic age. North of the McKinley and Denali faults, the crystalline rocks of the Yukon- Tanana uplandAuthorsCynthia Dusel-Bacon, Bela Csejtey, Helen L. Foster, Elizabeth O. Doyle, Warren J. Nokleberg, George PlafkerGeologic studies in Alaska by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1991
This collection of twenty-one papers continues the annual series of U.S. Geological Survey reports on the geology of Alaska. These contributions, which include full-length Articles and shorter Geologic Notes, are grouped under two broad headings: Mineral Resource Studies (ten papers) and Geologic Framework Studies (eleven papers). Reports on mineral resources discuss exploration geochemistry in thMetamorphic facies map of southeastern Alaska – Distribution, facies, and ages of regionally metamorphosed rocks
No abstract available.AuthorsCynthia Dusel-Bacon, D. A. Brew, S. L. DouglassDistribution, facies, ages, and proposed tectonic associations of regionally metamorphosed rocks in northern Alaska
Approximately half of the exposed bedrock in northern Alaska has been regionally metamorphosed. The most widespread metamorphic episode that affected northern Alaska occurred under low-grade, initially high-pressure (blueschist-facies) conditions during Mesozoic time. This episode is thought to have been related to the obduction of one or more oceanic terranes onto the continental margin of NorthAuthorsCynthia Dusel-Bacon, William Peters Brosge, Alison B. Till, Elizabeth O. Doyle, Charles F. Mayfield, Hillard N. Reiser, Thomas P. MillerLead isotopic fingerprinting of tectono-stratigraphic terranes, east-central Alaska
Common lead isotopic compositions have been determined on feldspars from meta-igneous rocks from nine tectono-stratigraphic terranes or subterranes in east-central Alaska. Most of the terranes have distinct and well-defined signatures in terms of isotopic composition; thus, most can be distinguished on conventional lead isotopic diagrams. Lead isotopic ratios provide evidence for (1) possible sourAuthorsJohn N. Aleinikoff, Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, Helen Laura Foster, Warren J. NoklebergGeochronology of augen gneiss and related rocks, Yukon-Tanana terrane, east-central Alaska
Using several isotopic techniques, we have determined the ages of selected metamorphic rocks in the Yukon-Tanana terrane (YTT) of east-central Alaska. U-Pb zircon data from an augen gneiss body in the Big Delta quadrangle indicate that the granitoid protolith of the gneiss was intruded 341 ± 3 m.y. ago (lower intercept age). An upper intercept age of 2,136 ± 31 m.y. indicates an inherited early PrAuthorsJohn N. Aleinikoff, Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, Helen L. FosterPetrology and tectonic significance of augen gneiss from a belt of Mississippian granitoids in the Yukon-Tanana terrane, east- central Alaska
An approximately E-W-trending belt of porphyritic peraluminous granitic rocks, metamorphosed and deformed to augen gneiss, is exposed for 400 km across the Yukon-Tanana terrain. Chemical, textural, and isotopic data from large augen-gneiss bodies indicate that these bodies originated as early Mississippian granitic rocks that assimilated, or were anatectically derived from, early Proterozoic crustAuthorsCynthia Dusel-Bacon, John N. AleinikoffA sillimanite gneiss dome in the Yukon crystalline terrane, east-central Alaska: Petrography and garnet-biotite geothermometry
No abstract available.AuthorsCynthia Dusel-Bacon, H.L. FosterProterozoic zircon from augen gneiss, Yukon-Tanana Upland, east-central Alaska
U-Th-Pb analyses of zircons from an ortho-augen gneiss body in the Yukon-Tanana Upland of east-central Alaska yield strong evidence for the presence of early Proterozoic material in this area. U-Pb data define a chord that intersects concordia at about 2,300 and 345 m.y. We consider two interpretations: (1) the protolith was intruded during the Proterozoic and was subsequently metamorphosed in theAuthorsJohn N. Aleinikoff, Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, Helen L. Foster, Kiyoto FutaGeochemical map showing the distribution and abundance of bismuth, antimony, and silver in the nonmagnetic heavy-mineral concentrate samples in the Big Delta quadrangle, Alaska
No abstract available.AuthorsThomas D. Hessin, E.F. Cooley, Cynthia Dusel-BaconPreliminary geologic map of the Big Delta quadrangle, Alaska
No abstract available.AuthorsFlorence R. Weber, H.L. Foster, T. E. Keith, Cynthia Dusel-Bacon