Patrick H. Donohue

Pat at Meteor Crater

pdonohu1@nd.edu

Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556
USA
(574) 631-0478

Pat at Meteor Crater

ME

RESEARCH

My primary research focus is on the origin and evolution of high-titanium lunar basalts, particularly through application of crystal stratigraphy techniques to the Apollo 17 high-titanium basalt suite. You can see thin sections of my samples at the online Lunar Sample Atlas. Crystal stratigraphy combines petrology and geochemistry to unravel the origin and evolution of basalts. Through my research we obtain a better understanding of lunar volcanism and basalt petrogenesis, and my thesis will be the most thorough (and best) analysis of the Apollo 17 high-titanium basalt suite ever.

Methods of textural analysis

  • petrography
  • crystal size distributions
  • spatial distribution profiles

Methods of geochemical analysis

  • electron probe microanalysis (EPMA): major and minor elements
  • laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS): trace element

I like to work with petrographic microscopes, can get an LA-ICP-MS up and running, though now I mostly write and work on spreadsheets.

PUBLICATIONS

A. L. Fagan, C. R. Neal, A. Simonetti, P. H. Donohue, and K. M. O'Sullivan (2013) Distinguishing between Apollo 14 impact melt and pristine mare basalt samples by geochemical and textural analyses of olivine. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 106, 429-445.

A14 Wordcloud

P. H. Donohue, Z. Gallegos, N. Hammond, and R. Potter (2012) Science concept 6: The Moon is an accessible laboratory for studying the impact processes on planetary scales. In A Global Lunar Landing Site Study to Provide the Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon, D.A. Kring and D.D. Durda (eds.), LPI Contribution No. 1694, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX, pp. 333-412.

LPI Report Ch. 6Wordcloud

P. H. Donohue, A. Simonetti and C. R. Neal (2012) Chemical characterisation of natural ilmenite: a possible new reference material. Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research 36, 61-73.
      To date, fourteen ilmenite fragments have been distributed to five research institutions

RESEARCH TALKS & POSTERS

2013

  • P. H. Donohue and C. R. Neal (2013) "Quantitative petrography of ilmenite in lunar mare basalts". 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #2497.

  • P. H. Donohue, R. E. Stevens, C. R. Neal, and R. A. Zeigler (2013) "Testing the origins of basalt fragments from Apollo 16". 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #2897.

  • H. A. Fuqua, J. Szalay, K. L. Donaldson Hanna, and P. H. Donohue (2013) "LunGradCon: Lunar and small bodies graduate student conference 2013, call for participation" 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #1725.

2012

  • P. H. Donohue and C. R. Neal (2012) "Olivine cumulate 71597". 5th Lunar Science Forum, Abstract #562.

  • P. H. Donohue and C. R. Neal (2012) "Apollo 17 high-Ti basalt evolution: Whole rock vs. mineral crystallization trends". 43rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #2827.

  • P. H. Donohue and C. R. Neal (2012) Crystal stratigraphy of olivine cumulate 71597: The crystallization history of a high-Ti basalt lava flow. 43rd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #2077.

2011

  • C. R. Neal, A. L. Fagan, K. O'Sullivan, and P. H. Donohue (2011) "Non-destructive identification of lunar impact melts". Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 43, No. 5, p. 188.

  • P. H. Donohue and C. R. Neal (2011) Apollo 17 Type A basalts: Petrography to petrogenesis (abstract title: Petrogenesis of Apollo 17 high-titanium basalts using crystal stratigraphy). NASA Lunar Science Forum, Abstract #425.

  • P. H. Donohue, C. R. Neal, and A. Simonetti (2011) "Petrogenesis of Apollo 17 high-titanium basalts using crystal stratigraphy". 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #2833.

  • P. H. Donohue and C. R. Neal (2011) Textural analyses of Apollo 17 high-titanium basalts using crystal size distributions. 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #2568.

  • C. R. Neal, P. H. Donohue, A. L. Fagan, H. Hui, and K. O'Sullivan (2011) Using quantitative petrography to distinguish between pristine basalts and impact melts from the Moon. 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #2668.

  • P. H. Donohue, R. W. K. Potter, Gallegos Z., Hammond N., C. R. Neal, and D. A. Kring (2011) "The importance of lunar sample return in determining the nature of ejecta processes". 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference microsymposium: The Importance of Solar System Sample Return Missions to the Future of Planetary Science, Abstract #5035.

