Structural Geology
Geomorphology Petrology |
Final-year PhD candidate, studying the youngest and probably best-preserved active low-angle normal fault on Earth - the Mai'iu fault in SE Papua New Guinea. The excellent exposure and accessibility of exhumed fault rocks makes the Mai’iu fault a prime natural laboratory to study the spatiotemporal evolution of microstructures and textures accommodating slip on this fault. The project is funded by a Marsden grant awarded to Prof. Tim Little.
Ongoing projects: Goal during and after my PhD is to publish research papers on: 1) structural and geomorphic evidence for rolling-hinge style deformation and continuous growth of megacorrugations accommodating slip; 2) using calcite, quartz and plagioclase paleopiezometers to quantify the strength of the exhumed crust and to reconstruct a stress profile; and 3) studying grain-scale deformation mechanisms to reveal slow-to-fast slip events on a misoriented fault. Publications (PNG related): Mizera, M., Little, T., Biemiller, J., Ellis, S., Webber, S. & Norton, K. (in review). Structural and Geomorphic Evidence for Rolling-Hinge Style Deformation of an Active Continental Low-Angle Normal Fault, SE Papua New Guinea. Tectonics. Conference presentations (PNG related) Mizera, M., Little, T.A, Boulton, C. & Prior, D. (2018): Grain-Scale Deformation Mechanisms Reveal Slow-to-Fast Slip on an Actively Exhuming Low-Angle Normal Fault, Woodlark Rift, SE Papua New Guinea. AGU Fall Meeting, 10.12.-14.12.2018, Washington DC. Mizera, M., Little, T., Biemiller, J., Ellis, S., Webber, S. & Norton, K. (2018): Tectonic-Geomorphic Evidence for “Rolling-Hinge” Style Deformation of an Active Low-Angle Normal Fault, Woodlark Rift, SE Papua New Guinea. AGU Fall Meeting, 10.12.-14.12.2018, Washington DC. Mizera, M., Little, T.A., Norton, K., Webber, S., Ellis, S & Oesterle, J. (2016). Geomorphic and Structural Evidence for Rolling Hinge Style Deformation in the Footwall of an Active Low Angle Normal Fault, Mai’iu Fault, Woodlark Rift, SE Papua New Guinea. AGU Fall Meeting, 12.12.-16.12.2016, San Francisco. Mizera, M., Little, T.A., Norton, K., Webber, S., Ellis, S & Oesterle, J. (2016). Deformation Style, Roughness and Mechanics of an Active Low-Angle Normal Fault, Mai’iu Fault, Woodlark Rift, SE Papua New Guinea. In GSNZ Conference, 2016, 28.11.-02.12.2016, Wanaka, New Zealand. Contact: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marcel_Mizera/ |