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Brenda J. Buck
Associate Professor of Geology
Ph.D. (Agronomy: Soils)-
New Mexico State University: 1996

Soil Science (modern & ancient), Soil Processes, Applications to Land Use, Air Pollution, Radionuclide & Heavy Metal Contamination, Salt Tectonics, Landscape Evolution, Paleoclimate Interpretation, Geomorphic Hazards, Soil Genesis


Phone: (702) 895-1694

Email: buckb@unlv.nevada.edu


Professional Background
Research Emphasis
Research Publications
Funded Research
International Experience
Invited Research & Lectures
Teaching
Honors
Selected Professional Service
Academic Societies
Students
6th - 12th Grade Environmental Education Outreach Projects
International Union of Soil Science (IUSS)
Photo Gallery

 

Award Recipient

The M.L. & C.M. Jackson Award, 2007, Soil Science Society of America, for Outstanding Contributions in Soil Mineralogy/Chemistry, 16th recipient, 1st female.

Professional Background

Current Elected Chair of Commission 1.1: Soil Morphology and Micromorphology, International Union of Soil Science, 2006-2010

Director of the Environmental Soil Analysis Laboratory (ESAL)

Employment (selected)

• Associate Professor, Dept. of Geoscience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas:    7/04-present
• Associate Faculty Member for Water Resources Management & Department    of Health Physics, UNLV: 2004-present.
• Founding Director for the Environmental Soil Analytical Laboratory, UNLV:    2007-present
• Visiting Scientist, Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV: 12/04-7/05
• Assistant Professor, Dept. of Geoscience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas:    8/98-6/04.
• Assistant Professor, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau,    MO: 8/96-7/98.

Education

• Ph.D. (Agronomy: Soils), 1996, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces,
   NM (Included all coursework necessary for a B.S., M.S., and/or Ph.D. in    Agronomy)
• M.S. (Geology), 1992, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
• B.S. (Geology), 1990, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN

Education (other)
• Continuing Education Course, 1994, Geomorphic Applications of In-Situ    Produced Cosmogenic Isotopes, Geological Society of America, Seattle,    Washington
• Graduate Field Seminar, 1991, Indiana University Geologic Field Camp,    Southwest Montana
• Field Camp, 1989, Indiana University Geologic Field Camp, Southwest    Montana

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Research Emphasis

Dr. Buck's research emphasis is on understanding and quantifying the processes occurring in arid soils and paleosols, and applying this knowledge to land use, air pollution, radionuclide and heavy metal contamination, geomorphology, paleoclimate, archaeology, and salt tectonics.

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Research Publications

(* denotes student author)

In Review:

Buck, B.J., King, J., Etyemezian, V., Morton*, J., and Howell*, M., in review, Effects of Salt Mineralogy on Dust Emissions: Salton Sea, California, USA, J. Geophys. Research-Earth Surface

Goossens, D., and Buck, Brenda, in review, Dust Emission by Off-Road Driving: Experiments on 17 Arid Soil Types, Nevada, USA, Geomorphology

Khresat, S., Al-Bakri, J., Buck, Brenda J., in review, Formation and Distribution of Gypsum Soils in Azraq Basin, Jordan, Journal of Arid Environments

In Press:

Brock*, A., and Buck, Brenda J., Accepted with revisions, Polygenetic Development of the Mormon Mesa, NV Petrocalcic Horizons: Importance for Future Application of Absolute Dating Techniques, Catena

House, P.K., Buck, B.J. and Ramelli, A.R., Accepted with revisions, Geologic Assessment of Piedmont and Playa Flood Hazards in the Ivanpah Valley Area, Clark County, Nevada, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Reno, NV

Monger, H. Curtis, Cole, David R., Gallegos, Robert A., and Buck, Brenda J., (in press), Scale, Paleoclimate, and 13C in Pedogenic Carbonate↓ from the
Biome to the Rhizosphere, Ecology

Robins*, Colin R., Buck, Brenda J., Williams*, Amanda J., Morton*, Janice L., House, P. Kyle, Howell*, Michael S., Yonovitz*, Maureen L., in press, Comparison of Flood Hazard Assessments on Desert Piedmonts and Playas: A Case Study in Ivanpah Valley, Nevada, Geomorphology

Steinberg, S., Buck, Brenda J., Morton*, J., Dorman*, J., in press, The Speciation of Iodine in the Salt Impacted Black Butte Soil Series Along the Virgin River, NV, Analytical Geochemistry

Buck, Brenda J., Hanson, A., Hengst, R., Hu, S., in press,  “Tertiary dinosaurs" in the Nanxiong Basin, Southern China, Were Reworked from the Cretaceous, IN: Plants and the K-T Boundary (Douglas J. Nichols and Kirk R. Johnson), Cambridge University Press, # ISBN-10: 0521835755

Published (peer reviewed)

Soukup, D.A., B.J. Buck and W. Harris, 2008, Chapter 2: Preparing Soils for Mineralogical Analysis,  In: A. Ulery & L.R. Drees (Eds.) Methods of Soil Analysis Part 5 - Mineralogical Methods, SSSA Monograph Series 5,  Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI, p. 13-33

Dong, H., J. A. Rech, H. Jiang*, H. Sun, and B. J. Buck, 2007, Endolithic Cyanobacteria in Soil Gypsum: Occurrences in Atacama (Chile), Mojave (United States), and Al-Jafr Basin (Jordan) Deserts, J. Geophys. Res., 112, G02030, doi:10.1029/2006JG000385

Buck, B.J., Wolff*, K., Merkler, D., and McMillan, N. 2006, Salt Mineralogy of Las Vegas Wash, Nevada: Morphology and Subsurface Evaporation, Soil Science Society of America Journal, 70:1639-1651

House, P.K., Ramelli, A.R., and Buck, B.J., 2006, Surficial geologic map of the Ivanpah Valley area, Clark County, Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Map 156, 1: 50,000

Lawton, T., and Buck, B. J., 2006, Implications of Diapir-derived Detritus and Gypsic Paleosols in Lower Triassic Strata Near the Castle Valley Salt Wall, Paradox Basin, Utah, Geology; v. 34; no. 10; p. 885–888

Mrozek*, S.J., Brenda J. Buck, Patrick J. Drohan, Amy L. Brock*, 2006, Decorative Landscaping Rock as a Source for Heavy Metal Contamination, Las Vegas NV, Soil and Sediment Contamination, 15:471–480

Brock*, A., and Buck, Brenda J., 2005, A New Formation Process for Calcic Pendants from Pahranagat Valley, Nevada: Implications for Dating Quaternary Landforms, Quaternary Research, v. 63, p. 359-367

Buck, Brenda J., and Van Hoesen*, John, 2005, Assessing the Applicability of Isotopic Analysis of Pedogenic Gypsum as a Paleoclimate Indicator, southern New Mexico, Journal of Arid Environments, vol. 60, p. 99-114

Drohan, P, D. J. Merkler and Brenda J. Buck, 2005, Suitability of the Plant Root Simulator (PRS)TM Probe for Use in the Mojave Desert, Soil Science Society of America Journal, 69:1482-1491

Rawajfih, Z., Khresat, S., and Buck, Brenda J., 2005, Arid Soils of the Badia Region of northeastern Jordan: Potential Use for Sustainable Agriculture, Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, v. 51(1), p. 25-32

Twichell, D.C., Cross, V.A., Hanson, A., Buck, Brenda J., Zybala*, J., and Rudin, M.R., 2005, Seismic Architecture and Lithofacies of Turbidites in Lake Mead (Arizona and Nevada, U.S.A.), an Analogue for Topographically Complex Basins, Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 75, p. 134-148

Buck, Brenda J., 2005, Review of Soils in Archaeological Research, by Vance T. Holliday, Journal of Geology, 113:4:501

Buck, Brenda J., Brock*, A., Johnson, W.H., and Ulery, A., 2004, Corrosion of Depleted Uranium in an Arid Environment: Soil-Geomorphology, SEM/EDS, XRD, and Electron Microprobe Analyses, Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal, Issue 13, p. 545-561

Johnson, W.H., Buck, Brenda J., Brogonia*, H., and Brock*, A., 2004, Variations in Depleted Uranium Sorption and Solubility with Depth in Arid Soils, Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal, 13:533-544

Khresat, S., Rawajfih, Z, Buck, Brenda J., Monger, H.C., 2004, Geomorphic Features and Soil Formation of Arid Lands in Northeastern Jordan, Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, vol. 50, p. 607-615

Buck, B. J., Merkler, D., Wolff*, K., McMillan, N., 2004, Relict Water Tables Indicated by Salt Mineralogy, Las Vegas Wash, Nevada USA, IN Selim Kapur, Erhan Akca, Luca Montanarella, Arda Ozturk, A. Mermut Eds., 12th International Meeting on Soil Micromorphology, Adana Turkey; European Communities, v. EUR 21275 EN/2, p. 5-7

Buck, B. J., Merkler, D., Khresat, S., Rawajfih, Z., Lawton, T., 2004, Genesis of Salt Minerals in Soils: Implications for Geomorphology, Environmental Applications, Tectonics, Petroleum Exploration, and Paleoclimate, IN Selim Kapur, Erhan Akca, Luca Montanarella, Arda Ozturk, A. Mermut Eds., 12th International Meeting on Soil Micromorphology, Adana Turkey; European Communities, v. EUR 21275 EN/2, p. 89-91

Buck, B. J., Merkler, D., Mrozek*, S., Harrison, B., Lato, L., 2004, Spheroidal Dolomite, Mg-Calcite, and Mg-Kutnohorite, Death Valley CA, USA: Implications for Genesis and Paleoenvironmental Interpretations. IN Selim Kapur, Erhan Akca, Luca Montanarella, Arda Ozturk, A. Mermut Eds., 12th International Meeting on Soil Micromorphology, Adana Turkey; European Communities, v. EUR 21275 EN/2, p. 86-88

Buck, B. J., Brock*, A., Johnson, W., Ulery, A., 2004, Application Of Soil Micromorphology to Determine Hazards from the Corrosion of Depleted Uranium, Southwestern United States, IN Selim Kapur, Erhan Akca, Luca Montanarella, Arda Ozturk, A. Mermut Eds., 12th International Meeting on Soil Micromorphology, Adana Turkey; European Communities, v. EUR 21275 EN/2, p. 142-145

Buck, B.J., and Brock*, A., 2004, Genesis of Carbonate Pendants in Soils: Implications for U-series Dating And Stable Isotopic Analyses, IN Selim Kapur, Erhan Akca, Luca Montanarella, Arda Ozturk, A. Mermut Eds., 12th International Meeting on Soil Micromorphology, Adana Turkey; European Communities, v. EUR 21275 EN/2, p. 174-177

Buck, B. J., Garcia Fernandez, G., Faz Cano, A., Eswaran, H., Coleman*, E., 2004, SEM Analyses of Salt Crusts from Heavy Metal Polluted Soils, Cartagena, Spain, IN Selim Kapur, Erhan Akca, Luca Montanarella, Arda Ozturk, A. Mermut Eds., 12th International Meeting on Soil Micromorphology, Adana Turkey; European Communities, v. EUR 21275 EN/2, p. 178-180

Buck, Brenda J., Hanson, A., Hengst, R., Hu, S., 2004 “Tertiary dinosaurs" in the Nanxiong Basin, Southern China, were reworked from the Cretaceous. Journal of Geology, v. 112, p. 111-118

Buck, Brenda J., Kipp, John, and Monger, H.C., 2002, Inverted Clast Stratigraphy in an Eolian Archaeological Environment, Geoarchaeology, v. 17 no. 7 p. 665-687

