Rebecca Flowers

Research

I use thermochronology, geochronology, and geologic observations to address problems in continental tectonics and mantle dynamics, with particular focus on understanding the coupling of deeper Earth and surface processes over extended (10s-100s Ma) timescales. My (U-Th)/He geochronology lab also emphasizes the development and refinement of both conventional (e.g., apatite, zircon, titanite) and novel (e.g., conodonts, rutile, garnet) He thermochronometers. I am especially interested in creative, collaborative applications of (U-Th)/He data to problems in fields in which the technique has not typically been utilized. For example, my group has dated lunar zircon to constrain the impact history of the Moon, dated perovskite to determine the timing of kimberlite emplacement, and dated conodonts in an effort to decipher the thermal history of shales.

Keywords

thermochronology, geochronology, tectonics, geologic time, lunar and meteorite thermochronology

Department Topic Areas

• Primary: Geochronology, Structure and Tectonics, Mineral Physic & Mineralogy 
• Secondary: Economic and Energy Resources, Geochemistry, Geomorphology, Hydrogeology, Cryosphere, Planetary Geology, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, Petrology

Education and Training

• Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2005
• M.S., University of Utah 2000
• B.S., College of William and Mary 1998