Research

With interests in geophysics and tectonics, Rob van der Voo's research centers on paleomagnetism and its application to mountain-building processes and pre-Mesozoic plate tectonics. In addition, he and his students are involved in studies of the more theoretical aspects of the Earth's magnetic field and its history, and the processes by which sedimentary and igneous rocks acquire their magnetizations.

Recent Publications (2006 – 2008)

Levashova, N. M., Van der Voo, R., Abrajevitch, A. V., and Bazhenov, M. L.,
Paleomagnetism of mid-Paleozoic subduction-related volcanics from the Chingiz Range in NE Kazakhstan: The evolving paleogeography of an amalgamating Eurasian supercontinent, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., in press, 2008.

Torsvik, T. H., Müller, R. D., Van der Voo, R., Steinberger, B., and Gaina, C., Global plate motion frames: Toward a unified model, Reviews of Geophysics, v. 46, RG3004, doi: 10.1029/2007RG000227, 2008.

Abrajevitch, A., R. Van der Voo, M. L. Bazhenov, N. M. Levashova and P. J. A. McCausland, The role of the Kazakhstan orocline in the late Paleozoic amalgamation of Eurasia, Tectonophysics, v. 455, 61-76, 2008.

Hnat, J. S., van der Pluijm, B. A., Van der Voo, R., and Thomas, W. A., Differential shortening or rotation in curved thrust fronts: A magnetic, calcite twinning and palinspastic study of the Jones Valley thrust, Alabama, US Appalachians, Jour Struct. Geol., v. 30, 725-738, 2008.

Bazhenov, M. L., Grishanov, A. N., Van der Voo, R., and Levashova, N. M., Late Permian paleomagnetic data east and west of the Urals: Geophysical and geological implications, Geophys. Jour. Intern., v. 173, 395-408, 2008.

Rowe, C., Loope, D., Oglesby, R., Van der Voo, R., and Broadwater, C. E., Inconsistencies between Pangean reconstructions and basic climate controls, Science, 318, 1284-1286, 2007.

Abrajevitch, A., Van der Voo, R., Levashova, N. M., and Bazhenov, M. L., Paleomagnetic constraints on the paleogeography and oroclinal bending of the Devonian volcanic arc in Kazakhstan, Tectonophysics, 441, 67-84, 2007.

Ong, P. F., B. A. van der Pluijm and R. Van der Voo, Early rotation in the Pennsylvania Salient (US Appalachians): Evidence from calcite-twinning analysis of Paleozoic carbonates, Geol. Soc. America Bull., 119, 796-804, 2007.

McCausland, P. J. A., Van der Voo, R., and Hall, C. M., Circum-Iapetus paleogeography of the Precambrian-Cambrian transition with a new paleomagnetic constraint from Laurentia, Precambrian Research, 156, 125-152, 2007.

Levashova, N. M., Mikolaichuk, A. V., McCausland, P. J. A., Bazhenov, M. L. and Van der Voo, R., Devonian paleomagnetic results from the North Tien Shan and their implications for the paleogeography of Kazakhstan?s tectonic units with respect to Baltica, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 257, 104-120, 2007.

Lotfy, H., and Van der Voo, R., Northeast Africa in the middle-late Eocene: Paleomagnetism of the marine-mammals sites and basalts in the Fayum Province, Journal of African Earth Sciences, 47, 135-152, 2007.

Hnat, J., B. A. van der Pluijm and R. Van der Voo, Primary curvature in the Midcontinent Rift: Paleomagnetism of the Portage Lake Volcanics (northern Michigan, USA), Tectonophysics, 425, 71-82, 2006.

Van der Voo, R., Levashova, N. M., Skrinnik, L. I., Kara, T. V., and Bazhenov, M. L., Late orogenic, large-scale rotations in the Tien Shan and adjacent mobile belts in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, Tectonophysics, 426, 335-360, 2006.

Cederquist, D. P., R. Van der Voo and B. A. van der Pluijm, Syn-folding remagnetization of Cambro-Ordovician carbonates from the Pennsylvania Salient postdates oroclinal rotation, Tectonophysics, 422, 41-54, 2006.

Yan, M. D., Van der Voo, R., Fang, X. M., Parés, J. M., and Rea, D. K., Paleomagnetic evidence for a mid-Miocene clockwise rotation of about 25° of the Guide Basin area in NE Tibet, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 241, 234-247, 2006.

Wang, D.M., R. Van der Voo and D. R. Peacor, Low-temperature alteration and magnetic changes of variably altered pillow basalts, Geophys. J. Intern., v. 164 (1), 25-35, 2006

(For older publications please refer to Dr. Van der Voo's CV.)