Cathy Busby

Professor Emeritus

Specialization

Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of Active Margins

Bio

I am a field geologist interested in tectonic reconstructions of dominantly volcanic and sedimentary terrains, using lab techniques such as geochronology, geochemistry, petrography, and paleomagnetics. I publish in a wide array of journal types, on a broad spectrum of topics, including subaerial to deepwater volcanology, sedimentology of active margins, economic geology, tectonophysics, structural geology, petroleum geology, geochronology and geochemistry. I put my students first on most papers, except for some of those that feature my most important ideas.

Publications

Cathy J. Busby1, K. Putirka 2, Benjamin Melosh 3, Paul R. Renne 4,5, Jeanette C. Hagan 6, Megan Gambs 7, and Catherine Wesoloski 1, 2018. A tale of two Walker Lane pull-apart basins in the ancestral Cascades arc, central Sierra Nevada, California. link

Tamura, Y., Busby, C.J., Blum, P., Guèrin, G., Andrews, G.D.M., Barker, A.K., Berger, J.L.R., Bongiolo, E.M., Bordiga, M., DeBari, S.M., Gill, J.B., Hamelin, C., Jia, J., John, E.H., Jonas, A.-S., Jutzeler, M., Kars, M.A.C., Kita, Z.A., Konrad, K., Mahoney, S.H., Martini, M., Miyazaki, T., Musgrave, R.J., Nascimento, D.B., Nichols, A.R.L., Ribeiro, J.M., Sato, T., Schindlbeck, J.C., Schmitt, A.K., Straub, S.M., Vautravers, M.J., and Yang, Y., 2015 A. Expedition 350  summary. In Tamura, Y., Busby, C.J., Blum, P., and the Expedition 350 Scientists, Proceedings of the International Ocean Discovery Program, Expedition 350: Izu-Bonin-Mariana Rear Arc: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). http://dx.doi.org/?10.14379/?iodp.proc.350.101.2015

Tamura, Y., Busby, C.J., Blum, P., Guèrin, G., Andrews, G.D.M., Barker, A.K., Berger, J.L.R., Bongiolo, E.M., Bordiga, M., DeBari, S.M., Gill, J.B., Hamelin, C., Jia, J., John, E.H., Jonas, A.-S., Jutzeler, M., Kars, M.A.C., Kita, Z.A., Konrad, K., Mahoney, S.H., Martini, M., Miyazaki, T., Musgrave, R.J., Nascimento, D.B., Nichols, A.R.L., Ribeiro, J.M., Sato, T., Schindlbeck, J.C., Schmitt, A.K., Straub, S.M., Vautravers, M.J., and Yang, Y., 2015 B. Expedition 350 methods. In Tamura, Y., Busby, C.J., Blum, P., and the Expedition 350 Scientists, Proceedings of the International Ocean Discovery Program, Expedition 350: Izu-Bonin-Mariana Rear Arc: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). http://dx.doi.org/?10.14379/?iodp.proc.350.102.2015

Tamura, Y., Busby, C.J., Blum, P., Guèrin, G., Andrews, G.D.M., Barker, A.K., Berger, J.L.R., Bongiolo, E.M., Bordiga, M., DeBari, S.M., Gill, J.B., Hamelin, C., Jia, J., John, E.H., Jonas, A.-S., Jutzeler, M., Kars, M.A.C., Kita, Z.A., Konrad, K., Mahoney, S.H., Martini, M., Miyazaki, T., Musgrave, R.J., Nascimento, D.B., Nichols, A.R.L., Ribeiro, J.M., Sato, T., Schindlbeck, J.C., Schmitt, A.K., Straub, S.M., Vautravers, M.J., and Yang, Y., 2015 C. Site U1436. In Tamura, Y., Busby, C.J., Blum, P., and the Expedition 350 Scientists, Proceedings of the International Ocean Discovery Program, Expedition 350: Izu-Bonin-Mariana Rear Arc: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). http://dx.doi.org/?10.14379/?iodp.proc.350.103.2015

