W. Gary Ernst
Benjamin M. Page Professor Emeritus

Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-2115

Phone: (650) 723-0185
Fax: (650) 725-0979

ernst@pangea.stanford.edu

Office: Green Earth Sci. Bldg. #209
Born: 14 December 1931, St. Louis, Missouri


B. A. Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, 1953
M.S. University of Minnesota, 1955
Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University, 1959

  • Professor, Department of Earth and Space Sciences, and Professor, Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, UCLA (1 January 1960-31 August 1989)
  • Chair, Department of Geology (1 January 1970-31 August 1974)
  • Chair, Department of Earth and Space Sciences (1 September 1978-31 August 1982)
  • Director, Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (1 January 1987-31 August, 1989)
  • Professor, Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University (1 September, 1989-31 August, 2004)
  • Dean, School of Earth Sciences, Stanford University (1 September, 1989-31 August, 1994)
  • Emeritus Professor, Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University (1 September, 2004-present)

  • Member, National Academy of Sciences (Chair, Sec. 15, NAS, 1 May 1979-30 April 1982; Secretary, Class I, NAS, 1 July 1997-June 30 2000; Chair, 1 July 2000-June 30 2003).
  • Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Science
  • Member, American Philosophical Society
  • Trustee, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1990-present


Research Summary




Our small group studies the interplay of mineralogic, petrologic and geochemical processes with plate tectonics and continental evolution. We combine geologic/structural mapping with detailed studies of: (1) chemical and stable isotopic compositions of coexisting minerals; (2) major, minor, trace element and stable isotopic bulk-rock compositions; (3) radiometric ages of Earth materials; and (4) detrital zircon provenance signatures in order to constrain the architecture, thermal structure, and crustal history of convergent arcs and zones of continental-collision. Areas currently under geologic-petrochemical study include the Sierran Foothills, the White-Inyo Range, and the central Klamath Mountains. Other regions of continuing interest include east-central and western ultrahigh-pressure belts China, the southern Urals, and northern Kazakhstan, as well as the high-pressure metamorphic Franciscan Complex of the California Coast Ranges.

Several other, unrelated types of geologic problem are also under scientific investigation. These include: (a) the use of remote sensing combined with on-the-ground analysis of vegetation communities in order to quantify botanical occurrence as a function of geologic substrate and microclimate (i., e., elevation); (b) experimental rate studies of the maturation of organic carbonaceous material under geologic conditions; and (c) the relationship of human health to the encompassing geologic environment.


Recent Publications (since 2000)


