J. Wright Horton, Jr., Ph.D.
Wright is an emeritus Research Geologist in the USGS Florence Bascom Geoscience Center. He has decades of experience in southern and central Appalachian geology, served as co-leader and leader of the USGS Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater Project, is involved in eastern U.S. earthquake studies, and explores terranes and basins beneath the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
Research Interests
Structural geology and tectonics, metamorphic and igneous rocks, impact craters and crater materials, fault zones and fault rocks, Southern and Central Appalachian regional geology and tectonics, pre-Cretaceous terranes and basins beneath the Atlantic Coastal Plain, significance of Mineral, Virginia, earthquake for understanding intraplate earthquakes in eastern North America, geologic mapping, hydrogeology, scientific drilling, geologic interpretation of potential-field geophysics, and multidisciplinary collaborations.
Projects
- Project Leader, USGS Coastal Basement Geology of the Southeastern U.S. Project. 2018-2020
- Task Leader, Central Virginia Seismic Zone Overview and Synthesis task of USGS Geologic Framework for Seismic Hazards in Central Virginia and the Eastern U.S. Project, 2014–2018
- Coastal Basement Task Leader, USGS Geology of Atlantic Watersheds Project, 2008–2014
- Project Leader (2007–2008) and Co-leader (2004–2007), USGS Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater Project
- Cooperating Principal Investigator, ICDP-USGS Chesapeake Bay Impact Structure Deep Drilling Project, 2004–2009
- Co-leader, Crater Materials Science Team, ICDP-USGS Chesapeake Bay Impact Structure Deep Drilling Project, 2004–2009
- Task Co-leader, USGS Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater Project, 2000–2004
- Task Co-leader, Hydrogeologic framework of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge, North Carolina task of USGS Bedrock Regional Aquifer Systematics Study (BRASS) Project, 2000–2005
- Staff Scientist, USGS Office of Eastern Regional Geology (2002)
- Task Leader, Geology of the Washington-Baltimore Urban Area task of USGS Appalachian Regional Geology and Hydrology Project, 1998–2002
- Project Chief, USGS Geology of the Mid-Atlantic Urban Corridor (GOMAC) Project, 1995–98
- Project Chief, USGS Geology of the South-Central Virginia Piedmont Project, 1991–95
- Assistant Branch Chief, USGS Branch of Eastern Regional Geology, 1984–85
- Project Chief, USGS Raleigh Belt and Eastern Slate Belt Project, 1983–91
- Geologic mapping, USGS projects in Charlotte (NC-SC) and Greenville (SC-GA) 1° × 2° quadrangles, 1980-89
Professional Experience
Scientist Emeritus, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, USGS, Reston, VA, 2020-present
Research Geologist, USGS, Reston, VA, 1980–2020
National Research Council Postdoctoral Associate at USGS, Reston, VA, 1978–80
Assistant Professor of Geology, Univ. Southern Maine, 1977–78
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Geology), 1977
M.S., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Geology), 1974
B.S., Furman University (Geology), 1972
Affiliations and Memberships*
AAAS, Am. Geophysical Union, Carolina Geol. Soc. (President, 1981–82)
Geol. Soc. America (Fellow)
Geol. Soc. Washington (Councilor, 2009–10)
Meteoritical Soc.
SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology)
Sigma Xi
Science and Products
Deciphering multiple Mesoproterozoic and Paleozoic events recorded in zircon and titanite from the Baltimore Gneiss, Maryland: SEM imaging, SHRIMP U-Pb geochronology, and EMP analysis
Drilling the central crater of the Chesapeake Bay Impact Structure: A first look
ICDP-USGS workshop on deep drilling in the central Crater of the Chesapeake Bay impact structure, Virginia, USA: Proceedings volume
SHRIMP and Conventional UPb ages of Ordovician granites and tonalites in the central Appalachian Piedmont: Implications for Paleozoic tectonic events
Preliminary report on the USGS-NASA Langley Corehole -- the Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater Project: A. Operational summary for the USGS -- NASA Langley Corehole, Hampton, Virginia. B. Preliminary geologic summary for the USGS -- NASA Langley Corehol, Hampto
Preliminary digital geologic map of the Appalachian Piedmont and Blue Ridge, South Carolina segment
Preliminary lithogeochemical map showing near-surface rock types in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Virginia and Maryland
Application of aerial gamma-ray spectrometric and magnetic surveys in geologic mapping: a case study in southern Virginia and northern North Carolina
Application of geologic map information to water quality issues in the southern part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Maryland and Virginia, eastern United States
Geology of the Mid-Atlantic Corridor (GOMAC): A Project of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program
Forum on Geologic mapping applications in the Washington-Baltimore urban area; proceedings; Reston, Virginia, April 23, 1997
Middle Proterozoic age for the Montpelier Anorthosite, Goochland terrane, eastern Piedmont, Virginia
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Maps
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 87
Deciphering multiple Mesoproterozoic and Paleozoic events recorded in zircon and titanite from the Baltimore Gneiss, Maryland: SEM imaging, SHRIMP U-Pb geochronology, and EMP analysis
The Baltimore Gneiss, exposed in antiforms in the eastern Maryland Piedmont, consists of a suite of felsic and mafic gneisses of Mesoproterozoic age. Zircons from the felsic gneisses are complexly zoned, as shown in cathodoluminescence imaging; most zircon grains have multiple overgrowth zones, some of which are adjacent and parallel to elongate cores. Sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRAuthorsJohn N. Aleinikoff, J. Wright Horton,, Avery A. Drake, R. P. Wintsch, C.M. Fanning, K. YiDrilling the central crater of the Chesapeake Bay Impact Structure: A first look
