Academic Appointments


Administrative Appointments


  • Director, CSIRO Deep Earth Imaging Future Science Platform [Australia] (2016 - 2019)
  • Chief Executive, GNS Science [New Zealand] (2013 - 2016)
  • Chief, CSIRO Division of Earth Science and Resource Engineering [Australia] (2011 - 2013)
  • Chief, CSIRO Division of Exploration and Mining [Australia] (2009 - 2011)
  • Professor Emeritus, Geological & Environmental Sciences, Stanford University (2006 - Present)
  • Director, John de Laeter Centre for Isotope Science [Australia] (2006 - 2009)
  • Professor, Applied Physics, Curtin University [Australia] (2006 - 2009)
  • Director, Stanford-USGS Ion Microprobe Center (2004 - 2006)
  • Mercator Professor, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Germany] (2002 - 2004)
  • Visiting Scientist, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique [France] (2001 - 2001)
  • Associate Professor, Stanford Overseas Studies Program [Chile] (1999 - 2000)
  • Visiting Scientist, NGU/Geological Survey of Norway [Norway] (1999 - 2000)
  • Visiting Scientist, GNS Science [New Zealand] (1996 - 1996)
  • Consulting Professor, Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (1994 - 1995)
  • Professor, Associate Professor, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University (1993 - 2006)
  • Professor, Associate Professor, Continuing Studies Program, Stanford University (1989 - 2005)
  • Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Geophysics, Stanford University (1980 - 1999)
  • Postdoctoral Research Affiliate, Geophysics, Stanford University (1977 - 1979)

Professional Education


  • B.S., St. Lawrence University, Physics (1972)
  • M.Sc., University of Toronto, Geophysics (1974)
  • Ph.D., Australian National University, Geophysics (1978)

All Publications


  • Thermo-tectonic history of the Issyk-Kul basement (Kyrgyz Northern Tien Shan, Central Asia) GONDWANA RESEARCH De Grave, J., Glorie, S., Buslov, M. M., Stockli, D. F., McWilliams, M. O., Batalev, V. Y., Van den Haute, P. 2013; 23 (3): 998-1020
  • Thermochronology of the Talkeetna intraoceanic arc of Alaska: Ar/Ar, U-Th/He, Sm-Nd, and Lu-Hf dating TECTONICS Hacker, B. R., Kelemen, P. B., Rioux, M., McWilliams, M. O., Gans, P. B., Reiners, P. W., Layer, P. W., Soderlund, U., Vervoort, J. D. 2011; 30
  • New Ar-40/Ar-39 ages reveal contemporaneous mafic and silicic eruptions during the past 160,000 years at Mammoth Mountain and Long Valley caldera, California GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN Mahood, G. A., Ring, J. H., Manganelli, S., McWilliams, M. O. 2010; 122 (3-4): 396-407

    View details for DOI 10.1130/B26396.1

    View details for Web of Science ID 000274210600004

  • 40Ar/39Ar Constraints on the tectonic history and architecture of the ultrahigh-pressure Sulu orogen 33rd International Geological Congress (IGC) Hacker, B. R., Wallis, S. R., McWilliams, M. O., Gans, P. B. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2009: 827–44
  • The Gilsa excursion and the Matuyama/Brunhes transition recorded in Ar-40/Ar-39 dated lavas from Lanai and Maui, Hawaiian Islands GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL Leonhardt, R., McWilliams, M., Heider, F., Soffel, H. C. 2009; 179 (1): 43-58
  • 500 m.y. of thermal history elucidated by multi-method detrital thermochronology of North Gondwana Cambrian sandstone (Eilat area, Israel) GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN Vermeesch, P., Avigad, D., McWilliams, M. O. 2009; 121 (7-8): 1204-1216

    View details for DOI 10.1130/B26473.1

    View details for Web of Science ID 000267393800015

  • The North American-Caribbean Plate boundary in Mexico-Guatemala-Honduras Conference on Geology of the Area Between North and South America with Focus on the Origin of the Caribbean Plate Ratschbacher, L., Franz, L., Min, M., Bachmann, R., Martens, U., Stanek, K., Stuebner, K., Nelson, B. K., Herrmann, U., Weber, B., Lopez-Martinez, M., Jonckheere, R., Sperner, B., Tichomirowa, M., McWilliams, M. O., Gordon, M., Meschede, M., Bock, P. GEOLOGICAL SOC PUBLISHING HOUSE. 2009: 219–293

    View details for DOI 10.1144/SP328.11

    View details for Web of Science ID 000279542700011

  • Multi-method chronometry of the Teletskoye graben and its basement, Siberian Altai Mountains: new insights on its thermo-tectonic evolution THERMOCHRONOLOGICAL METHODS: FROM PALAEOTEMPERATURE CONSTRAINTS TO LANDSCAPE EVOLUTION MODELS De Grave, J., Buslov, M. M., Van den Haute, P., Metcalf, J., Dehandschutter, B., McWilliams, M. O., Lisker, F., Ventura, B., Glasmacher, U. A. 2009; 324: 237–59

