PDF can be downloaded here

Nicolas C. Barth

nic@geology.co.nz
www.ncbarth.com

Objective: While a student, I am seeking part time consulting work in geothermal energy or mining, employing my skills as a structural geologist. I seek an engaging job tackling geologic problems.

Education:

(in progress) Ph.D. Geology, University of Otago, New Zealand, "Comparative Fault Mechanics in Quartzofeldspathic, Mafic and Ultramafic Protoliths: a Study of the Alpine Fault Zone in South Westland" Advisors: Virginia Toy, Richard Norris and Alan Cooper

M.S. Geological Sciences, University of California-Santa Barbara, “Strain in the Western Gneiss Region of Norway Recorded by Quartz LPOs” Advisor: Dr. Brad Hacker, 4.0 GPA, June 2008

B.S. Geological Sciences, University of California-Santa Barbara, 3.92 GPA, High Honors and Distinction in the Major, March 2007

Spent my junior year studying geology at the University of Otago, New Zealand as part of the UC Education Abroad Program, January-November 2006

Canyon High School of Anaheim, CA, 3.62 GPA, Honors and Advanced Placement courses, June 2003

Publications:

Barth et. al (2010), “Strain within the Ultrahigh-Pressure Western Gneiss Region of Norway Recorded by Quartz CPOs” in Continental Tectonics and Mountain Building: the Legacy of Peach and Horne, Geological Society of London
Contributing author and photographer to “The World of Gem & Crystal Treasures” by Dr. Peter Bancroft, hardcover book, expected publication: late 2010
“Strain within the Ultrahigh-Pressure Western Gneiss Region of Norway Recorded by Quartz LPOs,” MSc thesis, UCSB, 2008
“Geology of the South Branch of the Pareora and Otaio Rivers Region, Hunter Hills, Canterbury, New Zealand,” Senior Thesis, UCSB and U. of Otago, 2006

Work Experience:

Teaching Fellow, University of Otago- Department of Geology, March 2010 to present
Field Assistant to Dr. Virginia Toy, University of Otago- Department of Geology, geological investigation of the Red Hills, NZ, January 2009
Graduate Student Researcher and Teaching Assistant, UCSB, January 2007-June 2008

Consulting geologist for BreitBurn Energy Company, Ltd., March-April 2007

Employed to do detailed geologic surface mapping of S. Orcutt Hill Oil Field, Santa Maria, CA to aide in exploration

Dr. Brad Hacker and Dr. Doug Burbank Labs, UCSB Geological Sciences, October-December 2005

Prepared samples for radiometric age dating, ground up rocks using a disk mill, sieved out desired sample size, separated minerals using a Franz magnetic separator, selected grains for sampling using a microscope

Prepared samples for cosmogenic age dating, ground up rocks using a disk mill, sieved out desired sample size

H.A.M. Technology in Anaheim, CA as the Shipping/Receiving Manager, November 2005 and as a Ring Bumper, December 2005

Handled multiple shipment deadlines daily, received packages and placed them in inventory
Placed rings on drill bits and ensured quality control

Target Corporation Asset Protection as a Target Protection Specialist for Store #0677 in Anaheim Hills, CA; April-August 2003 and June-July 2004

Provided a professional/physical appearance, protected merchandise, employees and guests; responded to crises; assisted in apprehensions

Teaching:

Structural Analysis of Deformed Rocks (Geol 351), Teaching Fellow, First Semester 2010
Advanced Field Studies (Geol 302), Teaching Fellow, 10 day mapping exercise, First Semester 2010
Sedimentary Processes and Materials (Geol 273/373), Student Demonstrator, Second Semester 2009
Structural Analysis of Deformed Rocks (Geol 351), Student Demonstrator, First Semester 2009
Field Studies and New Zealand Geology (Geol 252), week-long field-based class, Student Demonstrator, First Semester 2009
Spring Field (Geol 104B), Teaching Assistant, week-long field-based class teaching geologic mapping, cross sections, stratigraphic columns, and scientific writing, Spring 2008
Earth Materials (Geol 114A), Teaching Assistant, lab-based mineralogy/petrology class, Fall 2007
Designed 2 new Earth Materials classes (Geol 114A&B)

Created course materials, labs, lectures, websites; chose textbooks, 300+ hours
Funded by a UC Instructional Development grant, Summer 2007

Geology of Yosemite (Geol 19), Teaching Assistant, field-based class, Spring 2007
Geology of Death Valley (Geol 18), Teaching Assistant, field-based class, Spring 2007
Igneous Petrology (Geol 102B), Instructional Aide to laboratory sessions, Winter 2008

Outreach and Community Service:

Speaker at the University of California- New Zealand Education Abroad Program student orientation, 4 days, February 2010
Over 50 hours volunteering to teach 1st-8th grade students about geology at various UCSB-affiliated events and school science fairs, 2004-2008

BSA Eagle Scout project- Trail restoration at Oak Canyon Nature Center in Anaheim, 200+ hours, 2001

Honors and Awards:

