Biography
Dr. McQuarrie received her Ph.D. at the University of Arizona in 2001 with an emphasis in Structure and Tectonics. She was a Post-Doctoral Scholar at California Institute of Technology from 2001-2004 and an assistant professor at Princeton University before joining the Department in 2011. Dr. McQuarrie spent a year at Tuebingen University in Germany as an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow (2011-2012).
- Research
- Recent Publications
- Publications
- Laboratory Members
- Teaching
Our group studies the geometric, kinematic and erosional evolution of mountain belts, particularly in the Himalaya, Andes and Appalachians. Current research activities focus on linking the geometry and kinematics of mapped structures to thermochronometer cooling ages to look at the interplay between tectonics and erosion on exhumation patterns and morphology of mountain ranges. Research projects start with structurally based field studies, typically through the creation of new geologic maps at previously unpublished scales or resolutions. Using this high resolution geological mapping as a foundation, the projects expand to include the creation and sequential restoration of geologic cross sections (providing kinematics) as well as new mineral cooling ages to determine the distribution, magnitude and rate of deformation. Details of current projects available here.
Research Areas
*Buford Parks, V.M., McQuarrie, N., (accepted) Kinematic, flexural, and thermal modelling in the Central Andes: Unravelling age and signal of deformation, exhumation, and uplift. Tectonophysics.
*Olsen, J.E.S., McQuarrie, N., Robinson, D., (2019) Determining kinematic order and relative age of faulting via flexural-kinematic restoration: a case study in far-western Nepal. Basin Research, doi: 10.1111/bre.12362
*Gilmore, M.E., McQuarrie, N., Eizenhöfer, P and Ehlers T.A., 2018, Testing the effects of topography, geometry and kinematics on modeled thermochronometer cooling ages in the eastern Bhutan Himalaya: Solid Earth, v. 9, p. 1-29, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-1-2018.
*Rak, A., McQuarrie, N. and Ehlers T.A., 2017, Kinematics, exhumation, and sedimentation of the north-central Andes (Bolivia): An integrated thermochronometer and thermokinematic modeling approach: Tectonics, v. 36, doi: 10.1002/2016TC004440.
*Tate, G.W., McQuarrie, N., Tiranda, H., van Hinsbergen, D.J.J., Harris, R., Willett, S.D., Reiners, P.W., Fellin, M.G., Zachariasse, W.J., 2017, Reconciling regional continuity with local variability in structure, uplift and exhumation of the Timor orogen: Gondwana Research. Gondwana Research, v. 49, p. 364–386, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2017.06.008
Schepers, G., van Hinsbergen, D.J.J Spakman, W. Kosters, M., Boschman, L., and McQuarrie, N., 2017, South-American plate advance and forced Andean trench retreat as drivers for transient flat subduction episodes: Nature Communications, v. 8, 15249, 10.1038/ncomms15249
Garzione, C.N., McQuarrie, N., Perez, N.D., Ehlers, T.A., Beck, S., Kar, N., Eichelberger, N., Chapman, A.D., Ward., K.M., Ducea, M., Lease, R.O., Poulsen, C.J., Wagner, L.S., Horton, B.K., Saylor, J.E., Zandt, G., 2017, The tectonic evolution of the Central Andean Plateau and geodynamic implications for the growth of plateaus, Annual Reviews of Earth and Planetary Sciences, v. 45, p. 529-559. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-063016-020612.
McQuarrie, N. and Ehlers T.A., 2017, Techniques for understanding fold-thrust belt kinematics and thermal evolution: in Law, R.D., Thigpen, J.R., Merschat, A.J., Stowell, H.H., (eds) Linkages and Feedbacks in Orogenic Systems, Geological Society of America Memoir, 213, doi:10.1130/2017.1213(02).
*Tate, G.W., McQuarrie, N., van Hinsbergen, D.J.J., Bakker, R., Harris, R.A. and H. Jiang, 2015, Australia going down under: Quantifying continental subduction during arc-continent accretion in Timor-Leste: Geosphere, v. 11, doi:10.1130/GES01144.1.
McQuarrie, N. and Ehlers T.A., 2015, Influence of thrust belt geometry and shortening rate on thermochronometer cooling ages: Insights from the Bhutan Himalaya: Tectonics, 34, doi:10.1002/ 2014TC003783.
Chapman, A.D., Ducea, M.N., McQuarrie, N., Coble, M., Petrescu, L., Hoffman, D., 2015, Constraints on plateau architecture and assembly from deep crustal xenoliths, northern Altiplano (SE Peru): Geological Society of America Bulletin doi:10.1130/B31206.1
Eichelberger, N., and McQuarrie, N., 2015, Kinematic Reconstruction of the Bolivian Orocline: Geosphere v. 11, p. 445-462, doi:10.1130/GES01064.1
Eichelberger, N., and McQuarrie, N., 2015, 3-D Finite Strain at the Andean Orocline and Implications for grain-scale shortening in orogens: Geological Society of America Bulletin. v. 127, no. 1-2, p. 87-112 doi:10.1130/B30968.1
Tate, G.W., McQuarrie, N., van Hinsbergen, D.J.J., Bakker, R.R., Harris, R., Willett, S., Reiners, P., Fellin, M.G., Ganerød, M., Zachariasse, J-W., 2014, Resolving spatial heterogeneities in exhumation and surface uplift in East Timor: constraints of deformation processes in young orogens: Tectonics v, 15, p. 1089–1112. doi:10.1002/2013TC003436
McQuarrie, N., Tobgay, T., Long, S.P., Reiners, P.W., Cosca, M.A., 2014, Variable exhumation rates and variable displacement rates: documenting a recent slowing of Himalayan shortening in western Bhutan: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 386, p. 161-174, doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2013.10.045
Eichelberger, N., McQuarrie, N., Ehlers, T.A., Enkelmann, E., Barnes, J.B., Lease, R.O., 2013, New constraints on the chronology, magnitude, and distribution of deformation within the central Andean orocline: Tectonics, v. 32, p. 1-22, doi:10.1002/tect.20073.
