Carol Frost

Professor and Associate Provost

Isotope Geology
Office Phone: (307)766-2666
Fax Phone: (307)766-4126

P.O. Box 3006
Laramie, Wyoming 82071
Office(s): Old Main 206 & ESB 3044

Email: frost@uwyo.edu

Link to C/V (PDF)

Education

Earth Sciences, PhD, Cambridge University, 1984
Earth Sciences, AB, Dartmouth College, 1979

Research Projects

Mineralogy and provenance of Wyoming uranium roll-front deposits and their significance to in-situ recovery mining processes with S. Swapp, R. Frost, R. Gregory, and J.McLaughlin, funded by SER Uranium Research Program, 7/1/11-6/30/13.

Selected Recent Publications

Dall’Agnol, R., Frost, C.D., and Ramo, T., 2012, IGCP Project 510 “A-type granites and related rocks through time”: project vita, results and contribution to granite research. Lithos, v. 151, p.1-16. [PDF]

Quillinan, S.A., McLaughlin, J.F., Frost, C.D., 2012, Geochemical and stable isotopic analysis of the Tongue River and associated tributaries in the Powder River Basin: an analysis of the cause of annual elevated salinity in spring runoff. Wyoming State Geological Survey Report of Investigation No. 63, 15 pages. [PDF]

Barnes, C.G., Frost, C.D., Nordgulen, O., Prestvik T., 2012, Magma hybridization in the middle crust, possible consequences for MASH magmatism. Geosphere, v. 8, 518-533. [PDF]

McLaughlin, J.F., Frost, C.D., Sharma, S., 2011, Isotopic analysis of Atlantic Rim waters, Carbon County, Wyoming: a new tool for characterizing coalbed natural gas systems. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 95, p. 191-217. [PDF]

Frost, C.D., and Mailloux, J.M., 2011, Establishing appropriate water quality numeric standards under the Clean Water Act: lessons from a case study of coalbed methane produced water discharge to the Powder River, Wyoming and Montana. Wyoming Law Review, v. 11, no. 1, 1-23. [PDF]

Frost, C.D., and Frost, B.R., 2011, On ferroan (A-type) granites: their compositional variability and modes of origin. Journal of Petrology 52, 39-53. [PDF]

Frost, C.D. and Jakle, A.C., 2010, Geologic carbon sequestration in Wyoming: prospects and progress. Rocky Mountain Geology, v. 45, p. 83-91. [PDF]

Lynds, R., Campbell-Stone, E., Becker, T.P., Frost, C. 2010, Stratigraphic evaluation of reservoir and seal in a natural CO₂ field: Lower Paleozoic, Moxa Arch, southwest Wyoming. Rocky Mountain Geology, v. 45, p. 113-132. [PDF]

Smith, M.S., Sharma, S., Wyckoff, T.B., and Frost, C.D., 2010, Baseline Geochemical Characterization of Potential Receiving Reservoirs for Carbon Dioxide in the Greater Green River Basin, Wyoming. Rocky Mountain Geology, v. 45, p. 93-111. [PDF]

Stewart, E.D., Link, P.K., Fanning, C.M., Frost, C.D., McCurry, M., 2010, Non-North American sediment in the Mesoproterozoic upper Belt Supergroup and Lemhi Group: new constraints on a proto-Rodinia. Geology, v, 38, 927-930. [PDF]

Frost, C.D., Brinck, E.L., Mailloux, J., Sharma, S., Campbell, C.E., Carter, S.A., Pearson, B.N., 2010, Innovative approaches for tracing water co-produced with coalbed natural gas: applications of strontium and carbon isotopes of produced water in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming and Montana (invited). In K.J. Reddy (ed.) Coalbed Methane: Energy and Environment, Nova Science Publishers, New York (in press). [PDF]

Frost, C.D., Frost, B.R., Lindsley, D.H., Chamberlain, K.R., Swapp, S.M., Scoates, J.S., 2010, Geochemical and isotopic evolution of the anorthositic plutons of the Laramie anorthosite complex: explanations for variations in silica activity and oxygen fugacity of massif anorthosites. Canadian Mineralogist, v. 48, 925-946. [PDF]

Lindsley, D.H., Frost, B.R., Frost, C.D., Scoates, J.S., 2010, Petrology, geochemistry, and structure of the Chugwater anorthosite, Laramie Anorthosite complex, S.E. Wyoming, U.S.A. Canadian Mineralogist, v. 48, 887-923. [PDF]

Schwartz, J.J., Snoke, A.W., Frost, C.D., Barnes, C.G., Gromet, L.P., Johnson, K., 2010, Structural and isotopic characteristics of the Wallowa-Baker terrane boundary: evidence for a lithospheric terrane boundary in the Blue Mountains Province, northeast Oregon. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 122, 517-536, doi:10.1130/B26493.1. [PDF]

Brinck, E.L., Frost, C.D., 2009, Evaluation of amendments used to prevent sodification of irrigated fields. Applied Geochemistry, v. 24, p. 2113-2122, doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2009.09.001. [PDF]

Fenner, J.N., and Frost, C.D. 2009, Modern Wyoming plant and pronghorn isoscapes and their implications for archaeology. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, v. 102, p 149-156. Doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2008.09.003. [PDF]

Barnes, C.G., Prestvik, T., Li, Y., McCulloch, L., Yoshinobu, A.S., Frost, C.D., 2009, Growth and zoning of the Hortavær intrusive complex, a layered alkaline pluton in the Norwegian Caledonides. Geosphere v.5, p 286-301; doi: 10.1130/GES00210.1. [PDF]