    View details for DOI 10.1144/SP324.17

    View details for Web of Science ID 000277774000018

  • Geometric model of conjugate faulting in the Gyeongsang Basin, southeast Korea TECTONICS Hwang, B., Ernst, W. G., McWilliams, M., Yang, K. 2008; 27 (6)
  • Chronology of gold mineralization in the Sierra Nevada Foothills from Ar-40/Ar-39 dating of Mariposite INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGY REVIEW Snow, C. A., Bird, D. K., Metcalf, J., McWilliams, M. 2008; 50 (6): 503-518
  • Rapid exhumation and mountain building in the Western Alps: Petrology and Ar-40/Ar-39 geochronology of detritus from Tertiary basins of southeastern France TECTONICS Morag, N., Avigad, D., Harlavan, Y., McWilliams, M. O., Michard, A. 2008; 27 (2)
  • Tectonic and magmatic evolution of the northwestern Basin and Range and its transition to unextended volcanic plateaus: Black Rock Range, Nevada GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN Lerch, D. W., Miller, E., McWilliams, M., Colgan, J. 2008; 120 (3-4): 300-311

    View details for DOI 10.1130/B26151.1

    View details for Web of Science ID 000253750900003

  • Tectonic implication of A-type granites across the Yangsan fault, Gigye and Gyeongju areas, Southeast Korean Peninsula INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGY REVIEW Hwang, B., McWilliams, M., Son, M., Yang, K. 2007; 49 (12): 1094-1102
  • Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology of Cryogenian diamictites and Lower Paleozoic sandstone in Ethiopia (Tigrai): Age constraints on Neoproterozoic glaciation and crustal evolution of the southern Arabian-Nubian Shield PRECAMBRIAN RESEARCH Avigad, D., Stern, R. J., Beyth, M., Miller, N., McWilliams, M. O. 2007; 154 (1-2): 88-106
  • Provenance of north Gondwana Cambrian-Ordovician sandstone: U-PbSHRIMP dating of detrital zircons from Israel and Jordan GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE Kolodner, K., Avigad, D., McWilliams, M., Wooden, J. L., Weissbrod, T., Feinstein, S. 2006; 143 (3): 367-391
  • Dome formation and extension in the Tethyan Himalaya, Leo Pargil, northwest India GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN Thiede, R. C., Arrowsmith, J. R., Bookhagen, B., McWilliams, M., Sobel, E. R., Strecker, M. R. 2006; 118 (5-6): 635-650

    View details for DOI 10.1130/B25872.1

    View details for Web of Science ID 000237310200009

  • Multimethod detrital thermochronology of the Great Valley Group near New Idria, California GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN Vermeesch, P., Miller, D. D., Graham, S. A., De Grave, J., McWilliams, M. O. 2006; 118 (1-2): 210-218

    View details for DOI 10.1130/1325797.1

    View details for Web of Science ID 000234587600014

  • Magnetic properties of Lake Lisan and Holocene Dead Sea sediments and the fidelity of chemical and detrital remanent magnetization NEW FRONTIERS IN DEAD SEA PALEOENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH Ron, H., Nowaczyk, N. R., Frank, U., Marco, S., McWilliams, M. O., Enzel, Y., Agnon, A., Stein, M. 2006; 401: 171–82
  • Timing of Cenozoic volcanism and Basin and Range extension in northwestern Nevada: New constraints from the northern Pine Forest Range GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN Colgan, J. P., Dumitru, T. A., McWilliams, M., Miller, E. L. 2006; 118 (1-2): 126-139

    View details for DOI 10.1130/1325681.1

    View details for Web of Science ID 000234587600008

  • The Early Ordovician age of deformations in the Kokchetav subduction-collision zone: New structural and Ar-40/Ar-39 data RUSSIAN GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS De Grave, J., Buslov, M. M., Zhimulev, F., Vermeesch, P., McWilliams, M. O., Metcalf, J. 2006; 47 (4): 441-450
  • Polyphase subduction and exhumation of the Sulu high-pressure-ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic terrane 32nd International Geological Congress Xu, Z., Zeng, L., Liu, F., Yang, J., Zhang, Z., McWilliams, M., Liou, J. G. GEOLOGICAL SOC AMER INC. 2006: 93–113
  • Mass-production of Cambro-Ordovician quartz-rich sandstone as a consequence of chemical weathering of Pan-African terranes: Environmental implications EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS Avigad, D., Sandler, A., Kolodner, K., Stern, R. J., McWilliams, M., Miller, N., Beyth, M. 2005; 240 (3-4): 818-826
  • Oxygen isotopic composition and U-Pb discordance in zircon GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA Booth, A. L., Kolodny, Y., CHAMBERLAIN, C. P., McWilliams, M., Schmitt, A. K., Wooden, J. 2005; 69 (20): 4895-4905
  • Ar-40/Ar-39 ages of silicic volcanic rocks in the Tauranga-Kaimai area, New Zealand: dating the transition between volcanism in the Coromandel Arc and the Taupo Volcanic Zone NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS Briggs, R. M., Houghton, B. F., McWilliams, M., Wilson, C. J. 2005; 48 (3): 459-469
  • From tectonically to erosionally controlled development of the Himalayan orogen GEOLOGY Thiede, R. C., Arrowsmith, J. R., Bookhagen, B., McWilliams, M. O., Sobel, E. R., Strecker, M. R. 2005; 33 (8): 689-692