  • Tsai, C. H., Liou, J. G., and Ernst, W. G., 2000, Petrological characterization and tectonic significance of retrogressed garnet peridotites, Raobazhai area, north Dabie Complex, east-central China: Jour. Metamorphic Geol., v. 18, p. 181-192.
  • Leech, M. L., and Ernst, W. G., 2000, Petrotectonic evolution of the high- to ultrahigh-pressure Maksyutov Complex, Karayanova area, south Ural Mountains, Russia: structural and oxygen isotopic constraints: Lithos, v. 52, p. 235-252.
  • Ernst, W. G., 2000, Continental collision, mountain building, and diamonds in the rough: Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc., v. 144, p. 1-32.
  • Van de Ven, C., Ernst, W. G., and Lyon, R. J. P., 2000, Relationship between the geologic substrate and vegetation in the White-Inyo Mountains, eastern California, as determined from AVIRIS and field data: Proc. 14th Int. Conf. Applied Geol. Remote Sensing (ERIM), Las Vegas, NV, p. 36-43.
  • Van de Ven, C., Ernst, W. G., Lyon, R. J. P., and Strawa, A.W., 2000, Analysis of the relationships between geologic substrate and vegetation in the White-Inyo Mountains of eastern California: Jet Propulsion Laboratory AVIRIS Earth Sci. Applications Workshop, Feb. 23-25, 2000, p. 471-480
  • Banno, S., Shibakusa, H., Enami, M., Wang, C. L., and Ernst, W. G., 2000, Chemical fine structure of Franciscan jadeitic pyroxene from Ward Creek, Cazadero area, California: Amer. Mineral., v. 85, p. 1795-1798.
  • Ernst, W. G., 2001, The increasing severity of Circumpacific natural hazards: Int. Geol. Rev., v. 43, p. 380-390.
  • Ernst, W. G., 2001, Subduction, ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism, and regurgitation of buoyant crustal slices?implications for arcs and continental growth: p 253-275 in Processes and Consequences of Deep Subduction: D. Rubie and R. van der. Hilst (eds.), Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors.
  • Ernst, W. G., Jones, R. E., and Van de Ven, C. M., 2002, Geologic map of the Mount Barcroft complex, central White Mountains, eastern California: structure, mineral parageneses, and tectonic evolution: Calif. Div. Mines and Geol., Map Sheet 51, Scale 1:24,000, accompanying text 85p.
  • Ernst, W. G. 2002, Paragenesis and thermobarometry of Ca-clinoamphiboles in the Barcroft granodioritic pluton, central White Mountains, eastern California: Amer. Mineral., v. 87, 478-490.
  • Liou, J. G., Zhang, R. Y., Katayama, I., Maruyama, S., and Ernst, W. G., 2002, Petrotectonic characterization of the Kokchetav Massif and the Dabie-Sulu terranes?ultrahigh-P metamorphism in the so-called forbidden zone: Western Pacific Earth Sciences, v. 2, p. 119-148
  • Hacker, B. R., Calvert, A., Zhang, R. Y., Ernst, W. G., and Liou, J. G., 2002, Ar/Ar geochronology of diamond-bearing metasedimentary rocks from the Kokchetav Massif: p. 397-412 in The Diamond-Bearing Kokchetav Massif, Kazakhstan: C. D. Parkinson, I. Katayama, J. G. Liou, and S. Maruyama (eds.), Universal Academic Press, Tokyo, 527p.
  • Liou, J. G., Ernst, W. G., and Ogasawara, Y., 2002, Petrochemical and tectonic processes of UHP/HP terranes: Preface: Int. Geol. Rev., v. 44, p. 765-769.
  • Ernst, W. G., 2002, Global equity and sustainable Earth resource consumption requires super-efficient extraction-conservation-recycling and ubiquitous, inexpensive energy: Int. Geol. Rev., v. 44, p. 1072-1091.
  • Ernst, W. G., and Rumble, D. III, 2003, Oxygen isotopic study of Late Mesozoic cooling of the Mount Barcroft area, central White Mountains, eastern California: Contrib. Mineral. Petrology, v. 144, p. 637-651.
  • Ernst, W. G., Heiken, G., Landon, S. M., Leahy, P. P., and Moores, E., 2003, Report on Pardee Symposium K4, 2002 GSA Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado, October 28, 2002: GSA Today, v. 13, no. 3, p. 27-28.
  • Ernst, W. G., Coleman, D. S., and Van de Ven, C. M., 2003, Petrochemistry of granitic rocks in the Mount Barcroft area?implications for arc evolution, central White Mountains, easternmost California: Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer., v. 115, p. 499-512.
