Giday WoldeGabriel

EES-1/ MS D462 Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM 87545 PH (505) 662-5270(H) (505) 667-8749 FAX: (505) 665-3285. e-mail: wgiday@lanl.gov

 

Academic Background

B.S.     1978 (Honors) Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia), Geology

M.S.    1980 Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia), Geology

Ph.D    1987 Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, Geology

1978-1980       Graduate Assistant, Geology Department, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

1980-1983       Lecturer, Geology Department, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

1987-1990 Director's Postdoctral Research Fellowship, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM

1990-1991       Collaborating research geologist, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM

1992-Present     Technical staff member, Geology/Geochemistry, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM

Geochemical, mineralogical, and geochronological studies of rocks from various geological settings for various applications (i.e., Natural analog studies).

 

Geochemical, mineralogical, and geochronological studies of altered rocks from high- and low-temperature environments from different geological settings (i.e., Geothermal research).

Application of tephra to rifting processes, paleoseismic and natural hazard studies, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction from continental deposits (i.e., Tephrochronology)

 

Research in volcanotectonic processes during rift evolution (i.e., Continental rift tectonics and magmatism).

Application of tephra to paleoanthropological research related to hominid and technological (archaeological) evolutionary events in the Ethiopian Rift System (i.e., Tephrochronology)

Publications related to site characterization for a potential high-level radioactive waste repository:

WoldeGabriel, G., Broxton, D. E., Bish, D. L., and Chipera, S. J. Preliminary assessment of clinoptilolite K/Ar results from Yucca Mountain, Nevada, USA: A potential high-level radioactive waste repository site. In Kharaka, Y. K. and Maest, A. S. (eds.), Water Rock Interaction: Low-Temperature Environments, Balkema, Rotterdam, 457- 461, 1992.

WoldeGabriel, G., K/Ar dating of clinoptilolites: Methods and preliminary results (extended abstract). 4th International Conference on the Occurrence, Properties, and Utilization of Natural Zeolites, Boise, Idaho, June 20-28, 1993 (Invited Presentation).

WoldeGabriel, G., Broxton, D. E., Bish, D. L., and Chipera, S. J., Mineralogy and clinoptilolite K/Ar results from Yucca Mountain, Nevada, USA: A potential high-level radioactive waste repository site.  Los Alamos National Laboratory Report, LA-12652-MS, 44 p, 1993.

WoldeGabriel, G., K/Ar dating of clinoptilolite, mordenite, and coexisting illite/smectite from Yucca Mountain, Nevada: in Natural Zeolites ‘93 Occurrence, Properties, and Use, D. S. Ming and F. A. Mumpton, International Committee on Natural Zeolites, Brockport, New York, 141-156, 1995.

WoldeGabriel, G., Broxton, D. E., and Byers, F. M., Jr., Mineralogy and temporal relations of coexisting authigenic minerals in altered tuffs from California, USA, and the utility of alkali zeolites as potential low-temperature dateable minerals.  Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 71, p. 155-165, 1996.

WoldeGabriel, G., Ion exchange and dehydration experimental studies of clinoptilolite: Implication to zeolite dating, Los Alamos National Laboratory Report LA-12894-Ms, 19 p., 1995.

WoldeGabriel, G. and Levy, S.  Ion exchange and dehydration effects on potassium and argon contents of clinoptilolite.  Materials Research Society Symp. Proc. v. 412, p. 791-797

Valentine, G., WoldeGabriel, G. Rosenberg, N., Carter-Krogh, C., Crowe, B., Stauffer, P., Auer, L. H., Gable, C. W., Perry, F. V., Physical Processes of magmatism and effects on the potential repository:  Synthesis of technical work through fisical year 1995, p. 5-1 to 5-83, 1996.

Heiken, G., WoldeGabriel, G., Morley, R., Plannerer, H., and Rowley, J., Disposition of excess weapon plutonium in deep boreholes, Los Alamos National Laboratory Report, LA-13168-MS, 48 pp., 1996.