Tamura, Y., Busby, C.J., Blum, P., Guèrin, G., Andrews, G.D.M., Barker, A.K., Berger, J.L.R., Bongiolo, E.M., Bordiga, M., DeBari, S.M., Gill, J.B., Hamelin, C., Jia, J., John, E.H., Jonas, A.-S., Jutzeler, M., Kars, M.A.C., Kita, Z.A., Konrad, K., Mahoney, S.H., Martini, M., Miyazaki, T., Musgrave, R.J., Nascimento, D.B., Nichols, A.R.L., Ribeiro, J.M., Sato, T., Schindlbeck, J.C., Schmitt, A.K., Straub, S.M., Vautravers, M.J., and Yang, Y., 2015 D. Site U1437. In Tamura, Y., Busby, C.J., Blum, P., and the Expedition 350 Scientists, Proceedings of the International Ocean Discovery Program, Expedition 350: Izu-Bonin-Mariana Rear Arc: College Station, TX (International Ocean Discovery Program). http://dx.doi.org/?10.14379/?iodp.proc.350.104.2015

 

 
Busby, Cathy, Koerner, Alice, Melosh, Ben, Andrews, Graham and Hagan, Jeanette, 2013, Sierra Crest graben-vent system: A Walker Lane pull apart within the ancestral Cascades arc: Geosphere, Special Issue (Eds K. Putirka and C. Busby) "Origin of the Sierra Nevada and Walker Lane", Geological Society of America, v. 9, no. 4, published online 26 June 2013; doi: 12.1130/GES00670.1 PDF
BUSBY, Cathy J., KOERNER, Alice, HAGAN, Jeanette, and ANDREWS, Graham, 2012, Sierra Crest graben: a Miocene Walker Lane Pull-apart in the Ancestral Cascades Arc at Sonora Pass, in, N. Hughes and Garry Hayes (eds), Geological Excursions in the Sonora Pass Region of the Sierra Nevada, Far Western Section, National Association of Geoscience Teachers field guide, Fall 2012 (http://nagt-fws.org/), p. 8-36. PDF
Putirka, K.D. and Busby, C.J., 2011, Introduction: Origin of the Sierra Nevada and Walker Lane: Geosphere, Geological Society of America, v. 7, p. 1269-1272. PDF
Busby, Cathy, 2012, Extensional and transtensional continental arc basins: Case studies from the southwestern U.S. and Mexico: in, C. Busby and A. Azor (eds), Recent Advances in Tectonics of Sedimentary Basins, Wiley-Blackwell (February 2012). PDF
Centeno-Garcia, E., Busby, C., Busby, M., Talavera, O. and Gerhels, G., 2011, Evolution of the Cretaceous Guerrero terrane along the Mexican margin, from extensional arc through retroarc to continental arc settings: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 123, no. 9/10, p. 1776-1797, doi:10.1130/B30057.1
Busby, C.J. and Putirka, K., 2010, Penrose Conference Report: Origin and Uplift of the Sierra Nevada, California, USA: GSA Today, Geological Society of America, v. 20, no. 12, p. 18-20. PDF
GSA Bulletin
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Busby, C.J. and Putirka, K., 2009, Miocene evolution of the western edge of the Nevadaplano in the central and northern Sierra Nevada: Paleocanyons, magmatism and structure: in, Gary Ernst, editor, The Rise and Fall of the Nevadaplano, International Geology Reviews, v. 51, nos. 7 - 8, p. 670-701. PDF