    View details for DOI 10.1130/G21483.1

    View details for Web of Science ID 000230779400019

  • Near-ultrahigh pressure processing of continental crust: Miocene crustal xenoliths from the Pamir JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY Hacker, B., Luffi, P., Lutkov, V., Minaev, V., Ratschbacher, L., Plank, T., Ducea, M., Patino-Douce, A., McWilliams, M., Metcalf, J. 2005; 46 (8): 1661-1687
  • Formation, subduction, and exhumation of Penninic oceanic crust in the Eastern Alps: time constraints from Ar-40/(39) Ar geochronology TECTONOPHYSICS Ratschbacher, L., Dingeldeya, C., Miller, C., Hacker, B. R., McWilliams, M. O. 2004; 394 (3-4): 155-170
  • Assembly of the Pamirs: Age and origin of magmatic belts from the southern Tien Shan to the southern Pamirs and their relation to Tibet TECTONICS Schwab, M., Ratschbacher, L., Siebel, W., McWilliams, M., Minaev, V., Lutkov, V., Chen, F. K., Stanek, K., Nelson, B., Frisch, W., Wooden, J. L. 2004; 23 (4)
  • Building the Pamirs: The view from the underside GEOLOGY Ducea, M. N., Lutkov, V., Minaev, V. T., Hacker, B., Ratschbacher, L., Luffi, P., Schwab, M., Gehrels, G. E., McWilliams, M., Vervoort, J., Metcalf, J. 2003; 31 (10): 849-852
  • Lithofacies control in detrital zircon provenance studies: Insights from the Cretaceous Methow basin, southern Canadian Cordillera GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN DeGraaff-Surpless, K., Mahoney, J. B., Wooden, J. L., McWilliams, M. O. 2003; 115 (8): 899-915
  • Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the White Mountains, California and Nevada GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN Stockli, D. F., Dumitru, T. A., McWilliams, M. O., Farley, K. A. 2003; 115 (7): 788-816
  • When did the ultrahigh-pressure rocks reach the surface? A Pb-207/Pb-206 zircon, Ar-40/Ar-39 white mica, Si-in-white mica, single-grain provenance study of Dabie Shan synorogenic foreland sediments CHEMICAL GEOLOGY Grimmer, J. C., Ratschbacher, L., McWilliams, M., Franz, L., Gaitzsch, I., Tichomirowa, M., Hacker, B. R., Zhang, Y. Q. 2003; 197 (1-4): 87-110
  • Tectonics of the Qinling (Central China): tectonostratigraphy, geochronology, and deformation history TECTONOPHYSICS Ratschbacher, L., Hacker, B. R., Calvert, A., Webb, L. E., Grimmer, J. C., McWilliams, M. O., Ireland, T., Dong, S. W., Hu, J. M. 2003; 366 (1-2): 1-53
  • Origin of northern Gondwana Cambrian sandstone revealed by detrital zircon SHRIMP dating GEOLOGY Avigad, D., Kolodner, K., McWilliams, M., Persing, H., Weissbrod, T. 2003; 31 (3): 227-230
  • Detrital zircon provenance analysis of the Great Valley Group, California: Evolution of an arc-forearc system GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN DeGraaff-Surpless, K., Graham, S. A., Wooden, J. L., McWilliams, M. O. 2002; 114 (12): 1564-1580
  • Normal faulting in central Tibet since at least 13.5 Myr ago NATURE Blisniuk, P. M., Hacker, B. R., Glodny, J., Ratschbacher, L., Bi, S. W., Wu, Z. H., McWilliams, M. O., Calvert, A. 2001; 412 (6847): 628-632

    Abstract

    Tectonic models for the evolution of the Tibetan plateau interpret observed east-west thinning of the upper crust to be the result of either increased potential energy of elevated crust or geodynamic processes that may be unrelated to plateau formation. A key piece of information needed to evaluate these models is the timing of deformation within the plateau. The onset of normal faulting has been estimated to have commenced in southern Tibet between about 14 Myr ago and about 8 Myr ago and, in central Tibet, about 4 Myr ago. Here, however, we report a minimum age of approximately 13.5 Myr for the onset of graben formation in central Tibet, based on mineralization ages determined with Rb-Sr and 40Ar-39Ar data that post-date a major graben-bounding normal fault. These data, along with evidence for prolonged activity of normal faulting in this and other Tibetan grabens, support models that relate normal faulting to processes occurring beneath the plateau. Thinning of the upper crust is most plausibly the result of potential-energy increases resulting from spatially and temporally heterogeneous changes in thermal structure and density distribution within the crust and upper mantle beneath Tibet. This is supported by recent geophysical and geological data, which indicate that spatial heterogeneity exists in both the Tibetan crust and lithospheric mantle.