Buck, Brenda J. and Van Hoesen*, John, 2002, Snowball Morphology and SEM Analysis of Pedogenic Gypsum, southern New Mexico, USA, Journal of Arid Environments, v. 51, p. 469-487

Buck, Brenda J., Van Hoesen*, J., Khresat, S., and Rawajfih, Z., 2002, Morphology, SEM, and Stable Isotopic Analyses of Pedogenic Gypsum, USA and Jordan, Transactions of the 17th World Congress of Soil Science, Bangkok, Thailand.20:451, p. 1-10

Rawajfih, Z., Khresat, S., Buck, Brenda J., and Monger, H. C., 2002 Management of Arid Soils of the Badia Region of Northeastern Jordan for Sustainable Agriculture, Transactions of the 17th World Congress of Soil Science, Bangkok, Thailand.20:1026, p. 1-7

Schiefelbein*, I.M., Buck, Brenda J., Lato, L., Merkler, D., 2002, SEM Analyses of Pedogenic Salt Minerals in a Toposequence, Death Valley, California, U.S.A., Transactions of the 17th World Congress of Soil Science, Bangkok, Thailand. 20:457, p.1-10

Van Hoesen*, John G., Buck, Brenda J., Merkler, Douglas, J., and McMillan, Nancy, 2001, An Investigation of Salt Micromorphology and Chemistry, Las Vegas Wash, Nevada: Proceedings of the 36th Annual Symposium on Engineering Geology and Geotechnical Engineering.  Luke, Jacobsen, and Werle (eds), University of Nevada, Las Vegas, March 28-30, pp. 729-737

Buck, B.J. and Monger, H.C., 1999, Stable Isotopes and Soil Geomorphology as Indicators of Holocene Climate Change, northern Chihuahuan Desert, Journal of Arid Environments, vol. 43, no. 4, pp. 357-373

Buck, B.J., Steiner, R.L., Burgett, G., and Monger, H.C., 1999, Artifact Distribution and its Relationship to Microtopographic Geomorphic Features in an Eolian Environment, Chihuahuan Desert, Geoarchaeology, vol. 14, issue 8, pp. 735-754

Guan, J., Rigby, J.K. Jr., Hengst, R.A., Buck, B. J., Hu, S.X., Wei, M.,Zhou, M., Li, M., Pan, L., Zheng, L.L., 1999.  Geology and Paleontology of the Yunnan Area of an Upper Jurassic Dinosaur Assemblage in the Chuangi Basin of Yunnan.  In, the Album of Research Manuscripts for the Seventh Conference of the Chinese Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. Pages 1-3 Beijing Museum of Natural History, publisher

Buck, B.J., Monger, H.C., 1998, An Eolian and Isotopic Record of Biogeomorphic Change in the Southwestern United States, Proceedings of the 16th World Congress of Soil Science, Montpellier, France, CDRom, n°232, p. 1-5

Buck, B.J., Kipp, J. M. Jr., Monger, H. C., 1998, Eolian Stratigraphy Of Intrabasinal Fault Depressions In The Northern Hueco And Southern Tularosa Basins: Evidence For Neotectonic Activity, New Mexico Geological Society 49th Guidebook, p. 79-86

Jarvis*, M., Buck, B.J., and Witcher, J., 1998, Quaternary Paleospring Deposits at San Diego Mountain in South-Central New Mexico, San Diego Mountain, South-Central New Mexico, New Mexico Geological Society 49th Guidebook, p. 71-74

Leach, J.D., Almarez, F.A., and Buck, Brenda J., 1996, Prehistoric Management of Water in Texas, Bulletin of the Texas Archaeological Society, vol. 67, p. 133-144

Thomas, W. A., Allen, J. L., Mars, J. C., McDowell, R. J., Azevedo, P. A., Buck, B. J., Corner, H. J., Dodd, J. R.,1996, Willow Creek Basement Fault System Beneath the Southwest Montana Transverse Zone: dormant During Cambrian-Devonian Time, Mountain Geologist, vol. 33, p. 115-124

Buck, Brenda J., 1996, Late Quaternary Landscape Evolution, Paleoclimate, and Geoarchaeology, Southern New Mexico and West Texas, Ph.D. Dissertation, New Mexico State University

Buck, Brenda J., and Mack, Greg H., 1995, Latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Aridity Indicated by Paleosols in the McRae Formation, South-Central New Mexico, Cretaceous Research, vol. 16, no. 5, p. 559-572

Leach, J.D., Almarez, F. A., Buck, B.J., and Burgett, G.R., 1993, The Hueco Mountain Reservoir: A Preliminary Assessment of an El Paso Phase Water Catchment Basin, The Artifact, v. 31, no. 2, p.33-46

Buck, Brenda J., 1992, Deterioration of Paleoclimate in the Late Cretaceous, Indicated by Paleosols in the McRae Formation, South-Central New Mexico, M.S. Thesis, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM

Publications (non-referred)

James King (Co-PI), Brenda Buck (Co-PI), Vic Etyemezian, and George Nikolich, Mike Howell*, and Jan Morton*, 2007, Preliminary Assessment of the Distribution of Salts at the Salton Sea, California Department of Water Resources , Colorado River & Salton Sea Office , 770 Fairmont Avenue , Glendale, CA 91203

House, P.K., Ramelli, A.R., and Buck, B.J., 2006, Surficial Geologic Map of the Ivanpah Valley Area, Clark County, Nevada. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-file Report 06-8, 1:50,000

House, P.K., Buck, B.J. and Ramelli, A.R., 2006, Preliminary Surficial Geologic Map of the Ivanpah Valley Parts of the Goodsprings and Shenandoah Peak Quadrangles, Clark County, Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-File Report 06-11B, 1:24,000

House, P.K., Buck, B.J., and Ramelli, A.R., 2006, Preliminary Surficial Geologic Map of the Ivanpah Valley Parts of the Jean and Bird Spring Quadrangles, Clark County, Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-File Report 06-11C, 1:24,000

House, P.K., Buck, B.J., and Ramelli, A.R., 2006, Preliminary Surficial Geologic Map of the Ivanpah Valley Parts of the Hidden Valley, Sloan, Sloan NE, and Sloan SE 7.5' Quadrangles, Clark County, Nevada, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-file Report 06-11D, 1:24,000

Ramelli, A.R., House, P.K., and Buck, B.J., 2006, Preliminary Surficial Geologic Map of the Ivanpah Valley Parts of the Stateline Pass and Ivanpah Lake Quadrangles, Clark County, Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-File Report 06-11E, 1:24,000

Ramelli, A.R., House, P.K. and Buck, B.J., 2006, Preliminary Surficial Geologic Map of the Ivanpah Valley Parts of the Roach and Desert Quadrangles, Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-file Report 06-11F, 1:24,000

Ramelli, A.R., House, P.K., and Buck, B.J., 2006, Preliminary Surficial Geologic Map of the Ivanpah Valley Parts of the McCullough Pass and McCullough Mountain 7.5' Quadrangles, Clark County, Nevada. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-file Report 06-11G, 1:24,000

Buck, B.J., 2006. Geologic Map of the Late Cenozoic Alluvium in the East Half of the Spirit Mountain SE Quadrangle, Nevada and Arizona – map provided as required under EDMAP Agreement No. 05HQAG0005

Buck, B. J., and T. F. Lawton, 2006, Gypsic Paleosols in Growth Strata Near and Exposed Salt Weld, La Popa Basin, Mexico: Potential Indicators of Diapiric History and Proximity, TOC and Nugget Submission for 39166-AC8 – published in CD Format: 50th Annual Report on Rresearch, American Chemical Society, Petroleum Research Fund, copyright 2006 ACS

House, P.K., Ramelli, A.R., Crouse, E.C., Arritt, C.M., and Buck, B.J., 2006, Digital Data for the Surficial Geologic Map and Geologic Assessment of Piedmont and Playa Flood Hazards in the Ivanpah Valley Area, Clark County, Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology draft data DVD. Submitted to the Clark County Regional Flood Control District, August 29, 2006, 1 DVD

House, P.K., Park, B. K., Ramelli, A.R., and Buck, B.J., 2005, Preliminary Surficial Geologic Map of the Ivanpah Valley Part of the Goodsprings Quadrangle, Nevada, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-file Report 05-6, 1:24,000

House, P.K., Ramelli, A.R., Buck, B.J., and Park, B.K., 2005, Preliminary Surficial Geologic Map of the Bird Spring Quadrangle, Nevada, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-file Report 05-7, 1:24,000

Buck, B. J., Final Report for ACS PRF# 39166-AC8, Gypsum Paleosols as Indicators for Petroleum Potential, PIs: Brenda J. Buck & Timothy F. Lawton, 10/05

Buck, B. J., and Brock, A. L., 2005, Mineralogy of Decorative Gravels Using
Micromorphic Techniques, Research Report to Clark County School District, 1/05

Drohan, P.J., and B.J. Buck. 2005. Soil Physical, Chemical, and Mineralogical
Properties and Their Effect on Eriogonum corymbosum var. and Arctomecon californica in North Las Vegas. 62 pp. Research Report to BLM

Buck, Brenda J. and Lawton, Timothy F., 2004, Gypsic Paleosols in Growth Strata near an Exposed Salt Weld, La Popa Basin, Mexico: Potential Indicators of Diapiric History and Proximity, Mid-Grant Report, October 2004

Tomasko, D.; Hlohowskyj, I.; Adometto, C.A.; Seltzer, M. D.; Johnson, W.H.; Buck, B.J.  Mobility of Depleted Uranium in Soil at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center, Port Hueneme, CA 93043-4370, Special Publication SP-2142-ENV

Buck, B.J. 2003, Final Report for ARI/UNLV, Gypsum Paleosols as Indicators for Petroleum Potential

Buck, B.J. 2003, Final Report for SITE/UNLV, Salt Mineralogy in Arid Soils of Southern Death Valley, California, USA

Buck, B. J., and R. A. Hengst, 2002, Research Report to RMC Foundation, Expeditionary Education for Junior High and High School Students, Final Report on Accomplishments

Buck, B.J. and R.A. Hengst, 2001, Research Report to RMC Foundation, Real Time Science for Junior High and High School Students, Final Report on Accomplishments.