Heiken, G., WoldeGabriel, G., Morley, R., Plannerer, H., Deep borehole disposition of surplus fissile materials-the site selection process, in Proceedings of DOE Spent Nuclear Fuel and Fissile Material Management, American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park, IL, p. 310-317, 1996.

X. Feng, A.M. Faiia, G. WoldeGabriel, J.L. Aronson, M.A. Poage, and C.G. Chamberlain.  Oxygen isotope studies of illite/smectite and clinoptilolite from Yucca Mountain: Implications for paleohydrologic conditions. Earth Planetary Science Letters 171:95-106, 1999.

G. WoldeGabriel, G.N. Keating, and G.A. Valentine.  Effects of shallow basaltic intrusion into pyroclastic deposits, Grants Ridge, New Mexico, USA.  J. Volcanology and Geothermal Research 91:389-411, 1999.

 

WoldeGabriel, G. Hydrothermal systems in two areas of the Jemez volcanic field: Sulphur Springs and the Cochiti district, New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory Report, LA-11509-OBES, 68 p, 1989.

WoldeGabriel, G., and Goff, F. Temporal relationships of volcanism and hydrothermal systems in two areas of the Jemez volcanic field, New Mexico. Geology, 17, 986-989, 1989.

WoldeGabriel, G., and Hagan, R., 1990. Temporal and and spatial relationships of diagenetic processes in the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation and its implication to dinosaur fossils preservation. Isochron/West, 55, 18-23, 1990.

WoldeGabriel, G.  Hydrothermal alteration in Core Hole VC-1 and the Valles Caldera ring fracture: Evidence for multiple hydrothermal systems. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Res., 40, 105-122,  1990.

WoldeGabriel, G. and  Goff, F., Alteration processes and K/Ar dates of hydrothermal clays from core hole VC-2B, Valles caldera, New Mexico and their relation to subsurface geology in a large hydrothermal system. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 50, No.3, 207- 230, 1992.

WoldeGabriel, G. Temporal patterns of tephra alterations in various geologic settings: The Jemez volcanic field and adjacent Morrison Formation in New Mexico and Colorado. Quaternary International  Journal, 13/14, 159-166, 1992.

Goff, F., Gardner, J. N., Hulen, J. B., Nielson, D. L., Charles, R., WoldeGabriel, G., Vuataz, F.-D., Musgrave, J. A., Shevenell, L., and Kennedy, B. M.  The Valles caldera hydrothermal system, past and present, New Mexico, USA. Scientific Drilling, 3, 181-204, 1992.

WoldeGabriel, G., and Aronson, J. The Chow Bahir Rift:  A "failed" rift in Southern Ethiopia. Geology, 15, 430-433, 1987.

Hart, W. K., WoldeGabriel, G., Walter, R.C., and Mertzman, S.A. Basaltic volcanism in Ethiopia: Constraints on continenetal rifting and mantle interaction. Journal Geophys. Res., 94, 7731-7748, 1989.

WoldeGabriel, G., Aronson, J., and Walter, R.C. Geology, geochronology, and rift basin development in the central sector of the Main Ethiopian Rift (East Africa). Geological Society of America  Bulletin, 102, 439-458, 1990

WoldeGabriel, G., Walter, R. C., Aronson, J. L., and Hart, W.K. Geochronology and distribution of silicic volcanic rocks of Plio- Pleistocene age from the central sector of the Main Ethiopian Rift. Quaternary International, 13/14, 69-76, 1992.

Hart, W. K., Walter, R. C. and WoldeGabriel, G.  Tephra sources and correlations in Ethiopia: Application of elemental and neodymium isotope data. Quaternary International, 13/14, 77-88, 1992.

Ebinger, C. J., Yemane, T., WoldeGabriel, G., Aronson, J. L., and Walter, R. C. Late Eocene-Recent volcanism and Faulting in the southern Main Ethiopian Rift. Journal of the Geological Society,  London, 150, 99-108, 1993.

