Research Interests:

Dr. Michael L. Wells conducts integrated tectonics research utilizing field geologic mapping and field-structural studies with strain and kinematic analysis, thermochronology, geochronology and metamorphic petrology.

His interests include:

• Structural evolution of shear zones and tectonic reactivation,
• The interplay between processes of contraction and extension in the interior of mountain belts,
• The evolution of Cordilleran metamorphic core complexes, and
• Applications of thermochronology and geochronology to directly date deformation.

Research Publications:

Craddock, S., Hoisch, T.D., Wells, M.L., Vervoort, J.D., 2020, Pressure-temperature-time paths from the Funeral Mountains, California, reveal a cordilleran orogenic cycle during Sevier orogenesis: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 132, p. 1047-1065.

Yonkee, W.A. , Eleogram, B., Wells, M.L., Stockli, D.F., Kelley, S., Barber, D.E., 2019, Fault slip and exhumation history of the Willard thrust sheet, Sevier fold-thrust belt, Utah: Relations to wedge propagation, hinterland uplift, and foreland basin sedimentation: Tectonics, v. 38, p. 2850-2893.

Yan, D-P, Qiu, L., Wells, M.L., Zhou, Mei-Fu, Xiangkun Meng, Song Lu, Sen Zhang, Yu Wang, Shu-Bing Li, 2018, Structural and geochronological constraints on the early Mesozoic North Longmen Shan Thrust Belt: foreland fold-thrust propagation of the SW-Qinling orogenic belt, northeastern Tibetan Plateau: Tectonics, v. 37, p. 4595-4624.

Gentry, A., Yonkee, W.A., Wells, M.L., and Balgord, E.A., 2018, Resolving the history of early fault slip and foreland basin evolution along the Wyoming salient of the Sevier fold-and-thrust belt: Integrating detrital zircon geochronology, provenance modeling, and subsidence analysis: in Tectonics, Sedimentary Basins and Provenance: A Celebration of William R. Dickinson’s Career, Geological Society of America Special Paper 540, p. 509-545.

Giallorenzo, M.A., Wells, M.L., Yonkee, W.A., Stockli, D.F., and Wernicke, B.P., 2018, Timing of exhumation, Wheeler Pass thrust sheet, southern Nevada and California: Late Jurassic to middle Cretaceous evolution of the southern Sevier fold-thrust belt: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 130, p. 558-579.

Recent Funding:

• National Science Foundation (2016-2019), Unraveling protracted tectonic reactivation in Cordilleran metamorphic core complexes: Funeral Mountains, California. Collaborative with Thomas Hoisch.
• National Science Foundation (2011-2016), Thermochronology of dominant thrust sheets in the Sevier fold thrust belt, Utah and Nevada: Determining fault timing and slip rates. Collaborative with Adolph Yonkee.