Faculty & Staff
Peter J. Thompson
Affiliate Professor of Geology
Structural Geology and Tectonics
Ph.D. Univ. of Massachusetts, 1985
email address: pjt3@cisunix.unh.edu
Courses Taught
- Structural Geology
- Field Methods
- Physical Geology
Research Interests
My main interests lie in the area of New England stratigraphy, structure and tectonic history, especially of Vermont and New Hampshire. The plate tectonic model, in conjunction with modern methods of geochemical and dating analysis, has greatly enhanced our understanding in recent decades. What excites me about this work is that, despite a century and a half of collective endeavor by countless geologists, many questions remain unanswered.
Current Projects
VERMONT STATE MAP: Since 2000 I have served as associate editor for a new bedrock map of Vermont to be published in 2010 by USGS. At a scale of 1:100,000, the map is 2½ times larger, and shows far greater detail, than the previous Vermont map (Doll et al., 1961). The greatest change is probably the compilation of map units into tectonic slices, in keeping with the region's complicated tectonic history. The new map and cross sections represent the work of hundreds of geologists, mostly working at a scale of 1:24,000 since the plate tectonic "revolution".
JOINT STUDIES: My own most recent mapping has integrated water-bearing capacity of rock units into the basic collection and interpretation of stratigraphic and structural data. These projects have been iniated by towns and funded through the USGS Cooperative Mapping Program and geological surveys of Vermont (town of Woodstock) and New Hampshire (towns of Dublin, Lyme and Antrim). The aim of these studies is to better our understanding of groundwater movement in bedrock aquifers. In the summer of 2010 I'll be doing a similar study in the Boston Harbor Islands National Park, a joint USGS/NPS project.
GEOLOGY OF THE HIGHEST POINT IN EACH STATE: The Highpointers Club held their annual meeting at Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, in 2005. This event inspired me to post a summary of the bedrock geology, soils, surficial geology and other topics of interest for the highest point in each state.
Recent Publications
- Thompson, Peter J., 2009, “Facies relationships within the Ammonoosuc Volcanics and Partridge Formation of Lyme, west-central New Hampshire”, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Northeastern Section, v. 41, no.3, p.32.
- Thompson, Peter J., 2007, “Folded east-verging Woodstock Nappe deformed by domes, east-central Vermont”, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Northeastern Section, v. 39, no.1, p.51.
- Thompson, Peter J., 2006, Thoreau on Monadnock: Long on botany and philosophy, short on geology, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 38, no.7, p.38.
- Thompson, Peter J., 2006, Bedrock geology of the town of Woodstock, Vermont, Vermont Geological Survey Open-File Report, no. VG-06-4, 1:24,000, Waterbury, Vermont.
Older Publications
- Thompson, Peter J., 2004, Bedrock geology of the Milton quadrangle, Maine, Maine Geological Survey Open File Report, no. 04-77, one plate, 1:24,000, Augusta, Maine.
- Thompson, Peter J., Wallace A. Bothner, Jo Laird and Arthur M. Hussey II, 2004, “An exploration of the contact between the Central Maine Terrane and Merrimack Group across the Maine—New Hampshire border”, p. 1-15, in Hanson, Lindley (ed.), Guidebook to Field Trips from Boston, MA to Saco Bay, ME, 96th Annual New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference, Salem, Massachusetts.
- Thompson, Thelma B., Peter J. Thompson and Barry L. Doolan, 2004, Bedrock geology of the Hinesburg quadrangle, Vermont, Vermont Geological Survey Open-File Report, no. VG04-2, 1:24,000, Waterbury, Vermont.
- Thompson, Peter J., 2003, “Paleozoic mafic dikes on Mount Monadnock, New Hampshire”, p. A2-1 to A2-10, in Brady, John B., and John T. Cheney (eds.), Guidebook for field trips in the Five College region, 95th Annual New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference, Amherst and Northampton, Massachusetts.
- Thompson, Peter J., and Thelma B. Thompson, 2003, “The Prospect Rock thrust: western limit of the Taconian accretionary prism in the northern Green Mountain anticlinorium, Vermont”, Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 40, p. 269-284.
- Thompson, Peter J., 2001, “Geology of Mount Monadnock”, p. R1-17, in West, David P., Jr., and Richard H. Bailey (eds.), Guidebook for Field Trips in New England, 2001 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Boston, Massachusetts.
- Thompson, Peter J., Thelma B. Thompson, and Barry L. Doolan, 1999, “Lithotectonic packages and tectonic boundaries across the Lamoille River transect in northern Vermont”, p. 51-94 in Wright, Stephen F., (ed.), Guidebook for Field Trips in Vermont and adjacent regions of New Hampshire and New York, 91st Annual New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference.
- Thompson, Peter J., and Thelma B. Thompson, 1999, “Digital bedrock geologic map of the Mt. Mansfield quadrangle, Vermont”, Vermont Geological Survey Open File Report, no. VG99-3.
- Thompson, Peter J., and Thelma B. Thompson, 1998, “Digital bedrock geologic map of the Johnson quadrangle, Vermont”, Vermont Geological Survey Open File Report, no. VG98-2.
- Thompson, Peter J., and Thelma B. Thompson, 1995, “Digital bedrock geologic map of parts of the Huntington, Richmond, Bolton, and Waterbury quadrangles, Vermont”, Vermont Geological Survey Open File Report, no. VG95-9A.
- Thompson, Peter J. and Thelma B. Thompson, 1992, “Bedrock geology of the Camels Hump-Bolton Mountain area, north-central Vermont”, Vermont Geological Survey Special Bulletin, no. 12, 32 p.