Photo on the right shows an outcrop of the Phosphoria Formation (black rocks are the Meade Peak member) south of Jackson, Wyoming:
 photo of phosphoria outcrop
eric hiatt photo
Paleoceanography of ancient upwelling systems:
My research involves stratigraphic, paleoecologic and paleoceanographic study of an ancient oceanic upwelling system that operated in ancient oceans. This study has centered on the Phosphoria Formation of Wyoming, Idaho and Utah, and is the first of its kind to couple regional lithostratigraphic analysis with an array of chemostratigraphic techniques to gain an understanding of a Paleozoic marine upwelling zone. This research has involved using fieldwork, stratigraphic analysis, petrography, and geochemical techniques to investigate the physical and chemical record of ocean productivity in this important Paleozoic oceanic upwelling system.

Related Publications and Presentations:

Hiatt, E.E. & Pufahl, P.K., Edwards, C.T., 2015, Sedimentary phosphate and associated fossil bacteria in a Paleoproterozoic tidal flat in the 1.85 Ga Michigamme Formation, Michigan, USA: Sedimentary Geology, v. 319, p. 24-39, DOI: 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2015.01.006.

Pufahl, P.K., Anderson, S.L., Hiatt, E.E., 2014, Dynamic sedimentation of Paleoproterozoic continental margin iron formation, Labrador Trough, Canada: paleoenvironments and sequence stratigraphy: Sedimentary Geology, v. 309, p. 48-65.
Akin, S.J., Pufahl, P.K., Hiatt, E.E., Pirajno, F., 2013, Oxygenation of shallow marine environments and chemical sedimentation in Paleoproterozoic peritidal settings: Frere Formation, Western Australia: Sedimentology, v. 60, p. 1559–1582, doi: 10.1111/sed.12038.

Pufahl, P.K., Pirajno, F., Hiatt, E.E., 2013, Riverine mixing and fluvial iron formation: a new type of Precambrian biochemical sediment: Geology, v. 41, no. 12, p. 1235-1238.

Eriksson, P.G., Banerjee, S., Catuneanu, O., Corcoran, P.L., Eriksson, K.E., Hiatt, E.E., Laflamme, M., Lenhardt, N., Long, D.G.F., Miall, A.D., Mints, M.V., Pufahl, P.K., Sarkar, S., Simpson, E.L., Williams, G.E., 2013, Secular changes in sedimentation systems and sequence stratigraphy: Gondwana Research, Special Issue, V. 24, no. 2, p. 468-489.

Pufahl, P.K. and Hiatt, E.E., 2012, Oxygenation of the Earth's atmosphere-ocean system: a review of physical and chemical sedimentologic responses: Journal of Marine and Petroleum Geology, v. 32, no. 1, p. 1-20.

Pufahl, P.K., Hiatt, E.E., Kyser, T.K., 2010, Does the Paleoproterozoic Animikie Basin record the sulfidic ocean transition?:  Geology, v. 38, p. 659-662.

Hiatt, E.E., Pufahl, P.K., and Edwards, C.T., 2010, The role of early life in the Proterozoic phosphorus cycle: evidence from the Baraga Group, Michigan: Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, v. 42, no. 5, p. 560-561.

*Hiatt, E.E., 2010, Phosphogenesis in epicontinental and marginal sedimentary basins: problems with using the modern as an analog for the ancient rock record: SIMEXMIN 2010 - Joint Meeting between the Society of Economic Geologists and The Agency for the Technological Development of the Brazilian Mining Industry, Ouro Preto, Brazil, in press.  * Invited presentation

Pufahl, P.K., and Hiatt, E.E., 2010, Sedimentary phosphate deposits:  ore formation and exploration: short course notes, Society of Economic Geologists and Agéncia para o Desenvolvimento Technólogico da Indûstria Mineral Brasileira, EXMIN 2010, May 27-28, Ouro Preto, Brazil, 113 p. 9.

Edwards, C.T., Pufahl, P.K. and Hiatt, E.E., 2010, Fossil Microbial Communities Preserved Within Chemical Sediments of the Ferriman Group, Labrador Trough, Canada: GeoCanada GAC-MAC Joint Assembly Meeting, Calgary, Abstracts, v. 35, p. 83.

Nelson, G.J., Pufahl, P.K., and Hiatt, E.E., 2010, Paleoceanographic constraints on Precambrian phosphorite accumulation, Baraga Group, Michigan, USA: Sedimentary Geology, v. 226, p. 9-21.

Hiatt, Eric E., 2004, Paleoenvironmental controls on syngenetic deposition of phosphorites and associated metals in the Permian Phosphoria Formation, western United States: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, no. 5, p. 199.

Hiatt, Eric E. and Budd, D.A., 2003, Extreme paleoceanographic conditions in a Paleozoic oceanic upwelling system: organic productivity and widespread phosphogenesis in the Permian Phosphoria Sea: Chapter 15, pp. 245-264 in Chan, M.A. and Archer, A.W. (eds.) Extreme depositional environments: Mega end members in geologic time: Geological Society Special Publication 370.

Hiatt, Eric E., 2003, Phosphogenesis under extreme paleoceanographic conditions: chemo stratigraphic evidence from the Late Permian Retort member of the Phosphoria Formation, western U.S.A., Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, v. 35, No. 6, p. 493.

Yang, W., Lehrmann, D., Hiatt, E., Wei, J., Yu, Y., Wignall, P., 2002, Productivity-controlled peritidal carbonate cycles in a super-greenhouse climate in the aftermath of the end-Permian extinction, the Lower Triassic (Olenekian) Great Bank of Guizhou, South China: 2002 America Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas, Program with Abstracts, v. 11, p. A194.

Hiatt, E.E. and Budd, D.A., 2001, Sedimentary phosphate formation in warm shallow waters: new insights into the paleoceanography of the Permian Phosphoria Sea: Sedimentary Geology, v.145, no. 1-2, p 119-133.

Hiatt, E. E., 1998, Sequence stratigraphy of the Permian Phosphoria Formation: interrelationships between systems tracts, paleoproductivity, and upwelling in an ancient epicontinental sea: Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 30, p. 397.

Hiatt, E.E., 1997, A Paleoceanographic Model for Oceanic Upwelling in a Late Paleozoic Epicontinental Sea: A Chemostratigraphic Analysis of the Permian Phosphoria Formation: University of Colorado. Dissertation, 294 p.

Hiatt, E. E., 1996, An alternate paleoeanographic mode for upwelling and the formation of ancient phosphorites: stratigraphic and geochemical evidence from the Permian Phosphoria Formation: Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 28, p. 225-226.

Hiatt, E.E., 1994, Mechanisms of phosphogenesis: geochemical and petrographic evidence from the Permian Phosphoria Formation: Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, vol. 26, p. 423.

Hiatt, E.E., 1993, Productivity, intensity of upwelling, and the connection to sea level change in the Permian Phosphoria Sea: Society for Sedimentary Geology, Mid-Year Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, p.49.

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