Research Projects

Ongoing research is funded through the remains of an NSERC Discovery Grant and internal funding from Carleton University. There are three different projects on the go:

1) stratigraphic and diagenetic studies of the upper Silurian(?)-Lower Devonian Clam Bank Formation in western Newfoundland;

2) geochemistry of oysters in support of paleoenvironmental analysis and age determination across the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary succession of the the Neuquen Basin, Argentina; and, 

3) stratigraphic and sedimentological support for paleontological analysis of soft-bodied remains of echinoderms, Neuville Formation (Upper Ordovician), southern Quebec.

Devonian, Clam Bank Formation, western Newfoundland
There are three principal targets of research:

1. redefining what constitutes the lowermost stratigraphy of the formation and what its attendant facies architecture and sedimentary provenance defines about onset of foreland deposition following Salinian uplift
- in collaboration with Dr. Geoff Pignotta (Carleton University) and Prof. Shawna White (St. Mary's University)

2. improving on the current poorly defined late Silurian(?)-Early Devonian (Lochkovian) age of the lower formation
The formation has been associated with a longstanding late Silurian (Pridolian) age based on macrofossils from a limestone low in the formation whereas miospores from coeval calcareous sandstone yielded a Lochkovian age (Burden et al., 2010; Can J. Earth Sci). Newly discovered (2021) fossils (see Paleontology under Current Research) support an Early Devonian age thereby reconciling previous age differences arising from macrofossils and miospores. I am exploring the potential that C13 anomalies may be associated with intervals of calcareous sandstone (+lime mudstone) in the lower formation. Globally, a prominent positive spike occurs in the lowest Lower Devonian. If found in western Newfoundland this would add considerable precision to biostratigraphic age determination for the formation

3. description and significance of paleosols
Evidence for paleosol development occurs near the base, middle and within the upper part of the formation. These deposits document change in the character of paleosol development that corresponds to basin and climate evolution.

Cretaceous-Paleogene paleoenvironments, Neuquen Basin

I am collaborating with colleagues (Profs. A. Parras and M. Griffin) by providing geochemical support for defining changing paleoenvironments across the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary and age of early Paleogene transgression. Specifically, Sr-isotope data from oyster shells allow definition of a geochronological age, and trace element and stable isotope (C, O) can offer clues to brackish versus marine waters as well as alteration of shell material. 

Neuville Formation, southern Quebec
In collaboration with Mr. Mario Cournoyer (paleontologist, Montreal) and colleagues, I am providing stratigraphic and sedimentology support to help cast remarkably well preserved remains of soft-bodied tissues of echinoderm fossils. The formation is rhythmically bedded shale and lime mudstone (for the most part) but bentonites that bound the occurrence of fossils may prove important in providing a geochronological framework