    View details for Web of Science ID 000170318000038

    View details for PubMedID 11493918

  • Multiple centers of mineralization in the Indio Muerto district, El Salvador, Chile ECONOMIC GEOLOGY AND THE BULLETIN OF THE SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGISTS Gustafson, L. B., Orquera, W., McWilliams, M., Castro, M., Olivares, O., ROJAS, G., Maluenda, J., Mendez, M. 2001; 96 (2): 325-350
  • Global correlation of the 223 ka Pringle Falls event INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGY REVIEW McWilliams, M. 2001; 43 (3): 191-195
  • Exhumation of the ultrahigh-pressure continental crust in east central China: Cretaceous and Cenozoic unroofing and the Tan-Lu fault JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Ratschbacher, L., Hacker, B. R., Webb, L. E., McWilliams, M., Ireland, T., Dong, S., Calvert, A., Chateigner, D., Wenk, H. R. 2000; 105 (B6): 13303-13338
  • Exhumation of ultrahigh-pressure continental crust in east central China: Late Triassic-Early Jurassic tectonic unroofing JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Hacker, B. R., Ratschbacher, L., Webb, L., McWilliams, M. O., Ireland, T., Calvert, A., Dong, S. W., Wenk, H. R., Chateigner, D. 2000; 105 (B6): 13339-13364
  • Hot and dry deep crustal xenoliths from Tibet SCIENCE Hacker, B. R., Gnos, E., Ratschbacher, L., Grove, M., McWilliams, M., Sobolev, S. V., Wan, J., Wu, Z. H. 2000; 287 (5462): 2463-2466
  • Tephrochronologic constraints on temporal distribution of large landslides in northwest Argentina JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY Hermanns, R. L., Trauth, M. H., Niedermann, S., McWilliams, M., Strecker, M. R. 2000; 108 (1): 35-52
  • First seamount age evidence for significantly slower African plate motion since 19 to 30 Ma EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS O'Connor, J. M., Stoffers, P., van den Bogaard, P., McWilliams, M. 1999; 171 (4): 575-589
  • Thermochronologic constraints on deformation and cooling history of high- and ultrahigh-pressure rocks in the Qinling-Dabie orogen, eastern China TECTONICS Webb, L. E., Hacker, B. R., Ratschbacher, L., McWilliams, M. O., Dong, S. W. 1999; 18 (4): 621-638
  • Thermochronometry and palaeomagnetism of the Archaean Nelshoogte Pluton, South Africa GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL Layer, P. W., Lopez-Martinez, M., Kroner, A., York, D., McWilliams, M. 1998; 135 (1): 129-145
  • High-resolution record of geomagnetic secular variation from Late Pleistocene Lake Lisan sediments (paleo Dead Sea) EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS Marco, S., Ron, H., McWilliams, M. O., Stein, M. 1998; 161 (1-4): 145-160
  • New ages for the climactic eruptions at Yellowstone: Single-crystal Ar-40/Ar-39 dating identifies contamination GEOLOGY Gansecki, C. A., Mahood, G. A., McWilliams, M. 1998; 26 (4): 343-346
  • Ar-40/Ar-39 geochronology of Cu-Au and Au-Ag mineralization in the Potrerillos District, Chile ECONOMIC GEOLOGY AND THE BULLETIN OF THE SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGISTS Marsh, T. M., Einaudi, M. T., McWilliams, M. 1997; 92 (7-8): 784-806
  • An Archean geomagnetic reversal in the Kaap Valley pluton, South Africa SCIENCE Layer, P. W., Kroner, A., McWilliams, M. 1996; 273 (5277): 943-946
  • Ar-40/Ar-39 geochronology of rhyolites erupted following collapse of the Yellowstone caldera, Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field: Implications for crustal contamination EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS Gansecki, C. A., Mahood, G. A., McWilliams, M. O. 1996; 142 (1-2): 91-107
  • Palaeomagnetism and chronology of the central Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL Tanaka, H., Turner, G. M., Houghton, B. F., Tachibana, T., Kono, M., McWilliams, M. O. 1996; 124 (3): 919-934