Buck, B.J. and R.A. Hengst, 2000 Research Report to RMC Foundation, The Expedition Experience as a Tool to Increase Environmental Literacy in Middle and High School Students, Final Report on Accomplishments

Buck, Brenda J., 1995, Eolian Evolution and Paleoenvironmental Conditions Based on Strata and Isotopes in Fault Troughs, in Eolian Evolution and Paleoenvironmental Changes During the Late Quaternary in the Fort Bliss Maneuver Areas and Vicinity, H. Curtis Monger and Brenda J. Buck, Historic and Natural Resource Report, Environmental Management Office, Directorate of Installation Support, Fort Bliss, TX

Kipp, John M., Jr., and Buck, Brenda J., 1995, Geomorphic Study of Limited Protection Zones to Determine Stratigraphic Potential of Artifacts, Fort Bliss, Texas, in Geomorphic and Palynologic Investigations, Fort Bliss Military Installation, Texas, edited by H. Curtis Monger, Historic and Natural Resource Report, Environmental Management Office, Directorate of Installation Support, Fort Bliss, TX

Buck, Brenda J., 1994, Holocene Stratigraphy of the Northeastern Hueco Bolson, Fort Bliss, Texas, Historic and Natural Resource Report, Environmental Mngt. Office, Directorate of Installation Support, Fort Bliss, TX

Buck, Brenda J., and Steiner, Robert L., 1994, Correlation of Eolian Geomorphic Features to Artifact Visibility in an Arid Climate, Fort Bliss, Texas, Historic and Natural Resources Report, Environmental Management Office, Directorate of Installation Support, Fort Bliss, Texas

Buck, Brenda J., 1993, Phytolith Analysis of Buried Soils in the Fort Bliss Reservation, El Paso Texas, in Monger, H. Curtis, Soil-Geomorphic and Paleoclimatic Characteristics of the Fort Bliss Maneuver Areas, Southern New Mexico and Western Texas, Historic and Natural Resources Report no. 4, Environmental Management Office, Directorate of Installation Support, Fort Bliss, Texas

Buck, Brenda J., 1993, Appendix A: Soil Stratigraphy and Depositional Processes at Site LA 81589, in Kirkpatrick, D. T., and Leonard, A., Preliminary Report on the Test Excavations at Sites LA 81589 LA 81593 LA 81596, Aerial Cable Test Capability, White Sands Missile Range, Socorro County, NM, Human Systems Research Project #HSR 9215 Tularosa NM

Abstracts
(*denotes student author)

Williams, A., Buck, B.J., McLaurin, B., Sun, H., Soukup, D. Merkler, D., 2008, Mapping Biological Soil Crust Distribution in the Muddy Mountains Wilderness Area, Nevada, NRCS Remote Sensing Research Symposium, May 1, 2008, Phoenix, AZ

Buck, B.J.,
King, J., Etyemezian, V., Morton*, J., and Howell, M., 2008, Effects of Salt Mineralogy on Surface Characteristics: Implications for Dust Emissions, Salton Sea California, USA. Abstract for Joint Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America and the Soil Science Society of America, Houston, Texas, October 5-9, 2008

Buck, B.J., 2008 (invited), Generational Perspectives of Women Scientists: Sexism in Academia, From Blatant to Subtle, for SSSA-ASA-CSSA Women in Agronomy, Crops, Soils and Environmental Sciences Committee and the GSA Minorities and Women in the Geosciences Committees Luncheon, Abstract for Joint Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America and the Soil Science Society of America, Houston, Texas, October 5-9, 2008

Williams*, A., Buck, B.J., McLaurin, B., Sun, H., Soukup, D., 2008, Biological Soil Crust Development in the Mojave: Determining Factors and Models of Distribution, SEPHAS Symposium – Understanding Near-Surface Environmental Processes, April 9-10, 2008, Las Vegas, NV, DRI-NWRA Abstracts with Program.

Goossens, D., Buck, B., McLaurin, B., 2008, Natural and Anthropogenic Emission of Soil Dust in Nellis Dunes Recreational Area, Clark County, Nevada. Abstract for Joint Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America and the Soil Science Society of America, Houston, Texas, October 5-9, 2008

Williams*, A., Buck, B.J., McLaurin, B., Sun, H., Soukup, D., 2008, Biological Soil Crusts in the Mojave:  Factors of Distribution and Models of Spatial Extent,  UNLV Geoscience Geosymposium,  April 18, 2008,  Las Vegas, NV  (1st place Graduate Student Oral Presentation)

Wang, Xiuling, Pepper, Darrell, Buck, B.J., Goossens, Dirk, 2008, Constructing 3-D Wind Fields for Nellis Dunes in Nevada, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Meeting, October 31-Nov. 6, 2008, Boston, MA

Williams*, A., Buck, B.J., McLaurin, B., Sun, H., Soukup, D., 2008, Biological Soil Crust Distribution in the Mojave: Ecology and Mapping for Land Management Interpretations, AEG Southwest Section Meeting, February 12, 2008, Las Vegas, NV (2nd Place Student Presentation)

Williams*, A., Buck, B.J., McLaurin, B., Sun, H., Merkler, D., 2007, Distribution of Biological Soil Crusts in the Mojave Desert:  Scaling Environmental Factors and Developing Appropriate Modeling Techniques, National NSF EPSCoR Conference, November 6-9, 2007, Kona, HI (Invited student presenter*)

Spencer M. Steinberg, Brenda J. Buck, Jan Morton and James Dorman, 2007, Speciation of Iodine in the Salt-impacted Black Butte Soil Series Along the Virgin River, NV, Abstracts of Papers (American Chemical Society National Meeting) 234: ENVR 136

Brock*, A., and Buck, B.J., 2007, Pedogenic Barite, Palygorskite, and Sepiolite in Petrocalcic Horizons at Mormon Mesa, Nevada: Implications for Soil Water Movement, GSA Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 39, no. 6, p. 248

Williams*, A., Buck, B.J., Merkler, D., House, P.K., Howell*, M., Morton*, J., Robins*, C., Yonovitz*, M., 2007, Alluvial Fan Flood Hazard Assessment:  A Comparison of FEMA, NRCS, and Surficial Geological Maps in Ivanpah Valley, Nevada, Soil Science Society of America Abstracts with Program, Paper 1625

Williams*, A., Buck, B.J., McLaurin, B., Sun, H., Soukup, D. Merkler, D., 2007, Mapping Biological Soil Crust Distribution in the Muddy Mountains Wilderness Area, Nevada, Soil Science Society of America Abstracts with Program, Paper 1126

Buck, B.J., 2007, Hexahydrite Today, Gypsum Tomorrow: Dynamics of Salt Minerals in Soils, Soil Science Society of America Abstracts with Program, Paper 195-3

Buck, B.J., 2007, A Taste of Salt Across the Landscape: Soil Mineralogy in Arid Environments, Soil Science Society of America Abstracts with Program, Paper 114-7

Brock*, A., Buck, B.J. 2007, Pedogenic Barite in Petrocalcic Horizons At Mormon Mesa, Nevada: Implications for Water Movement, Soil Science Society of America Abstracts with Program, Paper 114-11

Williams*, A., Buck, B. J., Sun, H. and Soukup, D., 2007, Mapping of Biological Soil Crusts in Hidden Valley National Wilderness Area, Nevada, UNLV Geoscience Geosymposium,  April 20-21, 2007,  Las Vegas, NV

Robins*, C., Howell*, M., Morton*, J., Williams*, A., Yonovitz*, M., Buck, B.J. and Merkler, D., 2007, Comparitive Analysis of Surficial Geological Maps and NRCS Soil Surveys for Flood Hazard Assessments on Alluvial Fans:  A Case Study in Ivanpah Valley, Nevada, UNLV Geoscience Geosymposium, April 20-21, Las Vegas, NV

Robins*, C.R., Buck, B.J., Merkler, D.J., House, P.K., Howell*, M.S., Morton*, J.L., Williams*, A.J, and Yonovitz*, M.L., 2007, Comparison of Flood Hazard Assessments on Alluvial Fans Using FEMA, NRCS, and Surficial Geological Maps: A Case Study in Ivanpah Valley, Nevada, Submitted to WSSS 2007, Boise, ID

Buck, B.J., Rech, J., Howell*, M., Prellwitz*, J., and Brock*, A., 2006, A New Formation Process for Patterned Ground, Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,v. 38, no.7, p. 520

Dong, H., Rech, J.A., Jiang, H., Sun, H., and Buck, B.J. (2006) Endolithic Cyanobacteria in Soil Sulfates from Hyperarid Environments on Earth, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 38, No. 7, p. 521

Foster*, A., Lawton, T., and Buck, B.J., 2006, Salt-sediment Interaction in Lower Triassic Moenkopi Formation Near the Castle Valley Salt Wall, Paradox Basin, Utah, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs

Prellwitz*, J., Rech, J., Buck, B.J., Howell*, M., and Brock*, A., 2006, Geochemistry of Soil Salts in the Hyper-arid Core of the Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs

Rech, J., Prellwitz*, J., Buck, B.J., Howell*, M., and Brock*, A., 2006, Nitrate Concentrations in Atacama Desert Soils and Their Implications for the Antiquity of the Atacama Desert, 18th World Congress of Soil Science, Abstracts with Programs, Philadelphia, PA

Brock*, A.L, and Buck, B.J.,  2006, Genesis of Pisoliths and Brecciation Features in Stage VI Petrocalcic Horizons, Mormon Mesa, NV, USA, 18th World Congress of Soil Science, Abstracts with Programs, Philadelphia, PA

Morton*, J.L., Buck, B. J.,  Merkler. D., 2006, 238U, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs Activities and Salt Mineralogy in the Black Butte Soil Series of the Virgin River Floodplain, NV, USA, Health Physics Society Abstracts with Programs

Drohan, P. J., Buck, B.J., and Merkler, D. 2006, Gypsophile or Extremophile? A Case Study Examining the Relationship Between Gypsum Soils and the Rare Species that Occur on Them, 18th World Congress of Soil Science, Abstracts with Programs, Philadelphia, PA

Buck, B. J., Brock*, A. L., and Lawton, T. F., 2006, Gypsic, Natric, and Barite Paleosols in the Carroza Formation, La Popa Basin, Mexico, and Potential Applications of Pedogenesis to Salt Tectonics and Petroleum Exploration, 18th World Congress of Soil Science, Abstracts with Programs, Philadelphia, PA

Morton*, J., Buck , B. J., and Merkler, D., 2006, 137Cesium and Salt Mineralogy in the Black Butte Soil Series, Virgin River Floodplain, NV, USA, 18th World Congress of Soil Science Abstracts with Programs, Philadelphia PA

Howell*, M., Buck, B. J., Rech, J., Brock*, A., Prellwitz*, J., 2006, Genesis of the Hyperarid Soils of the Atacama Desert, Chile:  Analogue for Mars?, 18th World Congress of Soil Science, Abstracts with Programs, Philadelphia, PA

Buck, B.J., Brock*, A., Johnson, W., Ulery, A., 2006, Depleted Uranium Corrosion and Mobility in an Arid Environment, 18th World Congress of Soil Science, Abstracts with Programs, Philadelphia, PA

Buck, B.J. , Mrozek*, S. A., A. L. Brock*, and P. J. Drohan, 2005, Decorative Landscaping Rock as a Source for Heavy Metal Contamination, Soil Science Society of America Abstracts with Programs

P.J. Drohan and B.J. Buck, 2005, Testing the Gypsum Hypothesis: An Assessment of the Soil Physical, Chemical, and Mineralogical Habitat Requirements for Arctomecon californica in the Northeastern Mojave Desert. Annual Meeting Abstracts, #1233, Soil Science Society of America, Salt Lake City, UT, Poster presentation 3 hrs, November, 2005 (published)

Carmona*, D.M.; Faz Cano, Á, Buck, B.J.; Eswaran, H.; García Fernández, G., 2005, Heavy Metals Dynamics In A Representative Mining Zone In Cartagena, Se. Spain: Salt Crust / Metal Lixiviation, Soil Science Society of America Abstracts With Programs

P.J. Drohan and B.J. Buck, 2005, Developing a Graduate Level Soil's Emphasis: Lessons Learned, 262-1, Soil Science Society of America, Annual International Meeting, Salt Lake City Utah, November 6- 10, 2005, Sponsor: Z01 Soil Science Education, Invited by SSSA President Dr. Mary Collins (published)

Brenda J. Buck, Stephanie A. Mrozek*, Amy L. Brock*, Patrick J. Drohan, 2005, Decorative Landscaping Rock as a Source for Heavy Metal Contamination, Las Vegas, NV, Geologic Society of Southern Nevada, 9/05

Brock*, A., Buck, B.J., and Lawton, T., 2005, Diapir-Derived Evaporite Paleosols in the Eocene Carroza Formation of the La Popa Basin, Mexico, and Their Implications for Syndepositional Exposure of Diapiric Evaporite, Soil Science Society of America Abstracts with Programs

