Website of the Thermochronology Research and Instrumentation Laboratory at the University of Colorado – Boulder
Pictures
Apatites ready to be measuredAcross from the CU TRaIL is Folsom Field with perhaps the best stadium view in College FootballJim putting the McClure Mountain Syenite out of its miseryMajestic beauty with a canyon in the backgroundColin, Cailey Condit, Rachel Havranek, Jaclyn Baughman, and Nigel Kelley eating deep fried things at Backcountry PizzaView of the flatirons from Table Mesa (yes we know that means table table)Horribly unscenic lunch stop in the Alps during the Thermo2014 pre-conference field tripField work near Cataract LakeJosh, Becky, and Kevin Mahan in Big Thompson Canyon discussing field strategiesJim still giving lab tours in 2013Nigel and Colin examining a zircon mountMt. Powell in the Gore Range, Rachel Landman’s field areaWes and former RESESS director Aisha Morris trying their darnedest to look toughJim, Becky, and Jess on the Aiguille du Midi, with Mont Blanc in the backgound, during the Thermo2014 field tripJoin us in February and experience Stout Month at the Southern Sun!Sample being heated and degassed in the AlphachronAnother view of Grenoble at sunset at the Thermo2014 conferenceWes posing with the world famous McClure Mountain Syenite boulderRachel suffering through a terrible field experienceBecky, Bob Anderson, and Coleman looking for samples near Gothic MountainDefinitely not a posed shot of JoshOur new Agilent 7900 Quadrupole ICP-MSAEON Short Course group photoBecky relaxing after the AEON thermochronology short courseWest Spanish PeakJim giving lab tours during the 2013 GSA short courseWes and Jim sampling the McClure Mountain SyeniteJess relaxing after the AEON thermochronology short courseBecky discusses Alpine geology with Peter van der Beek, Taylor Schildgen, and Ryan McKeon during the Thermo2014 field tripView from the lab in winterMore disgusting Alpine scenery during the Thermo2014 field tripMills CanyonBecky in the field, Elliot RidgeBeasts the color of winter. We had hoped to train them as field assistants, it didn’t work.Becky discussing applications of He thermochronology at a 2014 EarthScope Geochronology Short CourseLarge scale detrital sediment transport experimentationGarden of the Gods south of BoulderSecret lunch meeting of the International Thermochronology Inner CircleBecky and former CU undergrad Coleman Hiett discussing Rocky Mountain geologyRachel and the California Zephyr in Gore CanyonThe Mer de Glace, or what is left of it.Ryan and Becky at Boss mineSunset over Longs Peak, the northernmost 14’er in the RockiesPLASMA!Lon and Fatima samplingJim with CU undergrads and research associates Carlton Mueller and Nicole Gonzalez in the Ruby MountainsFormer RESESS Intern Wes Weisberg and former RESESS director Aisha Morriss in the Wet MountainsLon Abbott and RESESS intern Fatima Niazy sampling near paleochannelsSome people hug trees, Josh hugs rocksRachel and Jacky are very excited to be on top of Pikes Peak!View of Grenoble at sunset just prior to Thermo2014Bighorn Sheep with the Presidential Peaks in the backgroundIf you catch a sunset in Colorado you can understand where the state colors come fromThe ASI Alphachron He extraction and analysis line in all of its majestyJim discussing thermal modeling during a short course in 2013Becky contemplating the geology of the West ElksJim with Carrie Meisner and Al McGrew discovering amazing things in the Ruby MountainsPanoramic view of the West ElksBenson Earth Sciences, home of the TRaIL!RESESS intern Fatima Niazy in the field hunting for paleochannelsJacky and Colin laughing at the mass spectrometerLon Abbott and former CU undergrad Noah McCorkel preparing to sampleJim and Wes at GSA in 2017Becky and Bill Hames likely discussing Auburn FootballThe flatirons in winterBecky, Colin, Alexis Ault, and Jess Stanley during a field trip at Thermo2018RESESS Intern Brandt Scott looking for apatitesMore disgusting Alpine scenery during the Thermo2014 field tripView of El Capitan from Rachel Landman’s field areaWhen natural erosion is too slow, send JoshThe White River UpflitRachel Landman with the Eagle’s Nest (Gore Range) in the backgroundFall in Colorado is terribleJosh taking copious field notesBecky participating in a round table discussion on (U-Th)/He dating during Thermo2018Becky giving an invited talk at Thermo2018Colin, Becky, and Jim amongst hundreds of thermochronologists from around the world at Thermo2018CU TRaIL alum Alexis Ault (right) being awarded the Charles and Nancy Naeser award for early career thermochronolgists at Thermo2018!From left to right, Undergraduate TRaIL’ers Nicole Gonzalez and Carlton Mueller, Jim, and TRaIL M.Sc. graduate Kathy Robinson at the May 1 RMAG awards luncheon.Spencer Zeigler explaining her research at the 2023 National GSA meetingBarra Peak at the 2022 National GSA meeting presenting some of her work on the Great UnconformityLeft to Right TRaILers Spencer Zeigler (Ph.D. student), Barra Peak (Ph.D. Student), Jess Stanley (Ph.D. 2015), Becky Flowers (head honcho), Alexis Ault (Ph.D. 2012), and Jaclyn Baughman (Ph.D. 2018).CU TRaILers (past and present, L to R) Peter Martin (current postdoc), Jim Metcalf (lab manager), Spencer Zeigler (Ph.D. student), Barra Peak (Ph.D. student), Jess Stanley (Ph.D. 2015), Becky Flowers (head honcho), Alexis Ault (Ph.D. 2012), and Jacky Baughman (Ph.D. 2018).(L to R) Connor Antonio Diaz, Barra Peak, Sabrina Kainz, Spencer Zeigler, Liam Courtney-Davies, and Jim Metcalf at the 2023 department picnicBarra, Spencer, and Sabrina made Jim a pie for his 29th birthday while Dan goofed around in the backgroundSabrina Kainz (L) and Spencer Zeigler (R) load a new batch of samples into the AlphachronBecky is an all-terrain TRaIL booster!We don’t judge, love is love.Liam stopped at Yellowstone on his tour of countries England has never beaten in the world cup.Liam considering a quick swimDr. Liam Courtney-Davies (now at San Diego State University)Jim at Yellowstone on a break from excimer laser trainingSpencer Zeigler and RESESS intern Kaden Berkhahn on the Green Mountain kimberliteVery serious field work happening here.During her Ph.D. Spencer Zeigler pioneered new methods of communing with rocks.Dave, Liam, Cat, Tyler, Spencer, and Jim at the beginning of the 2025 Bolder BoulderDave, Becky, Cat, Tyler, Spencer, Liam, and Jim after demolishing the competition in the “Thermochronology Group” division of the Bolder BoulderSpemcer, Connor, Cat, Liam, Becky, Jim, and Cullen at the year end BBQ!Drs. Peak, Zeigler, and Courtney-Davies suffering through terrible weather and views to celebratehEy cHeCk oUt tHe nEw DoCtOr!First meeting of the Dr. Zeigler fan club!Spencer in the last minutes before demanding everyone call her Dr. ZeiglerDefinitely not staged picture of an active thermochronology labDana has voluntarily made the mineral separation facilities 1000000 times better so we made him a plaqueTHE GREAT UNCONFORMITY IS IN OUR BASEMENT!!!!
CU TRaIL 