Laughlin, A. W., Perry, F. V., Damon, P. E., Shafiqullah, M., WoldeGabriel, G., Harrington, C. D., Wells, S. G., and Drake, P., Geochronology of the Mount Taylor, Cebillita Mesa, and Zuni-Bandera volcanic fields, Cibola County, New Mexico, New Mexico Geology, 15, No. 4, 81-92 (1993)

Laughlin, A. W., Poths, J., Healey, H. A., Reneau, S., WoldeGabriel, G., Dating of Quaternary basalts using cosmogenic He and the C methods with implication for excess Ar, Geology, 22, 135-138 (1994).

WoldeGabriel, G., Laughlin, A. William, Dethier, D. P., and Heizler, M., Temporal and gechemical trends of lavas in White Rock Canyon and the Pajarito Plateau, Jemez volcanic field, New Mexico, USA.  New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook, 47th Field Conference, Jemez Mountains Region, p. 251-261, 1996.

G. WoldeGabriel, (Book reviewer), Palaeogeographic-Palaeotectonic Atlas of North-Eastern Africa, Arabia, and Adjacent Areas: Late Neoproterozoic to Holocene, by Schandelmeier and P. -O Reynolds (Editors), and A. -K. Semtner (Co-editor, plates), A. A. Balkema, Earth Science Reviews, 43, 57-59, 1998.

G. WoldeGabriel, R.C. Walter, W.K. Hart, S.A. Mertzman, and J.L. Aronson. Temporal relations and geochemical features of felsic volcanism in the central sector of the Main Ethiopian Rift. Acta Vulcanologica 11:53-67, 1999.

T. Yemane, G. WoldeGabriel, S. Tesfaye, S.M. Berhe, S. Durary, C. Ebinger, and S. Kelley. Temporal and geochemical characteristics of Tertiary volcanic rocks and tectonic history in the southern Main Ethiopian Rift and the adjacent volcanic fields. Acta Vulcanologica 11:99-119, 1999.

Asfaw, B., Ebinger, C., Harding, D., White, T., and WoldeGabriel, G. The application of remote sensing to paleoanthropological  research: An Ethiopian Case Study. National Geographic Research, vol. 6, 418-434, 1990.

WoldeGabriel, G., Yemane, T., White, T., Asfaw, B., and Suwa, G., Age of volcanism and fossils in the Burji-Soyoma area, Amaro Horst, southern Main Ethiopian Rift. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 13,  No. 3/4 437-447, 1991.

Suwa, G., White, T., Asfaw, B., WoldeGabriel, G., and Yemane, T., Middle Miocene faunal remains in the Burji-Soyoma area, Amaro Horst, southern sector of the Main Ethiopian Rift. Paleontologia Africana,  28, 23-28, 1991.

Suwa, G., B. Asfaw, Y. Beyene, T. D. White, S. Katoh, S. Nagaoka, H. Nakaya, K. Uzawa, P. Renne, G. WoldeGabriel, The first skull of Australopithecus boisei, Nature, 389, 489-492, 1997.

Asfaw, B., Beyene, Y., Semaw, S, Suwa, G., White, T., WoldeGabriel,  G., 1990. Fejej: A new paleontological research area in Ethiopia. Journal of Human Evolution, 21, 137-143, 1991.

WoldeGabriel, G., White, T., Suwa, G., Semaw, S., Beyene, Y., Asfaw, B., and Walter, R. Kesem-Kebena: A newly discovered paleontological research area in Ethiopia. Journal of Field Archaeology, 19, 471-493,  1992.

Asfaw, B., Beyene, Y., Suwa, G., Walter, R. C., White, T., WoldeGabriel, G., and Yemane, T., The earliest Acheulean from Konso- Gardula, Nature, vol. 360, 732-734, 1992.

