Carol B de WetDr. E. Paul & Frances H. Reiff Emerita Professor of Geosciences
About Carol de Wet
Research
Deep Time & Carbonate Rocks; Sedimentological and Stratigraphic Reconstruction of Ancient Environments and Climate, Diagenesis of Freshwater and Marine Limestones
My recent research on terrestrial carbonates spans the northern and southern hemispheres with field sites in Chile (Atacama Desert), Tanzania (Olduvai Gorge), and eastern North America (Nova Scotia to Georgia). The sedimentary strata range in age from Middle Cambrian (~503 Ma), to Triassic-Jurassic (~250-150 Ma), to Miocene-Pliocene (~5.3 Ma), to the Pleistocene (~2 Ma) and Holocene (thousands of years). My research integrates sedimentological and stratigraphic data to interpret depositional environments and paleoclimates, utilizing field study, petrography (stained thin sections, cathodoluminescence, Scanning Electron Microscopy), stable isotopes (carbon and oxygen), and elemental geochemistry (X-Ray Diffraction, Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma Spectrometry, Energy Dispersive SEM (EDAX)).
Miocene-Pliocene lake and wetland limestones, exposed in the Atacama Desert, indicate that carbonates may accumulate even during periods of aridity, as long as there is sufficient groundwater flow to feed a lacustrine/palustrine system and/or spring discharge, leading to tufa development (3 papers published, 1 in prep).
Freshwater limestones, with their particular sensitivity to climate, are excellent markers for distinctive depositional conditions. Triassic-Jurassic freshwater carbonates associated with the Newark Supergroup rift basins reflect periods of relative tectonic quiescence coupled with Milankovitch-scale wet-dry cycles (5 papers published).
Similarly, groundwater may circulate through regional faults to precipitate spring carbonates at discrete discharge sites or accumulate in marshy areas where groundwater seeps indicate topographic intersection with a shallow water table. These sites may have been a source of freshwater for Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania hominids in shallow lakes or ponds (4 papers published).
Marine shallow water limestones, may yield some paleoclimate information, at least in terms of arid vs humid climates, and tropical vs cool water temperatures. Evaporate minerals suggest a relatively arid climate where subaerial exposure of supratidal shoreline facies resulted in evaporite precipitation. The presence of early dolomite likely indicates a relatively warm and arid to semi-arid depositional setting, based on modern analogs. My research on marine limestones is also important in understanding burial processes and diagenetic alteration of primary carbonate (9 papers).
In addition to my geological research, I have been deeply involved with issues relating to Women in Science and Academic Leadership, based on my own experience and scholarship. For example, I have written about the value of shared or split academic positions for both an institution and a science couple (3 publications). I have also worked on the “time crunch” women face in terms of the ticking biological and tenure clocks (1 paper), and most recently, my focus is on women in academic leadership roles (1 paper).
Student – Faculty Collaborative Research Since 1990
KEY: title of student's study; (Honors) = awarded departmental honors; source of funding, particularly if external to F&M; * = graduate school attended; publications in italics
2021-2022
Catherine Caterham '22 (Honors) Comparison of travertine/tufa from El Sifon and Chintoraste, Calama Basin, Atacama Desert, Chile
*University of Tennessee.
2020-2021
Jamila Gowdy ’21: Fossil gastropods in the Opache Formation. *Graduate school pending.
Catherine Caterham ’22: Microbial forms in Chiu-Chiu Formation tufas; algae and cyanobacteria as paleoenvironmental indicators.
2019-2020
Elizabeth Driscoll ’20: Quaternary freshwater tufas as paleoclimate indicators in the Atacama Desert, Chile. ½ Hackman, summer 2019. de Wet, C. B., de Wet, A.P., Godfrey, L., Driscoll, E., Patzkowsky, S., Xu, C., Gigliotti, S., and Feitl, M., 2019, Pliocene short-term climate changes preserved in continental shallow lacustrine-palustrine carbonates: Western Opache Formation, Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Bulletin; Two Abstracts: NE-SE GSA March, 2020; * attending Colorado State University for graduate school, First place winner Pennsylvania Council of Professional Geologists Student Poster Competition 2020, winner of F&M’s Rawnsley Science Prize, M.Sc. degree from Colorado State University.