  • AN EXCEPTIONALLY WIDESPREAD IGNIMBRITE WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR PYROCLASTIC FLOW EMPLACEMENT NATURE Wilson, C. J., Houghton, B. F., Kamp, P. J., McWilliams, M. O. 1995; 378 (6557): 605-607
  • Time-space mapping of Easter Chain volcanism EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS OCONNOR, J. M., Stoffers, P., McWilliams, M. O. 1995; 136 (3-4): 197-212
  • VOLCANIC AND STRUCTURAL EVOLUTION OF TAUPO VOLCANIC ZONE, NEW-ZEALAND - A REVIEW JOURNAL OF VOLCANOLOGY AND GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH Wilson, C. J., Houghton, B. F., McWilliams, M. O., Lanphere, M. A., Weaver, S. D., Briggs, R. M. 1995; 68 (1-3): 1-28
  • TIMESCALES OF OROGENY - JURASSIC CONSTRUCTION OF THE KLAMATH MOUNTAINS TECTONICS Hacker, B. R., Donato, M. M., Barnes, C. G., McWilliams, M. O., Ernst, W. G. 1995; 14 (3): 677-703
  • AR-40/AR-39 DATING OF COMBUSTION METAMORPHISM (MOTTLED ZONE,ISRAEL) CHEMICAL GEOLOGY Gur, D., Steinitz, G., Kolodny, Y., Starinsky, A., McWilliams, M. 1995; 122 (1-4): 171-184
  • AR-40/AR-39 THERMOCHRONOLOGY OF EPIDOTE BLUESCHISTS FROM THE NORTH DAGUILAR BLOCK, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA - TIMING AND KINEMATICS OF SUBDUCTION COMPLEX UNROOFING GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN Little, T. A., McWilliams, M. O., Holcombe, R. J. 1995; 107 (5): 520-535
  • CHRONOLOGY AND DYNAMICS OF A LARGE SILICIC MAGMATIC SYSTEM - CENTRAL TAUPO VOLCANIC ZONE, NEW-ZEALAND GEOLOGY Houghton, B. F., Wilson, C. J., McWilliams, M. O., Lanphere, M. A., Weaver, S. D., Briggs, R. M., Pringle, M. S. 1995; 23 (1): 13-16
  • RECONSIDERATION OF THE AGE OF BLUESCHIST FACIES METAMORPHISM ON THE SEWARD PENINSULA, ALASKA, BASED ON PHENGITE AR-40/AR-39 RESULTS JOURNAL OF METAMORPHIC GEOLOGY Hannula, K. A., McWilliams, M. O. 1995; 13 (1): 125-139
  • AGE AND CORRELATION OF A PALEOMAGNETIC EPISODE IN THE WESTERN UNITED-STATES BY AR-40/AR-39 DATING AND TEPHROCHRONOLOGY - THE JAMAICA, BLAKE, OR A NEW POLARITY EPISODE JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH HERREROBERVERA, E., Helsley, C. E., SARNAWOJCICKI, A. M., LAJOIE, K. R., Meyer, C. E., McWilliams, M. O., Negrini, R. M., Turrin, B. D., DONNELLYNOLAN, J. M., Liddicoat, J. C. 1994; 99 (B12): 24091-24103
  • TERTIARY PLUTONS MONITOR CLIMATE-CHANGE IN EAST GREENLAND GEOLOGY NEVLE, R. J., Brandriss, M. E., Bird, D. K., McWilliams, M. O., ONEIL, J. R. 1994; 22 (9): 775-778
  • COOLING HISTORY OF THE NORTHERN FORD RANGES, MARIE BYRD LAND, WEST ANTARCTICA TECTONICS Richard, S. M., Smith, C. H., Kimbrough, D. L., FitzGerald, P. G., Luyendyk, B. P., McWilliams, M. O. 1994; 13 (4): 837-857
  • AR-40 AR-39 GEOCHRONOLOGY AND EXHUMATION OF HIGH-PRESSURE TO ULTRAHIGH-PRESSURE METAMORPHIC ROCKS IN EAST-CENTRAL CHINA GEOLOGY Eide, E. A., McWilliams, M. O., Liou, J. G. 1994; 22 (7): 601-604
  • TESTING THE ACCURACY OF THE GEOMAGNETIC POLARITY TIME-SCALE (GPTS) AT 2-5 MA, UTILIZING AR-40/AR-39 INCREMENTAL HEATING DATA ON WHOLE-ROCK BASALTS EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS Baksi, A. K., Hoffman, K. A., McWilliams, M. 1993; 118 (1-4): 135-144
  • GENESIS AND EVOLUTION OF A PERMIAN-JURASSIC MAGMATIC ARC ACCRETIONARY WEDGE, AND REEVALUATION OF TERRANES IN THE CENTRAL KLAMATH MOUNTAINS TECTONICS Hacker, B. R., Ernst, W. G., McWilliams, M. O. 1993; 12 (2): 387-409
  • PALEOMAGNETIC RESULTS FROM THE LATE PRECAMBRIAN CHELA GROUP OF SOUTHWEST ANGOLA PRECAMBRIAN RESEARCH Jones, D. L., McFadden, P. L., Kroner, A., McWilliams, M. O. 1992; 59 (1-2): 1-13
  • COEVAL AR-40/AR-39 AGES OF 65.0 MILLION YEARS AGO FROM CHICXULUB CRATER MELT ROCK AND CRETACEOUS-TERTIARY BOUNDARY TEKTITES SCIENCE Swisher, C. C., GrajalesNishimura, J. M., Montanari, A., MARGOLIS, S. V., Claeys, P., Alvarez, W., Renne, P., CedilloPardo, E., Maurrasse, F. J., Curtis, G. H., Smit, J., McWilliams, M. O. 1992; 257 (5072): 954-958

