Professional Background

Dr. Hanson received a B.S. in Nursing from Montana State University in 1979. After working as an Operating Room nurse for several years, he returned to school at San Diego State University and completed undergraduate classes in geology and continued on to receive an M.S. in Geoscience in 1993. He continued his education at Stanford University and received a Ph.D. in Geology in 1999. Internships with Mobil Producing in Bakersfield, CA and with Texaco in Houston, TX led to full-time employment after graduation with Texaco's International Exploration Division where he was a geoscientist with the Nigeria Exploration team. Andrew joined the faculty at UNLV in August of 2000. He is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Geological Society of America, Society of Sedimentary Geology, and the National Association of Geoscience Teachers.

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Teaching

Undergraduate:
• GEOL 101 Introductory Geology: Exploring Planet Earth
• GEOL 348 Field I
• GEOL 372 Field III
• GEOL 462 Principles of Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
• GEOL 471 Petroleum Geology
• Fieldtrip - San Joaquin Valley and Central California Coast

Graduate:
• GEOL 770 Sedimentary Basins
• GEOL 780 Terrigenous Depositional Systems
• GEOL 765 Seminar in Stratigraphy
• GEOL 782 Sandstone Petrology
• GEOL 785 Seminar in Sedimentology
• GEOL 671 Petroleum Geology
• Fieldtrip - San Joaquin Valley and Central California Coast

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Research

Sedimentary basins and the petroleum resources they contain are the primary focus of the research that my students and I conduct. Our work is strongly field-based but incorporates both outcrop and subsurface data (seismic and borehole) and is combined with cutting edge lab analyses. Tools used in our research include geologic mapping, facies interpretation, paleocurrent analysis, sedimentary petrography, molecular organic geochemistry, basin modeling, detrital zircon analyses, apatite-fission track analysis, U/Th-He analysis, Ar/Ar geochronology, tephrochronology, and architectural element analysis. Currently my students and I are working on projects focused on Miocene-Pliocene extensional basins in the southwestern United States, Cretaceous to Eocene synconvergent extension in the Sevier hinterland, and hydrocarbon migration and maturation in La Popa basin, northeastern Mexico.

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Research Publications

Journal Articles (since 2003)
*denotes Hanson advisee

Druschke, Peter*, Hanson, Andrew D., Wells Michael L., Rasbury, Troy, Stockli, Daniel F., and Gehrels, George, in prep, Synconvergent surface-breaking normal faults of Late Cretaceous age within the Sevier hinterland, east-central Nevada, to be submitted to Geology.

Druschke, Peter A.*, Jiang, Ganqing, Anderson, Tom and Hanson, Andrew D., accepted pending revisions, Stromatolites in the Late Ordovician Eureka Quartzite: implication for microbial growth and preservation in siliciclastic settings: Sedimentology.

Hudson, Samuel M*, and Hanson, Andrew D., accepted pending revisions, Hydrocarbon migration within La Popa basin, NE Mexico and implications for hydrocarbon migration adjacent to other salt structures, AAPG Bulletin.

Hanson, Andrew D., Ritts, Bradley D., and Moldowan, J. Michael, 2007, Organic geochemistry and thermal maturity of oils and Upper Paleozoic and Mesozoic potential source rocks in the Ordos basin, north-central China, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 91, p. 1273-1293.

Druschke, Peter*, Hanson, Andrew D., Yan, Quanren, and Wang, Zhongqi, and Wang, Tao, 2006, Stratigraphic and U-Pb SHRIMP detrital zircon evidence for a Neoproterozoic continental arc, central China: Rodinia Implications, Journal of Geology, v. 114, p. 627-636.

Fildani, Andrea, Hanson, Andrew D., Chen, ZhengZheng, Moldowan, Michael, Graham, Stephan A., and Arriola, Pedro Raul, 2005, Geochemical characteristics of oil and source rocks and implications for petroleum systems, Talara basin, northwest Peru; American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 89, p. 1519-1545.

Graham, Stephan A., Chamberlain, C. Page, Yue, Yongjun, Ritts, Bradley D., Hanson, Andrew D., Horton, Travis W., Waldbauer, Jacob R., Poage, Michael A., and Feng, X., 2005, Stable isotope records of Cenozoic climate and topography, Tibetan Plateau and Tarim basin, American Journal of Science, v. 305, p. 101-118.

Twichell, David C., Cross, VeeAnn A., Hanson, Andrew D., Buck, Brenda J., Zybala, Jonathan G.*, and Rudin, Mark J., 2005, Seismic architecture and lithofacies of turbidites in Lake Mead (Arizona and Nevada), an analogue for topographically complex basins; Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 75, p. 134-148.