White, T. D., G. Suwa, W. K. Hart, R. C. Walter, G. WoldeGabriel, J. de Heinzelin, J. D. Clark, B. Asfaw., and E, Vrba, New Pliocene Hominids from Maka, Ethiopia, Nature, 366, 261-265, 1993.

Clark, J. D., J. de Heinzelin, K. Schick, W. K. Hart, T. D. White, G. WoldeGabriel, R. C. Walter, G. Suwa, B. Asfaw., and E. Vrba, MiddlePleistocene discoveries in the Middle Awash Valley, Ethiopia, Science 264, 1907-1910, 1994.

WoldeGabriel, G., T. D. White, G. Suwa, P. Renne, J. de Heinzellin, W. K. Hart, and G. Heiken, Ecological and temporal placement of early Pliocene hominids at Aramis, Ethiopia, Nature 371, 330-333, 1994.

WoldeGabriel, G., T. D. White, G. Suwa, P. Renne, J. de Heinzellin, W. K. Hart, and G. Heiken, Age of early hominids, (reply).  Nature v. 376, p. 558-559, 1995.

Renne, P. R., G. WoldeGabriel, W. K. Hart, G. Heiken, and T. D. White, Chronostratigraphy of the Miocene-Pliocene Sagantole Formation, Middle Awash Valley, Afar Rift, Ethiopia, Geological Society of America Bulletin 111:869-885, 1999.

 

J. D. Heinzelin, J.D. Clark, T. White, W. Hart, P. Renne, G. WoldeGabriel, Y. Beyene, and E. Vrba.  Environment and behavior of 2.5-million-year-old Bouri hominids.  Science 284:625-629, 1999.

1. Hart, W. K., WoldeGabriel, G., Walter R. C., and Mertzman, S. A., Geochemistry of Late Miocene Basalts from the Western Margin of the Main Ethiopian Rift, Abstracts with Programs, Geological Society of America, 17, p. 604, 1985.

2. Walter, R. C., WoldeGabriel G., and Westgate, J. A., Correlation of Ash Flow Tuffs with Distal Air Fall Tephra:  Significance for Pliocene Tephrostratigraphy of Homined-Bearing Sediments in Ethiopia, Abstracts with Programs, Geological Society of America, 17, p. 743, 1985.

3. Walter, R. C., Westgate, J. A., WoldeGabriel, G , Aronson, J. L., and Hart, W. K., Geochemical and Temporal Patterns of Felsic Volcanism in Ethiopia, Abstracts with Programs, Geological Society of America, 17, p. 743, 1985.

4. WoldeGabriel G. and Aronson, J.L. Volcanotectonic History of the Main Ethiopian Rift, Abstracts with Programs, International Volcanological Congress, Auckland, New Zealand, p 325, 1986.

5. WoldeGabriel, G. The Awasa Caldera in the southern sector of the Main Ethiopian Rift, Abstracts with Programs, International Volcanological Congress, Auckland, New Zealand, p 350, 1986.

6. WoldeGabriel, G., Laughlin, A. W., Dethier, D. P., Broxton, D. E., “Episodic volcanism and geochemistry in the Pajarito Plateau, Jemez Volcanic Field, New Mexico, The Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, a-419, 1995.

7. WoldeGabriel, G. and Levy, Schon, Ion exchange and dehydration effects on potassium and argon contents of clinoptilolite, Proceedings of Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XIX, Materials Research Society, Boston, Massachusetts, 1995.

8. Feng, Xiahong and WoldeGabriel, G., Oxygen isotopes of clinoptilolite: The oxygen isotopic exchangeability in relation to the groundwater table, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, California, 1995.

9. Feng, Xiahong, WoldeGabriel, G., Aronson, J. L., Clinoptilolite-illite/smectite oxygen isotope disequilibrium related to the groundwater table at Yucca mountain, The Clay Minerals Society Annual Meeting, p. 59, 1996.

10. WoldeGabriel, G. Laughlin, A. W., Broxton, D. E., Heizler, M., Blossom, J., Subsurface geology of the Pajarito plateau, Jemez Volcanic Field, New Mexico, New Mexico Geological Society Annual Meeting, Socorro, New Mexico, p. 18, 1996.

