David W. Marchetti

Courses Taught

• Geomorphology
• Research in Quaternary Geology
• Hydrogeology
• Physical Geology
• The Water Planet
• Paleoclimatology
• Intro to GIS

Research Interests

My research interests lie in using recent advances in geochemistry and geochronology to study past climates, landscapes, and the processes that change them. Over the past decade I’ve been significantly involved in using cosmogenic isotopes (³He, ¹⁰Be) to determine the exposure duration of rock surfaces. I’ve used these techniques to determine the timing of glacial deposition, the pace of river incision, and the ages of young lava flows. Chuck Bailey (College of William and Mary) and I recently began a large geologic mapping project in the eastern High Plateaus of Utah. Most of my research thus far has been centered on the Colorado Plateau and central Argentina. Future projects include obtaining and analyzing a deep sediment core from Fish Lake, Utah, using U-series disequilibrium (and potentially U-Pb) dating techniques to understand the timing and paleoclimatic significance of pedogenic carbonate formation on the Colorado Plateau, and additional study of Pleistocene glacial deposits in central Utah.

Student Research

Undergraduate students who have undertaken a geologic research project are at a tremendous advantage when applying for graduate school and jobs. Therefore I try and work with several students each year on meaningful research projects of their choosing. Here are some recent and presently active projects:

• Mark Mikos: Geologic mapping of the Forsyth Reservoir 7.5 minute quadrangle, Utah
• Rebekah Parks: Geologic mapping of the Forsyth Reservoir 7.5 minute quadrangle, Utah
• James Haag: Stable isotope ratios of precipitation in the Gunnison Basin, Colo.
• Max Callihan: Student assistant for the 2010 Colorado Water Workshop
• Sy Luke: Geophysical characterization of the Van Tuyl ranch, Gunnison, Colo.
• Tyler Patrick: Hydrologic characterization of the Van Tuyl ranch, Gunnison, Colo.
• Sarah Able: Surficial geologic mapping of the Hilgard Mt. 7.5 minute quadrangle, Utah
• Andrew Heger: Surficial geologic mapping of the Mt. Terrill 7.5 minute quadrangle, Utah
• Andrew Peyton: Glacial geology of the of the East Beckwith Range, Colo.

Publications

Please email me for reprints.