Yue, Yongjun, Ritts, Bradley D., Hanson, Andrew D., and Graham, Stephan A., 2004, Sedimentary evidence against large strike-slip translation on the northern Altyn Tagh fault; Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 228, p. 311-323.

Yan, Quanren, Hanson, Andrew D., Wang, Zongqi, Yan, Zhen, Druschke, Peter A.*, Wang, Tao, and Lu, Haifeng, 2004, The Guanjiagou section of the South Qinling and its tectonic implications, Chinese Science Bulletin; v. 49, p. 1416-1423 (Chinese version) v. 49, p. 1722-1729 (English version).

Ritts, Bradley D., Hanson, Andrew D., Darby, Brian J., Berry, Adrian, and Nanson, Lynde, 2004, Triassic Intraplate Extension in North China: Evidence from the Nonmarine NW Ordos Basin; Tectonophysics, v. 386, p. 177-202.

Yan, Quanren, Hanson, Andrew D., Wang, Zhongqi, Druschke, Peter A.*, Yan, Zhen, Wang, Tao, Liu, Dungyi, Song, Biao, Jian, Ping, Zhou, Hui, and Jiang, Chunfa, 2004, Neoproterozoic subduction and rifting of the northern margin of the Yangtze plate, China: Implications for Rodinia reconstruction; International Geology Review, v. 46, p. 817-832.

Yan, Q. R., Hanson, A. D., Wang, Z. Q., Yan, Z., Druschke, P. A.*, Wang, T., Liu, D., Song, B., and Jiang, C. F., 2004, Geochemistry and tectonic setting of the Bikou volcanic terrane on the northern margin of the Yangtze plate: Acta Petrologica Et Mineralogica, v. 23, p. 1-11 (in Chinese with English abstract).

Buck, Brenda J., Hanson, Andrew D., Hengst, Richard A., and Hu Shu-sheng, 2004, "Tertiary Dinosaurs" in the Nanxiong basin, Southern China, are reworked from the Cretaceous; Journal of Geology, v. 112, p. 111-118.

Yan, Q., Wang, Z., Yan, Z., Hanson, A. D., Druschke, P. A.*, Liu, D. Song, B., Jian, P., and Wang. T., 2003, SHRIMP age of the Bikou volcanic terrane: Geological Bulletin of China, v. 22, p. 456-458 (in Chinese).

Yan, Q., Wang, Z., Hanson A. D., Druschke, P. A.*, Yan, Z., Liu, D., Jian, P., Song, B., Wang, T., and Jiang, C., 2003, SHRIMP age and geochemistry of the Bikou volcanic terrane: Implications for Neoproterozoic tectonics on the northern margin of the Yangtze Craton, Acta Geologica Sinica, v. 77, p. 479-490.

Abstracts (since 2002)
*denotes Hanson advisee

Hanson, Andrew D., and Druschke, Peter A.*, 2006, Incorporating problem based research into an undergraduate Sed/Strat class: An alternative to the same old format; GSA Annual Meeting Program, p. 218.

Druschke, Peter*, Hanson, Andrew D., and Wells, Michael, 2006, The Sheep Pass Formation, Nevada: Stratigraphic evidence for a Paleogene transition from contraction to extension? GSA Annual Meeting Program, p. 141.

Suurmeyer, Nathan* and Hanson, Andrew, 2005, Basin analysis of the central Grand Wash Trough, NW Arizona: New insights into a Miocene extensional basin; GSA Annual Meeting Program, p. 138.

Snelson, Catherine M., McLaurin, B.T., Hanson, Andrew D., McEwan, Darlene J., Hirsch, Aaron C., Zaragosa, Shelley, Saldaña, Sandra C., and Guerra, Monica, 2005, The role of faulting in evaporite karst development: Southern Virgin Mountains, Nevada basin; GSA Annual Meeting Program, p. 198.

Lawton, T.F., Giles, K.A., Rowan, M.G., Hanson, A.D., Couch, R.D., and Druke, D., 2005, Foreland-basin development in a salt-influenced province: Sierra Madre foreland, northeastern Mexico: Abstracts Volume, Joint Earth Science Meeting on Thrust Belts and Foreland Basins, Rueil-Malmaison, France, p. 226b-228b.

Hanson, Andrew D., Druschke, Peter D., Howley, Robyn A., Suurmeyer, Nathan R., Benneman, Bud, Erwin, Martin B., and McLaurin, B. T., 2005, Deformation of the Miocene-Pliocene Muddy Creek Formation, southern Nevada: Lake Mead fault system, salt tectonics, or both?: GSA Cordilleran Section Program, p. 19.