    Abstract

    (40)Ar/(39)Ar dating of drill core samples of a glassy melt rock recovered from beneath a massive impact breccia contained within the 180-kilometer subsurface Chicxulub crater in Yucatán, Mexico, has yielded well-behaved incremental heating spectra with a mean plateau age of 64.98 +/- 0.05 million years ago (Ma). The glassy melt rock of andesitic composition was obtained from core 9 (1390 to 1393 meters) in the Chicxulub 1 well. The age of the melt rock is virtually indistinguishable from (40)Ar/(39)Ar ages obtained on tektite glass from Beloc, Haiti, and Arroyo el Mimbral, northeastern Mexico, of 65.01 +/- 0.08 Ma (mean plateau age for Beloc) and 65.07 +/- 0.10 Ma (mean total fusion age for both sites). The (40)Ar/(39)Ar ages, in conjunction with geochemical and petrological similarities, strengthen the recent suggestion that the Chicxulub structure is the source for the Haitian and Mexican tektites and is a viable candidate for the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary impact site.

    View details for Web of Science ID A1992JH82700032

    View details for PubMedID 17789640

  • AR-40/AR-39 DATING OF QUATERNARY FELDSPAR - EXAMPLES FROM THE TAUPO VOLCANIC ZONE, NEW-ZEALAND GEOLOGY Pringle, M. S., McWilliams, M., Houghton, B. F., Lanphere, M. A., Wilson, C. J. 1992; 20 (6): 531-534
  • AR-40/AR-39 DATING OF THE BRUNHES-MATUYAMA GEOMAGNETIC-FIELD REVERSAL SCIENCE Baksi, A. K., Hsu, V., McWilliams, M. O., Farrar, E. 1992; 256 (5055): 356-357

    Abstract

    Magnetostratigraphic studies are widely used in conjunction with the geomagnetic polarity time scale (GPTS) to date events in the range 0 to 5 million years ago. A critical tie point on the GPTS is the potassium-argon age of the most recent (Brunhes-Matuyama) geomagnetic field reversal. Astronomical values for the forcing frequencies observed in the oxygen isotope record in Ocean Drilling Project site 677 suggest that the age of this last reversal is 780 ka (thousand years ago), whereas the potassium-argon-based estimate is 730 ka. Results from 4039; Ar incremental heating studies on a series of lavas from Maui that straddle the Brunhes-Matuyama reversal give an age of 783 + 11 ka, in agreement with the astronomically derived value. The astronomically based technique appears to be a viable tool for dating young sedimentary sequences.

