Dr. Schmitz’s research and teaching interests encompass an understanding of the processes associated with the tectonic, geochemical, and thermal evolution of the continental lithosphere. He works to integrate igneous and metamorphic petrology, major and trace element geochemistry, radiogenic isotope and geochronological tools, and thermal and chemical diffusive modeling to probe samples of the continental crust and underlying lithospheric mantle. His research is also incorporated into his teaching, which encompasses undergraduate and graduate-level courses in geochemistry, isotope geology, and geochronology, and their petrologic and tectonic applications.
Articles
Age Intercalibration of 40Ar/39Ar Sanidine and Chemically Distinct U/Pb Zircon Populations from the Alder Creek Rhyolite Quaternary Geochronology Standard (with Tiffany A. Rivera, Michael Storey, and James L. Crowley), Chemical Geology (2013)
We report results from a 40Ar/39Ar sanidine and CA-TIMS 238U/206Pb zircon dating study of eruption...
Strontium Isotope Zoning in Garnet: Implications for Metamorphic Matrix Equilibration, Geochronology and Phase Equilibrium Modelling (with J. Sousa, Matthew J. Kohn, Clyde J. Northrup, and F. S. Spear), Journal of Metamorphic Geology (2013)
In principle, garnet growth rates may be calculated from 87Rb/86Sr and 87Sr/86Sr measurements in garnet...
A New Chronology for Middle Eocene-Early Miocene South American Land Mammal Ages (with Regan E. Dunn, Richard H. Madden, Matthew J. Kohn, Caroline A.E. Strömberg, Alfredo A. Carlini, Guillermo H. Ré, and James Crowley), Geological Society of America Bulletin (2013)
Cenozoic South American Land Mammal Ages (SALMAs) have historically been correlated to the geologic...
High-Precision Geochronology (with Klaudia F. Kuiper), Elements (2013)
High-precision geochronology is integral to testing hypotheses regarding the correlation, causes, and rates of events...
One Hundred Years of Isotope Geochronology, and Counting (with Daniel J. Condon), Elements (2013)
In 1913, Frederick Soddy's research on the fundamentals of radioactivity led to the discovery of...
Books
The Geologic Time Scale 2012 (with Felix M. Gradstein, James G. Ogg, and Gabi M. Ogg), Faculty Authored Books (2012)
The Geologic Time Scale 2012 is the framework for deciphering the history of our planet...
Presentations
Online Activities for Teaching the Science of Geochronology (with Karen Viskupic, Chareen Snelson, Ross Perkins, and Greg Cossette), Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America (2011)
We are developing a series of engaging, effective, and usable virtual labs/online activities to teach...