Harold H. Stowell
Professor & Chairman

B.S. 1978, Florida State University;
M.S. 1981, University of South Carolina;
Ph.D. 1987, Princeton University
E-mail: hstowell@geo.ua.edu

 

Research

    Research activities are in the fields of metamorphic petrology, geochronology, tectonics, structural geology, and economic geology. Current field-based research focuses on the Coast Mountains of southeastern Alaska, the North Cascades of Washington, and the Appalachian Piedmont. Some on-going research projects: 1) determination of metamorphic history from Sm-Nd garnet ages; 2) elucidation of metasomatic events from mineral growth zoning; 3) utilization of metamorphic phase equilibria to determine the reaction history of metamorphic rocks; 4) determination of thermal histories from mineral isotopic data; 5) integration of Sm-Nd isotopic data and phase equilibria for construction of quantitative pressure-temperature-time paths; and 6) integration of petrological, geochronological, and structural data to understand the tectonometamorphic histories of orogenic belts.

    Student theses completed or in progress involve: thermobaromety of contact metamorphic rocks; thermal modeling of metamorphism associated with Coast Plutonic Complex sill plutons in Alaska; trace element chemistry of garnet from the contact metamorphic aureoles around the Grand Island diorites; Sm-Nd dating of garnet from metamorphic rocks at Garnet Ledge, Alaska (Dave Taylor: M.S. 1997); Sm-Nd garnet dating of regional and contact metamorphism in the North Cascades of Washington (Beka Chace: M.S. 1998); phase equilibria, thermobarometry, & P-T-t paths for metamorphism in the North Cascades & bulk rock chemical controls on phase equilibria (Doug Tinkham: Ph.D. 2002); pseudosection phase equilibria & partial melting in the Banded Gneiss, North Cascades (Carlos Zuluaga); development of garnet corona textures in the North Cascades (Ellen Stein); pseudosection phase equilibria modeling of amphibolite & P-T-t paths for schist in the Picuris Range of New Mexico (Gang Wang); and analysis of deformation & metamorphism across the Mt. Stuart pluton, Chiwaukum Schist & Nason Ridge Gneiss (Gerrit Bulman).

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Teaching

    Since 1986, I have dedicated 50-60% of my time to undergraduate and graduate teaching. Subjects include all of the "regularly-taught" classes described below plus structural geology and optical mineralogy.

    Introductory Geology: I taught physical geology an average of once per year from 1986 to 1999. This freshman geology class for majors and nonmajors includes Earth materials, surficial processes, and the Earth's interior. The course is critical for promoting public awareness of the importance and use of Earth Sciences, and for attracting majors into geology.

    Mineralogy: I have taught mineralogy every year since 1986. This sophomore class for geology majors covers crystallography, crystal chemistry, and description of the rock-forming minerals. The class provides an underpinning for all upper-level undergraduate and graduate geology classes, and attracts numerous metallurgical engineers.

    Field Geology: I have taught Field Geology every summer since 1987 and organize and direct the Alabama class in New Mexico. Undergraduate and graduate field geology teaches students the scientific method, critical thinking, field observational skills, map interpretation, mapping, and regional geology. The undergraduate summer field course provides the capstone class for undergraduates and requires that they integrate knowledge from all of their prior geologic experience.

    Field and Writing Techniques: Senior class that stresses practical field, scientific presentation, and writing techniques.

    Isotope Geology: Advanced undergraduate and graduate classes in isotopic systems, methodology, and practical use. Systematics of stable and radiogenic isotopes.

    Metamorphic Petrology: Advanced undergraduate and graduate class in metamorphic rock types, conditions of metamorphism, thermal modeling of metamorphism, and the relationship between tectonics and metamorphism.

    Graduate Student Advising: I have served on over 30 graduate student advising committees and have been the primary advisor to 13 M.S. and Ph.D. students.

Recent Presentations

Selected Publications

    2003, Stowell, H.H., D.L., Tinkham, Integration of Phase Equilibria Modelling and Garnet Sm-Nd Chronology for Construction of P-T-t Paths: Examples from the Cordilleran Coast Plutonic Complex, USA. Geological Society Special Publication, 220, p. 119-145.

    2001, Stowell, H.H., Taylor, D.L., Tinkham, D.K., Goldberg, S.A., Ouderkirk, K.A.,. Contact metamorphic P-T-t paths from Sm-Nd garnet ages, phase equilibria modeling, and thermobarometry: Garnet Ledge, Southeastern Alaska. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 19, p. 645-660.