Buck, B. J., Lawton, T., and Brock*, A., 2005, Gypsic Paleosols: What Do They Tell us About Halokinesis?, Salt-Sediment Interaction Annual Research Meeting, Monterrey, MX, 11/05

Mrozek*, S.A., B.J. Buck, A.L. Brock*, and P.J. Drohan, 2005, Decorative Landscaping Rock as a Source for Heavy Metal Contamination: The Need for Regulations, Association of Engineering Geologists 2005 Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV

Mrozek*, S.A., B.J. Buck, and A.L. Brock*, 2004, Heavy Metal Contamination and Salt Efflorescence Associated with Decorative Landscaping Rocks, Las Vegas, Nevada: The Need for Regulations, American Geophysical Union 2004 Fall Meeting, Dec. 13-17, San Francisco, CA

House, P. Kyle, Bell, John W., Ramelli, Alan R., and Buck, Brenda J., 2004, The Beauty in the Overburden-Scientific Insights Gained from Detailed Mapping of Late Cenozoic Alluvial and Lacustrine Deposits in Nevada, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, 249-45

Buck, B. J., and Drohan, P., 2004, New Graduate Soil Science Emphasis in Geoscience M.S. and Ph.D., University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Soil Science Society of America Abstracts with Programs

Buck, B. J., Merkler, D. Mrozek*, S., Harrison, B., Lato, L., 2004, Spheroidal Dolomite, Mg-Kutnohorite, and a New Mineral Occurrence of Boracite in Soil Pendants, Death Valley CA, USA, Soil Science Society of America Abstracts with Programs

Drohan, P.J., D.J. Merkler, and B.J. Buck., 2004, Evaluation of the Suitability of the PRS Probe in the Mojave Desert, Soil Science Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Seattle, WA

Buck, B. J., Garcia Fernandez, G., Faz Cano, A., Eswaran, H., Coleman*, E. 2004, Salt Mineralogy From Heavy Metal Polluted Soils in Cartagena Spain: Environmental Implications, Soil Science Society of America Abstracts with Programs

Buck, B. J., Brock*, A., Johnson, W., Ulery, A., 2004, Soil-Geomorphology Controls on the Corrosion of Depleted Uranium in an Arid Climate, Southwestern United States, 32nd International Geologic Congress, Florence, Italy

Buck, B.J., and Brock*, A. L., 2004, Genesis of Carbonate Pendants in Soils: Implications for U-series Dating and Stable Isotopic Analyses, 32nd International Geologic Congress, Florence, Italy

Buck, B. J., Garcia Fernandez, G., Faz Cano, A , Eswaran, H., Coleman*, E. 2004, Salt Crust Mineralogy From Heavy Metal Polluted Soils In Cartagena Spain: Environmental Implications, IN: Angel Faz, Roque Ortiz, and Gregorio Garcia Eds., 4th International Conference on Land Degradation, Cartagena (Murcia-Spain), Invited Lectures and Abstracts, p. 321

Buck, B. J., Brock*, Amy L., Johnson, William H., Ulery, April L., 2004, Land Degradation Through The Corrosion Of Depleted Uranium In An Arid Soil, Southwestern USA, IN: Angel Faz, Roque Ortiz and Gregorio Garcia Eds., 4th International Conference on Land Degradation, Cartagena (Murcia-Spain), Invited Lectures and Abstracts, p. 322

Buck, B. J., Merkler, D., Mrozek*, S., Harrison, B., Lato, L., 2004, Spheroidal Dolomite, Mg-Calcite, and Mg-Kutnohorite, Death Valley, CA, USA: Implications for Genesis and Paleoenvironmental Interpretations, 12th International Meeting on Soil Micromorphology, Adana, Turkey

Buck, B. J., Merkler, D., Wolff*, K., McMillan, N., 2004, Relict Water Tables Indicated by Salt Mineralogy, Las Vegas Wash, Nevada, USA, 12th International Meeting on Soil Micromorphology, Adana, Turkey

Buck, B.J., and Brock*, A., 2004, Genesis of Carbonate Pendants in Soils: Implications for U-series Dating And Stable Isotopic Analyses, 12th International Meeting On Soil Micromorphology, Adana, Turkey

Buck, B. J., Merkler, D., Khresat, S., Rawajfih, Z., Lawton, T., 2004, Genesis of Salt Minerals in Soils: Implications for Geomorphology, Environmental Applications, Tectonics, Petroleum Exploration, and Paleoclimate, 12th International Meeting On Soil Micromorphology, Adana, Turkey

Buck, B. J., Garcia Fernandez, G., Faz Cano, A., Eswaran, H., Coleman*, E., 2004, SEM Analyses of Salt Crusts from Heavy Metal Polluted Soils, Cartagena, Spain, 12th International Meeting On Soil Micromorphology, Adana, Turkey

Buck, B. J., Brock*, A., Johnson, W., Ulery, A., 2004, Application Of Soil Micromorphology to Determine Hazards from the Corrosion of Depleted Uranium, Southwestern United States, 12th International Meeting On Soil Micromorphology, Adana, Turkey

Zybala*, Jonathan G., Hanson, Andrew D., Twichell, David C., Rudin, Mark J. and Buck, Brenda J., 2004, Sequence Stratigraphic Evolution of Las Vegas Bay in Lake Mead, NV, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention Abstracts, Volume 13, p. A156

Abell*, C., Johnson W. H., Buck, B.J., Patton P., 2004, Establishing Uranium Migration Parameters for a Mojave Desert Test Range, Presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, July, 2004, Abstract in Health Physics 86(6):S210-212 (published)

Buck, B.J, Lawton, T.F., Merkler, D., Howley*, R.A., Khresat, S., Rawajfih, Z., Waidman*, B., and Hanson, A., 2003, Snowballs in the Devil's Anus and Other Adventures in the World of Pedogenic Sulfates, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 35, n. 6, p. 257

Merkler, D., Buck, B. J., DeMeo, G.A., and Laczniak, R.J., 2003, Temporal Variation of Soil Moisture and Salts in the Lower Virgin River Floodplain, Clark County Nevada, Soil Science Society of America Abstracts with Program, Annual Meeting, Denver, CO

Brock*, A.L., Buck, B.J., Johnson, W., and Ulery, A., 2003, Corrosion of Depleted Uranium in an Arid Environment: Characterization with XRD, SEM/EDS, and Micropobe Analyses, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol.35, n. 6, p. 237

Park*, B.K., Buck, B.J., House, P.K., Merkler, D.J., 2003, Geomorphic and Pedologic Mapping of Ivanpah Valley, Nevada for Flood Hazard Analysis, Geologic Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 35, n. 6, p. 72

Zabala*, J.G, Twichel, D.C., Hanson, A.D., Buck, B.J., Hickson, T.A., Rudin, M.J., Howley*, R.A., and Steinburg, S., 2003, Sediment Deposition in Las Vegas Bay, Lake Mead, NV: Implications for Marine Sandstone Distributions, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 35, n. 6, p. 172

Hengst, R.A., Buck, B.J., 2003, And There Hangs a Tail, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 35, n. 6, p. 420

Hudson*, S.M., Hanson, A.D., Lawton, T.F., and Buck, B.J., 2003, New Chemical Evidence of Hydrocarbons Along the La Popa Salt Weld, La Popa Basin, Northeastern Mexico, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 35, n. 6, p. 485

W. H. Johnson, Buck, B.J, Brock*, A.L., Brogonia*, H.,  2003, Solubility Limitations on the Vadose Zone Migration of Depleted Uranium in Arid Soils,  48th Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, San Diego, CA

H. Brogonia*, Johnson, W.H., Buck, B.J., Brock*, A.L., Riland, C., Rudin, M.J. 2003, Migration Parameters of Depleted Uranium from Military Ordnance on Arid Soils, Presented at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, San Diego, CA

Brock*, A., and Buck, Brenda J. , 2003, A New Formation Process For Carbonate Pendants: Pahranagat Valley, Nevada, INQUA 2003 Abstracts with Programs

W. H. Johnson, Buck, B.J, Brogonia*, H., Brock*, A.L.  Geochemical and Physical Controls on Anthropogenic Uranium Migration in Arid Soils, Invited talk presented at the U.S. Army Hazardous Materials Management and Technology Development Meeting, June 10-11, 2003, Santa Fe, NM

Zybala*, J.G, Twichell, D.C., Buck, Brenda J., Howley*, R.A, Hickson, T.A., Hanson, A.D., Rudin, M.J., Steinber, S., and Cross, V. 2003, Sediment Coring in Lake Mead Reservoir, Nevada and Arizona: Implications for Deep Marine Sandstone Distributions, AAPG Abstracts with Programs

Buck, Brenda J.  Brock*, A., and Johnson, W., 2003, Geomorphology and Soil Mineralogy Effects on Anthropogenic Uranium Distribution, China Lake, CA, 13th Annual West Coast Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water - Abstracts with Programs

Johnson, W., Brogonia*, H., Buck, Brenda J., Brock*, A., and Rudin, M., 2003, Geochemical and Physical Controls on Anthropogenic Uranium Migration in Arid Soils, 13th Annual West Coast Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water – Abstracts with Programs

Steinberg, S., Rudin, M., Buck, B.J., Hanson, A., Hodge, V., Twichell, D., and Howley*, R., 2003, Investigation of Organic Matter in Lake Mead Sediments Using Chemo-Pyrolysis GCMS, 13th Annual West Coast Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments and Water – Abstracts with Programs

Buck, Brenda J.  and Brock*, Amy L., 2002, Genesis of Carbonate and Silica Pendants: Implications for Dating Landforms, Pahranagat Valley, Nevada, USA, International Symposium on Sustainable Use and Management of Soils in Arid and Semiarid Regions, Cartagena, Murcia, Spain, SUMASS Vol. II, p. 40-42

Buck, Brenda J, Kipp, J., and Monger, C, 2002, Eolian Geomorphology and Paleoclimate: Effects on Archaeology? Northern Chihuahuan Desert, Society for American Archaeology 67th Annual National Meeting, Denver, Colorado

Hengst, R.A, and Buck, Brenda J., 2002, Upper Jurassic Dinosaur Assemblage in Yunnan Province PRC, Proceedings of Geological Society of America, p. 430

Brock*, Amy L. and Buck, Brenda J, 2002, New Formation Process for Calcic Pendants, Pahranagat, Valley, NV, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 34, no. 6, p. 368

Waidmann*, B.R., Lawton, T.F., and Buck, Brenda J., 2002, Salt-withdrawal Basin Geometry as a Record of Diapiric Tectonics, Carroza Formation, La Popa Basin, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Proceedings of Geological Society of America, p. 438

Brock*, A.L., Buck, B.J., 2002, Carbonate Pendants, Morphology and Genesis, Pahranagat Valley, Nevada, Annual Meetings Abstracts [CD-ROM], ASA, CSSA, and SSSSA, Madison, WI

Buck, Brenda J., Van Hoesen*, J.G., Khresat, S., Rawajfih, Z., Merkler, D., Schiefelbein*, I., Howley*, R. and Lawton, T., 2002, Genesis and Morphology of Pedogenic Gypsum and Other Sulfate Minerals, USA and Jordan, Annual Meetings Abstracts [CD-ROM], ASA, CSSA, and SSSSA, Madison, WI

Merkler, D., Buck, Brenda J., Wolff*, K., 2002, Salts as an Indicator of Hydric Conditions in Las Vegas Wash, Nevada, Annual Meetings Abstracts [CD-ROM], ASA, CSSA, and SSSSA, Madison, WI

