Mark Schmitz

Mark Schmitz is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Boise State University, where he serves as Director of the Isotope Geology Laboratory. With expertise spanning isotope geochemistry and geochronology, Dr. Schmitz applies advanced analytical techniques to address fundamental questions about Earth's history and processes across multiple geological disciplines including petrology, tectonics, volcanology, stratigraphy, and paleoclimate reconstruction.

Dr. Schmitz earned his Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2002, an M.S. from the University of Auckland, New Zealand in 1995, and a B.S. from Macalester College in 1994. His educational background has provided a strong foundation for his research in dating geological materials and processes, contributing significantly to the refinement of the geologic time scale.

Dr. Schmitz's research program centers on high-precision geochronological data to address questions about the rates of geological processes and causal mechanisms of geological events. His laboratory applies both LA-ICPMS and ID-TIMS measurements of U-Th-Pb chronometers in minerals like zircon, monazite, titanite, apatite, rutile, calcite, and garnet, complemented by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy. His work spans igneous and metamorphic petrology, structural geology and tectonics, and paleobiological evolution and paleoclimate change in deep time. He has made significant contributions to the development of the Geologic Time Scale, co-authoring major reference works including "The Geologic Time Scale 2020" and "The Geologic Time Scale 2012."

Recent publications reveal Dr. Schmitz's application of high-precision U-Pb geochronology to diverse geological problems including Cambrian time scale refinement, dinosaur evolution studies, mineralization processes, shear zone deformation, and paleoclimate reconstruction. His work frequently integrates multiple dating techniques with geological context to establish precise chronological frameworks, often incorporating Bayesian modeling approaches to improve age determinations. This research has broad implications for understanding evolutionary events, climate change throughout Earth history, tectonic processes, and volcanic activity.

Dr. Schmitz has developed methodologies for high-precision geochronology that have been widely adopted in the field. His research has been supported by numerous grants that have enabled the operation of the Isotope Geology Laboratory at Boise State University, providing research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. He actively encourages prospective students interested in gaining expertise in isotope geochemistry to contact him regarding research opportunities.

As Director of the Isotope Geology Laboratory, Dr. Schmitz oversees facilities that support both research and teaching in Earth sciences. His laboratory focuses on constraining the timing and rates of geologic processes through both in situ (LA-ICPMS) and high-precision (ID-TIMS) U-Pb geochronology and Bayesian age modeling strategies. The laboratory serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research that bridges multiple geological subdisciplines through the unifying framework of precise time measurement.