Dr. David Sparks

Research

• Grain-scale dynamics of unconsolidated sediment and fault gouge
• Discrete element modeling of granular materials
• Pressure solution
• Fluid flow through porous media
• Dynamic physical/chemical processes in the Earth and other planets

Projects

•  The role of fluid in earthquake initiation and suppression: models of fluid-grain interaction in fault zones (with E. Aharonov, Hebrew University)
• Shear localization and dilation in deforming granular material (with N. Makedonska, E. Aharonov, Hebrew University)
• Modeling grain settling and mobilization dynamics
• Modeling the water table during dynamic changes of unconfined aquifers (with H. Zhan, TAMU)
• Thermal evolution and differentiation in small icy solar system bodies, and implications for evolution of life (with M. Tice, TAMU)
• The physics and chemistry of deformation of saturated sediment by solution transfer creep (w. W. He, Anadarko, and A. Hajash, TAMU)

Experience

• Associate Professor, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University, 2003-present
• Assistant Professor, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A&M University, 1998-2003
• Associate Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 1994-1998.
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 1992-1994.
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Brown University, June-August, 1992.
• Graduate Research Associate, Division of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 1991-1992.

Selected Publications

Makedonska, N., D. W. Sparks, and E. Aharonov (2011) Friction vs. dilation revisited: insights from theoretical and numerical models, J. Geophys. Res., in press.

Goren, L., E. Aharonov, D. W. Sparks and R. Toussaint (2011), The mechanical coupling of fluid-filled granular material under shear, Pure and App. Geophys, 168, doi: 10.1007/s00024-011-0320-4.

Goren, L., E. Aharonov, D. W. Sparks and R. Toussaint (2010), Pore pressure evolution in deforming granular material: a general formulation and the infinitely stiff approximation, J. Geophys. Res., 115, B09218, doi:10.1029/2009JB007191.

Makedonska, N., L. Goren, D. W. Sparks and E. Aharonov (2009) What controls the effective friction of shearing granular media?, in Y.H. Hatzor, J. Sulem, and I. Vardoulakis, eds., Meso-Scale Shear Physics in Earthquakes and Landslide Mechanics, CRC Press, 191-204

He, W., A. Hajash, and D. Sparks, (2007) Evolution of fluid chemistry in quartz compaction systems: Experimental investigations and numerical modeling, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta., 71, 4846-4855.

Aharonov, E., and D. Sparks, (2004) Stick-slip in granular layers, J. Geophys. Res., 109, B09306, doi: 10.1029/2003JB002597.

Aharonov, E., and D. Sparks, (1999) On the rigidity phase transition in granular packings, Phys. Rev. E, 60, 6890-6896.

Magde, L., and D. W. Sparks, (1997) Three-dimensional mantle upwelling, melt generation and migration beneath segmented slow spreading centers, J. of Geophys. Res., 102, 20571-20583.

Menke, W., and D. W. Sparks, (1995) Self-consistent crustal accretion model for Iceland predicts ‘cold’ crust, Geophys. Res. Lett., 22, 1673-1676.

Sparks, D. W., and E. M. Parmentier, (1994) The generation and migration of partial melt beneath oceanic spreading centers, in Ryan, M. P., ed.,  Magmatic Systems, Academic Press,  55-76.

Sparks, D. W., E. M. Parmentier and J. Phipps Morgan, (1993) Three-dimensional convection beneath a segmented spreading center: implications for along-axis variations in crustal thickness and gravity, J. of Geophys. Res., 98,  21977-21996.

Sparks, D. W., and E. M Parmentier, (1991) Melt extraction from the mantle beneath spreading centers, Earth and Planet. Sci. Lett., 105,  368-377.

Selected Meeting Abstracts

   * grad student ** undergraduate student

Goren*, L., Sparks, D. W., E. Aharonov, R. Toussaint, (2010) Modeling coupled fluid-grain deformation with implications for landslides, fault-zones and liquefaction, 29^th IUGG Conference on Mathematical Geophysics.

Makedonska*, N., Goren, L., D. W. Sparks, E. Aharonov, (2010)  Friction versus dilation revisited: insights from theoretical and numerical models, 29^th IUGG Conference on Mathematical Geophysics.

Kammer**, J., D. W. Sparks, and M. M. Tice (2010), Molecular hydrogen evolution in small icy planetesimals, 42^nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.

Makedonska*, N., D. W. Sparks, E. Aharonov, L. Goren (2009)  Friction versus dilation revisited: insights from theoretical and numerical models, AGU Fall Meeting.

Sparks, D. W., L. Goren*, E. Aharonov, R. Toussaint (2009) Modeling coupled fluid-grain deformation within fault zones, AGU Fall Meeting.

Sparks, D. W., J. Newman (2008)  Viscous granular flow: DEM models of diffusion creep, GSA Annual Meeting.

Sparks, D. W., M. M. Tice, L. Farrell** and S. McGary** (2008)  Liquid water in small solar system bodies and the possibilities for evolution of life, AGU Fall Meeting,

Farrell**, L., S. McGary**, and D. W. Sparks (2007) Thermal history and differentiation of ice/rock planetesimals,  39^th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.

He, W., A. Hajash, D. Sparks (2007) Compaction, pressure solution, and porosity evolution of sandstones: insights from experiments and numerical modeing, AAPG Ann. Meeting.

Awards & Honors

• Montague Scholar, Center for Teaching Excellence, Texas A&M Univ., 2000.
• Director’s Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, 1992