Zaragoza*, S. A., Snelson, C. M., Harder, S. H., Kaip, G., Luke, B., Buck, B. J., and Hanson, A. D., 2002, Las Vegas Basin Seismic Response Project: Preliminary Results From Seismic Refraction Experiments, Las Vegas, NV, Eos Trans. AGU, 83(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract S12B-1190, p. F1055

Johnson, W.H., Buck, Brenda .J., Brock*, A.J., Brogonia*, H., 2002, Speciation and Solubility of Depleted Uranium as a Function of Depth and Particle Size in Arid Soils, 48th Annual Radiobioassay and Radiochemical Measurements Conference, November 11-15, 2002, Knoxville, TN

Buck, Brenda J., Van Hoesen*, J., Khresat, S., and Rawajfih, Z., 2002, Morphology, SEM, and Stable Isotopic Analyses of Pedogenic Gypsum, USA and Jordan, World Congress of Soil Science

Schiefelbein*, I.M., Buck, Brenda J., Lato, L., Merkler, D., 2002, SEM Analyses of Pedogenic Salt Minerals in a Toposequence, Death Valley, California, USA, World Congress of Soil Science

Wolff*, K.L., Buck, Brenda J., Merkler, D. J., and Van Hoesen*, J. G., 2001, Salt Dynamics of the Las Vegas Wash Wetlands, Las Vegas, NV, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v.33, n. 6, p. 438

Brock*, Amy, and Buck, Brenda J., 2001, Pedogenic Silica and Carbonate Along a Chronosequence in Northern Pahranagat Valley, Nevada, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v.33, n. 6, p. 436

Hengst, Richard, and Buck, Brenda J.., 2001, Now! Live and Uncensored: A Trial of Continuous Satellite-Based Chat with Secondary Students, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v.33, n. 6, p. 370

Brock*, Amy, Buck, B.J. and Orndorff, R. L., 2001, Preliminary Assessment of Quaternary Geomorphic Landforms in the Northern Section of the Pahranagat Valley, Lincoln County, Nevada, Proceedings of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 45th Annual Meeting, April 14, 2001, UNLV, v. 36

Buck B. J., Van Hoesen*, J., Khresat, S., Rawajfih, Z., and Monger, H. Curtis, 2001, Eolian Processes and Their Effects on Soil Genesis in New Mexico, West Texas, and Jordan, American Association of Geographers Program with Abstracts

Buck, Brenda J., and Van Hoesen*, John G., 2000, Assessing The Stable Isotopic Analysis Of Pedogenic Gypsum As A Paleoclimatic Indicator, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 32, no. 7, p. 25

Brock*, A.L., Orndorff, R., and Buck, B. J., 2000, Preliminary assessment of Tectonic and Climatic Influences on White River Terraces in the Pahranagat Valley, Lincoln County, Nevada, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 32, no. 7, p. 27

Buck, B.J., and Hengst, R., 1999, Practical Aspects of Bringing Expedition Science and Real Scientific Problems to the Secondary Classroom, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 31, no. 7, p. 272

Van Hoesen*, J.G., and Buck, B.J., 1999, Morphology and Genetic Sequences of Pedogenic Gypsum Accumulation in Holocene and Late-Pleistocene Buried Soils in Southern New Mexico, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 31, no. 7, p. 53

Hengst, R., and Buck, B.J., 1999, Expeditions Virtual and Real in Teaching Secondary Students How Science Really Unfolds, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 31, no.7, p. 212

Buck, B.J., Monger, H.C., 1998, An Eolian and Isotopic Record of Biogeomorphic Change in the Southwestern United States, 16th World Congress of Soil Science Proceedings, Montpellier, France, 10 hour poster presentation, vol. 1 , p. 335

Jarvis*, M.J., Buck, B.J., and Witcher, J.C., 1998, Quaternary Paleospring Deposits at San Diego Mountain, Southern New Mexico, Missouri Academy of Science Annual Meeting

Tibbs, N. H., Buck, B.J., Holbrook, J.M., and Lowell, G.R., 1998, Designing Geoscience Curricula to Meet Multiple Needs, Missouri Academy of Science Annual Meeting

Buck, Brenda J., Kipp, John Jr., and Monger, H. Curtis, 1997, Stratigraphic Integrity of Clasts in an Eolian Environment and their Implications for Archaeology, Northern Chihuahuan Desert, GSA Abstracts with Programs, vol. 29, no. 6

Buck, Brenda J., Kipp, John Jr., and Monger, H. Curtis, 1997, Geomorphic Controls on Stratigraphic Integrity of Artifacts in an Eolian Environment, Fort Bliss, Texas, Society for American Archaeology Program and Abstracts, 62nd Annual Meeting, p.54

Buck, Brenda J., and Monger, H. C., 1996, Late Quaternary Eolian Evolution of the Northern Hueco Basin, Southern New Mexico and West Texas, Agronomy Abstracts, ASA Madison, WI

Buck, Brenda J., and Monger, H. C., 1996, Late Quaternary Vegetational Changes Indicated by Stable Isotopic Analyses, Northern Chihuahuan Desert, American Quaternary Association Program and Abstracts, p. 155

Buck, Brenda J. and Monger, H. C., 1996, Late Quaternary Paleoclimate Indicated by Stable Isotopic Analyses of Pedogenic Carbonate, Southern New Mexico and West Texas, New Mexico Geology

Monger, H. C., Cole, D. R., Buck, B. J., and Barrow, J. R., 1996, The Biological Nature of Pedogenic Carbonate and Its Isotopic Significance, The Clay Minerals Society 33rd Annual Meeting Program and Abstracts

Buck, Brenda J., and Monger, H. Curtis, 1995, Stable Isotopic Evidence for Holocene Environmental Change, Hueco Basin, Southern New Mexico and West Texas, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 27, no. 6

Buck, Brenda J., and Monger, H. Curtis, 1995, Stable Isotopic Composition of Late Quaternary Stratigraphy, Hueco Bolson, Southern New Mexico and West Texas, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 27, no. 4, p. 4

Monger, H. Curtis, Cole, David R., and Buck, Brenda J., 1995, Vegetation Dynamics During the Late Quaternary in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert Based on Stable Isotopes in Pedogenic Carbonates, Wildland Shrub Symposium Abstracts, p. 4

Buck, Brenda J., Rigby, J.K., Jr., Li, F., and Guan, J., 1994, Stratigraphy and Depositional Environment of the K/T Boundary, Nanxiong Basin, Guongdong Province, Peoples Republic of China, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 26, no. 7

Buck, Brenda J., Steiner, Robert L., Leach, J.D., and Burgett, Galen, R., 1994, The Effects of Eolian Geomorphic Landforms on Artifact Visibility in an Arid Environment, Fort Bliss, Texas, Agronomy Abstracts, ASA, Madison, WI

Buck, Brenda J., Mack, Greg H., and Upchurch, Garland R., 1992, Paleosols and Paleoflora of the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) McRae Formation, South-Central New Mexico, and Their Implications to Paleoclimate, New Mexico Geology, v. 14, no. 4, p.77

Buck, Brenda J., and Mack, Greg H., 1992, Calcic Versus Non-Calcic Paleosols as an Indicator of Cretaceous Paleoclimatic Changes in the Western Interior of North America, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 24, no. 7, p.227

Thomas, William A., Allen, Joseph L., McDowell, Robin J., Mars, John C., Azevedo, Paul A., Buck, Brenda J.; Corner, Holly J., and Dodd, J. Robert, 1992, Cambrian-Devonian History of the Willow Creek Fault Zone, Southwest Montana, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 24, no. 6, p. 65

Buck, Brenda J. and Clemons, R. E., 1991, Depositional and Stratigraphic Setting of a Lower Permian Limestone in the Southern Mimbres Basin, Southwestern New Mexico, New Mexico Geology, v. 13, no. 3, p. 61

Buck, Brenda J. and Chludzinski, Gregory P., 1990, Age of the Bug Creek Anthills Fossil Vertebrate Locality and its Relationship to the K/T Boundary, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 22, no. 5, p. 4

