Thomas Lamont

Thomas Lamont is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geoscience at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. His research focuses on metamorphic and igneous petrology, particularly the tectonic processes at convergent plate boundaries and their role in mineral deposit formation. He holds an M.S. (2014) and Ph.D. (2019) in Earth Sciences from the University of Oxford.

Education:

• M.S. Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, 2014
• Ph.D. Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, 2019

Research Interests: Dr. Lamont investigates mountain-building processes, subduction zone dynamics, and the interplay between tectonic stress and metamorphic dehydration/melting. His work combines field observations, analytical techniques (e.g., electron microprobe analysis, geochronology), and petrological modeling to study orogenic belts in the Southwest USA, Scotland, and Greece. Key themes include subduction geometry’s impact on lithospheric evolution and the mechanisms driving porphyry copper formation during flat-slab subduction.

Research Outputs: His recent work highlights the role of water-fluxed crustal melting in ore formation and the thermal evolution of metamorphic core complexes. Collaborations emphasize multi-disciplinary approaches to unravel the timing and mechanics of tectonic processes.

Advising & Collaboration: Actively recruiting motivated students and seeking partnerships to advance studies on convergent plate boundaries. His research group emphasizes structural, metamorphic, and igneous investigations to constrain orogenic processes at multiple scales.

Labs/Teams: Leads a dynamic research group focusing on field-based and analytical studies of tectonic and metamorphic systems, with ongoing projects in Greece, Myanmar, and the USA.