Professor J. Brendan Murphy

MURPHY, BRENDAN J.

Position :
Professor in the Department of Geology of St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, Canada. He is also an Honorary Research Associate at Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Field Experience :
Analysis of Neoproterozoic to Carboniferous rocks in Nova Scotia, Britain, NW France. Most field research based in mainland Nova scotia in the Antigonish and Cobequid Highlands and the St. Mary's Basin, analysis of their structural, magmatic, metamorphic and tectonic histories and an assessment of their economic potential.

Current research :
His research focuses on orogenic (mountain building) processes, with particular reference to Avalonia, the largest suspect terrane in the Appalachian orogenic belt. Avalonia is a well-preserved example of global-scale Neoproterozoic orogenic activity. His research methods include field and laboratory investigations into the Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic evolution of these rocks. Recently, with his colleagues, he proposed models that relate the evolution of Avalonia and coeval global-scale Neoproterozoic orogenies to the amalgamation and dispersal of a supercontinent. Avalonia was originally situated along the periphery of a supercontinent (Vendia) in the Neoproterozoic and Early Paleozoic and became attached to Laurentia some time in the middle Paleo zoic. Therefore, an understanding of its tectonic history has a profound influence on paleocontinental reconstructions for the Neoproterozoic and Paleozoic, and offers an excellent opportunity to study the growth of the North American continent during or ogenesis.

Publications :

Geological Field Guidebooks

Murphy, J.B., and Rice, R.J. 1995. Geology of the St. Mary's Basin, Nova Scotia. NATMAP Field Trip Guidebook, Day One, 18p.

Van Staal, C., Tremblay, A., Keppie, J.D., and Murphy, J.B., 1994. Appalachian geotraverse, IGCP 319/376 Preconference Field Trip.

Keppie, J.D., and Murphy, J.B. 1994 Cape Breton Island. IGCP 319/376 Conference Field Trip.

Murphy, J.B., Barr, S.M., Currie, K.L., Keppie, J.D., and Nance, R.D., 1992. The Avalon Terrane in Maritime Canada. GACMAC Fieldtrip guidebook, Field Trip C12, 164p.

Donohoe, H.V., Jr., Pe-Piper, G., Piper, D.J.W., Murphy, J.B., and Nance, R.D., 1992. The Cobequid Highlands. GACMAC Fieldtrip guidebook, Field Trip C5, 42p.

General Tectonics Publications

Murphy, J.B., 1997. Geomorphic Processes: Tectonics and Volcanism. Encyclopaedia Brittannica, in press

Murphy, J.B., and Nance, R.D., 1992. Supercontinents and the origin of mountain belts. Scientific American, v. 266, no. 4 (April), p. 84-91.

GIS/RS Imagery

Webster, T., Murphy, J.B., and Barr, S.M., 1998. Anatomy of a terrane boundary: an integrated structural, GIS, and remote sensing study of the Avalon-Meguma terrane boundary, mainland Nova Scotia, Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v.35, p. 787-801.

Rencz, A.N., Harris, J., Watson, G.P., and Murphy, J.B., 1994. Data integration for mineral exploration in the Antigonish and Cobequid Highlands, Nova Scotia: Application of GIS and RS. Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing, v. 20, p. 257-267.