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Keith Mahon
Research Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Geochemistry, 1996, University of California, Los Angeles.
M.S., Geology, 1985, State University of New York at Albany.
B.S., Geology, 1982, State University of New York at Albany.
Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department
University of Houston
Houston, Texas 77204-5007
Office: SR1 234
Phone: 713-301-5420
Fax: 713-748-7906
kimahon@mail.uh.edu
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Research Interests
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An accurate prediction of the thermal evolution of a sedimentary basin is fundamental to understanding its hydrocarbon generation, migration, and resource potential. Through the integrated use of paleothermometry and burial history analysis, a well constrained thermal model can be developed. Calibration data from paleothermometry techniques (e.g., apatite fission track analysis, helium age dating, vitrinite reflectance, diagenetic fluid inclusions, smectite to illite transformation, etc.) can be used to constrain possible thermal history pathways. In addition, an understanding of the region's tectonic history is valuable in describing the thermodynamic and geodynamic mechanisms responsible for fluctuations in a basin's thermal history as well as major burial and inversion events.
My primary research interest is in predicting sedimentary basin evolution. This may be applied to frontier basins where exploration interest is focused on the generation potential of organic-rich rocks and the migration into possible traps. Exploitation of mature basins benefit greatly from applying the thermal history results to models of kinetic reactions responsible for cementation, dissolution, and re-precipitation of diagenetic minerals. Many non-hydrocarbon products, such as carbon dioxide in natural gas reservoirs, are also the result of heat releasing these gases from deeply buried rocks and/or enhancing migration of the impurities into hydrocarbon reservoirs.
The recent acquisition of a helium extraction line at the University of Houston enables researchers such as Dr. Copeland, Dr. Murphy, and me to improve the technique of apatite helium dating and to further our understanding of helium diffusion in other minerals. Improvement of existing methods and discovery of new thermochronometric techniques will improve our understanding of sedimentary basins and orogenic belts. |
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Curriculum Vitae
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Current Courses: Geo 1330 - Physical Geology
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Selected Publications
Gray, G. G., Pottorf, R. J., Yurewicz, D. A., Mahon, K. I., Pevear, D. R., and Chuchla, R. J., 2001. Thermal and chronological record of syn- to post-Laramide burial and exhumation, Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico: in C. Bartolini, R. T. Buffler, and A. Can
Mahon, K. I., Harrison, T. M., and Grove, M., 1998. The thermal and cementation histories of a sandstone reservoir, Elk Hills, California. Part 1: 40Ar/39Ar thermal history results: Chemical Geology, v. 152, p. 227-256.
Mahon, K .I., Harrison, T. M., and McKeegan, K. D., 1998. The thermal and cementation histories of a sandstone reservoir, Elk Hills, California. Part 2: in situ oxygen and carbon isotopic results. Chemical Geology, v. 152, p. 257-271.
Lovera, O. M., Grove, M., Harrison, T. M., and Mahon, K. I., 1997. Systematic analysis of K-feldspar 40Ar/39Ar step heating results: I. Significance of activation energy determinations. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 61, p. 3171-3192.
Mahon, K. I., 1996. The new York regression: application of an improved statistical method to geochemistry. International Geology Review, v. 38, p. 293-303.
Mahon, K. I., 1996. Thermochronological and Diagenetic Investigations of the Naval Petroleum Reserve at Elk Hills, California. Ph.D. Thesis, University of California Los Angeles, 262 pp.
Manning, C. E., Weston, P. E., and Mahon, K. I., 1996. Rapid high-temperature metamorphism of East Pacific Rise gabbros from Hess Deep. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 144, p. 123-132.
Harrison, T. M. and Mahon, K. I., 1995. New constraints on the age of the Manaslu leucogranite: Evidence for episodic tectonic denudation in the central Himalaya - Comment: Geology, v. 23, p. 478-479.
Mahon, K. I., T. M. Harrison, and D. A. Drew, 1988. Ascent of a granitoid diapir in a tempera¬ture varying medium: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 93, no. B2, p. 1174-1188.
Mahon, K. I., 1985. A Numerical Approach for Determining the Variable Ascent Velocity of a Granitoid Diapir. M.S. Thesis, State University of New York at Albany, 158 pp.
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