  • Liou, J. G., Ernst, W. G., and Ogasawara, Y., 2003, Petrochemical and tectonic processes of UHP/HP terranes II: Preface: Jour. Metamorphic Geol., v. 21, p. 513-514.
  • Masago, H., Rumble, D., III, Ernst, W. G., Parkinson, C. D., and Maruyama, S., 2003, Low ƒÂ18O eclogites from the Kokchetav massif, northern Kazakhstan: Jour. Met. Geol., v. 21, p. 579-587.
  • Hourigan, J., Ernst, W. G., and Inan, E. E., 2003, Thermal relaxation of a magmatic arc complex, Mount Barcroft area, eastern California: 40Ar/39Ar geochronologic study of hornblende and biotite from igneous and metamorphic rocks: Int. Geol. Rev., v. 45, p. 863-885.
  • Bostick, B. C., Jones, R. E., Ernst, W. G., Chen, C., Leech, M. L., and Beane, R. J., 2003, Low-temperature microdiamond aggregates in the Maksyutov metamorphic complex, south Ural Mountains, Russia: Am. Mineral., v. 88, p. 1709-1717.
  • Ernst, W. G., 2003, High-pressure and ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belts?subduction, recrystallization, exhumation, and significance for ophiolite study: p. 365-384 in Y. Dilek, and S. Newcomb, (eds.), Geol. Soc. Amer. Special Paper No. 373. 504p.
  • Ernst, W. G., Van de Ven, C. M., and Lyon, R. J. P., 2003, Relationships among vegetation, geology, and climatic zones in the central White-Inyo Range, eastern California: Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer., v. 115, p. 1583-1597.
  • Hacker, B. R., Calvert, A. T., Zhang, R. Y., Ernst, W. G., and Liou, J. G., 2003, Ultra-rapid exhumation of ultrahigh pressure diamond-bearing metasedimentary and meta-igneous rocks of the Kokchetav Massif: Lithos, v. 70, p. 61-75.
  • Ernst, W. G., and Ferreiro M?hlmann, R., 2004, Vitrinite alteration rate as a function of temperature, time, starting material, aqueous fluid pressure, and oxygen fugacity?Laboratory corroboration of prior work: p. 341-357 in Hill, R. J., Leventhal, J., Aizenshtat, Z., Baedecker, M. J., Claypool, G., Eganhouse, R., Goldhaber, M., and Peters, K., eds., Geochemical Investigations in Earth and Space Science: Geochem. Soc. Special Pub. No. 9, 466p.
  • Ernst, W. G., 2004, Regional crustal thickness and precipitation in young mountain chains: Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., v. 101, p. 14,998-15,001.
  • Ernst, W. G., 2005, Contact metamorphism of the White Mountain Peak metavolcanic complex, eastern California: Amer. Mineral., v. 90. p. 1-12.
  • Ernst, W. G., 2005, Alpine and Pacific styles of Phanerozoic mountain building: subduction-zone petrogenesis of continental crust: Terra Nova, v. 17, p. 165-188.
  • Metzger, E. P., Ernst, W. G., and Sorg, D., 2005, Aluminous xenoliths in Miocene andesite, central California Coast Ranges: magma-crust interaction in a subduction-transform transitional setting: Int. Geol. Rev., v. 47, p. 573-590.
  • Dickinson, W. R., Ducea, M., Rosenberg, L. I., Greene, H. G., Graham, S. A., Clark, J. C., Weber, G. E., Kidder, S., Ernst, W. G., and Brabb, E. E., 2005, Net dextral slip, Neogene San Gregorio-Hosgri fault zone, coastal California: Geologic evidence and tectonic implications: Geol. Soc. Amer. Special Paper No. 391, 43p.
  • Tsujimori, T., Liou, J. G., Ernst, W. G., and Itaya, T., 2006. Triassic paragonite- and garnet-bearing epidote-amphibolite from the Hida Mountains, Japan: Gondwana Research, v. 9, p. 167-175.
  • Ernst, W. G., 2006, Earth materials and human health: Int. Geol. Rev., v. 48, p. 191-208.
  • Scherer, H. H., Snow, C. A., and Ernst, W. G., 2006, Geologic-petrologic comparison of early Mesozoic mafic arc terranes: Western Triassic and Paleozoic belt, Klamath Mountains, and Jura-Triassic arc belt, Sierran Foothills: p. 377-392 in Snoke, A. W., and Barnes, C. G. (eds.), Geologic Studies in the Klamath Mountains Province, California and Oregon: A volume in Honor of William P. Irwin: Geol. Soc. Amer. Special Paper No. 410, 505p.
  • Ernst, W. G., 2006, Geologic mapping?where the rubber meets the road: p. 13-28 in Manduca, C. A., and Mogk, D. W. (eds.), Earth and Mind: How Geologists Think and Learn about the Earth: Geol. Soc. Amer. Special Paper No. 413, 188p.