  • D. A. Kring, J. Balcerski, D. M. Blair, M. Chojnacki, P. H. Donohue, S. A. Drummond, J. M. Garber, M. Hopkins, M. S. Huber, S. J. Jaret, A. Losiak, A. Maier, J. Mitchell, L. Ong, L. R. Ostrach, K. M. O'Sullivan, R. W. K. Potter, S. Robbins, B. Shankar, E. K. Shea, K. N. Singer, M. Sori, S. Sturm, M. Willmen, M. Zanetti, and A. Wittmann (2011) "Fold hinge in overturned Coconino sandstone and its structural displacement during the formation of Barringer Meteorite Crater (a.k.a. Meteor Crater)." 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Abstract #1740.

  • D. A. Kring, J. Balcerski, D. M. Blair, M. Chojnacki, P. H. Donohue, S. A. Drummond, J. M. Garber, M. Hopkins, M. S. Huber, S. J. Jaret, A. Losiak, A. Maier, J. Mitchell, L. Ong, L. R. Ostrach, K. M. O'Sullivan, R. W. K. Potter, S. Robbins, B. Shankar, E. K. Shea, K. N. Singer, M. Sori, S. Sturm, M. Willmen, M. Zanetti, and A. Wittmann (2011) Asymmetrical distribution of impact ejected lithologies at Barringer Meteorite Crater (a.k.a. Meteor Crater). 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #1746.

  • R. W. K. Potter, P. H. Donohue, Z. Gallegos, N. P. Hammond, and D. A. Kring (2011) Multi-ring basins: Where and how to best determine their structure. 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #1445.

  • Z. Gallegos, P. H. Donohue, N. P. Hammond, R. W. K. Potter, and D. A. Kring (2011) Maunder Crater: A case study of a landing site designed to full-fill multiple NRC (2007) science objectives. 42nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #1958.

2010

  • P. H. Donohue, A. Simonetti, and C. R. Neal (2010) Characterisation of a potential ilmenite reference material. 20th Goldschmidt Conference, Abstract #A242.

  • P. H. Donohue, and C. R. Neal (2010) Apollo 17 high-Ti basalt crystal size distributions and petrogenesis. 41st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #2073.

2009

  • P. H. Donohue, and C. R. Neal (2009) Apollo 17 high-titanium basalt petrogenesis revealed by crystal size distributions and mineral geochemistry. 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, Abstract #1805.

AWARDS

  • Best Student Presentation in Theme 20, Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research Prize for poster presented at Goldschmidt 2010 conference

EDUCATION

2008-Present: University of Notre Dame
Enrolled in Ph.D. program, Geological Sciences, 3.67 GPA

2004-2008: State University of New York at Geneseo  US-NY-Geneseo
Bachelor of Arts, Geological Sciences, 3.23 GPA

    Undergraduate career highlights
  • 2005-2008: Appointed webmaster of the geology department and Geology Club
  • 2007: Elected Geology Club president. Charter member of Geneseo's Eta Rho chapter of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, the National Honor Society for the Earth Sciences. Two week geology department trip to see the Troodos ophiolite suite and Mediterranean geology on the island of Cyprus.
  • 2008: Awarded Timothy O'Mara '83 Excellence Award in recognition of service to the department.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Field Training and Research Program at Meteor Crater, October 2010
Week long field class and research project at Barringer Meteorite Crater, Arizona, covering impact cratering processes and terrains. Click here to read about the experience.
Led by Dr. David A. Kring and Dr. Axel Wittmann from the Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX

LPI Lunar Exploration Internship, June-August 2010
The Moon is an Accessible Laboratory for Studying the Impact Process on Planetary Scales: Assessing Concept 6 of the NRC Report on the Scientific Context for the Exploration of the Moon
The full report is available here via the LPI
Team Members: Z. Gallegos, N. Hammond, and R. W. K. Potter
Advisor: Dr. David A. Kring, University Space Research Association – Lunar and Planetary Institute

Laboratory Teaching Assistant, 2006 – 2010
SUNY Geneseo (2006-2008) and University of Notre Dame (2008-2010)
Introductory Geology Lab for Undergraduates

Paleontology Research Internship, May-August 2007
Eifelian-Givetian Stage Boundary (Middle Devonian) in the Appalachian and Michigan Basins
Dr. Jeff Over, Department of Geological Sciences, SUNY Geneseo

Environmental Science Intern, May-August, 2006
Barton & Loguidice, P.C., Syracuse, NY

NON-PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

As part of the LPI internship we toured the Lunar Sample Laboratory at Johnson Space Center

Pat at the LSLF

and got up close and personal with the Lunar Electric Rover

Pat & Ross on the LER

The ND geology department recently instituted a field trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula (near Marquette, MI). I participated on the 'test' trip in Spring 2011, and was official photographer and an assistant during the October 2011 and October 2012 field trips. Michigan's UP has some spectacular banded iron formations!

UP PegmatiteBIF Sample

‹Updated April 2013›