Gorny, C., Busby, C., Pluhar, C., Hagan, J., and Putirka, K., 2009, An in-depth look at distal Sierra Nevada paleochannel fill: drill cores through the Table Mountain latite near Knight’s Ferry: in, Gary Ernst, editor, The Rise and Fall of the Nevadaplano, International Geology Reviews, v. 51, nos. 9-11, p. 824-842. PDF
Pluhar, C., Deino, A., King, N., Busby, C., Hausback, B., Wright, T., and Fischer, C., 2009, Lithostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, geochronology and radiometric dating of the Stanislaus Group, CA, and age of the Little Walker Caldera: in, Gary Ernst, editor, The Rise and Fall of the Nevadaplano, International Geology Reviews, v. 51, nos. 9-11, p. 873-899. PDF
Hagan, J., Busby, C., Renne, P., and Putirka, K., 2009, Cenozoic evolution of paleochannels, Ancestral Cascades magmas, and range-front faults in the Kirkwood - Carson Pass - Markleeville region (Central Sierra Nevada): in, Gary Ernst, editor, The Rise and Fall of the Nevadaplano, International Geology Reviews, v. 51, nos. 9-11, p. 777-823.PDF
Koerner, A., Busby, C., Putirka, K., and Pluhar, C., 2009, New evidence for alternating effusive and explosive eruptions from the type section of the Stanislaus Group in the “cataract” paleocanyon, central Sierra Nevada (CA): in, Gary Ernst, editor, The Rise and Fall of the Nevadaplano, International Geology Reviews, v. 51, nos. 9-11, p. 962-985. PDF
Busby, C.J., 2008, Geology of the Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico, Large Igneous Province of the Month. PDF
Purucker, M., Le, G., Sabaka, T,.  Slavin, J., Strangeway, R., and Busby, C., 2007, Magnetic field gradients from the ST-5 constellation:  Improving magnetic and thermal models of the lithosphere: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 34, L24306, doi:10.1029/2007GL031739 PDF
Saleeby, J., Ducea, M.N., Busby, C.,  Nadin, E., and Whetmore, P.H., 2008, Chronology of pluton emplacement and regional deformation in the southern Sierra Nevada batholith, California: in, J. Wright and J. Shervais (eds), Ophiolites, Arcs and Batholiths: Geological Society of America Special Paper 438, p. 397 – 428. PDF
Putirka, K., and Busby, C.J., Birthing the Sierra Nevada, December 2007 GEOTIMES article. PDF
AAPG Bulletin
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Garrison, N.J., Busby, C.J., Gans, P. and Wagner, D., 2008, A mantle plume beneath California? The Mid-Miocene Lovejoy flood basalt, northern California:  in, J. Wright and J. Shervais (eds), Ophiolites, Arcs and Batholiths: Geological Society of America Special Paper 438, 22 printed pages.PDF

