EMILY B CAHOON
Geologist, Ph.D., GIT
Growing up, I spent time outdoors exploring mineral collecting sites throughout New England and attending rock and mineral expositions with my family - which sparked an early interest in geology. I received my B.S. from the University of Delaware and M.S. from Washington State University. Following this, I spent three years working in the field of environmental consulting in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. This work experience was incredibly valuable but I wanted to pursue a PhD. I moved west to Oregon and studied flood basalt volcanism at Portland State University. I am currently working at University of Alaska Anchorage as a Term Assistant Professor of Geology.
RESEARCH INTERESTS & PUBLICATIONS
My research pursues questions broadly focused in geochemical, petrologic, and volcanological problems – with an emphasis on magmatic processes related to flood basalt emplacement, crystal growth, and geochemical cycling. Flood basalt provinces represent some of the most intense periods of volcanic activity on earth, often associated with climactic fluctuations and mass-extinctions. These basaltic magmas are the origin of more evolved magmatism, often providing a window into complex mantle processes and insight into magma reservoirs. I am excited by the geochemical fingerprints left behind following modification of primary melts and interested in the effects of redox state on geochemical processes.
Cahoon, E.B., Streck, M.J., Koppers, A.A. and Miggins, D.P., 2020. Reshuffling the Columbia River Basalt chronology—Picture Gorge Basalt, the earliest-and longest-erupting formation. Geology, 48(4), pp.348-352.
Our study revises ages of the PGB and expands the magmatic footprint of the earliest formation of the CRBG.
IN PREPARATION
PGB Stratigraphy, Area, and Volume
Based on field and geochemical data, PBG lavas covered a significantly greater area than the previously published maps and indicate PGB’s eruptive volume was much larger. Correlation of these newly identified PGB flows to the existing PGB stratigraphy is complicated but assessed via geochemical signatures which characterize the previously mapped extent where stratigraphic control is well-defined.
IN PREPARATION
HF leaching to reduce recoil in ArAr geochronology
Through my geochronological work, a new procedural step was implemented using hydrofluoric acid (HF) to Oregon State University’s (OSU) Argon Geochronology Laboratory’s standard procedures for volcanic groundmass preparation. Our early results improve the methodology of high-precision 40Ar/39Ar geochronological studies by reducing the effects of 39Ar recoil. This has the potential to provide geologically meaningful ages for previously undatable rocks. We aim to publish the findings as part of a methods paper shortly.
EARLY CAREER RESEARCH
Oregon Sunstones
During my research on flood basalt provinces, I became fascinated by crystal-rich basalts and intrigued by the presence of native copper in feldspar phenocrysts in the CRBG. These copper-enriched feldspars are hosted within CRBG lavas in eastern Oregon, and copper is frequently observable as macroscopic inclusions along the long axis of the crystal. As part of my future research, I hope to investigate these unique labradorite phenocrysts (An50-70), or “sunstones”, Oregon’s state gem.
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FIELD PHOTOS
TEACHING
I want students to feel a purpose in what they are learning, that the content connects with the outside world. This allows students to make well-informed and self-serving career choices. To bridge the gap between information learned in the classroom, to the outside world, I promote student research focused in published literature or current events - serving science and non-science majors alike. This provides experience navigating and reading scientific literature, and evaluating current events in the media. My goal as a professor and researcher is to train the next generation of geoscientists for a wide variety of careers in industry or academia. I want my teaching style and methods to foster critical thinking, reading comprehension, and written communication– skills which are highly valued in any workforce. This is incredibly important to me, as I aspire to support technical skills and experiences that will directly serve each student in their future career.
INNOVATIVE TEACHING METHODS
In addition to my doctoral degree, I will complete the Certificate of Innovation in College Teaching (CICT) at PSU. Through this program, I attended various workshops and mini-conferences that provided me exposure-to and experience-with higher education research initiatives and evidence-based instructional approaches.
I have taught mineralogy and optical mineralogy and established field trips to the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals and the Pacific Gemological Laboratory in Oregon. I also recently developed curriculum as part of my mineralogy course that adds an economic component highlighting ore minerals and gemological studies.
OTHER INTERESTS & CONTACT
Besides staring at rocks, I love visiting national parks - and my life goal is to visit all 59 before I turn 59. I also really enjoy exploring and photographing post offices in rural areas of Oregon.
I have an affinity for animals with stumpy legs, I cannot get enough of my munchkin cat Opal and corgi Regis!
Please feel free to contact me to discuss research interests, teaching strategies, collaboration ideas or anything else!
