Tracy D. Frank

Department Head and Professor

Department of Earth Sciences

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Education

• Ph.D.: Geology at University of Michigan
• M.S.: Geology at University of Michigan
• B.S.: Geology and Music (with distinction) at University of Iowa

Research Focus

• carbonate sedimentology and petrography
• low temperature geochemistry
• paleoclimate
• paleoceanography with a special interest in mass extinctions

Awards and Honors

• Fulbright US-Ireland Scholar (2020)
• C. Bertram Schultz Chair in Stratigraphy (2019-2021)
• Susan J. Rosowski Professorship (2011-2016)

Publications

Frank, T.D., Fielding, C.R., Winguth, A.M.E., Savatic, K., Tevyaw, A., Winguth, C., McLoughlin, S., Vajda, V., Mays, C., Nicolls, R., Bocking, M., and Crowley, J.L. (2021) Pace, magnitude and nature of terrestrial climate change through the End-Permian Extinction in southeastern Gondwana: Geology, v. 49, p. 1089-1095. https://doi.org/10.1130/G48795.1.

Mays, C.M., Vajda, V., McLoughlin, C., Slater, S., Frank, T.D., and Fielding, C.R. (2021) Repeated microbial blooms delayed freshwater recovery following the end-Permian extinction: Nature Communications, 12, 5511, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25711-3.

McLoughlin, S., Nicoll, R.S, Crowley, J.L., Vajda, V., Mays, C., Fielding, C.R., Frank, T.D., Wheeler, A., and Bocking, M., (2021), Age and paleoenvironmental significance of the Frazer Beach Member—a new lithostratigraphic unit overlying the end-Permian extinction horizon in the Sydney Basin, Australia: Frontiers in Earth Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.600976.

Fielding, C.R., Frank, T.D., Tevyaw, A.P., Savatic, K., Vajda, V., McLoughlin, S., Mays, C., Nicoll, R.S., Bocking, M., and Crowley, J.L. (2021) Sedimentology of the continental end-Permian extinction event in the Sydney Basin, eastern Australia: Sedimentology, v. 68, p. 30–62. https://doi.org/10.1111/sed.12782.

Frank, T.D., James, N.P., and Shultis, A.I. (2020) Lack of synsedimentary chemical alteration in polar carbonates (Ross Sea, Antarctica): resolution of a conundrum. Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 90, p. 449–467.

Matheson, E.J., and Frank, T.D. (2020) Phosphorites, glass ramps, and carbonate factories: the evolution of an epicontinental sea and a late Palaeozoic upwelling system (Phosphoria Rock Complex). Sedimentology, v. 67, p. 3003-3041.

Matheson, E., and Frank, T.D. (2020) An epeiric glass ramp: Permian low-latitude neritic siliceous sponge colonization and its novel preservation (Phosphoria Rock Complex). Sedimentary Geology, v. 399, article 105568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2019.105568.

Mays, C., Vajda, V., Frank, T.D., Fielding, C.R., Nicoll, R.S., Tevyaw, A.P., and McLoughlin, S. (2020) Refined Permian–Triassic floristic timeline reveals early collapse and delayed recovery of south polar terrestrial ecosystems. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 132 (7-8), p. 1489–1513.

McLoughlin, S., Mays, S., Vajda, V., Bocking, M., Frank, T.D., and Fielding, C.R. (2020) Dwelling in the dead zone—vertebrate burrows immediately succeeding the end-Permian extinction event in Australia: Palaios, v. 35, p. 1–16. https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2020.007.