 

Busby, C., DeOreo, S., Skilling, I., Gans, P, and Hagan, J., 2008,  Carson Pass-Kirkwood paleocanyon system: implications for the Tertiary evolution of the Sierra Nevada, California: Geological Society of America Bulletin, 26 printed pages. PDFPDF (Repository).
Busby, C.J., Hagan, J., Putirka, K., Pluhar, C., Gans, P., Rood, D., DeOeo, S., Skilling, I. and Wagner, D., 2008, The ancestral Cascades arc: Implicatons for the development of the Sierran microplate and tectonic significance of high K2O volcanism: in, J. Wright and J. Shervais (eds), Ophiolites, Arcs and Batholiths: Geological Society of America Special Paper 438, 48 printed pages. PDF
Putirka, K., and Busby, C.J., 2007, The tectonic significance of high K2O volcanism in the Sierra Nevada, California: Geology, V. 35, no. 10, p. 923 – 926. PDF
Busby, C.J. and Bassett, K., 2007, Volcanic facies architecture of an intra-arc strike-slip basin, Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona: Bulletin of Volcanology, v. 70, no. 1, p. 85 – 103.PDF
Busby, C. J., Fackler Adams, B., and Mattinson, J., and De Oreo, S., 2006, View of an intact oceanic arc, from surficial to mesozonal levels: Cretaceous Alisitos Arc, Baja California, Mexico: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 149, p.1 - 46. PDF
Busby, C.J., 2005, Possible distinguishing characteristics of deepwater silicic volcanism: Geology, v. 33, no. 11, p. 845-848 PDF
Busby, C.J., Bassett, K, Steiner, M.B. and Riggs, N.R., 2005, Climatic and tectonic controls on Jurassic intra-arc basins related to northward drift of North America, in, T.H. Anderson, J.A. Nourse, J.W. McKee and M.B. Steiner, (eds), The Mojave-Sonora megashear hypothesis: Development, assessment, and alternatives: Geological Society of America Special Paper 393, p. 359-376 PDF
Bassett, K. and Busby, C., 2005, Structure and tectonic setting of an intra-arc strike-slip basin (Bisbee Basin, Southern Arizona: in, T.H. Anderson, J.A. Nourse, J.W. McKee and M.B. Steiner, (eds), The Mojave-Sonora megashear hypothesis: Development, assessment, and alternatives: Geological Society of America Special Paper 393, p. 359-376. PDF
Busby, C.J., 2004, Continental growth at convergent margins facing large ocean basins: a case study from Mesozoic Baja California, Mexico: Tectonophysics, v. 392, p. 241-277. PDF
Busby, C.J., Kessel, L., Schulz, K., Foose, M., and Slack, J., 2003, Volcanic setting of the Ordovician Bald Mountain Massive Sulfide Deposit, Northern Maine: in, W. Goodfellow, S.R.McCutcheon and J.M. Peter (eds.), Massive Sulfide Deposits of the Bathurst Mining Camp, New Brunswick and Northern Maine: Economic Geology Monograph 11, p. 219-244 plus 2 large plates in back pocket. PDF (fig2) PDF (fig3)
Kessell, L. and Busby, C.J., 2003, Analysis of VHMS-Hosting Ignimbrites Erupted at Bathyal Water Depths (Ordovican Bald Mountain Sequence, Northern Maine), in, J. White, J. Smellie and D. Clague (eds)., Explosive Subaqueous Volcanism: American Geophysical Union, Geophysical Monograph Series, v. 140, p. 372-392.
GSA Bulletin
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Busby, C.J., Yip, G., Blikra, L., and Renne, P., 2002, Pacific margin example of catastrophic sedimentation triggered by K/T bolide impact: Geology, v. 30, p. 687 – 690. PDF
Busby, C.J., Schermer, E.R. and Mattinson, J.M., 2002, Extensional arc setting and ages of Middle Jurassic eolianites, Cowhole Mountains (Mojave Desert, CA): GSA Memoir 195 (A. Glazner, J.D. Walker and J.M. Bartley, eds), Geologic Evolution of the Mojave desert and Southwestern Basin and Range, p. 79 – 92. PDF
Camacho, H., Busby, C.J., and Kneller, B.C., 2002, A new depositional model for the classical turbidite locality at San Clemente State Beach, California: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 86, no. 9, p. 1543-1560.PDF
Schermer, E.R., Busby, C.J. and Mattinson, J.M., 2002, Paleogeographic and tectonic implications of Jurassic sedimentary and volcanic sequences in the west-central Mojave desert; GSA Memoir 195, Mojave Desert (A. Glazner, J.D. Walker and J.M. Bartley, eds) p. 93 – 116.PDF
Critelli, S., Marsaglia, K., and Busby, C., 2002, Tectonic and sedimentary controls on the composition of backarc volcaniclastic rocks; Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 114, no. 5, p. 515 – 527. PDF
Busby, C.J., Smith, D.P., Morris, W.R. and Adams, B., 1998, Evolutionary model for convergent margins facing large ocean basins: Mesozoic Baja California (Mexico): Geology, v. 26, no. 3, p. 227-230. PDF

 

