Roy W. Schlische

Professor
Room 234 Wright Geological Laboratory
(732) 445-3142
schlisch@rci.rutgers.edu

Education

• B.A., Rutgers University 
• M.A., M.Phil, Ph.D., Columbia University

Teaching

• Undergraduate: Introductory Geology , Field Geology , Geologic Field Methods, Structural Geology Planet Earth 
• Graduate: Advanced Structural Geology , Advanced Tectonics, Geodynamics, Seminar in Extensional Tectonics , Seminar in Fracture Mechanics; Modeling in Structural Geology: Geometric, Experimental & Numerical
  

Extensional Tectonics Working Group at Rutgers >>Website

Structural Geology and Tectonics at Rutgers >>PDF file

Research Interests

The goal of my research is to understand: 1) the geometry, evolution and mechanics of normal-fault systems and fault-related extensional folds; and 2) the evolution and mechanics of continental rift systems and the development of passive margins. My approach is multi-faceted, incorporating field studies, scaled experimental modeling, and interpretation of seismic-reflection profiles. The results of my research are applicable to sedimentary, petroleum, and hydrogeologic systems and to seismic-hazard assessment.

The Rutgers Experimental Modeling Laboratory that I co-established with Prof. Martha Withjack is a world-class facility for studying the 3D geometry and evolution of geologic structures. Our state-of-the-art laboratory is designed specifically for scaled modeling. With our versatile equipment, we can simulate most structural styles, including basement-involved, detached, and distributed extension; shortening; strike-slip, and oblique deformation; and salt tectonics. Our equipment is specially engineered to allow us to change the displacement direction during a model run (e.g., two phases of extension; extension followed by shortening, i.e., basin inversion). We use a variety of scaled modeling materials (dry sand, wet clay, putty), but specialize in layered clay models. Serial sectioning of layered models allows construction of 3D representations of fault surfaces, folded horizons, and unconformities, etc. The Rutgers Modeling Lab was the only U.S. modeling lab to participate in a series of 'benchmark' experiments of extension at a recent international conference on geologic modeling. Prof. Withjack, Prof. Greg Mountain, and I also run a seismic-interpretation laboratory equipped with Windows and Unix workstations and software (donated by industry) for 2D and 3D seismic projects.

Recent Publications

• Clifton, A.E., and Schlische, R.W., 2003, Fracture populations on the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland: Comparisons with experimental clay models of oblique rifting: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 108, No. B2, 10.1029/2001JB000635, 17 pp. >>PDF file
• Schlische, R.W., 2003, Progress in understanding the structural geology, basin evolution, and tectonic history of the eastern North American rift system, in LeTourneau, P.M., and Olsen, P.E., eds., The Great Rift Valleys of Pangea: New York, Columbia University Press, in press. >>PDF file of Preprint
• Ackermann, R.V., Schlische, R.W., Patiño, L.C., and Johnson, L.A., 2003, A Lagerstätte of rift-related tectonic structures from the Solite Quarry, Dan River/Danville rift basin, in LeTourneau, P.M., and Olsen, P.E., eds., The Great Rift Valleys of Pangea: New York, Columbia University Press, in press.  >>PDF file of Preprint
• Schlische, R.W., Withjack, M.O., and Olsen, P.E., 2002, Relative timing of CAMP, rifting, continental breakup, and inversion: tectonic significance, in Hames, W.E., McHone, G.C., Renne, P.R., and Ruppel, C.R., eds., The Central Atlantic Magmatic Province: Insights from Fragments of Pangea: American Geophysical Union Monograph 136, p. 33-59. >>PDF File
• Schlische, R.W., Withjack, M.O., and Eisenstadt, G., 2002, An experimental study of the secondary deformation produced by oblique-slip normal faulting: AAPG Bulletin, v. 86, p. 885-906.  >>PDF file
• Ackermann, R.V., Schlische, R.W., and Withjack, M.O., 2001, The geometric and statistical evolution of normal fault systems: an experimental study of the effects of mechanical layer thickness on scaling laws: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 23, p. 1803-1819. >>PDF file
• Clifton, A.E., and Schlische, R.W., 2001, Nucleation, growth and linkage of faults in oblique rift zones: results from experimental clay models: Geology, v. 29, p. 455-458. >>PDF file
• Clifton, A.E., Schlische, R.W., Withjack, M.O., and Ackermann, R.V., 2000, Influence of rift obliquity on fault-population systematics: results of clay modeling experiments: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 22, p. 1491-1509. >>PDF file
• Schlische, R.W., and Ackermann, R.V., 1998, Integrating computers into the field geology curriculum: Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 46, p. 30-40. >>PDF File
• Withjack, M.O., Schlische, R.W., and Olsen, P.E., 1998, Diachronous rifting, drifting, and inversion on the passive margin of central eastern North America: An analog for other passive margins: AAPG Bulletin, v. 82, p. 817-835.>>PDF File
• Ackermann, R.V., and Schlische, R.W., 1997, Anticlustering of small normal faults around larger faults: Geology, v. 25, p. 1127-1130. >>PDF file
• Herman, G.C., Monteverde, D.H., Schlische, R.W., and Pitcher, D.M., 1997, Foreland crustal structure of the New York recess, northeastern United States: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 109, p. 955-977. > >PDF file
• Schlische, R.W., Young, S.S., Ackermann, R.V., and Gupta, A., 1996, Geometry and scaling relations of a population of very small rift-related normal faults: Geology, v. 23, p. 683-686. >>PDF file
• Schlische, R.W., and Anders, M.H., 1996, Stratigraphic effects and tectonic implications of the growth of normal faults and extensional basins, in Beratan, K.K., ed., Reconstructing the History of Basin and Range Extension Using Sedimentology and Stratigraphy: Geological Society of America Special Paper 303, p. 183-203. >>PDF file
• Olsen, P.E., Kent, D.V., Cornet, B., Witte, W.K., and Schlische, R.W., 1996, High-resolution stratigraphy of the Newark rift basin (early Mesozoic, eastern North America): Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 108, p. 40-77.
• Schlische, R.W., 1995, Geometry and origin of fault-related folds in extensional settings: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 79, p. 1661-1678. >>PDF file
• Schlische, R.W., and Ackermann, R.V., 1995, Kinematic significance of sediment-filled fissures in the North Mountain Basalt, Fundy rift basin, Nova Scotia, Canada: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 17, p. 987-996. >>PDF file
• Withjack, M.O., Olsen, P.E., and Schlische, R.W., 1995, Tectonic evolution of the Fundy basin, Canada: Evidence of extension and shortening during passive-margin development: Tectonics, v. 14, p. 390-405.
• Anders, M.H., and Schlische, R.W., 1994, Overlapping faults, intrabasin highs, and the growth of normal faults: Journal of Geology, v. 102, p. 165-179.
• Schlische, R.W., 1993, Anatomy and evolution of the Triassic-Jurassic continental rift system, eastern North America: Tectonics, v. 12, p. 1026-1042.