McLaurin, B. T., Snelson, Catherine M., Hanson, Andrew D., Brock, Amy L., Hicks, Melissa, Saldaña, Sandra C., McEwan, Darlene J., Hirsch, Aaron C., And Zaragoza, Shelley A., 2005, Assessing sinkhole development on alluvial fans around the Devil's Throat, southern Nevada: GSA Cordilleran Section Program, p. 29.

Zybala, Jonathan G.*, Hanson, Andrew D., and Twichell, David C., 2004, Stratigraphic evolution of Las Vegas bay, Lake Mead, Nevada: 1935 - 2002, Part 1 - The submerged portion, GSA Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, p. 36.

Zybala, Jonathan G.*, and Hanson, Andrew D., 2004, Stratigraphic evolution of Las Vegas bay, Lake Mead, Nevada: 1935 - 2002, Part 2 - The subaerial portion, GSA Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, p. 36. .

Twichell, David C., Hanson, Andrew D., Cross, VeeAnn A., and Rudin, Mark J., 2004, Sediment accumulations on the bottom of Lake Mead: A 70-year record of depositional processes, GSA Annual Meeting Abstracts with Programs, v. 36, p. 551.

Zybala, Jonathan G.*, Hanson, Andrew D., Twichell, David C., Rudin, Mark J. and Buck, Brenda J., 2004, Sequence Stratigraphic Evolution of Las Vegas Bay in Lake Mead, NV: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention Abstracts Volume 13, p. A156.

Fildani, Andrea, Chen, ZhengZheng, Moldowan, Mike, Hanson, Andrew, and Graham, Steve, 2004, Talara basin petroleum system: geochemical characteristics of oils and correlation with possible source rocks from NW Peru: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention Abstracts Volume 13, p. A45.

Hanson, Andrew D., and Ritts, Bradley D., 2004, Oils and Source Rocks of the Ordos Basin, North-Central China: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention Abstracts Volume 13, p. A58.

Snelson, C. M., Sandru, J., McEwan, D. J., Hirsch, A., Zaragoza, S. A., Draa, A., Hanson, A. D., Kaip, G., Harder, S. H., Azevedo, S., McKibben, W., Rodgers, A., Lewis, J. P., Smith, D., Rock, D., and McCallen, D., 2003, Preliminary Results From SILVVER '03 - Seismic Investigations of the Las Vegas Valley: Evaluating Risk, EOS Trans. AGU, 84(46), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract S11D-0325.

Druschke, P.*, Hanson, A., Yan, Q., and Wang, Z., 2003, Is the Bikou Terrane of the Southwest Qinling Mountains, Central China, the Result of Late Proterozoic Subduction Along the North Margin of the Yangtze Plate?: GSA Program with Abstracts, v. 34, p. 343.

Hudson, Samuel M.*, Hanson, Andrew D., Lawton, Timothy F., and Buck, Brenda J., 2003, New geochemical evidence of hydrocarbons along the La Popa salt weld, La Popa basin, northeastern Mexico; GSA Program with Abstracts, v. 34, p. 485.

Zybala, Jonathan G.*, Twichell, David C., Hanson, Andrew D., Buck, Brenda J., Hickson, Thomas A., Rudin, Mark J., Howley, Robyn A., and Steinberg, Spencer, 2003, Sediment deposition in Las Vegas Bay, Lake Mead, NV: Implications for marine sandstone distributions, GSA Program with Abstracts, v. 34, p. 172.

Buck, B. J., Lawton, T. F., Merkler, D., Howley, R. A., Khresat, S., Rawajfih, Z., Waidmann, B., and Hanson, A., 2003, Snowballs in the Devil’s Anus and other adventures in the world of pedogenic sulfates, GSA Program with Abstracts, v 34, p. 257.

Spencer Steinberg, Mark J. Rudin, Brenda J. Buck, Andrew D. Hanson, Vernon F. Hodge, David C. Twichell, and Robyn A. Howley, in review, Investigation of organic matter in Lake Mead sediments using chemo-pyrolysis GCMS, 13th Annual West Coast Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments, and Water.

Zybala, Jonathan*, Buck, Brenda J., Howley, Robyn A., Twichell, David C., Hickson, Thomas A., Hanson, Andrew D., Rudin, Mark J. , and Steinberg, Spencer, 2003, Sediment Coring in Lake Mead Reservoir, NV and AZ: Implications for Deep Marine Sandstone Distributions, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Abstracts with Programs, p. 48.

Twichell, David C., Cross, VeeAnn, Buck, Brenda, Hanson, Andrew, Hickson, Thomas, Rudin, Mark, and Zybala, Jonathan, 2003, Seismic architecture of turbidites in Lake Mead, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Abstracts with Programs, p. 39.

