Joseph C. Hill
Assistant Professor
Structural Geology, Metamorphic Petrology, and Tectonics

I have been told that as a very young child, my favorite thing to do was to ask "why?" For every answer I was given, I responded with "why?" As an earth scientist, I count myself among the luckiest of people because I still want to know "why" and I have added "how" and "when"to my interrogative lexicon. Most every child has an innate fascination with the world around them. I happen to be lucky because, in that regard, I never grew up! I am still fascinated by the physical world around me and I still actively ask the questions: "why?", "how?", and "when?"

I am a classically trained structural geologist with related interests in tectonics, petrology, isotope geochemistry, and sedimentology. My research has primarily involved the investigation of the crystalline cores of mountain belts. I have worked in the Acadian crystalline core of the northern and southern Appalachians and the Paleoproterozoic core of the Black Hills,South Dakota.

Current research projects include mapping and tectonic/structural analysis of the metamorphic rocks of the Piedmont region of Pennsylvania, specifically in Chester and Lancaster counties, investigations of some extremely enigmatic rocks of the poorly understood Devonian-Mississippian boundary in NE Pennsylvania, and detailed mapping of some of the northern Appalachian plateau.

Joseph C. Hill
Department of Geography and Geology
P.O. Box 2148
Huntsville, TX 77341

Phone: (936)-294-1560
Email: geojoe@shsu.edu
Personal Webpage: www.shsu.edu/jch031
Courses:
GEL 133 Physical Geology
GEL 134 Historical Geology
GEL 431 Geology of North America
GEL 437 Plate Tectonics
GEL 442 Structural Geology
GEL 460/461 Field Geology

Research
Precambrian Geology of the Black Hills, S.D.
Structural Geology of the Appalachian Peidmont
Bolide Impacts


Contact Us: Department of Geography & Geology, Sam Houston State University, Lee Drain Building Suite 332, Hunstville, TX 77341
(936)-294-1451