11. WoldeGabriel, G., Heiken. G., Plannerer, H, Morley, R., Geologic characterization of downhole environments for deep borehole disposal, VIIIth International Symposium on the Observation of the Continental Crust, Tsukuba, Japan,  February 25-March 1,1996.

12. Heiken, G., WoldeGabriel, G., Morley, R., Plannerer, H., Required geologic Site Characteristics for deep borehole actinide disposal, VIIIth International Symposium on the Observation of the Continental Crust, Tsukuba, Japan,  February 25-March 1,1996.

13. WoldeGabriel, G., Heiken, G.,  Hart, W. K. , Renne, P., and White, T., “Silicic tephra in the Middle Awash valley, Ethiopia: Implications for regional stratigraphic correlations, Symposium on the Geology of Early Hominids, Geological Society of America Meeting, North-Central Section, Ames, Iowa, May, 1996.(INVITED)

14. G. WoldeGabriel, F. Goff, J. Hulen, and J. Aronson, Mineralogy and K-Ar geochronology of mixed-layered illite/smectite from the Geysers coring project, California.  The Clay Mineral Society 35th Annual Meeting (Abs.), June 6-10, 1998, Cleveland, Ohio, 69, 1998.

15. G. WoldeGabriel, K-Ar dating of coexisting clioptilolites, mordenite, K-feldspar, and illite/smectite: Temporal constraints of diagenetic processes in low-temperature environments. The Clay Mineral Society 35th Annual Meeting (Abs.), June 6-10, 1998, Cleveland, Ohio, 77, 1998.

16. J. N. Gardner, A. Lavine, G. WoldeGabriel, D. Krier, D. Vaniman, and J. McCalpin. Evolution of the western boundary of the Rio Grande Rift, Northern New Mexico.  American Geophysical Union, EOS Transactions (Abs.), vol. 79, No.45, p.F614, 1998.

17. A. Lavine, J. N. Gardner, S. L. Reneau, G. WoldeGabriel, D. T. Vaniman, J. Carney, High-precision geologic mapping to evaluate the potential for seismic surface rupture at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico.  American Geophysical Union, EOS Transactions (Abs.), vol. 79, No.45, p. F614, 1998.

18. D. J. Krier, J. N. Gardner, A. Lavine, G. WoldeGabriel, F. Caporuscio, Drilling to assess seismic hazards in urbanized areas of Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico. American Geophysical Union, EOS Transactions (Abs.), vol. 79, No.45, p. F614, 1998.

19. G. WoldeGabriel, G. N. Keating, and G. A. Valentine, Effects of shallow intrusion into silicic tephra, Grants Ridge, New Mexico.  New Mexico Geological Society, 1999 Annual Spring Meeting (Abs.), Socorro, New Mexico, 1999.

20. S. Katoh, S. Nagaoka, G. WoldeGabriel, P. Renne, Y. Beyene, and G. Suwa, The stratigraphy and age of the hominid-bearing Plio-Pleistocene sediments of the Konso Formation in the southernmost part of the Main Ethiopian Rift, East Africa.  Japan Earth and Planetary Sciences Joint Meeting (Abs.), 1999.

21. G. WoldeGabriel, R.G. Warren, G. Cole, J.W. Carey, D. Broxton, A.W. Laughlin, M. Heizler.  The Pajarito Plateau of the Española Basin, Rio Grande rift, north central New Mexico— A river run through it. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstract with Programs, v.31, no.7, A-348, 1999

22. F.V. Perry, G. WoldeGabriel, G. Valentine, G.A. Desmarais, G. Heiken, M. Heizler, M. Yamakawa, and K. Umeda.  High-level radioactive waste disposal and volcanic hazard in Japan: A natural analog study of the Summer Coon volcano, Colorado. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstract with Programs, v.31, no.7, p. A-478, 1999.