Nanson, Lynde L., Ritts, Bradley D., Darby, Brian J., Hanson, Andrew D., and Berry, Adrian K., 2003, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Paleogeography of the Triassic western Ordos basin, North-central China, American Association of Petroleum Geologists Abstracts with Programs, p. 48.

Zaragoza, S. A., Snelson, C. M., Harder, S. H., Kaip, G., Luke, B., Buck, B. J., and Hanson, A. D. , 2002, Las Vegas Basin Seismic Response Project: Preliminary Results From Seismic Refraction Experiments, Las Vegas, NV., Eos Trans. AGU, 83(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract S12B-1190.

Hanson, A. D., Yan, Q., Druschke, P. A., and Wang, Z., 2002, The southwestern Qinling Shan of central China: A Late Paleozoic subduction/accretionary wedge system and continental arc/forearc constructed upon the north-facing Devonian passive margin of the South China Block, GSA Program with Abstracts, v. 34, no. 6.

Druschke, P. A., Hanson, A. D., Yan, Q., and Wang, Z., 2002, Recognition of a Late Paleozoic arc/forearc system developed on the north margin of the South China Plate, southwestern Qinling Mountains, China, GSA Program with Abstracts, v. 34, no. 6.

Williams, M. M., and Hanson, A. D., 2002, Depositional history of the Black Mountain conglomerate, Mohave County, Arizona: Sedimentary response to Miocene extension in the southern Basin and Range Province, GSA Program with Abstracts, v. 34, no. 6.

Nanson, Lynde L., Ritts, Bradley D., Darby, Brian J., Hanson, Andrew D., and Berry, Adrian K., 2002, Sedimentology, stratigraphy and paleogeography of Triassic strata, northwest Ordos, north-central China, GSA Abstracts with Programs, v. 34, no. 6.

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Major Research Funding

NSF, Synconvergent extension in the Sevier hinterland, $164, 077, Co-PI - Michael Wells, UNLV Geoscience, 2006-2009.

U.S. Congress, Mineral Assessment of Clark County areas of critical environmental concern, $504,000, joint with USGS and Jean Cline (UNLV Geoscience), 2003-2006.

U.S. Congress, Sediment coring in Lake Mead, $750,000 (joint with UNLV Chemistry and Health Physics, Wood Hole Institute), 2001-2003.

UNLV, New Investigator Award, $10,531, Triassic of the Ordos basin, north central China, 2001-2003.

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Students

• Laura Eaton, M.S. student, thesis project is currently undecided (in    progress)
• Steven Forrester, M.S. student, Provenance of the Muddy Creek Formation    Near Mesquite, Nevada (in progress)
• Tom Muntean, Ph.D. student, Are Syntectonic Sedimentary Rocks of the    Muddy Creek Formation Related to Deformation Along the Lake Mead Fault    System or Salt Tectonics? (in progress)
• Peter A. Druschke, Ph.D. student, The Sheep Pass Formation: The Record of    a Syncollisional Extensional Basin Formed on the Sevier Plateau of Western    North America? (in progress)
• Nathan R. Suurmeyer, 2008, MS thesis, Basin Analysis of the Central Grand    Wash Trough, NW Arizona: New Insights into a Miocene Extensional Basin
• Kati Gibler, 2007, MS thesis, Postcollapse Volcanism in the Valles Caldera,    New Mexico: The Transition from Large Volume Explosive to Small Volume    Effusive Eruptions
• Jonathan G. Zybala, 2004, MS thesis, Stratigraphic Evolution of Las Vegas    Bay, Lake Mead, Nevada: 1935-2002.
• Samuel M. Hudson, 2004, MS thesis, Hydrocarbon Occurrences Within the La    Popa Basin: Potential Source Rocks, Thermal Maturation, and Hydrocarbon    Migration along the La Popa Salt Weld, La Popa Basin, NE Mexico.
• Peter A. Druschke, 2003, MS thesis, The Age, Stratigraphy and Tectonic    Provenance of Clastic Deposits in the Western Bikou Terrane, Southwestern    Qinling Mountains, China.
• Michelle M. Williams, 2003, MS thesis, Depositional History of the Black    Mountain Conglomerate, Mohave County, Arizona: Sedimentary Responses    to Tertiary Extension.

*Opportunities exist for Ph.D., M.S., and undergraduate students to conduct research that is based in sedimentary and petroleum geology.

Post-Doctoral Scholars

• Dr. Brett T. McLaurin, 2004-2006, An aggregates assessment in areas of    critical environmental concern around Clark County, Nevada.

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