David M. Miller, Ph.D
David is an Emeritus at Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. He received a Ph.D from UCLA in 1978 and a BS from Binghamton University in 1973 in Geology. He began by studying metamorphic rocks of core complexes in the Intermountain West and is now focusing on evaluating earthquake hazards by studying Cenozoic materials.
David is currently an Emeritus at Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. He worked on metamorphic rocks of core complexes and Cenozoic igneous and sedimentary rocks of basins in the Intermountain West for two decades, pursuing structural origins of mineral resources and hydrocarbon resources. He shifted to study of late Cenozoic materials, mainly for evaluating earthquake hazards, during the last two decades.
David is now working on the neotectonics of the Northern Mojave Desert. Through surficial geologic mapping and surface process studies, he is improving understanding of earthquake risks by evaluating recently active faults, folds, and warps of tectonic origin. The mapping is focused on several active faults identified by recent regional mapping of the Mojave Desert. A long-term goal is to arrive at a new tectonic synthesis of this part of the eastern California shear zone.
He is also involved with studying the Mojave Desert Ecosystem through surficial geologic mapping and surface process studies. He is developing data for a regional study of biotic and abiotic systems of the Mojave Desert, such as ground-based studies of surficial geology, material properties, eolian transport, overland flow, and Holocene climate history.
Finally, he is working on the Paleoclimatic records of the southwest. He examines spring and marsh records, lake shoreline records, and lake-bottom deposits to detail glacial and post-glacial sediment histories to extract paleo climatic information. These studies range from Mojave Desert to Great Salt Lake and its precursor lake, Lake Bonneville.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D in Geology, University of California, 1978
BS in Geology with "Distinguished Independent Study", Binghamton University, 1973
Science and Products
Subduction cycles under western North America during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras
Plutonism at the interior margin of the Jurassic magmatic arc, Mojave Desert, California
Timing of emplacement of the Haypress Creek and Emigrant Gap plutons: Implications for the timing and controls of Jurassic orogenesis, northern Sierra Nevada, California
Jurassic tectonics of northeastern Nevada and northwestern Utah from the perspective of barometric studies
Field guide to Proterozoic geology of the New York, Ivanpah, and Providence Mountains, California: Field Conference 1, Proterozoic Orogenesis and Metallogenesis Project
Preliminary geologic map of Fort Irwin basin, north-central Mojave Desert, California
Geologic map of the New York Mountains area, California and Nevada
Structure and fabric of metamorphic terrains in the northeastern Great Basin; implications for Mesozoic crustal short ening and extension
Geologic map of the Newark 7.5 minute Quadrangle, Alameda County, California
Mesozoic structure, metamorphism, and magmatism in the Pilot Range and the Toano Ranges
Late Cenozoic faulting at the boundary between the Mojave and Sonoran blocks; Bristol Lake area, California
Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the northeastern Great Basin
Non-USGS Publications**
**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
- Data
- Maps
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 131
Subduction cycles under western North America during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras
An extensive review of geologic and tectonic features of western North America suggests that the interaction of oceanic plates with the continent follows a broad cyclical pattern. In a typical cycle, periods of rapid subduction (7–15 cm/yr), andesitic volcanism, and trench-normal contraction are followed by a shift to trench-normal extension, the onset of voluminous silicic volcanism, formation ofAuthorsPeter L. WardPlutonism at the interior margin of the Jurassic magmatic arc, Mojave Desert, California
The inland edge of the Jurassic magmatic belt passes through the eastern Mojave Desert, where it was emplaced in ancient continental crust. Three intrusive units exposed there—the Ship and Clipper Mountains plutons and a dike swarm in the Old Woman and Piute Mountains and Kilbeck Hills—are broadly similar to each other and to other intrusions of Jurassic age, but they differ from one another in deAuthorsMiquette E. Gerber, Calvin F. Miller, Joseph L. WoodenTiming of emplacement of the Haypress Creek and Emigrant Gap plutons: Implications for the timing and controls of Jurassic orogenesis, northern Sierra Nevada, California
Pre-Cretaceous rocks in the northern Sierra Nevada are subdivided from west to east into the Smartville, central, Feather River peridotite, and eastern belts. Cretaceous and younger sedimentary rocks form the western boundary of the Smartville belt, but various reverse-fault segments of the Foothills fault system separate the other belts. The Foothills fault system and associated structures involvAuthorsGary H. Girty, Richard E. Hanson, Melissa S. Girty, Richard A. Schweickert, David S. Harwood, Aaron S. Yoshinobu, Kevin A. Bryan, June E. Skinner, Chris A. HillJurassic tectonics of northeastern Nevada and northwestern Utah from the perspective of barometric studies
Jurassic tectonism in the northeastern Great Basin produced varied structures, many closely associated with widespread magmatism at ca. 155–165 Ma and with local metamorphism. Many of the plutons are of suitable mineralogy for Al-in-hornblende barometry, providing the potential for depth data. We have studied conditions of metamorphism in the Pilot Range and barometry for six Jurassic plutons acroAuthorsDavid M. Miller, Thomas D. HoischField guide to Proterozoic geology of the New York, Ivanpah, and Providence Mountains, California: Field Conference 1, Proterozoic Orogenesis and Metallogenesis Project
No abstract available.AuthorsDavid M. Miller, Joseph L. WoodenPreliminary geologic map of Fort Irwin basin, north-central Mojave Desert, California
No abstract available.AuthorsJ.C. Yount, E.R. Schermer, T.J. Felger, D. M. Miller, K.A. StephensGeologic map of the New York Mountains area, California and Nevada
No abstract available.AuthorsD. M. Miller, J. L. WoodenStructure and fabric of metamorphic terrains in the northeastern Great Basin; implications for Mesozoic crustal short ening and extension
No abstract availableAuthorsP.A. Camilleri, D. M. Miller, A.W. Snoke, M.L. WellsGeologic map of the Newark 7.5 minute Quadrangle, Alameda County, California
No abstract available.AuthorsEdward J. Helley, D. M. MillerMesozoic structure, metamorphism, and magmatism in the Pilot Range and the Toano Ranges
No abstract availableAuthorsD. M. Miller, T.D. HoischLate Cenozoic faulting at the boundary between the Mojave and Sonoran blocks; Bristol Lake area, California
No abstract availableAuthorsK. A. Howard, D. M. MillerMesozoic and Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the northeastern Great Basin
No abstract availableAuthorsD. M. MillerNon-USGS Publications**
Miller, D. M., 1978, Deformation associated with Big Bertha Dome, Albion Mountains, Idaho. Univ. of Cal. Los Angeles, Ph.D. Dissertation, 255 p.
Miller, D. M., and Oertel, G., 1979, Strain determination from the measurement of pebble shapes: a modification: Tectonophysics, v. 55, p. T11-T13.**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.