The late Eocene Chesapeake Bay impact structure is a well‐preserved example of one of Earth's largest impact craters, and its continental‐shelf setting and relatively shallow burial make it an excellent target for study. Since the discovery of the structure over a decade ago [Edwards et al., 2004; Poag et al., 2004], test drilling by U.S. federal and state agencies has been limited to the structurAuthorsWard E. Sanford, Gregory Gohn, David S. Powars, J. Wright Horton, Lucy E. Edwards, Jean Self-Trail, Roger H. MorinICDP-USGS workshop on deep drilling in the central Crater of the Chesapeake Bay impact structure, Virginia, USA: Proceedings volume
No abstract available.AuthorsLucy E. Edwards, J. Wright Horton, Gregory S. GohnSHRIMP and Conventional UPb ages of Ordovician granites and tonalites in the central Appalachian Piedmont: Implications for Paleozoic tectonic events
Discordant Cambrian U-Pb ages of questionable reliability for metamor-phosed plutonic rocks in the central Appalachian Piedmont of northern Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia have led to different regional geologic interpretations and controversies. In this study, we use the sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) for dating 25-m diameter areas on individual zircons from PiAuthorsJohn N. Aleinikoff, J. Wright Horton,, Avery Ala DrakePreliminary report on the USGS-NASA Langley Corehole -- the Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater Project: A. Operational summary for the USGS -- NASA Langley Corehole, Hampton, Virginia. B. Preliminary geologic summary for the USGS -- NASA Langley Corehol, Hampto
No abstract available.AuthorsGregory S. Gohn, Arthur C. Clark, Donald G. Queen, Joel S. Levine, Randolph E. McFarland, David S. Powars, Bruce T. Scott, Laurel M. Bybell, Thomas M. Cronin, Lucy E. Edwards, Norman O. Frederiksen, J. Wright Horton, Glen A. Izett, Gerald H. Johnson, C. Wylie Poag, James E. Quick, J. Stephen Schindler, Jean M. Self-Trail, Matthew J. Smith, Robert G. Stamm, Robert E. WeemsPreliminary digital geologic map of the Appalachian Piedmont and Blue Ridge, South Carolina segment
A preliminary geology coverage of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge in South Carolina has been compiled at 1:5000,000 scale and digitized as part of a patchwork of coverages for the analysis of regional and national geochemical patterns that may have environmental and resource implications. It was produced from other compilations that incorporate more detailed geologic maps as well as additional sourcesAuthorsJ. Wright Horton, Connie L. DickenPreliminary lithogeochemical map showing near-surface rock types in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Virginia and Maryland
This preliminary experimental lithogeochemical map shows the distribution of rock types in the Virginia and Maryland parts of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The map was produced digitally by classifying geologic-map units according to composition, mineralogy, and texture; rather than by age and stratigraphic relationships as shown on traditional geologic maps. This map differs from most lithologicAuthorsJohn D. Peper, Lucy McCartan, J. Wright Horton, James E. ReddyApplication of aerial gamma-ray spectrometric and magnetic surveys in geologic mapping: a case study in southern Virginia and northern North Carolina
Aerial gamma-ray spectrometric and magnetic survey maps are valuable aids for geologic mapping where rocks are poorly exposed in south-central Virginia and northernmost North Carolina. Broad low areas on the potassium and thorium gamma-ray survey maps distinguish the Carolina, Spring Hope, and Roanoke Rapids terranes from more highly radiogenic areas of the Raleigh and Triplet terranes, reflectingAuthorsJ. Wright Horton, David L. DanielsApplication of geologic map information to water quality issues in the southern part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Maryland and Virginia, eastern United States
Geologic map units contain much information about the mineralogy, chemistry, and physical attributes of the rocks mapped. This paper presents information from regional-scale geologic maps in Maryland and Virginia, which are in the southern part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in the eastern United States. The geologic map information is discussed and analyzed in relation to water chemistry data frAuthorsL. McCartan, J. D. Peper, L. J. Bachman, J. Wright HortonGeology of the Mid-Atlantic Corridor (GOMAC): A Project of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program
No abstract available.AuthorsJ. Wright HortonForum on Geologic mapping applications in the Washington-Baltimore urban area; proceedings; Reston, Virginia, April 23, 1997
The Forum on Geologic mapping applications in the Washington-Baltimore urban area was convened on April 23, 1997, at Reston, Virginia. The forum was cosponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Maryland Geological Survey, with assistance from the Virginia Division of Mineral Resources. Spatial earth science information in the Washington-Baltimore area provides a scientific framework for envirAuthorsJ. Wright Horton, Emery T. CleavesMiddle Proterozoic age for the Montpelier Anorthosite, Goochland terrane, eastern Piedmont, Virginia
Uranium-lead dating of zircons from the Montpelier Anorthosite confirms previous interpretations, based on equivocal evidence, that the Goochland terrane in the eastern Piedmont of Virginia contains Grenvillian basement rocks of Middle Proterozoic age. A very few prismatic, elongate, euhedral zircons, which contain 12–29 ppm uranium, are interpreted to be igneous in origin. The vast majority of ziAuthorsJ. N. Aleinikoff, J. Wright Horton, M. Walters - News
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government