Frost, B.R., and Frost, C.D., 2008, A geochemical classification for feldspathic rocks. Journal of Petrology, v. 49 no. 11, 1955-1969. Doi:10.1093/petrology/egn054. [PDF]

Campbell, C.E., Pearson, B.N., and Frost, C.D. 2008, Strontium isotopes as indicators of aquifer communication in an area of coal bed natural gas production, Powder River Basin, Wyoming and Montana. Rocky Mountain Geology, v. 43, no. 2, 149-175. [PDF]

Brinck, E.L., Drever, J.I., and Frost, C.D., 2008, The geochemical evolution of water co-produced with coal bed natural gas in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming. Environmental Geosciences v. 15, no. 4, p. 153-171. Doi:10.1306/eg.01290807017.
 [PDF]

Sharma, S., and Frost, C.D., 2008, Tracing coal bed natural gas co-produced water using stable isotopes of carbon. Ground Water, v. 46, 329-334. [PDF]

Frost, B.R., and Frost, C.D., 2008, On Charnockites. Gondwana Research 12, 30-44. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2007.07.006. [PDF]

Barnes, C.G., Frost, C.D., McArthur, K., Barnes, M.A., Allen, C.M., Nordgulen, Ø., Prestvik, T., and Yoshinobu, A.S., 2007, Timing of sedimentation, metamorphism, and plutonism in the Helgeland Nappe Complex, north-central Norwegian Caledonides. Geosphere v.3: 683-703doi:10.1130/GES00138.1. [PDF]

Frost, C.D., von Blanckenburg, F., Schoenberg, R., Frost, B.R., and Swapp, S.M. 2007. Preservation of Fe isotope heterogeneities during diagenesis and metamorphism of banded iron formation. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 153: 211-235, doi 10.1007/s00410-006-0141-0. [PDF]

Brinck, E.L., and Frost, C.D. 2007. Detecting infiltration and impacts of introduced water using strontium isotopes. Ground Water, v. 45: 554-569, doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.2007.00345.x. [PDF]

Frost, C.D., Barnes, C.G., and Snoke, A.W., 2006, Nd and Sr isotopic data from argillaceous rocks of the Galice Formation and Rattlesnake Creek terrane, Klamath Mountains: evidence for the input of Precambrian sources.  In A.W. Snoke and C.G. Barnes, eds., Geological studies in the Klamath Mountains province, California and Oregon, Geological Society of America Special Paper 410, 103-120. [PDF]

Frost, C.D., Frost, B.R., Kirkwood, R., Chamberlain, K.R., 2006.  The tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) to granodiorite-granite (GG) transition in the Late Archean plutonic rocks of the central Wyoming province. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 43, 1419-1444. [PDF]

Graduate Students

Davin Bagdonas - MS Candidate

Jonathan "Fred" McLaughlin - PhD Candidate

Lynsey Spaeth - MS Candidate

Professional service

• Science Editor, Geosphere

Research Statement

My research involves applying geochemical and isotopic techniques to understand the origin and evolution of the continental crust. A variety of problems fall under the broad topic of crustal evolution; hence I work on rocks of different ages, from Archean to Recent, and on different types of geologic materials, including igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, as well as natural waters and organic materials such as coal and crude oils.

An enduring research interest is the evolution of Precambrian continental crust, with particular focus on the Wyoming province. My current funded research in this area is in the Teton Range, where together with Susan Swapp and Ron Frost I am investigating what appears to be the oldest high-pressure metamorphism in North America. We interpret these rocks to record an ancient continent-continent collision.

Another long-standing interest is in tracing sediment recycling and provenance with Nd isotopes. Currently I am studying the accreted terranes of the Blue Mountains of Oregon with Art Snoke and PhD student Jason Mailloux, and sediment transport in a modern arid river system, also with Jason Mailloux.

More recently I have developed an interest in the application of radiogenic isotopic tracers to problems related to energy and the environment. Our recent results suggest that different groundwater aquifers in Wyoming have distinctive Sr isotopic compositions, enabling Sr isotope ratios to be used to identify contamination and mixing between aquifers. We've also shown that groundwaters from coal and sandstone aquifers in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming have distinct Sr and C isotopic compositions. This allows us to monitor changes in groundwater hydrology that result from dewatering during coal bed methane production or from surface mining activity and to trace these waters following discharge at the surface.

Finally, I have served as PI on several multi-investigators projects that prepare for a geological carbon sequestration demonstration in Wyoming. This research includes site characterization of the highest priority geologic formations for CO2 storage in southwestern Wyoming and evaluation of depleted compartmentalized gas fields in the Powder River Basin of northeastern Wyoming. The projects include geologic, geophysical, experimental and modeling components necessary to provide information necessary for successful injection and storage of carbon dioxide in deep saline aquifer and depleted oil and gas fields.

Teaching Statement

I was selected to receive the George Duke Humphrey Award, the University of Wyoming’s top faculty award for excellence in teaching, research and service, in 2008. In 2007 the student body of the College of Arts and Sciences elected me a "Top Ten Teacher." I was named the 2001 Wyoming Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and Council for Advancement and Support of Education. In 2000 I was selected for UW's highest teaching award, the Ellbogen Meritorious Classroom Teaching Award, and in 1998-1999 I was recognized for Extraordinary Merit in Teaching in the College of Arts and Sciences.