Professional Background

Dr. Taylor received a B.S. in geology with a minor in chemistry from University of Minnesota, Duluth in 1982. She received a M.S. in structural geology from Syracuse University in 1984 and a Ph.D. in structural geology and tectonics from the University of Utah in 1989. She has been a member of the faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas since 1991 and was awarded an Associate Professorship of Geoscience in 1997.

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Teaching

Undergraduate:
• Natural Disasters (GEY 120)
• Natural Disasters (GEY 120)
• Structural Geology (GEY 341)
• Field Geology I (GEY 348)
• Intermediate Field Geology (GEY 370)
• Advanced Field Geology (GEY 371)
• Tectonics of Orogenic Belts (GEY 444)
• Advanced Topics [Independent Study] (GEY 493)

Graduate:
• Tectonics of Orogenic Belts (GEY 644)
• Research Methods (GEY 701)
• Advanced Structural Geology (GEY 745)
• Neotectonics and Structure (GEY 744)
• Independent Study (GEY 793)
• Poster Presentations and Time Management (GEY 795)

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Research

My primary research interests are in regional tectonics, both contractional and extensional, and in faulting and faulting processes. In studying faults and tectonics I use the absolute and relative timing of deformation, fault geometries, and fault kinematics to develop models of faulting and regional tectonism.

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Selected Publications

Total publications - 36 papers, 6 reports, and 42 abstracts

Taylor, W. J., Gilbert, J. J., Fryxell, J. E., Williams, N. D., and Novak, H., accepted, Discussion on the role of attenuation in the formation of the Railroad Valley structural basin, east-central Nevada: Detachement control of petroleum reservoirs: AAPG Bulletin.

Taylor, W. J., and Novak H., accepted, Three-dimensional strain above low-angle normal faults: an example from Nevada, U.S.A.: Journal of Structural Geology.

Lund, W. R., Taylor, W. J.,Pearthree, P. A., Stenner, H. D., Amoroso, L., and Hurlow, H. A., 2002, Structural development and paleoseismology of the Hurricane fault, southerwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in Lund, W. R., ed., Field Guide to Geologic Excursions in Southwestern Utah and Adjacent Areas of Arizona and Nevada: U. S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-172, p. 1-84.

Reber, S., Taylor, W.J., Stewart, M.E., and Schiefelbein, I.M., 2001, Linkage and reactivation along the northern Hurricane and Sevier faults, southwestern Utah: Utah Geological Association Publication 30, p. 379-400.

Taylor, W.J., Stewart, M.E., and Orndorff, R.L., 2001, Definition of fault segments from bedrock data: Segmentation of the Hurricane Fault, Southwestern Utah and Northern Arizona: Utah Geological Association Publication 30, p. 113-126.

Taylor, W.J., and Switzer, D.D., 2001, Temporal changes in fault strike (to 90o) and extension directions during multiple episodes of extension: An example from eastern Nevada: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 113, p. 743-759.

Taylor, W.J., Bartley, J.M., Martin, M.W., Geissman, J.W., Walker, J.D., Armstrong, P.A., and Fryxell, J.E., 2000, Relations between hinterland and foreland shortening, Sevier orogeny, central North American Cordillera: Tectonics, v. 19, p. 1124-1143.

Taylor, W.J., 1998, Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonics and structures of southern Nevada: Seismic Hazards in the Las Vegas Region Volume, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-file Report 98-6, p. 12 - 23.

Stewart, M.E., Taylor, W.J., Pearthree, P.A., Solomon, B.J., and Hurlow, H.A., 1997, Neotectonics, fault segmentation, and seismic hazards along the Hurricane fault in Utah and Arizona: An overview of environmental factors in an actively extending orogen: in Link, P.K., and Kowallis, B.J., eds., Geological Society of America Field Trip Guidebook, Brigham Young University Geology Studies, v. 42, p. 235-254.

Stewart, M.E., and Taylor, W.J., 1996, Structural analysis and fault segment boundary identification along the Hurricane fault in southwestern Utah: Journal of Structural Geology v. 18, p.1017-1029.

Walker, J.D., Fletcher, J.M., Fillmore, R.P., Taylor, W.J., Glazner, A.F., and Bartley, J.M., 1995, Connection between igneous activity and extension in the central Mojave metamorphic core complex, California: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 100, no. B6, p. 10,477-10,494.

Taylor, W.J., Bartley, J.M., and Lux, D.R., 1994, 40Ar/39Ar ages of igneous rocks in the Railroad Valley to Pioche transect: Isochron/West, v. 61, p. 3-20.

Axen, G.J., Taylor, W.J., and Bartley, J.M., 1993, Space-time patterns of the onset of extension and magmatism, southern Great Basin, Nevada, Utah, and California: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 105, p. 56-76.

Taylor, W.J., and Bartley, J.M., 1992, Prevolcanic extensional breakaway fault, White River Valley, Nevada, and regional implications: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 104, p. 255-266.

Axen, G.J., Wernicke, B.P., Skelly, M.F., and Taylor, W.J., 1990, Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonics in the Sevier thrust belt of the Virgin River Valley area, southern Nevada; in Wernicke, B.P., editor, Tertiary extensional tectonics near the latitude of Las Vegas: Geological Society of America Memoir 176, p. 123-153.

Taylor, W.J., 1990, Magnitude and temporal relations of episodic Cenozoic extension in the North Pahroc and Seaman Ranges, Nevada; in Wernicke, B.P., editor, Tertiary extensional tectonics near the latitude of Las Vegas: Geological Society of America Memoir 176, p. 181-193.

Taylor, W.J., Bartley, J.M., Lux, D.R., and Axen, G.J., 1989, Timing of Tertiary extension in the Railroad Valley-Pioche Transect, Nevada: Constraints from 40Ar/39Ar ages of volcanic rocks: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 94, p. 7757-7774.

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Students

• Siebenaler, Samuel, in progress, Late Paleozoic structural deformation in the northern Dry Hills of the Osgood Mountains, northern Nevada: Implications for the tectonic evolution of western North America

• Rittase, Willy, 2007, Cenozoic extension in the River Mountains and Frenchman Mountain, southern Nevada

• Fossett, Eric, 2006, Geometry, kinematics, and regional tectonic setting, Black Hills Fault, southern Nevada

• Schiefelbein, Ilsa, 2002, Normal fault segmentation and linkage: Sevier Fault, Utah

• Gilbert, Joseph J., 2001, Cenozoic extension superimposed on Mesozoic thrust belt, central Nevada

• Williams, D. Nathan., 2000, A transverse fault in an extended terrane, the Currant Summit Fault, Nevada

• Switzer, Douglas D., 1996, The geology and structures in the northern Hiko Range, Lincoln County, Nevada

• Langrock, Holly, 1995, Tectonic denudation of Mesozoic contractile structures by a low-angle normal fault and associated faults, southern White Pine Range, Nevada (Received a Certificate of Recognition from the UNLV Alumni Association most outstanding thesis award committee for the academic year 1995-96).

• Rapp, Eric (Master of Arts in Science student), Wash stream mechanics and potential transport of illegally dumped materials

• Schramm, Meg E., 1994, Structural analysis of the Hurricane fault in the transition zone between the Basin and Range Province and the Colorado Plateau, Washington County, Utah

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