Alaekya Shetty ’22: Laboratory research assistant, diatom extraction for Chiu-Chiu Formation tufas
2018-2019
Dylan Jones ’19: Ocean acidification and aragonite dissolution in corals: A Scanning Electron Microscope study; *Florida Gulf Coast Univ. MSc.
2017-2018
Sam Patzkowsky ‘20: diatoms in the Opache Formation, informal research through the academic year plus ½ Hackman summer 2018; de Wet, C. B., de Wet, A.P., Godfrey, L., Driscoll, E., Patzkowsky, S., Xu, C., Gigliotti, S., and Feitl, M., 2019, Pliocene short-term climate changes preserved in continental shallow lacustrine-palustrine carbonates: Western Opache Formation, Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Bulletin; * Washington University graduate school
Elizabeth Driscoll ‘20: stromatolite cyanobacteria and algae, Opache Formation, Directed Reading Spring 2018 plus ½ Hackman summer 2018
Stephen Sherbahn ‘18: 490 Fall 2017; aragonite and calcite in corals and tufas
2016-2017
Informally worked with alumnus Leah Houser ’15 on Olduvai Gorge limestones; Ashley, G.M., de Wet, C.B., Houser, L.M., and Delaney, J.S., 2020, Widespread freshwater carbonate in the Olduvai Basin, a pre-cursor to a major eruption in the East Africa Rift System, The Depositional Record, online available Jan. 2020. *MSc Utah State Univ.
Informally worked with Samuel Patzkowsky ’20 on Atacama limestones
Supervised 390 research with Grace (Niquin Ni) ’16 Loyalhanna Formation, Mississippian limestone, Somerset Co. PA
Summer 2017 Hackman Samuel Patzkowsky: Diatoms in the Opache Fm, Atacama Desert
2015-2016
Informally advised Chi Xi ’16 and Sophia Gigliotti ’16 on the Atacama project;
Summer 2016: worked with Amy Moser ’15, Katie Oxman ‘14 and Erin Peck ’14;
de Wet, C.B, Moser, A.*, Oxman, K., and Peck, E., 2016, Semi-arid climate and cyclic carbonates; Deposition and diagenesis of the Middle Cambrian Buffalo Springs Formation, Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Geology, v. 46, p. 3-20; *Moser: MSc Utah State Univ.; PhD pending, UC Santa Cruz
2014-2015
Chi Xi ‘16 and Sophia Giglioti, ‘16 presented poster at 2014 Fall Research Fair
Carbonate Deposition and Diagenesis in Freshwater Limestones, Calama Basin, Atacama Desert, Chile; Hackman Scholars, summer 2014; de Wet, C. B., de Wet, A.P., Godfrey, L., Driscoll, E., Patzkowsky, S., Xu, C., Gigliotti, S., and Feitl, M., 2019, Pliocene short-term climate changes preserved in continental shallow lacustrine-palustrine carbonates: Western Opache Formation, Atacama Desert, Chile, Geological Society of America Bulletin; *Yale University – Chi Xi
2012-2013
Theresa O’Reilly ‘13
Carbonate Deposits from Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
Ashley, G., de Wet, C., Karis, A., O’Reilly, T., and Baluyot, R., 2014, Freshwater Limestone in an Arid Rift Basin, A Goldilocks Effect, Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 84, p. 988-1004.
2010-2011: hiatus due to duties as Associate Dean of the Faculty
2008-2009
Megan Hays
2009: Collaborating with the Community: Franklin and Marshall College and the School District of Lancaster – Science Teaching Internship Program
F&M Spring Research Fair
*University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical School
2007-2008
Monica Arienzo
2008: Dedolomitization in the Cambrian “white marbles”, south-central PA
2007: Temporal and spatial distribution of corals, Taque Bay & Buck Island reefs, St Croix, USVI (Honors)
-Keck Geology Consortium
*Univ. of Miami Ph.D.
de Wet, C.B., Arienzo, M., Dinterman, P., and Hopkins, D., 2017, Depositional Facies Influence on Shallow Burial Dolomitization, and Triassic Dedolomitization, Middle Cambrian Ledger Formation, York, Pennsylvania, Characterization and Modeling of Carbonates – Mountjoy Symposium I, SEPM Special Publication No. 109, Society for Sedimentary Geology, ISBN 978-56576-353-1, doi:dx.doi.org/10.2110/sepmsp.109.08
2006-2007
Stephanie Strouse
2006: Chemostratigraphy of Cambrian formations in York and Lancaster Counties,
- Leser Summer Research Award. F&M Fall Research Fair.