• Machette, M.N., Thompson, R.A., Marchetti, D.W., and Smith, R.S.U., 2013, Evolution of ancient Lake Alamosa and integration of the Rio Grande during the Pliocene and Pleistocene, in Hudson, M.R., and Grauch, V.J.S., eds., New Perspectives on Rio Grande Rift Basins: From Tectonics to Groundwater: Geological Society of America Special Paper 494, p. 1-20, doi:10.1130/2013.2494(01).
• Marchetti, D.W., Hynek, S.A., and Cerling, T.E., 2012, Gravel-capped benches above the northern tributaries of the Escalante River, south-central Utah: Geosphere v. 8 no. 4 p. 835-853.
• Marchetti, D.W., Bailey, C.M., Hynek, S.A., and Cerling, T.E., 2011, Quaternary geology and geomorphology of the Fremont River drainage basin, south-central Utah: in Beard, L. S., Karlstrom, K.E., Young, R.A., and Billingsley, G.H., CREvolution 2—Origin and Evolution of the Colorado River System, Workshop Abstracts: U.S. Geological Survey Open-file Report 2011-1210, p. 206-211.
• Laabs, B.J.C., Marchetti, D.W., Munroe, J. S., Refsnider, K.A., Gosse, J.C., Lips, W.E., Becker, R.A., Mickelson, D.M., and Singer, B.S., 2011, Chronology of latest Pleistocene mountain glaciation in the western Wasatch Mountains, Utah, U.S.A.: Quaternary Research v. 76 p. 272-284.
• Marchetti, D.W., Harris, M.S., Bailey, C.M., Cerling, T.E., and Bergman, S., 2011, Timing of glaciation and last glacial maximum paleoclimate estimates from the Fish Lake Plateau, Utah: Quaternary Research v. 75 p. 183-195.
• Hynek, S.A., Marchetti, D.W., Fernandez, D.P., and Cerling, T.E., 2010, Composition, pre-eruptive zonation, and geochronologic significance of the ~450 ka Diamante Tuff, Andean Cordillera (34° S), Argentina: Quaternary Geochronology v. 5 p. 591-601.
• Marchetti, D.W., 2007, Pleistocene glaciations in central Utah: a review, in Willis, G.C.,Hylland, M.D., Clark, D.L., and Chidsey, T.C., Jr., editors, Central Utah – diverse geology of a dynamic landscape: Utah Geological Association Publication 36, p. 197-203.
• Bailey, C.M., Harris, M.S., and Marchetti, D.W., 2007, Geologic overview of the Fish Lake Plateau, Utah: in Willis, G.C., Hylland, M.D., Clark, D.L., and Chidsey, T.C., Jr., editors, Central Utah – diverse geology of a dynamic landscape: Utah Geological Association Publication 36, p. 47-56.
• Marchetti, D.W., Cerling, T.E., Dohrenwend, J.C., and Gallin, W., 2007, Ages and significance of glacial and mass movement deposits on the west side of Boulder Mountain, Utah: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 252. p. 503­-513.
• Machette, M.N., Thompson, R.A., Marchetti, D.W., and Kirkham, R.M., 2007, Chapter B—Field Trip Day 2, Quaternary Geology of Lake Alamosa and the Costilla Plain, southern Colorado, in Machette, M.N., Coates, M.M, and Johnson, M.J., eds., Quaternary geology of the San Luis Basin, southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico—Rocky Mountain Section Friends of the Pleistocene Guidebook, September 7-9, 2007: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1193, p. 53-109.
• Machette, M.N., Marchetti, D.W., and Thompson, R.A., 2007, Chapter G—Ancient LakeAlamosa and the Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene evolution of the Rio Grande, in Machette, M.N., Coates, M.M, and Johnson, M.J., eds., Quaternary geology of the San Luis Basin, southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico—Rocky Mountain Section Friends of the Pleistocene Guidebook, September 7-9, 2007: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1193, p. 157-168.
• Bailey, C.M., Marchetti, D.W., and Harris, M.S., 2007, Geology and landscape history of the Fish Lake Plateau, Utah, in Lund, W.R., ed. Field guide to geologic excursions in Southern Utah: Utah Geological Association Publication 35, 25 p.
• Marchetti, D.W., Cerling, T.E., and Lips, E.W., 2005, A glacial chronology for the Fish Creek drainage of Boulder Mountain, Utah: Quaternary Research, v. 64. p. 264-271
• Marchetti, D.W., Dohrenwend, J.C., and Cerling, T.E., 2005, Geomorphology and rates of landscape change in the Fremont River drainage, northwestern Colorado Plateau, in Pederson, J., and Dehler, C.M., eds., Interior Western United States: Geological Society of America Field Guide 6, p. 79–100.
• Marchetti, D.W., and Cerling, T.E., 2005, Cosmogenic ³He exposure ages of Pleistocene debris flows and desert pavements in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah: Geomorphology, v. 67, p. 423-435.
• Marchetti, D.W., and Cerling, T.E., 2001, Bedrock incision rates for a major tributary ofthe Colorado River: Fremont River, Utah, in Young, R.A., and Spamer, E.E., eds., TheColorado River: Origin and Evolution: Grand Canyon, Arizona, Grand Canyon Association Monograph, p. 125-127.Recent meeting abstracts

​​Recent Meeting Abstracts

• Marchetti, D. W., Hynek, S. A., and Cerling, T. E., 2010, Geomorphology and cosmogenic exposure ages of volcanic boulder deposits capping mesas high above the northern tributaries of the Escalante River, south-central Utah. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs: vol.42, no.5, p. 76.
• Laabs, B.J.C., Marchetti, D.W., Munroe, J. S., Gosse, J.C., Refsnider, K.A., and Mickelson,D.M., 2010, Cosmogenic ¹⁰Be exposure-age limits on terminal moraines in the western Wasatch Mountains, Utah, USA. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs vol.42, no.5, p.363.
• Marchetti, D.W., Harris, M.S., Bailey, C.M., and Cerling, T.E., 2010, Glaciation on the Fish Lake and Aquarius Plateaus, south-central Utah. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs vol.42, no.5, p.363.
• Hynek, S. A., Marchetti, D. W., Fernandez, D., and Cerling, T. E., 2009, Geomorphic history of rivers draining the eastern Andean cordillera (34-37°S) constrained by tephrochronology, U-series dating of pedogenic carbonate and cosmogenic ³He dating of basalt flows: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs: vol.41, no.7, p. 228.
• Marchetti, D.W., Bailey, C.M., and Harris, M.S., 2009, Geologic map of the Fish Lake 7.5 minute quadrangle, central Utah: Insights into the volcanic, tectonic, geomorphic, and lacustrine history of the Fish Lake Plateau: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs: vol. 41, no.7, p. 283.
• Heger, A.W., Marchetti, D.W., and Able, S.E., 2009, Surficial mapping of the Mount Terrill quadrangle, Sevier County, Utah. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs vol.41, no.6, p.8.
• Able, S.E., Marchetti, D.W., and Heger, A.W., 2009, Surficial mapping of the Hilgard Mountain quadrangle, Sevier County, Utah. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs vol.41, no.6, p.8.
• Marchetti, D.W., Harris, M.S., Bailey, C.M., and Bergman, S., 2009, Pleistocene glaciations on the Fish Lake Plateau, Utah. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program vol.41, no.6, p.13.