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Stuart Parker

Stuart Parker


Geologist—Assistant Professor
Phone: (406) 496-4334
Email: SParker1@mtech.edu
MBMG—Butte
1300 West Park Street
Butte, MT 59701


  • Biographical Information
  • Outreach & Presentations
  • Publications

Education

2021—Ph.D., Geosciences, Idaho State University
2016—M.S., Geosciences, University of Montana
2014—B.S., Environmental Studies, University of North Carolina-Asheville

Biography & Research Interests

I am passionate about field-based research that combines geologic mapping with structural and stratigraphic analysis. Past research has focused on regional geological problems in Montana, including investigation of the Neogene extensional history of the northern Basin and Range, stratigraphy and tectonics of the Mesoproterozoic Belt basin, and the effects of Neoproterozoic to mid-Paleozoic rift to passive margin stratigraphy on the structural style and kinematics in the Mesozoic Idaho-Montana fold-thrust belt. I enjoy splitting my time between making geologic maps and researching the tectonic history of Montana.

Date Citation
9/29/2023 Parker, S.D., 2023. Draft geologic maps in the Dillon, Montana area. Presented to the 2023 Mining and Mineral Symposium Map Chat, Butte, Montana, on 9/29/23.
7/28/2023 Parker, S.D., and Sundell, K, 2023. Wrapping your head around detrital zircon patterns within the Belt basin. Presented to the Tobacco Root Geological Society Annual Field Conference, Salmon, Idaho, on 7/28/23.
6/29/2023 Parker, S.D., 2023. History of sea level rise and fall in Montana. Presented to Upward Bound Unite summer program, on 6/29/23.
5/22/2023 Parker, S.D., 2023. Draft geologic map of the Block Mountain 7.5? quadrangle, southwest Montana. Presented to the Digital Mapping Techniques Workshop, Anchorage, Alaska, on 5/22/23.
10/11/2022 Parker, S.D., Pearson, D.M., and Finzel, E., 2022. A thermal record of growth and destruction across the thin- to thick-skinned Idaho-Montana fold-thrust belt. Presented to the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado, on 10/11/22.
3/24/2022 Parker, S.P., 2021. Linking Sevier and Laramide thrusts of the Idaho-Montana fold-thrust belt: No flat slab needed. Presented to the Geosciences Seminar, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana on 3/24/2022.
10/11/2021 Parker, S.P., and Pearson, D.P., 2021. The progression from thin- to thick-skinned thrusting in the Idaho-Montana fold-thrust belt resulted from step-down of the basal decollement into basement rocks toward the continental interior. Presented to the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Portland, Oregon, on 10/11/21.
10/6/2021 Parker, S.P., 2021. Sedimentary rocks control the style of mountain building: An example from the Idaho-Montana fold-thrust belt. Presented to Seminar Series, Montana Technological University, Butte, Montana, 10/6/21.
9/4/2021 Parker, S.P., and Pearson, D.P., 2021. Stratigraphic control on the transition from thin- to thick-skinned thrusting in the Idaho-Montana fold-thrust belt. Presented to Alumni Gathering, Idaho State University, 9/4/21.
9/1/2021 Parker, S.P., 2021. A thermal profile across the Idaho-Montana fold-thrust belt reveals early burial to late exhumation during progressive growth of an orogenic wedge: U.S. Cordillera. Presented to the Geosciences Seminar, Utah State University, Logan, Utah on 9/1/2021.
Year Citation
2024 Parker, S.D., and Gavillot, Y.G., 2024, Geologic map of the Laurin Canyon 7.5' quadrangle, Madison County, Montana: Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Geologic Map 98, 1 sheet, scale 1:24,000.
2023 Mosolf, J.G., Brennan, D.T., Gavillot, Y., Parker, S., and Sears, J., 2023, Major oxide and trace element analyses of rock samples collected in the Dillon and Hamilton 30' x 60' quadrangles, southwest Montana: Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Analytical Dataset 2.
2023 Mosolf, J.G., Hanson, A.E.H., McDonald, C., Parker, S., and Scarberry, K., 2023, Major oxide and trace element analyses of rock samples collected in the Dillon and Wisdom 30' x 60' quadrangles, southwest Montana: Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Analytical Dataset 1.
2023 Parker, S.D., and Pearson, D.M., 2023, A kinematic model linking the Sevier and Laramide belts in the Idaho-Montana fold-thrust belt, U.S. Cordillera: Geosphere, v. 19, no. 6, 24 p.
2023 Parker, S.D., and Pearson, D.M., 2023, Field guide to carbonate mylonites and reactivated basement faults of the Leadore area, in Lewis, R., and English, A., eds., Belt Symposium VI and other papers, Salmon, Idaho: Tobacco Root Geological Society, Northwest Geology, v. 52, p. 197-210.
2022 Parker, S.D., and Hendrix, M.S., 2022. Detrital zircon record of the Mesoproterozoic Belt basin and implications for horizontal and vertical tectonic models, in Foulger, G.R., Hamilton, L.C., Jurdy, D.M., Stein, C.A., Howard, K.A., and Stein, S., eds., In the Footsteps of Warren B. Hamilton: New Ideas in Earth Science: Geological Society of America Special Paper 553, p. 159 -176, doi:10.1130/2021.2553(14).
2022 Parker, S.D., Pearson, D.M., and Finzel, E., 2022, A thermal profile across the Idaho-Montana fold-thrust belt reveals a low-relief orogenic wedge that developed atop a pre-orogenic basement high: Lithosphere, v. 2022, 28 p.
2021 Parker, S.D. and Pearson, D.M., 2021. Pre-thrusting stratigraphic control on the transition from a thin- to thick-skinned structural style: an example from the double-decker Idaho-Montana fold-thrust belt: Tectonics, v. 39, doi:10.1029/2020TC006429.