Kathleen Benison
PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY
Kathy uses sedimentary geology, geochemistry, and geomicrobiology to study the deposition and diagenesis of continental evaporites and red beds. Her active research projects include modern acid saline lake systems in Western Australia and Chile, their Permian analog deposits in the U.S. midcontinent, and similar systems on Mars.
Research:
Kathy and her research students use field work, core descriptions, petrography, and fluid inclusion studies to decipher the deposition and diagenesis of continental red beds and evaporites, including roles of weather and climate, water geochemistry, and microbiology. Active research projects include modern acid saline lake systems in Western Australia and Chile, Permo-Triassic and Proterozoic analog deposits, and similar rocks on Mars.