-*Boston University M.Sc.
2005-2006
Lida Teneva
2003: Oncoids as paleoenvironmental indicators and
2006: The rise and demise of a Holocene coral reef complex, Dominican Republic: the coral-climate connection (Honors).
- KECK Geology Consortium + 2 F&M Leser Grants + F&M Travel Award. F&M Research Fairs.
-* Columbia University; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, M.Sc.
Ph.D. Stanford Univ.
-Teneva, L. T., Greer, L., de Wet, C.B., 2006, Isotope variability in early-Holocene Acropora Cervicornis from the Enriquillo Valle, Dominican Republic, Geological Society of America Northeastern Section Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v, 38, p. 66.
- Teneva, L.T., de Wet, C.B., and Greer, L., 2006, Vital Effects in Acropora cervicornis Corals: Evidence from Trace Elements and Stable Isotopes, Geological Society of America Annual Meeting Abstracts, p, 75.
- Teneva, L.T., Greer, L., and de Wet, C.B., 2005, , Isotope variability in early-Holocene Acropora Cervicornis from the Enriquillo Valle, Dominican Republic, Keck Geology Consortium Extended Abstracts, v. 8.
- Teneva, L.T., de Wet, C.B., and Greer, L., Vital effects in Acropora cervicornis Corals: Evidence from Trace Elements and Stable Isotopes, Submitted to Coral Reefs winter 2006..
2004-2005
Rachel Dvoretsky
2004: Unusual microbial forms discovered in a Middle Cambrian reef system, Ledger Fm., York, PA and
2005: Climatic and tectonic influence in an East African rift system, Pleistocene paludal tufa development in an arid climate, Lake Baringo, Kenya
- F&M Hackman Scholars. F&M Research Fair.
-*University of Kansas, M.Sc., Chevron Petroleum Co.
- Roure, Cara, Ashley, Gail, de Wet, Carol, Dvoretsky, R., Park, L., Hover, V., Owen, B., and McBrearty, Sally, 2009, Tufas as a record of perennial freshwater in semi-arid rift basin, Kapthurin Formation, Central Kenya, Sedimentology v. 56, p. 1115-1137.
de Wet, C. B., Hopkins, D., Rahnis, M., Murphy, M. and Dvortetsky, R., 2013, High Energy Shelf Margin Carbonate Facies: Microbial Sheet Reefs, Ooid Shoals, and Intraclast Grainstones; Ledger Formation (Middle Cambrian), Pennsylvania, in Wilson, J.L., Derby, J., Morgan, W., and Fritz, R., eds., Great American Carbonate Bank, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Special Publication.
2003-2004
Justin C. Gosses
Sedimentology of the Tsagantsav Formation: A lowermost Cretaceous lacustrine synrift formation, Tavan Har, Southeast Mongolia (Honors)
- KECK Geology Consortium. F&M Research Fair.
-*University of Wisconsin, Madison, M.Sc.
-PB Petroleum Corporation
- Gosses, J.C., and de Wet, C.B., 2004, Sedimentology of the Tsagantsav Formation: A lowermost Cretaceous lacustrine synrift formation, Tavan Har, Southeast Mongolia Keck Geology Consortium Extended Abstract, v. 6.
2002-2003
co-advised with D. Merritts, Lauren Manion, A Study of Sedimentation Patterns in the Little Conestoga Creek Watershed
2001-2002
Bond, Joanna J.
Exploration of the Conococheaque Group in Morgantown, PA
Sunderlin, Kimberly
Diagentic Alterations in Carbonate Glacial Lake Sediments; Hardin County, Ohio
- KECK Geology Consortium.
- * East Carolina University, M.Sc.