    View details for Web of Science ID A1992HP03200029

    View details for PubMedID 17743111

  • EXHUMATION OF LATE PALEOZOIC BLUESCHISTS IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA, BY EXTENSIONAL FAULTING GEOLOGY Little, T. A., Holcombe, R. J., Gibson, G. M., Offler, R., Gans, P. B., McWilliams, M. O. 1992; 20 (3): 231-234
  • PALEOMAGNETIC INVESTIGATION OF UPPER PERMIAN SEDIMENTS IN THE SOUTH JUNGGAR BASIN, CHINA JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Sharps, R., Li, Y. P., McWilliams, M., Li, Y. G. 1992; 97 (B2): 1753-1765
  • LATE PALEOZOIC PALEOMAGNETIC RESULTS FROM THE JUNGGAR BLOCK, NORTHWESTERN CHINA JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH Li, Y. P., Sharps, R., McWilliams, M., Li, Y. G., Li, Q., Zhang, W. 1991; 96 (B10): 16047-16060
  • SINIAN PALEOMAGNETIC RESULTS FROM THE TARIM BLOCK, WESTERN CHINA PRECAMBRIAN RESEARCH Li, Y. P., Li, Y. G., Sharps, R., McWilliams, M., Gao, Z. G. 1991; 49 (1-2): 61-71
  • A DEVONIAN PALEOMAGNETIC POLE FROM RED BEDS OF THE TARIM BLOCK, CHINA JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH AND PLANETS Li, Y. P., McWilliams, M., Sharps, R., Cox, A., Li, Y. G., Li, Q., Gao, Z. G., Zhang, Z. K., Zhai, Y. J. 1990; 95 (B12): 19185-19198
  • NO RELATIVE ROTATION DETECTED BETWEEN CORSICA AND SARDINIA EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS Vigliotti, L., Alvarez, W., McWilliams, M. 1990; 98 (3-4): 313-318
  • APPARENT POLAR WANDER PATH FROM THE TARIM BLOCK IN CHINA ACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA-ENGLISH EDITION Li, Y. P., Sharps, R., McWilliams, M., Zhang, Z. K., Li, Y., Li, Q., ZHAI, T. J., Gao, Z. J. 1990; 3 (1): 1-13
  • INTENSITY OF THE EARTHS MAGNETIC-FIELD - EVIDENCE FOR A MESOZOIC DIPOLE LOW EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS Prevot, M., Derder, M. E., McWilliams, M., Thompson, J. 1990; 97 (1-2): 129-139
  • GEOMAGNETIC-FIELD INTENSITY IN EARLY JURASSIC - INVESTIGATION OF THE NEWARK SUPERGROUP (EASTERN NORTH-AMERICA) PHYSICS OF THE EARTH AND PLANETARY INTERIORS Derder, M. E., Thompson, J., Prevot, M., McWilliams, M. 1989; 58 (2-3): 126-136
  • PALEOMAGNETIC CORRELATION OF NEWARK SUPERGROUP VOLCANICS GEOLOGY Prevot, M., McWilliams, M. 1989; 17 (11): 1007-1010
  • M-SEQUENCE REVERSALS RECORDED IN DSDP SEDIMENT CORES FROM THE WESTERN MID-PACIFIC MOUNTAINS AND MAGELLAN RISE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN Tarduno, J. A., Sliter, W. V., Bralower, T. J., McWilliams, M., PREMOLISILVA, I., Ogg, J. G. 1989; 101 (10): 1306-1316
  • PALEOMAGNETIC RESULTS FROM LATE PALEOZOIC DIKES FROM THE NORTHWESTERN JUNGGAR BLOCK, NORTHWESTERN CHINA EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS Li, Y. P., Sharps, R., McWilliams, M., Nur, A., Li, Y. G., Li, Q., Zhang, W. 1989; 94 (1-2): 123-130
  • PALEOMAGNETIC RESULTS FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS MAUDLOW AND LIVINGSTON FORMATIONS, SOUTHWEST MONTANA GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Swenson, P., McWilliams, M. 1989; 16 (7): 669-672
  • ELEMENTS OF THE ARCHEAN THERMAL HISTORY AND APPARENT POLAR WANDER OF THE EASTERN KAAPVAAL CRATON, SWAZILAND, FROM SINGLE GRAIN DATING AND PALEOMAGNETISM EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS Layer, P. W., Kroner, A., McWilliams, M., York, D. 1989; 93 (1): 23-34
  • LOWER PERMIAN PALEOMAGNETISM OF THE TARIM BLOCK, NORTHWESTERN CHINA EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS Sharps, R., McWilliams, M., Li, Y. P., Cox, A., Zhang, Z. K., Zhai, Y. J., Gao, Z. J., Li, Y. G., Li, Q. 1989; 92 (3-4): 275-291
  • PALEOMAGNETIC RESULTS FROM GRANITIC BASEMENT ROCKS IN THE CAJON PASS SCIENTIFIC DRILLHOLE GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS McWilliams, M., Pinto, M. J. 1988; 15 (9): 1069-1072
  • REGIONAL MAGNETIC OVERPRINTING OF WITWATERSRAND SUPERGROUP SEDIMENTS, SOUTH-AFRICA JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH AND PLANETS Layer, P. W., Kroner, A., McWilliams, M., Clauer, N. 1988; 93 (B3): 2191-2200
  • LATE PERMIAN PALEOMAGNETIC POLE FROM DIKES OF THE TARIM CRATON, CHINA GEOLOGY Li, Y. P., McWilliams, M., Cox, A., Sharps, R., Li, Y. G., Gao, Z. G., Zhang, Z. K., ZHAI, Y. G. 1988; 16 (3): 275-278
  • MESOZOIC PALEOMAGNETIC RESULTS OF THE TARIM CRATON - TERTIARY RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN CHINA AND SIBERIA GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS Li, Y. P., Zhang, Z. K., McWilliams, M., Sharps, R., Zhai, Y. J., Li, Y. G., Li, Q., Cox, A. 1988; 15 (3): 217-220
  • PALEOMAGNETISM AND AGE OF THE ARCHEAN USUSHWANA COMPLEX, SOUTHERN-AFRICA JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH AND PLANETS Layer, P. W., Kroner, A., McWilliams, M., BURGHELE, A. 1988; 93 (B1): 449-457
  • CENOZOIC EXTENSION AND TILTING RECORDED IN UPPER CRETACEOUS AND TERTIARY ROCKS AT THE HALL MOLYBDENUM DEPOSIT, NORTHERN SAN-ANTONIO MOUNTAINS, NEVADA GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN Shaver, S. A., McWilliams, M. 1987; 99 (3): 341-353
  • APPLICATION OF PALEOMAGNETISM TO ACCRETIONARY TECTONICS AND STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY REVIEWS OF GEOPHYSICS HILLHOUSE, J. W., McWilliams, M. O. 1987; 25 (5): 951-959
  • DATING RECENT HAWAIIAN LAVA FLOWS USING PALEOMAGNETIC SECULAR VARIATION GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN Holcomb, R., Champion, D., McWilliams, M. 1986; 97 (7): 829-839
  • SOUTHERN-HEMISPHERE ORIGIN OF THE CRETACEOUS LAYTONVILLE LIMESTONE OF CALIFORNIA SCIENCE Tarduno, J. A., McWilliams, M., Sliter, W. V., Cook, H. E., Blake, M. C., PREMOLISILVA, I. 1986; 231 (4744): 1425-1428