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Funded Research

• 2007-2010, PI (Institutional) and Co-PI, Exploring Planetary Surfaces:    Earth, Moon and Mars, NASA/EPSCoR, 9/1/07-8/31/10, $1,500,000
• 2007-2009, Co-PI, Digital Mapping Inventory of Crytobiotic Soil Crusts in    Hidden Valley, Valley of Fire, and Muddy Mountain Wilderness Area, BLM    Lands, BLM, $99,909
• 2007-2008, PI, A Novel Approach to Arid Soil Dating: Extraction and    
   40Ar/39Ar Geochronology of Pedogenic Sepiolite and Palygorskite, NSF,    $29,936
• 2007-2008, PI, Modification to: Assessing Factors Contributing to Dust    Emissions from Public Lands on Air Quality in Areas of Clark County,    Nevada, BLM, $382,153
• 2007-2008, PI, Cryptobiotic Soil Crusts, Nevada NSF EPSCoR Graduate    Research Fellow in Scaling Environmental Processes in Heterogeneous Arid    Soils, support for Amanda Williams, $60,543.50
• 2007 Co-investigator, Preliminary Assessment of Salt Mineralogy in the    Salton Sea, CA for Dust Emissions, Dept. of Water Resources, CA, under    Salton Sea Authority, $46,000
• 2007-2009, Environmental Soil Analytical Laboratory (ESAL), Research    Analyst Personnel, UNLV, $110,000
• 2007-2008, PI, Assessing Factors Contributing to Dust Emissions from    Public Lands on Air Quality in Areas of Clark County, Nevada, BLM, $70,000
• 2006, Co-investigator, Gypsum-colonizing Cyanobacteria in Atacama - Model    for Mars, NASA EPSCoR, $8,000
• 2006, Soil Salinity Management Travel Grant II, USDA, $1,185.00
• 2006, Soil Salinity Management Travel Grant I, USDA, $931.67
• 2005-2007, Co-investigator, Soil Physical, Chemical, and Mineralogical    Development Associated with Cercocarpus ledifolius Stands on Mt.    Charleston, Nevada, USDA-NRI, $100,000
• 2005-2006, Salt Mineralogy in Arid Soils of the Virgin River Valley, NV, USA,    UNLV Site, $7,459
• 2005, Gypsic Paleosols in the Paradox Basin, Institute of Tectonics, NMSU,    $10,000
• 2005-2006, Late Cenozoic Mapping of the Sprint Mountain SE 7.5 min    Quadrangle Arizona-Nevada, USGS, $11,550
• 2005-2006, Co-investigator, Soil Physical, Chemical, and Mineralogical    Properties and Their Effect on Eriogonum corymbosum var. and Arctomecon    californica in North Las Vegas, BLM, $59,334
• 2005, Genesis of Hyperarid soils in Atacama Desert, Chile, Private Donation    to UNLV Foundation, $1,500
• 2004-2006, Source of Green and White Salt Minerals Associated with    Landscaping Rocks, Kalamazzo Inc. (Private donation via UNLV Foundation),    8/04-8/06, $5,000
• 2002-2006, Co-investigator, Surficial Geologic Mapping and Piedmont Flood    Hazard Assessment in the Ivanpah Valley I-15 Corridor, Clark County,    Nevada, USGS, NBMG, Clark County Regional Flood Control District,    $195,571, subcontract to UNLV, $59,835
• 2004-2006, Co-investigator, Desert Southwest USA Tour: 18th World    Congress of Soil Science Post-Congress Field Tour (Nevada Portion), NRCS,    4/04-7/06, $21,000 (in-kind support of research)
• 2005-2009, Consultant, Geologic and Fluid Flow analysis of Outcropping    Salt Diapirs, Welds, and Mini-basins in La Popa Basin, Northeastern Mexico    and the Flinders Ranges, Southern Australia, Joint Industry through    Institute of Tectonics, Variable amounts as needed (mostly travel funds to    sites), 1/05-1/09
• 2004-2005, An Investigation of the Damaging Effects of Naturally Occurring    Salts on Concrete Structures in the Las Vegas Valley, Clark County,    Nevada. Undergraduate Research Award, UNLV, $3,500 (student:    Stephanie Mrozek)
• 2004-2005, Examining the Potential for the Release of Heavy Metals in    Landscaping Materials, Part II, Las Vegas, Clark County School District,    $2,254.25
• 2004, Travel Grant to attend the Western Regional Cooperative Soil Survey    Meeting, Jackson Hole, WY, NRCS (National Resource Conservation Service),    $1,710.50
• 2003-2005, Gypsic Paleosols in Growth Strata Near an Exposed Salt Weld,    La Popa Basin, Mexico: Potential Indicators of Diapiric History and    Proximity. Petroleum Research Fund, American Chemical Society, 9/03-9/05,    $80,000
• 2004-2005, Examining the Potential for the Release of Heavy Metals in    Landscaping Materials, Part I, Clark County School District, 8/04- 5/05,    $8,164.50    
• 2004-2006, PI, Source of Green and White Salt Minerals Associated with    Landscaping Rocks, Kalamazoo Inc., Private Donation to UNLV Foundation,    8/04-8/06, $5,000
• 2004, Travel grant for La Popa Research, from Phase II Proposal, Institute    of Tectonic Studies, NMSU, 9/04-10/04, $778.68
• 2003, SEM Analyses of Soils Affected by Mining and Industrial Activities,    Cartagena, Spain, UNLV SITE, 5/03-12/04, $2,500
• 2003, Barrick Faculty Development Travel Award, UNLV, 4/03, $670
• 2002-2003, Co-investigator, Migration Properties of Depleted Uranium from    Naval Ordnance in Arid Environments, China Lake, CA, U.S. Naval Facilities    Engineering Command, $99,984
• 2002-2003, Co-investigator, Characterization of Lake Mead Sediments:    Models for Sea Level Changes and Environmental Implications, U.S.    Congress/USGS, $750,000, Portion to UNLV: Buck as PI: $200,188.00,
   Co- PI: $275,912
• 2002, Salt Mineralogy in Arid Soils of Southern Death Valley, California, USA,    UNLV Site, $4,900
• 2002, International Soil Research, Private Donation to UNLV Foundation,    $3,772.31
• 2001, Gypsum Paleosols as Indicators for Petroleum Potential, ARI, UNLV,    $5,000
• 2001, Expeditionary Education for Junior High and High School Students,    RMC Foundation, $15,000
• 2001, Gypsum Paleosols as Indicators for Petroleum Potential, Institute of    Tectonic Studies, New Mexico State University, $5,000
• 2001, Senior Researcher, Defining Seismic Hazards Using Paleosiesmic    Trenching Near Las Vegas Valley, Nevada Earthquake Safety Council
• 2000, Barrick Faculty Development Travel Award, UNLV, $700
• 2000, Real Time Science, RMC Foundation, $15,000
• 2000, International Soil Research, Private Donation to UNLV Foundation,    $5,642
• 1999-2000, Co-investigator, Monitoring of Background Dustfall in Clark    County and Southern Nevada, Applied Research Initiative, UNLV, $9,942
• 1999–2000, The Expedition Experience as a Tool to Increase Environmental    Literacy in Middle and High School Students, RMC Foundation, $15,000
• 1999, Barrick Travel Award, UNLV, GSA Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, $851
• 1998–1999, Jordan Arid Lands Research and Development, Private    Donation to UNLV Foundation, $4,068.36
• 1998, Sustainable Management of Jordan’s Arid Lands, Barrick Travel    Award, UNLV, $700
• 1998, Soils and Geomorphology of West Africa, Northeast Spain, and    Southern France, Travel Grant, Private Donation to UNLV Foundation,    $4,650
• 1998, Buried Soils as Indicators of Increased Drought and the Possible    Impacts on Cultural Evolution, Southern New Mexico, USA, Southeast    Missouri State University, $2,596
• 1997, Amazon River and Machu Picchu Expedition, Fernbank Natural History    Museum, $4,664
• 1996-1997, Co-investigator, Missouri Guard: Leading Environmental    Stewardship into the 21st Century, Missouri National Guard, $59,375
• 1996-1997, Biostratigraphic Research in China, University of Notre Dame,    $3,500
• 1996-1997, Southeast Missouri State University, International Graduate    Student Travel Grant, $3,000
• 1996, Mesozoic/Quaternary Paleoclimate, Argentina, Southern States    Environmental Services, Inc., $2,500
• 1996, Quaternary Movement along the Davis Dome Fault and Possible    Controls on a Geothermal System, Department of Defense, U. S. Army,    $9,176.31
• 1995-1996, Co-investigator, Geomorphic Study of Limited Protection Zones    to Determine Stratigraphic Potential of Artifacts, Department of Defense,    U.S. Army, $38,729
• 1993-1996, Co-investigator, Soil-Geomorphic Research and its Application    to Archaeology on the Fort Bliss Military Reservation, Department of    Defense, U.S. Army, $79,339
• 1994-1996, Mesozoic Paleoclimate, China, Southern States Environmental    Services, Inc., $7,400
• 1995 Commission on Higher Education Graduate Student Travel Award,    $125
• 1995, Geological Society of America Student Travel Grant, $300
• 1993, Travel Grant to China, University of Notre Dame, $3,400
• 1993, New Mexico Geological Society Student Research Grant, $260
• 1993, Commission on Higher Education Graduate Student Research Project    Award, $250
• 1992, Geologic Society of America Student Research Grant, $1,000

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International Experience

• Co-collaborator, Lead Researcher, or Teacher/Educator for Field Expeditions    to the following countries: Peoples Republic of China, Peru, Argentina,    Mexico, Spain, Jordan, Australia, Belize, Chile, St. Lucia, Thailand, Canada,    Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, France

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Invited Research

Chile: Soil Geomorphology, Genesis, and Life, Atacama Desert, 10/06-   present
• Spain: Mineralogy and Genesis of Polluted Soils, Murcia, Spain, 9/02-   present
Jordan: Soil Geomorphology and Genesis, Jordan Badia, 6/00-present
Jordan: Soil Genesis and Sustainable Development of the Badia Region,    9/98, 11/98
Peru: Amazon River & Machu Picchu, Fernbank Museum of Natural History,    5/98
Peoples Republic of China: Biostratigraphy, Depositional Environment, and    Paleoclimate, Jurassic Strata, Yunnan Province. Beijing Natural History    Museum, University of Notre Dame, Lufeng Natural History Museum,
   12/96-1/97
Argentina: Paleosols of the Ishigulasto Basin, San Juan Province, 9/96
Peoples Republic of China: Biostratigraphy, Sedimentology, Depositional    Environment and Paleoclimate of Triassic-Jurassic terrestrial strata, Yunnan    Province. Beijing Natural History Museum, University of Notre Dame,    Directorate of Culture (Yunnan Province), 12/95-1/96
Peoples Republic of China: Stratigraphy, Sedimentology, Depositional    Environment and Paleoclimate of Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary    Redbeds in the Shixing, Nanxiong, and Dayu Basins, Guongdong and Jiangxi    Provinces.  Beijing Natural History Museum, Beijing University of    Geosciences, University of Notre Dame, 12/94-1/95
Peoples Republic of China: Field Exploration of the Stratigraphy,    Sedimentology, and Paleoclimate of the K/T boundary, Nanxiong Basin,    Guongdong Province, 12/93-1/94

Invited Lectures

USA: Invited Seminar: “Hexahydrite Today, Gypsum Tomorrow: Dynamics of    Salt Minerals in Soils”, Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting, New    Orleans, LA, 11/07
USA: Invited Seminar: “A Taste of Salt across the Landscape: Soil    Mineralogy in Arid Environments” Soil Science Society of America Annual    Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 11/07
USA: Invited Seminar: “Buried Soils as Indicators for Holocene Climate    Change & Resulting Impacts on the Archaeological Record, Chihuahuan    Desert, USA, University of Montana, Western, Dillon, MT, 5/07
USA: Invited Seminar: “Salt in Soils: Examples From Poisonous School    Playgrounds to Life on Mars, School of Life Sciences, UNLV, Las Vegas NV,    4/07
USA: Invited Seminar: “Salt in Soils: Examples From Poisonous School    Playgrounds to Life on Mars” University of Montana, Western, Dillon MT,    10/06
USA: Invited Seminar: “Life at the Fringe: Mineralogical Controls on the Dry    Limit (New Mexico, Jordan, Atacama)” for Life in Extreme Environments,    Regional Research Partnership Assessment (RRPA) workshop, NSF-EPSCoR,    UNLV, 1/06
USA: Invited Speaker, National Academy of Sciences, Workshop on    Frontiers in Soil Science, Washington D.C., 12/05
USA: Invited Speaker, Soil Science Society of America, “Decorative    Landscaping Rock as a Source for Heavy Metal Contamination, Las Vegas    NV”, 11/05
Mexico: Invited Speaker, Salt-Sediment Interaction Annual Research    Meeting, Monterrey, MX, “Gypsic Paleosols: What do They Tell us About    Halokinesis?”, 11/05
USA: Co-author of an invited paper to Soil Science Society of America    National Meeting, Salt Lake UT, “Developing a Graduate Level Soil's    Emphasis: Lessons Learned”, 11/05
USA: “The Miracle of Pedogenic Salt Minerals: Snowballs in the Devil’s    Anus”, University of California, Riverside, 12/1/05
USA: Invited Speaker, “Decorative Landscaping Rock as a Source for Heavy    Metal Contamination: The Need for Regulations”, Geological Society of    Southern Nevada, 9/05
Turkey: "Micromorphology of Salts in Arid Soils: Methods and Applications”,    12th International Meeting on Soil Micromorphology, invited for Sept. 20-26,    2004.  Adana, Turkey
USA: “Practical Aspects of Bringing Expedition Science and Real Scientific    Problems to theSecondary Classroom”, GSA Annual Meeting, Denver. 10/99
Jordan: “Carbon-14 Dating and Stable Isotopic Analyses in Arid Soils,    Applications to Archaeology, Southwestern United States” Jordan University    of Science and Technology, Irbid, 9/19/98
Spain: “Stable Isotopes and Soil-Geomorphology as Indicators of Holocene    Climate Change, Northern Chihuahuan Desert, USA.” University of    Barcelona, Barcelona, 9/9/98
USA: “Global Climate Change and Archaeology: Evidence from the northern    Chihuahuan Desert, USA”; Department of Biology, Purdue University,    North- Central, 9/19/97
USA: "Late Quaternary Landscape Evolution and Paleoclimate of the Hueco    Basin, Northern Chihuahuan Desert", Department of Geology and    Geophysics, University of Missouri, Rolla, Missouri, 11/13/96
USA: "Late Quaternary Paleoclimate Indicated by Stable Isotopic Analyses,    Southern New Mexico and West Texas", Department of Geology, Southern    Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, 11/21/96
Argentina: "Similarities between North and South American Aridisols and    Geomorphology, New Mexico and West Texas, U.S.A., vs. San Juan    Province, Argentina” University of San Juan, San Juan, 10/96
Mexico: "Environmental Changes Indicated by Carbon and Oxygen    Isotopes, Northern Chihuahuan Desert", Keynote Speaker for the 3    Reunion Anual de Investigadores (International Ecology Meeting),    Universidad Juarez del Estado de Durango, Durango, 10/95
USA: "Stratigraphy, Depositional Environment, and Paleoclimate of the K/T    Boundary, Nanxiong Basin, Guongdong Province, Peoples Republic of    China, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta, Georgia, 5/95
Peoples Republic of China: "Paleosols and Depositional Environment of the    K/T Boundary, Nanxiong Basin, PRC", at Nanxiong City, Guongdong    Province, 1/94