Fackler-Adams, B.N. and Busby, C.J., 1998, Structural and stratigraphic evolution of extensional oceanic arcs: Geology, v. 26, no. 8, p. 735-738 PDF
Adams, B.N., Busby, C.J. and Mattinson, J.M., 1997, Jurassic magmatism and sedimentation in the Palen Mountains, southeastern California: Implications for regional tectonic controls on the Mesozoic magmatic arc: Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 109, p. 1464-1484. pdf text
Schermer, E. R. and Busby, C. J., 1994, Jurassic magmatism in the central Mojave Desert: implications for arc paleogeography and preservation of continental volcanic sequences: Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 106, p. 767-790 PDF
Riggs, N. R., Mattinson, J. M., and Busby, C. J., 1993, Correlation of Mesozoic eolian strata between the magmatic and the Colorado Plateau: New U-Pb geochronologic data from southern Arizona: Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 105, no. 9, p. 1231-1246. PDF
Smith, D. P., and Busby, C. J., 1993, Mid-Cretaceous crustal extension recorded in deep-marine half-graben fill, Cedros Island, Mexico. Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 105, p. 547-562. PDF
Kokelaar, B. P., and Busby C. J., 1992, Subaqueous explosive eruption and welding of pyroclastic deposits: Science, Full Article, v. 257, p. 196-201. PDF
Saleeby, J. B., and Busby-Spera, C. J., 1992, Early Mesozoic evolution of the western U.S. Cordillera, In B. C. Burchfiel, P. W. Lipman and M. L. Zoback (eds.) The Cordilleran Orogen: Conterminus United States: Decade of North American Geology, Geological Society of America, v. G-3, p. 107-168.
Busby-Spera, C. J. and Saleeby, J. B., 1990, Intra-arc strike slip fault exposed at batholithic levels in the southern Sierra Nevada, California: Geology, v. 18, p. 255 259.pdf text
Busby-Spera, C. J., Mattinson, J. M., Riggs, N. R., and Schermer, E. R., 1990, The Triassic-Jurassic magmatic arc in the Mojave-Sonoran deserts and the Sierran-Klamath region; similarities and differences in paleogeographic evolution: In D. Harwood and M. M. Miller, eds., Paleozoic and Early Mesozoic Paleogeographic Relations; Sierra Nevada, Klamath Mountains, and related terranes: Geol. Soc. America Special Paper, v. 255, p. 325-338
Morris, W. R., and Busby-Spera, C. J., 1990, A submarine fan valley-levee complex in the Upper Cretaceous Rosario Formation, Baja California: Implications for turbidite facies models: Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 102, p. 900-914 PDF
Riggs, N. R., and Busby-Spera, C. J., 1990, Evolution of a multi-vent volcanic complex within a subsiding arc graben depression: Mount Wrightson Formation, southern Arizona. Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 102, no. 8, p. 1114-1135. PDF
Busby-Spera, C. J., 1988a, Speculative tectonic model for the Early Mesozoic arc of the southwest Cordilleran United States: Geology, v. 16, p. 1121-1125. PDF
Busby-Spera, C. J., 1988b, Evolution of a Middle Jurassic back-arc basin, Cedros Island, Baja California: Evidence from a marine volcaniclastic apron: Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 100, p. 218-233. PDF
Morris, W. R., and Busby-Spera, C. J., 1988, Sedimentologic evolution of a submarine canyon in a forearc basin, Late Cretaceous Rosario Formation, San Carlos, Mexico: Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists, v. 72/6, p. 717-737.
Busby-Spera, C. J., 1987, Lithofacies of deep marine basalts emplaced on a Jurassic backarc apron, Baja California (Mexico): Jour. of Geology, v. 95, p. 671-686.
White, J. D. L., and Busby-Spera, C. J., 1987, Deep marine arc apron deposits and syndepositional magmatism in the Alisitos Group at Punta Cono, Baja California, Mexico: Sedimentology , v. 34, no. 5, p. 911-927. PDF
Busby-Spera, C. J., and White, J. D. L., 1987, Variation in peperite textures associated with differing host sediment properties: Bull. Volcanology, v. 49, no. 6, p. 765-776. PDF
Saleeby, J., and Busby-Spera, C. J., 1986, Fieldtrip guide to metamorphic framework rocks of the Lake Isabella area, southern Sierra Nevada, California, in Dunne, G. C. (ed.), Mesozoic and Cenozoic Structural Evolution of Selected Areas, East-Central California: Guidebook and Volume, Geol. Soc. America Cordilleran Section Meeting, p. 81-94. PDF
Busby-Spera, C. J., 1986, Depositional features of rhyolitic and andesitic volcaniclastic rocks of the Mineral King submarine caldera complex, Sierra Nevada, California: Jour. Volcanology and Geothermal Res., v. 27, p. 43-76.
Busby-Spera, C. J., 1985, A sand-rich submarine fan in the lower Mesozoic Mineral King caldera complex, Sierra Nevada, California: Jour. Sed. Petrology, v. 55, p. 376-391.
Busby-Spera, C. J., 1984a, Large-volume rhyolite ash-flow eruptions and submarine caldera collapse in the lower Mesozoic Sierra Nevada, California: Jour. Geophys. Res., v. 89, no. B10, p. 8417-8427. PDF

 

Courses

EARTH 2. Principles of Physical Geology

EARTH 2H. Principles of Physical Geology (Honors)

EARTH 20. Geological Catastrophes

EARTH 108. Clastic Depositional Environments

EARTH 109. Geology of California

EARTH 122. Sedimentation and Stratigraphy: Processes and Products

EARTH 156. Tectonic Controls on Sedimentation

EARTH 185. Physical Volcanology

EARTH 208. Clastic Depositional Environments

EARTH 209. Tectonic Controls of Sedimentation

EARTH 222. Sedimentation and Stratigraphy: Processes and Products

EARTH 285. Physical Volcanology