DR. HELPER - RESEARCH
DR. HELPER
Dr. Helper's current research involves field-and laboratory-based studies of Precambrian crystalline rocks in Antarctica and central Texas. With colleagues Ian Dalziel, James Connelly and Wulf Gose, Mark is testing late Precambrian global plate reconstructions by comparing Mesoproterozoic geologic histories of basement provinces in the southwestern US to that of East Antarctica. Dr. Helper also supervises undergraduate research projects and is involved in research on the Precambrian geology of the Llano uplift in central Texas. Recent studies there have examined: 1) techniques for applying differential GPS technology to detailed field mapping, 2) the relationships among deformation, plutonism and metamorphism in gneisses and granites, and 3) paleomagnetism in granites.
Mark presently serves as the Department’s field camp director and curate two large gem and mineral collections. He is also an active participant in the Department and University outreach activities, which support K-12 earth science education in the Austin area.