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Teaching

Associate Professor, Dept. Geoscience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 7/04 to present:
• GEOG 101 Physical Geography
• GEOG 101 Distance Education: Physical Geography (web course)*
• GEOL 303 Global Environmental Change*
• GEOL 491 Geoscience Seminar    
• GEOL 410/610 Soil Classification and Resource Management*
• GEOL 410/610L Soil Classification and Resource Management Lab*
• GEOL 786 Soils Applications: Paleoclimate, Neotectonics, Archaeology*
• GEOL 776 Paleosols: Records of Past Landscapes*
• GEOL 793 Independent Study: Genesis of Stage VI Petrocalcic Horizons*
• GEOL 793 Independent Study: Thin Section Preparation of Friable Soils*
• GEOL 793 Independent Study: Electron Microscope Analysis of Pedogenic    Salts, Death Valley*
• GEOL 793 Independent Study: Electron Microscope Analysis of Pedogenic    Clays*
• GEOL 793 Independent Study: Soil Mineralogy (Carbonate Mineralogy of    Death Valley Soils)*
• GEOL 793 Independent Study: Soil Mineralogy & Microbiology of Pedogenic    Carbonates*
• GEOL 793 Independent Study: Clay Mineralogy of Atacama Soils*
• GEOL 796 Advanced Topics: Advanced Soil Geomorphology: Using GIS to    Compare NRCS Soil Maps* and Surficial Geology Maps for Flood Hazard    Analyses*
      
*
Indicates new courses developed by Buck

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Geoscience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 8/98 to 7/04:
• Same as above           

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Geosciences, Southeast Missouri State University, 5/96 to 7/98:
• GO 110 Physical Geology
• GO 400/600 Geomorphology & Geomorphology Lab
• GO 420/620 Global Environmental Change
• GO 460/660 Environmental Hydrology & Hydrology Lab
• GO 601 Graduate Seminar: Introduction to Research
• GO 602 Graduate Seminar: Research Proposals

Teaching Assistant, New Mexico State University, Department of Agronomy, 8/93 to 5/96: 
• Soil 252L Soils Laboratory
• Substitute Lecturer for:
                        • Soil 252           Soils
                        • Soil 350           Soils and Land Use (televised statewide)
                        • Soil 472           Soil Morphology
                        • Soil 474           Soil Classification

Teaching Assistant, New Mexico State University, Department of Geosciences, 8/90 to 5/92:
• Geol 110 Introductory Geology Laboratory
• Geol 291 Physical Geology Laboratory
• Geol 297 Historical Geology Laboratory
• Geol 360 General Geochemistry Laboratory
• Geol 420 Sedimentology Laboratory
• Geol 532 Carbonate Petrology Laboratory
• Substitute Lecturer for:
                        • Geol 110          Introductory Geology
                        • Geol 297          Historical Geology
                        • Geol 420          Sedimentology

Teaching Assistant and Lab Technician, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN, 8/87 – 5/90:
• Director of Introductory Geology Mineral Laboratories
• Substitute lecturer for Mineralogy
• Technician for XRD, and thin section equipment.

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Honors

• Elected Fellow, Geological Society of America, 2008
• The M.L. & C.M. Jackson Award, Soil Science Society of America, for    outstanding contributions in Soil Mineralogy/Chemistry, 16th recipient, 1st    female, 2007
• Co-author (with student): Best Poster Award (in section), 17th World    Congress of Soil Science, Bangkok, Thailand, 2002
• Earth Day 2000 UNLV, for Teaching GEY 303 Global Environmental Change,    Awarded by Dr. Martha Watson, Dean, Greenspun College of Urban Affairs,    Spring 2000
• Nominated for Best Paper Award, 16th World Congress of Soil Science,    Montpellier, France (1 of 3 nominations), 1998
• Earthwatch Fellowship Educator Award, 1998
• Best Paper, New Mexico Geological Society, 1996
• Dean's Award of Excellence for Outstanding Ph.D. Student, NMSU, 1995
• New Mexico Geological Society Annual Fall Field Trip Scholarship, 1993,    1994, 1995
• Geologic Society of America Student Travel Grant, 1995
• Geologic Society of America Student Research Grant, 1993
• New Mexico Geological Society Student Research Grant, 1993
• Commission on Higher Education Graduate Student Research Project    Award, 1993
• Top Woman Geoscientist, NMSU, Association for Women Geoscientists, 1992
• Los Alamos Geological Society Scholarship, for NMGS Annual Fall Field Trip,    1992
• Wemlinger Award for most promising graduate student, New Mexico State    University, 1991
• Best Oral Presentation of Research, GSA, North-Central Meeting, 1990
• Rev. Alexander Kirsch, C.S.C. Award, for the senior majoring in Earth    Science who has evidenced high qualities of personal character, scholarship    and leadership, University of Notre Dame, 1990
• National Association of Geologic Teachers summer internship with the USGS,    1990
• Hill-Manion Scholarship and/or the Weatherhead Scholarship, 1987-1990
• G429 Field Camp Scholarship, Indiana University, summer 1989

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Selected Professional Service

• Chair, Commision 1.1: Soil Morphology, International Union of Soil Science,    2006-2010, (elected).
Co-convenor: Gypsum and soluble salts in soils, Part 1: Occurrence,    dilemmas, and solutions, SSSA National Meeting, New Orleans, 11/07.
• Member, College of Science Research Council, UNLV 2005-present.
• Faculty Coordinator for NASA Space Grant/EPSCoR, UNLV 2006-present. • External Examiner for Ph.D. student Michele Francis, Stellenbosch    University, South Africa, 2007.
• Invited Instructor (Urban Soils): USDA/NRCS Soil Salinity Management    Course, Price Utah (2006); Fort Collins, Colorado (2006).
• Invited seminar for Life in Extreme Environments, NSF-Regional Research    Partnership Assessment (RRPA) Workshop, Spring 2006.
• Co-convenor, 1.1B Site Disturbance: The Role of Soil Morphology in its    Assessment, 18th World Congress of Soil Science, Philadelphia, 2006.
• International Union of Soil Science, Division 1.1 Soil Morphology, Web Page    (create and maintain). 6/03-11/06.
• 2nd Vice President for the International Union of Soil Science, Commission    on Soil Morphology 2002-2006. (elected).
Member, Core Committee of the Working Group on Land Degradation and    Desertification, International Union of Soil Science, 2002-present.
• Chair, Soil Micromorphology Committee, Soil Science Society of America,    
   2004- 2006.
• Invited speaker & participant for National Academy of Sciences, Frontiers in    Soil Science Workshop, 2005.
• Member, Standing Committee on National Cooperative Soil Survey    Standards, Subcommittee on Carbonates, Spring & Fall 2005.
• National Science Foundation Panel Member (twice): Geology and    Paleontology Division.
• Member, Research Committee, Western Regional Cooperative Soil Survey    Conference. 2004-present
• Co-convenor for Symposium 1.1B: Site Disturbance: The Role of Soil    Morphology in its Assessment, 18th World Congress of Soil Science, 2006.
• Convenor for Theme 1. Soil Quality, Soil Fabric, Soil Conservation for    Sustainable Land Management, 12th International Meeting on Soil    Micromorphology, Adana Turkey September 2004.
• Convenor, Symposium III: “Linkages with Global Issues”, Fourth    International Conference on Land Degradation, Cartagena, Spain,    September 2004.
• Invited to be a Specialist Peer Review Committee Member for the Council for    International Exchange of Scholars for the Fullbright Scholar Program.
• International Union of Soil Science, Division 1.1 Soil Morphology, Web Page    (create and maintain). 6/03-present.
• Member, S884, "Soil Micromorphology" committee of Soil Science Society of    America, 2003-2005
• Member, World Association of Soil and Water Conservation (WASWC),
   2004-2005.
• Co-Leader for Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE) Fieldtrip    Tour: Arrow Canyon NV: Archaeology, Geology, Vegetation, Pedology, and    Ecology. June 7, 2003.
• Member of the Scientific Committee, International Symposium on    Sustainable Use and Management of Soils in Arid and Semiarid Regions,    Cartagena, (Murcia-Spain); 22nd-26th September, 2002
• Convenor for Session II: Soil Biology, Land Evaluation and Soil    Management, International Symposium on Sustainable Use and    Management of Soils in Arid and Semiarid Regions, Cartagena, (Murcia-   Spain); 22nd–26th September, 2002
• Convenor for Symposium 20, Arid soils: Records of Past Climates, Carbon    Sequestration, Genesis and Management, 17th World Congress of Soil    Science, Bangkok, Thailand, August 2002.
• Reviewer for:
      • NSF Panel Member (twice), Earth Sciences.
      • NSF Proposals: (Geology; Landscape Evolution, Geochemistry,          Geomorphology, RUI & CAREER); Petroleum Research Fund; U.S. Army          Research, and Kearney Foundation ResearchProposals,
      • CRC Press and Edward Arnold Publishers Limited Book Proposals, NRCS &          National Cooperative Soil Survey Standards materials; and
      
• Manuscripts submitted to Geology, Earth Surface Processes and          Landforms, Geomorphology, Soil and Sediment Contamination, Journal of          Archaeological Science, Journal of Geology, Special Elsevier Book Chapters,          Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, Quaternary Research,          INQUA Special Publications, GSA Special Publications, and Geological Society          of America Bulletin

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Academic Societies

• Tobacco Root Geological Society, Member: 2007-present
• International Union of Soil Science, Member: 1996-present
• Soil Science Society of America, Member: 1993-present
• Association for Women Geoscientists, Member: 1993-present
• Sigma Xi, Member: 1993-present
• Geological Society of America, Member: 1991-present
• New Mexico Geological Society, Member: 1990-present 
• World Association of Soil and Water Conservation: 2004-2005
• Association for Environmental Health and Sciences: 2003
• Society of American Archaeology, Member: 1998-2002
• Association of Missouri Geologists, Member: 1996-1997
• The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Member: 1993-1996
• Academic Appeals Board, Graduate School, New Mexico State University:    1993-1996
• Sigma Gamma Epsilon, National Honor Society of Earth Sciences, Member:    1993-1995
• Vice President, Geological Sciences Graduate Student Organization, NMSU:    1993-1994
• President, Notre Dame Student Council, College of Science: 1990
• President, Notre Dame Geology Club: 1990
• Secretary/Treasurer, Notre Dame Geology Club: 1989

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Students/Advising

In Progress:

Dr. Dirk Goossens:
Visiting Research Scientist

Dust Emissions from Nellis Dunes, BLM, $452,153, 1/07-1/09

Janice Morton
Ph.D. Dissertation: Influence of Microbiotic Crusts on Pedologic Processes and Soils, Ivanpah Valley, Mojave Desert, Nevada. Proposed Graduation: December 2010

Awards:
• GPSA Fall 2008 grant
• Weistrop Scholarship, Summer 2008
• GPSA Summer Session Award, Summer 2008
• Bernada E. French Scholarship, Spring 2007
• GPSA Summer Grant, Spring 2007

Amanda Williams
Ph.D. Dissertation: Distribution of Biologic Soil Crusts: Implications for Land Management, Muddy Mountain Wilderness Area, NV. Proposed Graduation: May 2010

