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Fax: 979.845.6162
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Texas A&M University
Room 155, Halbouty
Department of Geology and Geophysics,
MS 3115,
College Station, Texas 77843

Post Doc :

Caleb Holyoke

Dr. Andreas Kronenberg

Professor Department of Geology & Geophysics, Associate Director of the Center for Tectonophysics

Ph.D., Brown University, 1983

M.S., Brown University, 1979

B.S., UCLA, 1977

Bio

Dr. Kronenberg's expertise spans topics in structural geology, tectonophysics, and mineral physics with emphasis on the mechanical properties of Earth materials and the deformation mechanisms that govern rheology.

His research addresses the plasticity, creep, and failure of minerals and rocks, examining the roles of crystalline defects, grain boundaries, interfaces, and fluids in determining macroscopic behavior of the Earth's lithosphere. Taking an experimental approach, investigations have explored (1) hydrolytic weakening of quartz, feldspar and olivine and chemical influences of fluids on mechanical properties of silicates, (2) crystal plasticity of layer silicates and anisotropic mechanical properties of foliated and layered rocks, (3) the high temperature creep mechanisms of silicates (quartz, olivine, feldspars, pyroxenes, micas, and clays) and carbonates (calcite, dolomite, and magnesite), and (4) the roles of hydrous species adsorbed at mineral-fluid interfaces in crack growth and crack healing.

Kronenberg is an active member of AGU's Mineral and Rock Physics (MRP) community and its Focus Group on Physical Properties of Earth Materials (PPEM).

Research

Tectonophysics
Structural Geology
Rock Mechanics
Mineral Physics
Solid Earth Geophysics with emphasis placed on the mechanical properties of Earth materials that make up the Lithosphere

Projects

Shear-induced Fabric and Weakening of Olivine and Dependence on Pressure and Water
Deformation of Calcium-Magnesium Carbonates
Crack Healing in Quartz: Kinetic Laws and Effects of Crack Morphology
Deformation of Talc and Pyrophyllite: the van der Waals Bonds of Weak Faults

Experience

1995-date: Professor, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University
1989-date: Associate Director, Center for Tectonophysics, Texas A&M University
1990-1995: Associate Professor, Department of Geophysics, Texas A&M University
1985-1990: Assistant Professor, Department of Geophysics, Texas A&M University
1982-1985: NRC Post-doctoral Fellowship working with Dr. S.H. Kirby at the U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California
1977-1982: Research/Teaching Assistant working for Dr. J. Tullis and Dr. R.A. Yund, Dept. of Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, R.I.

Awards

Ray C. Fish Professorship in Geology, 2002-2007 JGR Editorial Citation for Excellence in Refereeing, 1999
Texas A&M College Level Distinguished Research Award, 1997
Texas A&M College Level Teaching Award, 1991
National Research Council Fellowship, 1982-1984
General Electric Research Fellowship, 1980-1981

Publications

Beeler, N.M., Tullis, T.E., Kronenberg, A.K., and Reinen, L.A., (in press) The instantaneous rate dependence in low temperature laboratory rock friction and rock deformation experiments, J. Geophys. Res.
Chester, F.M., Chester, J.S., Kronenberg, A.K., and Hajash, A. (in press) Subcritical creep compaction of quartz sand at diagenetic conditions: Effects of water and grain size, J. Geophys. Res.
Davis, N.E., Kronenberg, A.K., and Newman, J. (in review) Plasticity and diffusion creep of dolomite, intended for publication in Tectonophysics.
Chester, J.S., Chester, F.M., and Kronenberg, A.K. (2005) Fracture surface energy of the Punchbowl Fault, San Andreas system, Nature, 437, 133-136, doi 10.1038/nature 03942.
Karner, S.L., Chester, J.S., Chester, F.M., Kronenberg, A.K., and Hajash, A. (2005) Laboratory deformation of granular quartz sand: Implications for the burial of clastic rocks, Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., 89, 603-625.

Topics

Quartz