National Geographic Society

National Geographic Young Explorer Grant for PhD fieldwork, awarded 2010

University of Otago

Otago Postgraduate Scholarship to conduct a PhD in geology, 2009-2011

University of California- Santa Barbara

2008 Teaching Assistant of the Year awarded by UCSB geology undergraduates
2008 Preston Cloud Award awarded by UCSB Geology Department for presenting a talk at the 2007 GSA annual conference in Denver
2007 Fugro West Scholarship for “educational excellence in engineering geology and marine geophysics”
2007 George Tunell Endowed Fellowship for “special interest in economic geology, mineralogy, crystallography, geochemistry or petrology”
2005 Robert M. Norris Prize in Field Geology for “educational excellence in geological field mapping”

Coast Geological Society

2006 John Woolley Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship

Boy Scouts of America, Troop 241

Eagle Scout- June 2001

Experience:

Technical Skills:

Geologic field mapping, Garmin and Ashtech ProMarkGPSs, Brunton Geo Transit Compass, Jacobs Staff
Adobe Creative Suite 3, Microsoft Office suite, Compass computer software, StereoWin 1.2, Google Earth, GeoWall
ArcGIS: ArcMap, ArcCatalog, ArcScene; MapInfo
Photoshop CS3 Fundamentals Workshop, taught by Jonathon Kingston at the Lepp Institute of Digital Imaging, June 4-6, 2007
Making petrographic thin sections, disk mill, Franz magnetic separator, mineral picking for radiometric dating, optical microscopy
Core logging, water conductivity testing, gravitometer, shallow-ground conductivity
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Electron Backscatter Diffractometer (EBSD), X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD)

Field Experience in Geology:

2010 Ellis Basin Cave Expedition, exploring what is likely New Zealand’s deepest cave and one of the deepest in the world, January 2010
Caving expedition exploring, surveying and mapping Deer Cave in Gunung Mulu National Park in Borneo as the expedition’s geologist, 3 weeks, November-December 2009

Geologic investigation of the Red Hills Ultramafic Massif, Nelson, New Zealand, 2 weeks, January 2009

Traverse of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado by raft and foot, 23 days, November-December 2008

Surveying and exploring in Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico, 7 days, September 2008

Comprehensive geologic field study (solo) of the Pareora and Otaio River Gorges Region (16 km2) of Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand, 2006

12,000+ word report encompassing lithology, structure, petrography, macrofossil assemblages, hydrogeology, geomorphology, unconformities, inversion tectonics, geological hazards and economic geology. Geologic mapping and cross sections constructed at 1:5,000. Copy available upon request.

Field mapping at Swinburn Station, Central Otago, New Zealand, 2 weeks, February 2006

Map, cross sections, report, shallow ground-conductivity and gravity surveys

Field Assistant to Joshua Cole (UCSB graduate student) for 6 weeks in Austria on a NSF funded research project, July-August 2005

Looked at geologic structure and shear zones within the Hohe Tauern National Park in the Austrian Alps; took pictures, measurements, oriented samples, notes, data analysis

Field Assistant to Jennifer Van Pelt (UCSB graduate student), Lead Mountain/Elephant Mountain region northeast of Barstow, CA, April 2005

Helped measure a composite stratigraphic section using Jacobs Staff (1500m+ thickness)

UCSB Summer Field geology course in the White Mountains, Poleta and Mammoth Lakes region, CA, 3 weeks, June-July 2005

Mapped for 2 weeks at Poleta Folds and turned in a comprehensive geologic report, studied volcanology of the Long Valley Caldera region, mapped glacial moraines and fault scarps using 3D stereographic projection of aerial photos

Volunteer for Cave Restoration Foundation (CRF) and National Park Service (NPS) with Dr. Joel Despain (Cave Specialist for Sequoia& Kings Canyon National Parks) at Sequoia& Kings Canyon National Parks

2001-present- cave surveyor and mapper, cave exploration, cave restoration, photo documentation, 200+ hours, ~3-4 times/year
August-September 2004- Assisted Cave Biology project, discovered new caves and virgin passage, surveyed and mapped caves, attended cave management meetings, assisted air quality instrument readings, used telemetry to track radio-collared bears, performed conductivity tests, visited 20 park caves, spent over 70 hours caving, hiked over 135 miles

Affiliations:

Student Membership in the Geological Society of America (GSA) 02/05-present
Member of the National Speleological Society (NSS) 01/07-present
Member of the New Zealand Speleological Society (NZSS) 01/09 to present
Member of the New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC) 02/09 to present
President of Muckers Cotorie, a student-run club for UCSB geology majors, 2004-2005
Member of Santa Ana Rock& Mineral Club, 1994-present, Field Trip Chairman from 1996-2000

Hobbies/Interests:

Caving, photography, canyoning, rock climbing, hiking, backpacking, mineral collecting, lapidary, ultimate frisbee

Future Endeavors:

Attend and present research at the American Geophysical Union Annual General Meeting in San Francisco, 13-17 December 2010
Contributing writer and photographer to the book “The World of Gem & Crystal Treasures” by Dr. Peter Bancroft, expected publishing date: late 2010
Co-leader of a future U.S. caving expedition to New Zealand to find and survey caves, March 2011
Publish a coffee table book of pictures from New Zealand

References available upon request.
Sample geologic maps or geologic reports available upon request.