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Professional Preparation

Ph.D. - Geochemistry
The Pennsylvania State University - 1963
M.S. - Geology
California Institute of Technology - 1959
B.S. - Geology and Mineralogy
The Pennsylvania State University - 1957

Research Areas

Research Interests

Experimental igneous petrology, oceanic volcanism, phase equilibrium theory, the mantle plume controvery, role of volatiles in magmatism, granitic batholiths, electrical conductivity of magmas

Publications

Keshav, S., Gudfinnsson, G. H., and  Presnall, D. C. (2011) Melting phase  relations of simplified carbonated peridotite at 12-26 GPa in the systems  CaO-MgO-SiO2- and CaO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-CO2: Highly calcic magmas in the  transition zone of the Earth, Jour. Petrology, 52, 2265-2291.  2011 - Publication
Presnall, D. C. and Gudfinnsson, G. H. (2011) Fracture-Induced Oceanic volcanism  from the low-velocity zone – without mantle plumes,  J. Petrol.,  P. J. Wyllie  Volume (advanced access).  2011 - Publication
Presnall, D. C. and Gudfinnsson, G. H. (2008) Origin of the oceanic lithosphere,  J.  Petrol., 72, 615-632. 2008 - Publication
Keshav, S., Sen, G. H., and Presnall, D. C. (2007) Garnet-bearing xenoliths from Salt  Lake Crater, Oahu, Hawaii: High-pressure fractional crystallization in the oceanic  mantle., J. Petrol., 48, 1681-1724. 2007 - Publication
Gudfinnsson, G. H., and Presnall, D. C. (2005) Continuous gradations among primary  carbonatitic, kimberlitic, melilititic, basaltic, picritic, and komatiitic melts in  equilibrium with garnet lherzolite at 3-8 GPa, J. Petrol., 46, 1645-1659.  2005 - Publication
Presnall, D. C. and Gudfinnsson, G. H. (2005) Carbonate-rich melts in the oceanic  low-velocity zone and deep mantle, in Foulger, G. R., Natland, J. H., Presnall, D.  C., and Anderson, D. L. (eds.),  Plates, Plumes and Paradigms, Geol. Soc. Am.  Spec. Paper 388, 207-216. 2005 - Publication
Presnall, D. C., Gudfinnsson, G. H., and Walter, M. J. (2002) Generation of mid-ocean  ridge basalts at pressures from 1 to 7 GPa, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 66, 2073- 2090. 2002 - Publication
Gudfinnsson, G. H. and Presnall, D. C. (2001) A pressure-independent  geothermometer for primitive mantle melts, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 16,205-16,211. 2001 - Publication

Appointments

Emeritus Professor
University of Texas at Dallas [1999–Present]
Visiting Scientist
Carnegie Institution of Washington [1999–2005]
Visiting Scholar
Okayama University [1998–2018]
Visiting Scholar
Okayama University, Misasa, Japan [1996–2018]
Visiting Professor
State University of New York at Stony Brook [1989–2018]
Distinguished Visiting Professor
University of Alberta, Edmonton [1989–2018]
Visiting Scientist
U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virgina [1983–1984]
Acting Director
University of Texas at Dallas [1982–1985]
Professor
University of Texas at Dallas [1978–1999]
Geologist
U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California [1977–2018]

Additional Information

Memberships
  • American Geophysical Union (Fellow) 
  •  Geochemical Society 
  •  Geological Society of America (Fellow) 
  •  Indian Geophysical Union (Foreign Fellow) 
  •  Mineralogical Society of America (Fellow) 
Activities
  • Convener, Chapman Conference (American Geophysical Union), Generation of the Oceanic Lithosphere, April 6-10, 1981. 
  • Convener, First International Pressure Calibration Workshop, Misasa, Japan, 1997. 
  • Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research, October, 1986-December, 1988. 
  • Editor, Geophysics News, 1993. 
  • Editorial Board, Science Letters, National Academy of Sciences of India, 1998-present. 
  • EOS Associate Editor for Geophysics News, 1994-1995. 
  • Edited volume: Plates, Plumes, and Paradigms (2005), edited by G. R. Foulger, J. H. Natland, D.C. Presnall, and D. L. Anderson, Spec. Paper 388, Geol. Soc. Am., 881 pp. 
  • Member, Task Group on Geochemical Instrumentation, U.S. Geodynamics Committee of the National Research Council, 1988. 
  • Member, Meetings Committee, American Geophysical Union, 1990-1992. 
  • Member, Public Information Committee, American Geophysical Union, 1992-1994. 
  • Member, Committee on Committees, Mineralogical Society of America, 1978-1980, 1991-1993. 
  • Member, MSA Award Committee, Mineralogical Society of America, 1980-1981. 
  • Mineralogical Society of America delegate to the Geological Society of America Joint Technical Program Committee, 1980-1983. 
  • Member, Research Grant Committee, Mineralogical Society of America, 1987-1988. 
  • Member, Macelwane Award Committee, American Geophysical Union, 1994-1996. 
  • Member, Nominations Committee, Geochemical Society, 1997-2000; Chairman, 1999-2000. 
  • Member, Roebling Medal Committee, Mineralogical Society of America, 1999-2000. 
  • Member, Public Service Medal Committee, American Geophysical Union, 2006-2008. 
  • Invited visit to Taiwan for presentation of two lectures, one at Academia Sinica in Taipei, and another at Chen Kong University in Tainan, 2010. 
  • Invited paper at 2010 annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, “Oceanic Volcanism from the Low-Velocity Zone – Without Mantle Plumes”.