- Sunderlin, Kimberly and de Wet, Carol, 2002, Diagenetic Alterations in Carbonate Glacial Lake Sediments: Hardin Co., Ohio, Keck Geology Consortium Extended Abstract, v. 5.
2000-2001
Bruno, Caroline R.
Cement Stratigraphy within the Ledger Formation (Middle Cambrian), York Co., PA
- ACS-PRF funding
- de Wet, C. B., Frey, H.M, Gaswirth, S. B., Mora, C. I., Rahnis, M.A. and Bruno, C.R., 2004, Origin of Meter-scale Cavities and Herringbone Calcite Cement In a Cambrian Microbial Reef, Ledger Formation, (U.S.A.), Journal of Sedimentary Research v. 74, p. 914-923.
- * University of Washington, M.Sc., Great Basin College Associate Professor
2000-2001
Murphy, Megan
Grainstone Beds within Cambrian shelf margin Microbialites, the Ledger Formation, York County, Pennsylvania
- ACS-PRF and PA Geological Survey funding
- * East Carolina University, NC. M. Sc., University of California, Davis, Ph.D.
Chevron Petroleum Corp., San Ramon, CA
1998-1999
Frey, Holli
Shelf-Margin Instability and the Formation of Meter-Scale, Horizontal Submarine Cavities in Cambrian Microbialite
- Leser Award + ACI-PRF Grant Support
- * University of Michigan, Ph. D., Union College Associate Professor
[1] Frey, H. and de Wet, C.B., 1999, Shelf-margin instability and the formation of meter-scale, horizontal submarine cavities in Cambrian microbialite [abst] AAPG Annual Meeting, TX, April 1999.
[2] de Wet, C.B., Dickson, J.A.D., Wood, R.A., Gaswirth, S.B., and Frey, H.M., 1999, A New Type of Shelf Margin Deposit: Rigid Microbial Sheets and Unconsolidated Grainstones Riddled with Meter-Scale Cavities, Sedimentary Geology, v. 128, 13-21.
[3] de Wet, C. B., Frey, H.M, Gaswirth, S. B. Mora, C. I., ,Rahnis,
M.A. and Bruno, C.R., 2004, Origin of Meter-scale Cavities and
Herringbone Calcite Cement In a Cambrian Microbial Reef, Ledger
Formation, (U.S.A.), Journal of Sedimentary Research v. 74, p.
914-923.
1998-1999
Kissinger, Laura
Microbial Fabrics in a Middle Cambrian Microbial Complex, the Ledger Formation, York Co., PA
- ACI-PRF Grant Support
- Kissinger, L. and de Wet, C.B., 1999, Renalcis-like fabrics win the Ledger Formation [abst] NEGSA Annual Meeting, March, 1999
1998-1999
Midla, Brendan
Depositional Fabrics in the Kinzers Fm., Southdown Mine, York Co., PA
- Internship for Credit Program.
1997-1998
Dinterman, Philip
Patterns of Dolomitization within the Ledger Limestone, York Co., PA
- ACI-PRF Grant Support
- *New Mexico State University, M.Sc.
de Wet, C.B., Arienzo, M., Dinterman, P., and Hopkins, D., 2017, Depositional Facies Influence on Shallow Burial Dolomitization, and Triassic Dedolomitization, Middle Cambrian Ledger Formation, York, Pennsylvania, Characterization and Modeling of Carbonates – Mountjoy Symposium I, SEPM Special Publication No. 109, Society for Sedimentary Geology, ISBN 978-56576-353-1, doi:dx.doi.org/10.2110/sepmsp.109.08
1997-1998
Cucolo, Steve
Geochemistry and Trace Element Analysis of Newark Supergroup Lacustrine Limestones
de Wet, C. B., Mora, C. I., Gore, P., and Gierlowski-Kordesch, E., and Cucolo, S. J., 2002, Deposition and geochemistry of lacustrine and spring carbonates in Mesozoic rift basins, eastern North America, in Renaut, R. and Ashley, G. M., Eds., Sedimentation in Continental Rifts, Society for Sedimentary Geology Special Pub. No. 73, p. 309-325.
- *George Washington University, M.Sc.