    Abstract

    New paleomagnetic, paleontologic, and stratigraphic data from outcrops of the Laytonville Limestone (101 to 88 million years old) support a Southern Hemisphere origin. A paleomagnetic megaconglomerate test is statistically significant and suggests magnetization at 14 degrees +/- 5 degrees south, predating Late Cretaceous to Eocene (70 to 50 million years ago) accretion. Rapid Kula plate movement or the existence and demise of a now vanished oceanic plate (or both) are required to accommodate the greater than 50 degrees of poleward displacement implied by the paleomagnetic data. This rapid motion brings into question the validity of a "speed limit" for absolute plate velocity based on present-day plate motions.

    View details for Web of Science ID A1986A391100035

    View details for PubMedID 17748086

  • FRANCISCAN COMPLEX CALERA LIMESTONES - ACCRETED REMNANTS OF FARALLON PLATE OCEANIC PLATEAUS NATURE Tarduno, J. A., McWilliams, M., DEBICHE, M. G., Sliter, W. V., Blake, M. C. 1985; 317 (6035): 345-347
  • OROCLINAL BENDING OF THE SOUTHERN SIERRA-NEVADA BATHOLITH SCIENCE McWilliams, M., Li, Y. P. 1985; 230 (4722): 172-175

    Abstract

    Structural, magmatic, and isotopic features of the southern Sierra Nevada batholith are deflected clockwise with respect to its central and northern parts. Directions of magnetization at three localities in the southern Sierra Nevada are progressively deflected; this is consistent with the hypothesis that the region was tectonically rotated in an orocline. No paleomagnetic deflection was observed northwest of the White Wolf-Kern Canyon fault system. Oroclinal bending ofa block bounded by the San Andreas, Garlock, and White Wolf-Kern Canyon faults may have occurred before about 16 x l0(6) years ago. The deformation may have been a response to shear at the western boundary of the North American plate caused by oblique subduction.

    View details for Web of Science ID A1985ARS2500024

    View details for PubMedID 17842695

  • MESOZOIC PALEOMAGNETISM AND NORTHWARD TRANSLATION OF THE BAJA-CALIFORNIA PENINSULA GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN Hagstrum, J. T., McWilliams, M., HOWELL, D. G., GROMME, S. 1985; 96 (8): 1077-1090
  • CONFIDENCE-LIMITS ON NET TECTONIC ROTATION GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS McWilliams, M. 1984; 11 (9): 825-827
  • PALEOMAGNETISM AND THE MOTION OF LARGE AND SMALL PLATES REVIEWS OF GEOPHYSICS McWilliams, M. O. 1983; 21 (3): 644-651
  • ROTATION OF THE SOUTHERNMOST SIERRA-NEVADA, CALIFORNIA JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH Kanter, L. R., McWilliams, M. O. 1982; 87 (NB5): 3819-3830
  • GEOMAGNETIC SECULAR VARIATION FROM C-14-DATED LAVA FLOWS ON HAWAII AND THE QUESTION OF THE PACIFIC NON-DIPOLE LOW PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A-MATHEMATICAL PHYSICAL AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES McWilliams, M. O., Holcomb, R. T., Champion, D. E. 1982; 306 (1492): 211-222
  • EXOTIC TERRANES OF WESTERN CALIFORNIA NATURE McWilliams, M. O., HOWELL, D. G. 1982; 297 (5863): 215-217
  • PALEOMAGNETISM AND TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE PAN-AFRICAN DAMARA BELT, SOUTHERN-AFRICA JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH McWilliams, M. O., Kroner, A. 1981; 86 (NB6): 5147-5162
  • PALEOMAGNETISM OF LATE PRECAMBRIAN TO EARLY PALEOZOIC MIXTITE-BEARING FORMATIONS IN NAMIBIA (SOUTH-WEST-AFRICA) - THE NAMA GROUP AND BLAUBEKER FORMATION AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE Kroner, A., McWilliams, M. O., Germs, G. J., Reid, A. B., SCHALK, K. E. 1980; 280 (9): 942-968
  • PRE-TERTIARY VELOCITIES OF THE CONTINENTS - LOWER BOUND FROM PALEOMAGNETIC DATA JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH Gordon, R. G., McWilliams, M. O., Cox, A. 1979; 84 (NB10): 5480-5486