    2001, Tinkham, D.K., Zuluaga, C.A., Stowell, H.H., Metapelite phase equilibria modeling in MnNCKFMASH: The effect of variable Al2O3 and MgO/(MgO+FeO) on mineral stability 3, 1, Geological Materials Research, p. 1-42.

    2000, Stowell, H.H., and Crawford, M. L., Metamorphic history of the western Coast Mountains orogen, western British Columbia and southeastern Alaska, in Stowell, H.H., and McClelland, W.C., eds. Geological Society of America Special Paper 343 p. 257-283.

    2000, Stowell, H.H., Green, N.L., and Hooper, R.J., Geochemistry and tectonic setting of basaltic volcanism, northern Coast Ranges, SE AK, in Stowell, H.H., and McClelland, W.C., eds. Geological Society of America Special Paper 343 p. 235-255.

    2000, Stowell, H.H., and Pike, M.A., A thermal model for cooling of foliated tonalite sill plutons, northern Coast Ranges SE Alaska, in Stowell, H.H., and McClelland, W.C., eds. Geological Society of America Special Paper 343 p. 183-192.

    2000, Miller, L.D., Stowell, H.H., and Gehrels, G.E., Progressive deformation associated with mid-Cretaceous to Tertiary contractional tectonism in the Juneau gold belt, Coast Mountains southeastern Alaska, in Stowell, H.H., and McClelland, W.C., eds. Geological Society of America Special Paper 343 p. 193-212.

    1999, Menard, T., Ridgway, C.K., Stowell, H.H., Lesher, C.M., Geochemistry and textures of metasomatic combs and orbicules in ultramafic rocks, Namew Lake, Manitoba. Canadian Mineralogist, 37, p. 431-442.

    1998, Stowell, H.H., and Menard, T., Ca-metasomatism and chemical zonation of garnet in contact metamorphic aureoles, Juneau gold belt, southeastern Alaska: in Arehart, G.B, and Hulston, J.R., eds., Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction, Balkema, p. 421-424.

    1997, Stowell, H.H., and Goldberg, S.A., Sm-Nd garnet dating of polyphase metamorphism: northern Coast Mountains, south-eastern Alaska. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 15, p. 439-450.

    1996, Menard, T., Lesher, C.M., Stowell, H.H., Price, D.P., Pickell, J.R., Onstott, T.C., and Hulbert, L.,. Geology, genesis and metamorphic history of the Namew Lake Fe-Ni-Cu sulfide deposit, Manitoba. Economic Geology, 91, p. 1394-1413.

    1996, Stowell, H.H., Menard, T., and Ridgeway, C.K., Chemical zonation of garnet and Ca-metasomatism in contact metamorphic aureoles, Juneau gold belt, southeastern Alaska. Canadian Mineralogist, 34, 6, p. 1195- 1209.

    1996, Stowell, H.H., Lesher, C.M., Green, N. L., Sha, Peng, Guthrie, G.M., and Sinha, A.K., Metamorphism and gold mineralization in the Blue Ridge, southernmost Appalachians. Economic Geology, 91, 6, p. 1115-1144.

    1994, Stowell, H.H., and Menard, T., Episodic metasomatism in pelitic schists from contact metamorphic aureoles near Juneau, Alaska. Abstracts of the Eighth International Conference on Geochronology, Cosmochronology and Isotope Geology, U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1107, p.307.

    1991, Wood, D.J., Stowell, H.H., Onstott, T.C., and Hollister, L.S., 40Ar/39Ar Constraints on the emplacement, uplift, and cooling of the Coast Plutonic Complex sill, SE Alaska. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 103, p. 849-860.

    1990, Stowell, H.H., and Hooper, R.J., Structural development of the western metamorphic belt, southeastern Alaska: evidence from Holkham Bay, Tectonics, v. 9, p. 391-407.

    1989, Stowell, H.H., Silicate and sulphide thermobarometry of low- to medium-grade metamorphic rocks from Holkham Bay, south-east Alaska: Journal of Metamorphic Geology, v. 7, p. 343-358.

    1989, Stowell, H.H., Guthrie, G.M., and Lesher, C.M., Metamorphism and gold mineralization in the Wedowee Group, northern Alabama Piedmont, in Cook, R.B., Dean, L.S., and Lesher, C.M., editors, Gold deposits of Alabama: Alabama Geological Survey Bulletin 136, p. 133-158.

    1987, Hollister, L.S., Grissom, G.C., Peters, E.K., Stowell, H.H., and Sisson, V.B., Confirmation of the empirical correlation of aluminum in hornblende with pressure of solidification of calcalkaline plutons: American Mineralogist, v. 72, p. 231-239.