1996-1997
Gaswirth, Stephanie
Geochemical Variations Within Cambrian Fibrous Cements, The Ledger Formation, York County, Pennsylvania
- (Honors) - ACI-PRF Grant Support
- *Rutgers University (M.Sc. 1999), University of Colorado, Boulder, Ph.D., USGS Denver, CO
[1]Gaswirth, S.B.* and de Wet, C.B., 1997, Geochemical variations within mid-late Cambrian fibrous cements, York County, Pennsylvania [Abst.], Geological Society of America, Northeast Section.
[2] de Wet, C.B., Dickson, J.A.D., Wood, R.A., Gaswirth, S.B., and Frey, H.M., 1999, A New Type of Shelf Margin Deposit: Rigid Microbial Sheets and Unconsolidated Grainstones Riddled with Meter-Scale Cavities, Sedimentary Geology, v. 128, 13-21.
[3] de Wet, C. B., Frey, H.M, Gaswirth, S. B., Mora, C. I., Rahnis, M.A. and Bruno, C.R., 2004, Origin of Meter-scale Cavities and Herringbone Calcite Cement In a Cambrian Microbial Reef, Ledger Formation, (U.S.A.), Journal of Sedimentary Research v. 74, p. 914-923.
1995-1996
- on junior faculty leave
1994-1995
Burrell, Shondricka
Variable Exposure Periods from Stacked Calcrete Horizons in the Triassic New Oxford Fm., Rife Farm Core, south-central PA
- Hackman Scholars Program
- *University of Missouri
1994-1995
Slovinsky, Peter
Changing Beach Profiles Due to Storms and Longshore Drift, Coastal Delaware
- *University of North Carolina, M.Sc.
1993-1994
Yocum, Daniel
Deposition and Diagenesis of Lacustrine Carbonates in the Gettysburg Basin, (Triassic) PA
- (Honors) - Hackman & Marshall Scholars funds
- *Univ. of Wisconsin, M.Sc.
[1] Freshwater Carbonate Deposits of the Gettysburg Basin (Triassic), Pennsylvania [abstr], Northeastern section Geological Society of America meeting, Binghamton, NY, p. 81.
[2] de Wet, C.B. & Yocum, D.A., 1994, Carbonate Lakes as Sensitive Indicators of Paleoclimate and Tectonics: the Triassic Gettysburg Basin, south-central Pennsylvania [abstr], AAPG Annual Meeting, Denver, p. 133.
[3] de Wet, C.B., Yocum, D.A. & Mora, C.I. Carbonate Lakes In Closed Basins: Sensitive Indicators of Climate and Tectonics; an example from the Gettysburg Basin (Triassic), Pennsylvania - in, Shanley, K.W., and McCabe, P.J., eds., 1998, Relative Role of Eustasy, Climate, and Tectonism in Continental Rocks, Society of Sedimentary Geology (SEPM) Special Publication No. 59, Tulsa, OK, p. 191-209.
1993-1994
Brennan, Sean
Depositional Histroy of Providence Limestone Member (Pennsylvanian), Hopkins County, western Kentucky
- summer research funded through Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR): Undergraduate Student Summer Research Fellowship
- *Univ. of Kansas (M.Sc. 1998)
- *SUNY Binghampton, Ph.D. 2002
[1] Brennan, S.T., The Depositional History of the Providence Limestone, Illinois Basin, Western Kentucky [abstr], 1994, Northeastern Section Geological Society of America meeting, Binghamton, NY, p.8
[2] de Wet, C.B., Moshier, S.O., Hower, J.C., de Wet, A.P., Brennan, S.T., Helfrich, C.T. and Raymond, A.L., 1997, Disrupted Coal and Carbonate Facies within Two Pennsylvanian Cyclothems, Southern Illinois Basin, USA, Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 109, p. 1231-1248.
1993-1994
Watts, Samuel
Stratigraphy and Depositional Environments, Triassic Rheems Railroad Cut, Gettysburg Basin, PA
Watts, S. and de Wet, C.B., Triassic Fluvial Sandstones and Overbank Mudstones, Rheems, PA [abstr], 1994, Northeastern Section Geological Society of America meeting, Binghamton, NY, p. 79.
