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Andy Bobyarchick
Associate Professor, Earth Sciences Graduate Coordinator
OFFICE: 308 McEniry
PHONE: 704-687-5998
E-MAIL: arbobyar@uncc.edu
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TEACHING AND RESEARCH INTERESTS:
• Kinematics of ductile shear zones
• Tectonics and regional geology of the Southern Appalachian
Mountains
• Applied geophysics
• Online and non-traditional experiential geosciences education
DEGREES:
Ph.D. (1983) Geological Sciences, Albany State
M.S. (1977) Geological Sciences, Virginia Tech
B.S. (1974) Geology, Birmingham-Southern College
PROFILE:
My long-term research interests include the tectonics and regional
geology of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, particularly within
the eastern crystalline core of the chain. Numerous embedded orogen-parallel
ductile shear zones in this area contain kinematic indicators for
strike- or oblique-slip during mid- to late-Paleozoic deformation
that is more characteristically compressional in the western part
of the mountain belt. In addition to the Paleozoic kinematic significance
of these structures, many shear zones also were reactivated to nucleate
Mesozoic rift basins. I have continued to evaluate all of these
relationships in field sites throughout North Carolina and Virginia.
Part of my research in continuous deformation is theoretical. It
is clear in many ductile shear zones that deformation cannot be
exclusively pure shear or simple shear. This recognition leads to
the need to establish models for shear that incorporate vorticity
components of pure and simple shearing. The result of this analysis
is the kinematic vorticity number, a measure of the balance between
shearing components that has been found to be verifiable with field
studies. This line of research is intermittent, but continues to
be of interest.
I also am involved in studies of neo-tectonics. In the Appalachians,
“neo-tectonics” often refers to the identification of
structures that could be related to Tertiary and/or Quaternary activity.
I have previously studied potential neo-tectonic areas along the
Fall Line in eastern Virginia. Presently, I am planning an investigation
of possible Quaternary faulting in the western Virginia Piedmont
in the Mountain Run fault zone, which lies at the physiographic
boundary between the Blue Ridge and Piedmont provinces. Recently
I have been working with Missy Eppes and John Diemer to investigate
an area of active deformation along the northern piedmont of the
San Bernardino Mountains in California. There we have used ground-penetrating
radar (GPR) to delineate sub-surface structures in an active faulted
anticline. This work continues with additional near-surface geophysics
and structural mapping to provide a model for the fault-fold relationship
there.
I teach applied geophysics and also use some of these tools in field
research. In addition to the GPR work in California, with John Diemer
and Missy Eppes and a class of graduate students we have done GPR
profiles of pond sediment and colluvial debris in the western Piedmont
of North Carolina. Also, with Craig Allan and John Diemer we have
compiled a grid of GPR profiles in Ontario, Canada to assist in
the study of the sub-surface component of a watershed study.
I am currently involved in an on-going research project with John
Diemer and Missy Eppes to study the source and distribution of home
radon in the eastern Inner Piedmont of North Carolina. This project
area, which is funded by the NC Radiation Protection Office, is
located where radon concentrations are known to be above background
values for the region.
I maintain a program of outreach and innovation in geoscience education.
For several years, I have taught an intense, hands-on summer institute
for in-service K-12 schoolteachers. This field- and lab-based course
is oriented on content and experience. I also am actively involved
in developing online physical geology courses for non-science majors
or teachers through UNC Charlotte and through the UNC general administration.
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