Awards:
• Farouk El-Baz Student Research Award, GSA, 2008
• UNLV Urban Sustainability Initiative Fellowship, 2008-2011
• Nevada NASA Space Grant Consortium Fellowship, 2008    (declined)
• James Adams Award, UNLV, Summer 2008
• Best Oral Presentation, UNLV Geosymposium, Spring 2008
• 2nd Place Oral Presentation, AEG Southwest Meeting, Spring    2008
• SEPHAS Fellowship, Nevada EPSCOR RING-TRUE III, Grant No.    0447416, Spring 2007-Fall 2008
• Bernada E. French Scholarship, Spring 2007

Colin Robins
Ph.D. Dissertation: Genesis of Authigenic Clay Minerals in Petrocalcic Horizons: Applications for Dating, Southwest U.S.A.  Proposed Graduation: May 2009

Awards:
• Jack & Fay Ross Fellowship, Spring 2008-2009
• Geological Society of America Graduate Student Grant, Spring    2007
• UNLV Graduate College Summer Session Scholarship, Spring    2007
• Bernada E. French Scholarship, Dept. of Geoscience, UNLV,    2006
• UNLV Graduate College Summer Session Scholarship, 2006
• UNLV Graduate and Professional Student Association Grant,    2006
• Wilford Gardner IUSS Congress Fellowship Grant Award, 2006
• Summer Session Scholarship, UNLV, 2006

Michael Howell
M.S. Thesis: Genesis and Geomorphology of Soils in Extreme Aridity: Atacama Desert, Chile. Proposed Graduation: December 2008

Awards:
• Geological Society of America, Graduate Student Grant, Spring    2007
• AAPG - Grant in Aid, Spring 2007
• James F. Adams / GPSA Scholarship, Spring 2007
• Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, Spring 2007
• UNLV Graduate and Professional Student Association Travel    Grant, Summer 2006
• Bernada E. French Fund Scholarship, Spring 2006
• UNLV Graduate and Professional Student Association Travel    Grant, Fall 2005

Judy Costa
Undergraduate Research: SEM Analyses of Cyanobacteria in Extreme Environments, Implications for Life on Mars. Proposed Graduation: May 2008

Corinne Griffing
Undergraduate Research: Linkage Between Microbiological Colonization, and Mineralogy on Earth: Applications for Exploring for Life on Mars. Proposed Graduation: May 2008

Robert Davis
Undergraduate Research: Dust Emissions from Off-road Usage, Las Vegas, Nevada. Proposed Graduation: May 2008

Michelle Stropky
Undergraduate Research: Dust Emissions and Land Use, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Proposed Graduation: May 2008

Lars Bangen
Undergraduate Research: Testing the Effects of Soil Characteristics on Dust Emissions, Nellis Dunes, Nevada. Proposed Graduation: May 2008

COMPLETED:   

Amy L. Brock
Brock, A.L., 2008, Characterization of Stage VI Petrocalcic Horizons: S. Nevada and N.W. Arizona, Doctoral Dissertation, University of Nevada, Las Vegas,
148 p.

Current Position: Assistant Professor (tenure-track) Western Illinois University

Awards:

• IUSS Young Micromorphologist Publication Award, 2008
• Wilford Gardner IUSS Congress Fellowship Grant Award, 2006
• Presidential Fellowship, UNLV, 2006-2007
• Dixon Award for Soil Mineralogy, S-9, Soil Science Society of    America, 2005
• Chaired the S-9 Soil Mineralogy Session: Technology and the    Characterization of Soil Mineral Properties/Div. S-9 Business    Meeting at the 2005 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting in Salt    Lake, UT, 11/05
• Honorable Mention to the Farouk El-Baz award, Geological    Society of America, 2005
• AAPG Harold J. Funkhouser Memorial Grant, 2005
• AAPG Grants-in-aid Research Grant, 2005
• UNLV, Summer Session Scholarship, 2005
• Certificate from the Graduate Student Professional    Development Program in College Teaching, UNLV, 2005
• AAPG Bernold M. “Bruno” Hanson Memorial Environmental    Grant, 2004
• GSA Student Research Award, 2004
• Sigma Xi, Grants-in-Aid of Research, 2004
• UNLV Graduate Student Association Research Forum 2nd Place    Oral (Spring 2003)
• Bernada E. French Scholarship, Dept. of Geoscience, UNLV,    2003
• UNLV GSA Research Grant spring 2003
• UNLV GSA Travel Grant, 2002b
• UNLV GSA Travel Grant, 2002a

Janice Morton (Project Supervisor, for Master’s in Health Physics)
Morton, J.L. 2006.  137Cs Activity and Salt Mineralogy of the Black Butte Soil Series, Virgin River Floodplain, NV, USA.  M.S. Professional Paper, Department of Health Physics. Completed: August 2006

Stephanie Mrozek,
Undergraduate Research: 1. Heavy Metal Contamination and Salt Efflorescence Associated With Decorative Landscaping Rocks, Las Vegas, NV: The Need for Regulations; 2. Sediment Analyses of Cores from Lake Mead; 3. SEM analyses of Death Valley Pedogenic Salts. Completed May 2006

Awards:
• Norman R. Tilford Field Studies Scholarship, 2005
• AEG Student Presentation Night, 3rd Place, 2005
• AAPG L. Austin Weeks Undergraduate Grant, 2004
• NSF/EPSCoR Undergraduate Research Grant, 2004
• UNLV Undergraduate Research Award, 2004
• Ann Fenton Wyman Scholarship, 2004
• Geological Society of Nevada Scholarship, 2004
• Douglas B. Orr Memorial Award, 2004
• Las Vegas Gem Club, 2003
• Bernada E. French Scholarship, Dept. of Geoscience, UNLV,    2002, 2004
• UNLV Higher Achiever Grant-in-Aid, 2002

Evelyn Coleman
Undergraduate Research: 1. Soil Geomorphology of the Virgin River, SEM/GIS; 2. SEM Analyses of Polluted Soils of Southeastern Spain; 3. Soil Micromorphology Data Base. Completed May 2003

Awards:
• Alumni Association Scholarship, 2003
• National Dean's Honor List, 2003
• Graduated Magna Cum Laude, 2003

Amy L. Brock
M.S. Thesis: Carbonate and Silica Pendants in Quaternary Soils in Northern Pahranagat Valley, Micromorphology and Formation Processes. Completed July 2002

Awards:
• Bernada E. French Scholarship, Dept. of Geoscience, UNLV    (2000, 2001)
• UNLV Graduate Student Association Scholarships (Summer    2000, 2001, and Fall 2000)
• Nevada Garden Club Scholarship (2001)
• UNLV Graduate Student Association Research Forum 2nd Place    Poster (Spring 2001).
• Arizona, Nevada Academy of Science Best Poster Award    (2000)

Ilsa Schiefelbein
Independent Research Project: Salt Micromorphology in Arid Soils of Southern Death Valley, California, USA. Completed July 2002.

Awards:
• Winner of Best Poster (in session): 17th World Congress of Soil    Science, Bangkok, Thailand, August 2002.

John Van Hoesen
M.S. Thesis: Pedogenic Gypsum in Southern New Mexico: Genesis, Morphology,
and Stable Isotopic Signature. Completed July 2000

Awards:
• Best Thesis, UNLV College of Science, 2001
• UNLV GREAT Assistantship (2000)
• Arthur D. Howard Award, Honorable Mention, Best Proposal,    Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology, Geological Society of    America (1999)
• Bernada E. French Scholarship, Dept. of Geoscience, UNLV    (1999, 2000)
• GSA, UNLV, Summer Grant (1999)
• GSA, UNLV, Travel Award (1999)

Katie Wolff
Undergraduate Research: Pedogenic Salts in Las Vegas Wash, NV: Salt Micromorphology and Environmental Implications. Visited UNLV from Bryn Mawr College

Awards:
• Nominated for Watson Fellowship (2001)
• Nominated for the All-USA College Academic Team, for    undergraduate honors thesis, Bryn Mawr College (2001)

Michael Jarvis
M.S. Thesis: Quaternary Paleospring Deposits at San Diego Mountain in South-
Central New Mexico, San Diego Mountain, South-Central New Mexico. Completed May 1998

Awards: 
• Clayton Johnson Award for Best Paper by a Graduate Student,    Missouri Academy of Science, 1998.

Membership on Graduate Degree Candidates’ Committees

• Michele Francis, Ph.D. Candidate, Stellenbosch University, South Africa,    Committee Member
• Lauren Reynolds, Ph.D. Candidate, School of Life Sciences, UNLV,    Committee Member
• James Dorman, M.S. Candidate, Dept. Chemistry, UNLV, Committee Member
• Trista J. Vick, M.S. Candidate, School of Life Sciences, UNLV, Committee    Member
• Nita Tallent-Hall, Ph.D. Candidate, School of Life Sciences, UNLV, Committee    Member
• Rekha Saxena, M.A. Candidate, Dept. of Environmental Studies, Committee    Member
• Joshua Boxell, M.S. Candidate, Dept. Geoscience, Committee Member
• Sam Hudson, M.S. Candidate, Dept. Geoscience, Committee Member
• Jonathan Zybala, M.S. Candidate, Dept. Geoscience, Committee Member
• Eric Fossett, M.S. Candidate, Dept. Geoscience, Committee Member
• Jeffrey L. Gromny, M.S. Candidate, Dept. Geoscience, Committee Member
• Melissa Hicks, M.S. Candidate, Dept. Geoscience,  Committee Member
• John Van Hoesen, Dept. Geoscience, Ph.D. Exam Committee Member
• T. Andy Jones, M.S. Committee Member, Dept. Geoscience, Committee    Member
• Claudia C. Woodman, M.A. Candidate, Dept. of Anthropology, Committee    Member
• Britt J. Hansen, M.A. Candidate, Department of Anthropology, Committee    Member
• Suzy Eskenazi M. A. Candidate, Department of Anthropology, Committee    Member
• Lynn Haarkau, M.A. Candidate Department of Anthropology, Committee    Member
• Kelly Graf, M. A. Committee, Department of Anthropology, Committee    Member
• Nita Tallent-Halsell, Ph.D. Committee, Department of Biology, Committee    Member
• Aaron Shields , M.S. Committee, Department of Biology, Committee Member

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6th - 12th Grade Environmental Education Outreach Projects

Outreach Education Projects (Funded Education Grants) are designed around developing and providing training for 6-12th grade educators, university, private sector, and government scientists to set up satellite uplink technology from remote national and international field locations and broadcast live, interactive web-based video, and chatline interactions with 6-12th grade students nationwide.  UNLV graduate students have also been involved. The key difference between our projects and others is that ours is interactive in real time with thousands of students – other projects are passive video presentations of scientists working with a few students. In addition, our work focuses on finding inexpensive methods that are not excessively time-demanding on university and other scientists that are often not rewarded or encouraged in the current education systems to devote time and resources to K-12 education. Successful projects have been completed from sites in Argentina (twice), China, New Mexico, and Utah. Ten’s of thousands of students nationwide have interacted and participated. Co-Directors are B.J. Buck and R.A. Hengst.

Price River Utah Dino Project 2001-2002 , with Richard A. Hengst, Purdue    University North Central.
China Expedition, with Richard A. Hengst, Purdue University North Central.
Ischigualasto Valley, Argentina, with Richard A. Hengst, Purdue University    North Central.

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Office:Lilly Fong Geoscience Building (LFG) 104B
Tel: 702.895.3262; FAX 702.895.4064
Email: geodept@unlv.edu
Department of Geoscience
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89154-4010