1993-1994
Daniels, Stephanie
Factors Influencing Female Undergraduate Students to Take Upper Level Science Courses
- co-supervised with Dr. Linda Aleci, as a Women's Studies minor Independent Study
1992-1993
Dudkiewicz, George
Recognition of Parasequences and their Diagenesis in Cambrian Carbonates, Morgantown, PA
-Recognition of Parasequences and their Diagenesis in Cambrian Carbonates, Morgantown, PA [abstr], American Assoc. of Petroleum Geologists Annual Meeting, 1993, New Orleans, LA, p.94.
- *Vanderbilt University – Law degree – environmental law specialty
1991-1992
Berk, Wendy
Deposition and Carbonate Diagenesis of a Mixed Siliciclastic-Carbonate System: The Centerfield Biostrome, Stroudsburg, PA
- (Honors) - Hackman Scholars Program
Carbonate Diagenesis of a Mixed Siliciclastic-Carbonate Environment, The Centerfield Biostrome, Stroudsburg, PA, [abstr], 1992, Northeastern Section Geological Society of America meeting, Harrisburg, PA, p. 7.
- *Univ. of Massachusets
1991-1992
Burns, Christine
Quartz Fabrics and Clay Mineralogy As Indicators of Depositional and Diagenetic History: Examples From the Centerfield Biostrome Near Stroudsburg, PA
- (Honors) - Hackman Scholars Program
Quartz Fabrics and Clay Mineralogy as Indicators of Depositional and Diagenetic History: Examples from a Middle Devonian Bioherm near Stroudsburg, PA [abstr], 1992, Northeastern Section Geological Society of America meeting, Harrisburg, PA, p. 10.
- *Univ. of North Carolina, M.Sc.
Folk, Robert
- summer research funded by Hackman Scholars Program
- *Univ. of Pennsylvania
Klinger, Joseph
Offshore Dynamics and Sedimentary Characteristics of La Malbaie, Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec
- Keck Consortium
Offshore Sediment Dynamics in the Baie De Malbaie, Gaspe Penisula, Quebec, Fifth Keck Research Symposium in Geology, Lexington, VA, 1992, p. 53-55.
*Univ. of Rhode Island, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Rahnis, Michael
Diagenesis of the King's Falls Limestone of the Ordovician Trenton Group in central New York state: a petrographic and geochemical study
- Keck Consortium
- de Wet, C. B., Frey, H.M, Gaswirth, S. B., Mora, C. I., Rahnis, M.A. and Bruno, C.R., 2004, Origin of Meter-scale Cavities and Herringbone Calcite Cement In a Cambrian Microbial Reef, Ledger Formation, (U.S.A.), Journal of Sedimentary Research v. 74, p. 914-923.
- Diagenesis in the King's Falls Member of the Trenton Group, Fifth Keck Research Symposium in Geology, Lexington, VA, 1992, p.191-194.
- *Univ. of Texas, Austin, M.Sc., Ph.D.
1990-1991
Hammack, Lauren
The Effects of Environmental Change and Euopean Settlement on the Floodplain of Pequea Creek
- (co-supervised with Dorothy Merritts)
- *Colorado State University, M.Sc.
Shane, Brendan
The Effects of Agriculture: An Historical and Sedimentological Study on the Floodplain Sediments of the Pequea Creek at Colemanville, Pennsylvania
- (co-supervised with Dorothy Merritts)
- *University of Maryland, M.Sc.
Summary:
42 students involved in research
8 received Departmental Honors for their thesis
Summary of Undergraduate Involvement Research Funding:
Franklin & Marshall College Hackman Scholars and Lesor Scholars; Keck Consortium; Council on Undergraduate Research Fellowship; PA State Geological Survey; American Chemical Society-Petroleum Research Fund Grant Support
Summary of Undergraduate Co-Authored Journal Articles (excluding abstracts): 15 peer reviewed articles with student co-authors.
Summary of Graduate School Attendance: ~40 of the 44 students I have supervised have gone or are going to graduate school in sedimentology or a related field; 10 are now in Ph.D. programs or have completed Ph.D.’s., 1 recently was awarded tenure at Union College, 2 work for the USGS, others work for state surveys, many work in the energy industry, 2 teach at community colleges
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