Geological Society of America Issues New Volume on Convergent Margin Processes, Co-Edited by Cloos and Carlson, Honors W.G. (Gary) Ernst

June 4, 2007

AUSTIN, Texas—Marc Cloos and William Carlson of The University of Texas at Austin’s Jackson School of Geosciences co-edited a new compilation of 13 data-rich syntheses from world experts that sheds light on the geologic record created where tectonic plates come together. Areas analyzed range from California to New Caledonia and from the depths of Death Valley to the planet Venus.

Convergent Margin Terranes and Associated Regions: A Tribute to W.G. Ernst, published by the Geological Society of America, is a collection focusing on processes at many scales of observation. Most of the papers concern linkages among sedimentary, metamorphic, magmatic, and deformational processes that occur in and near subduction zones. Collectively they focus on how plate tectonic processes are petrologically and geochronologically recorded.

Most of the papers were presented at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America in a theme session about petrology and plate tectonics in honor of Professor W. Gary Ernst. Ernst taught at the University of California, Los Angeles (1960-1989), and at Stanford University (1989-2004). He received the Geological Society of America Penrose Medal in 2004.

"The papers in this volume, like the session that inspired it, reflect the diverse interests and prodigious publications of Gary Ernst," said Cloos. "They are a fitting tribute to an outstanding scientist who has enriched the lives of thousands of students."

Co-editors in addition to Cloos and Carlson were M. Charles Gilbert of the University of Oklahoma, J.G. Liou of Stanford University, and S.S. Sorensen of the Smithsonian Institution.

Individual copies may be purchased through the Geological Society of America online bookstore or by contacting GSA Sales and Service, gsaservice@geosociety.org.

Book editors of earth science journals/publications may request a review copy by contacting Jeanette Hammann.

For information on the book and the Geological Society of America, contact Ann Cairns at acairns@geosociety.org, 1-303-357-1056.

For more information about the Jackson School, contact J.B. Bird at jbird@jsg.utexas.edu, 512-232-9623.