Education

• Ph.D., 2018, Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico
• M.S., 2014, Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico
• B.S., 2012, Geology, University of Massachusetts

Current and Recent Projects

• Timescales of massif-type anorthosite magmatism
• Proterozoic evolution of the southwestern US
• Terminal suturing of the Wrangellia Composite Terrane

Research Interests

• Tectonic evolution of western North America
• Precambrian geology
• Zircon U-Pb geochronology
• Crustal magmatism

Selected Publications

• Regan, S.P., Holland, M.E., Waldien, T.S., Miller, M., Taylor, P., Kylander-Clark, A., Marble, S., and Hofmann, F., 2024, Orogen-scale inverted metamorphism during Cretaceous–Paleogene terminal suturing along the North American Cordillera, Alaska, USA: Geology, v. 52, p. 933-938, https://doi.org/10.1130/G52614.1
• Mohr, M.T., Schmitz, M.D., Swanson-Hysell, N., Karlstrom, K.E., Macdonald, F.A., Holland, M.E., Zhang, Y., and Anderson, N.S., 2024, High-precision U-Pb geochronology links magmatism in the Southwestern Laurentia large igneous province and Midcontinent Rift: Geology, v. 52, p. 193-198, https://doi.org/10.1130/G51786.1
• Holland, M.E., Mohr, M., Schmitz, M., Madronich, L., and Karlstrom, K., 2024, Source-to-sink tandem geochronology reveals tectonic influences on the Cambrian Transcontinental Arch of Laurentia: Terra Nova, v. 36, p. 161-169, https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12692

Bio

Hello! I am a broadly trained field geologist and find all aspects of earth science fascinating. My research is focused on understanding the interplay between structural, magmatic, and sedimentary processes during deformation of the continental crust. My past and current research efforts span a wide range of geographic, temporal, and plate tectonic settings. I have worked extensively in Proterozoic orogenic belts of the southwestern U.S., where my work focused on refining regional tectonostratigraphic architecture to inform long-standing debates over progressive vs. polyphase deformation. I have also investigated the Mesoproterozoic-Cambrian intracratonic tectonic evolution of Laurentia to understand mantle plume-lithosphere interactions, and the paleotopographic evolution of epeirogenic uplifts as recorded by the sedimentary record. Further, my research encompasses the Cenozoic evolution of the North American Cordillera, where I have worked to elucidate long-term strain partitioning along the continental-scale Denali Fault strike slip system, and the role of lower crustal anatexis in the development of inverted metamorphic gradients during the collision of the Wrangellia Composite Terrane. Most recently, I have applied high-precision zircon geochronology and geochemistry to test models of Proterozoic massif-type anorthosite petrogenesis.