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
Preliminary surficial geologic map database of the Amboy 30 x 60 minute quadrangle, California
The Pinto shear zone; a Laramide synconvergent extensional shear zone in the Mojave Desert region of the southwestern United States
The Younger Dryas phase of Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA
Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Off-highway Vehicle Use at the Dove Springs OHV Open Area, California. Report prepared for the Bureau of Land Management, California State Office, Sacramento, California
Geologic database for digital geology of California, Nevada, and Utah— An application of the North American Data Model
Late Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the north-central Mojave Desert inferred from fault history and physiographic evolution of the Fort Irwin area, California
Geologic map database of the El Mirage Lake area, San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties, California
Digital geologic map of the Sandpoint 1- by 2-degree quadrangle, Washington, Idaho, and Montana
Science support for restoration of the Salton Sea. Recommendations of the USGS Tiger Team to the Salton Sea Science Subcommittee
Late-stage sinking of plutons: Comment and Reply
Late-stage sinking of plutons
New explorations along the northern shores of Lake Bonneville
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
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Filter Total Items: 131
Preliminary surficial geologic map database of the Amboy 30 x 60 minute quadrangle, California
The surficial geologic map database of the Amboy 30x60 minute quadrangle presents characteristics of surficial materials for an area approximately 5,000 km2 in the eastern Mojave Desert of California. This map consists of new surficial mapping conducted between 2000 and 2005, as well as compilations of previous surficial mapping. Surficial geology units are mapped and described based on depositionAuthorsDavid R. Bedford, David M. Miller, Geoffrey A. PhelpsThe Pinto shear zone; a Laramide synconvergent extensional shear zone in the Mojave Desert region of the southwestern United States
The Pinto shear zone is one of several Late Cretaceous shear zones within the eastern fringe of the Mesozoic magmatic arc of the southwest Cordilleran orogen that developed synchronous with continued plate convergence and backarc shortening. We demonstrate an extensional origin for the shear zone by describing the shear-zone geometry and kinematics, hanging wall deformation style, progressive chanAuthorsM.L. Wells, M.A. Beyene, T.L. Spell, J.L. Kula, D. M. Miller, K.A. ZanettiThe Younger Dryas phase of Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA
Field investigations at the Public Shooting Grounds (a wildlife-management area on the northeastern shore of Great Salt Lake) and radiocarbon dating show that the Great Salt Lake rose to the Gilbert shoreline sometime between 12.9 and 11.2 cal ka. We interpret a ripple-laminated sand unit exposed at the Public Shooting Grounds, and dated to this time interval, as the nearshore sediments of Great SAuthorsCharles G. Oviatt, D. M. Miller, J. P. McGeehin, C. Zachary, S. MahanSpatial and Temporal Patterns of Off-highway Vehicle Use at the Dove Springs OHV Open Area, California. Report prepared for the Bureau of Land Management, California State Office, Sacramento, California
No abstract available at this timeAuthorsJ.R. Matchett, L. Gass, M.L. Brooks, A.M. Mathie, R.D. Vitales, M.W. Campagna, D. M. Miller, J.F. WeigandGeologic database for digital geology of California, Nevada, and Utah— An application of the North American Data Model
The USGS is creating an integrated national database for digital state geologic maps that includes stratigraphic, age, and lithologic information. The majority of the conterminous 48 states have digital geologic base maps available, often at scales of 1:500,000. This product is a prototype, and is intended to demonstrate the types of derivative maps that will be possible with the national integratAuthorsDavid R. Bedford, Steve Ludington, Constance M. Nutt, Paul A. Stone, David M. Miller, Robert J. Miller, David L. Wagner, George J. SaucedoLate Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the north-central Mojave Desert inferred from fault history and physiographic evolution of the Fort Irwin area, California
No abstract available.AuthorsDavid M. Miller, James C. YountGeologic map database of the El Mirage Lake area, San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties, California
This geologic map database for the El Mirage Lake area describes geologic materials for the dry lake, parts of the adjacent Shadow Mountains and Adobe Mountain, and much of the piedmont extending south from the lake upward toward the San Gabriel Mountains. This area lies within the western Mojave Desert of San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties, southeastern California. The area is traversed by aAuthorsDavid M. Miller, David R. BedfordDigital geologic map of the Sandpoint 1- by 2-degree quadrangle, Washington, Idaho, and Montana
The geology of the Sandpoint 1:250,000 quadrangle, Washington, Idaho, and Montana was mapped by F.K. Miller, R.F. Burmester, D.M. Miller, and R.E. Powell between 1963 and 1995 onto a scale-stable 1:250,000 topographic map base and subsequently input into an Arc/Info geographic information system (GIS) by P.D. Derkey. The digital geologic map database can be queried in many ways to produce a varietAuthorsF. K. Miller, R. F. Burmester, R. E. Powell, D. M. Miller, P. D. DerkeyScience support for restoration of the Salton Sea. Recommendations of the USGS Tiger Team to the Salton Sea Science Subcommittee
No abstract available at this timeAuthorsFrank S. Shipley, Douglas A. Barnum, G.F. Black, William I. Boarman, Walter G. Duffy, Michael J. Mac, David M. Miller, Tonie E. Rocke, Roy A. Schroeder, R.G. ThieryLate-stage sinking of plutons: Comment and Reply
No abstract available.AuthorsScott R. Paterson, A. F. Glazner, David M. MillerLate-stage sinking of plutons
Many granodiorite to diorite plutons in the Great Basin of western North America are surrounded by rim monoclines or anticlines that suggest relative downward movement of the plutons while wall rocks were hot and ductile. We propose that such plutons rise to a level of approximately neutral buoyancy and then founder as their densities increase ≈10% during crystallization. Late-stage sinking of intAuthorsA. F. Glazner, D. M. MillerNew explorations along the northern shores of Lake Bonneville
This field trip begins in Salt Lake City and makes a clockwise circuit of Great Salt Lake, with primary objectives to observe stratigraphie and geomorphic records of Lake Bonneville. Stops include Stansbury Island, Puddle Valley, gravel pits at Lakeside and the south end of the Hogup Mountains, several stops in Curlew Valley and Hansel Valley, and a final stop at the north end of Great Salt Lake eAuthorsCharles G. Oviatt, D. 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.