Leier, A., McQuarrie, N., Garzione, C., Eiler, J., 2013, Oxygen isotope evidence for multiple pulses of surface uplift in the Central Andes, Bolivia: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 371-372, p. 49-58, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2013.04.025
McQuarrie, N., Long, S.P., Tobgay, T., Nesbit, J.N., Gehrels, G., Ducea, M., 2013, Documenting basin scale, geometry and provenance through detrital geochemical data: lessons from Neoproterozoic to Ordovician strata of Bhutan: Gondwana Research, v. 23, p. 1491-1510, doi 10.1016/j.gr.2012.09.002.
McQuarrie, N., and van Hinsbergen, D.J.J., 2013, Retrodeforming the Arabia-Eurasia collision zone: Age of collision versus magnitude of continental subduction: Geology, v. 41, p. 315-318, doi:10.1130/G33591.1.
Full list of Publications available here.
Ghoshal, S., McQuarrie, N., Robinson, D., Adhikari, D.P., Morgan, L., Ehlers, T.A., 2020, Constraining central Himalayan (Nepal) fault geometry through integrated thermochronology and thermokinematic modeling. Tectonics. DOI: 10.1029/2020TC006399.
McQuarrie, N., Eizenhöfer, P.R. Long, S.P., Tobgay, T., Ehlers, T.A., Blythe, A., Morgan, L., *Gilmore, M.E., Dering, G., 2019, Influence of foreland structures on hinterland cooling; evaluating the drivers of exhumation in the Eastern Bhutan Himalaya: Tectonics. doi: 10.1029/2018TC005340
Eizenhöfer, P., McQuarrie, N., Shelef, E., Ehlers, T.A., 2019, Fluvial responses to horizontal displacement in convergent orogens over geologic time scales: Journal of Geophysical Research - Earth Surface. doi: 10.1029/2019JF005100
McQuarrie, N. and Ehlers T.A., 2017, Techniques for understanding fold-thrust belt kinematics and thermal evolution: in Law, R.D., Thigpen, J.R., Merschat, A.J., Stowell, H.H., (eds) Linkages and Feedbacks in Orogenic Systems, Geological Society of America Memoir, 213, doi:10.1130/2017.1213(02)
McQuarrie, N. and Ehlers T.A., 2015, Influence of thrust belt geometry and shortening rate on thermochronometer cooling ages: Insights from the Bhutan Himalaya: Tectonics, 34, doi:10.1002/ 2014TC003783.
Current
GEOL 1100 Structural Geology
An introduction to basic geologic structures, including the development of folds, faults, joints, and foliation. The use of these structures in geologic mapping, and their interpretation in terms of structural geometry will be covered. The concepts of stress and strain will also be introduced. These basic concepts will be integrated into a study of the evolution of mountain belts.
Offered every spring term. Lecture 3 hours; laboratory 2 hours.
GEOL 2110 Plate Tectonics
Historical background of the concept of plate tectonics. Geophysical evidence for reconstructing the motions of continental and oceanic areas. Plate tectonic processes and characteristics of plate boundaries. Dynamics -- the nature of the driving forces. Geosynclines, orogenic belts and crustal evolution will be examined with regard to plate tectonic theory. Types of plate boundaries (divergent and convergent zones, transform faults) will be studied and compared to existing geotectonic features.
Offered every other year. Lecture, 3 hours.
GEOL 2120 Basin Analyses
The integrated study of sedimentary basins as geodynamic entities, including tectonic environment, geologic history and associated strength of the lithosphere, rock weathering and erosion, and sediment transport. The class will give students a background in driving mechanisms for basin formation and subsidence, sedimentary record preservation and alteration, sedimentary geometry, facies and petrology and provide a basic understanding of the continuum mechanics equations that approximate basin formation.
Offered every other year. Lecture, 3 hours.
GEOL 3908 Topics in Geology
This course allows the flexibility of exploring, in depth, a new topic in geology each time it is taught. Past topics have included:
Appalachian Geology -- This seminar course is designed to cover all things Appalachian; tectonic setting, paleoclimate record, thermal history, sedimentology, stratigraphy, depositional environments, structural geology (regional, outcrop, to micro scale), geomorphology (regional and local scales), geochemical signatures, etc.,
Fold-thrust belts and sedimentary basins -- Paired fold-thrust belts/foreland basin systems produce the largest mountains in the world as well as host a large percentage of the world’s oil and gas reserves. Understanding the geometry and kinematics of this paired system is a requirement for understanding how these mountain systems and the reservoirs of natural resources form. Reading assignments and lectures will cover the origins of fold-thrust belts, thrust belt geometry, mechanics and kinematics as well as learning the technique of balancing cross sections through a fold-thrust belt.