• home
• people
• facilities
• research
• coursework
• contact
• links

Roddy V. Amenta, Ph.D. Professor Department of Geology and Environmental Science

Education, Honors, Awards

• 1992-Present: Professor of Geology, James Madison University.
• 1976-1992: Associate Professor of Geology, James Madison University.
• 1974-1976: Assistant Professor of Geology, James Madison University.
• 1969-1974: Assistant Professor of Earth Science, La Salle College.
• 1970: Ph.D in Structural Geology and Petrology from Bryn Mawr College.
• 1966: M.S. in Geology from The George Washington University.
• 1959: Certificate in Photogeology from The International Training Center for
  Aerial Survey, Delft, The Netherlands.
• 1959: B.A. in Geology from The University of Connecticut.

Research Description

My research explores the boundaries between petrology, materials science and computational science.  I am interested in modeling crystal size distributions (CSDs) and microstructure formation in crystalline solids, and in the reverse process of recovering the crystallization kinetic information from the microstructures (see computer generated microstructure below).   Other related interests deal with finite element modeling of geologic crystallization rates of magma that would result in the CSDs in real igneous rocks.  Most recently I am collaborating in a study of flow behavior of fluid-granular systems such as magma through constrictions in the volcanic conduits.

Selected Recent Publications

• Amenta, R.V., Ewing, A., Jensen, A., Roberts, S., Stevens, K., Summa, M., Weaver, S., and Wertz, P. (2007), A modeling approach to understanding the role of microstructure development on crystal size distributions and on recovering crystal size distributions from thin slices,  American Mineralogist, An International Journal of Earth and Planetary Materials, 92, p. 1936-1945.
• Amenta, R.V. (2001), Three-dimensional computer modeling of fabric evolution in igneous rocks, Computers & Geosciences, 27, p. 477-483.
• Gendell, A. and Amenta, R.V. (2006) A comparison of two methods for estimating cooling/crystallization time of an igneous dike: finite element modeling of heat flow and crystal size distribution (poster 2nd prize award), Shenandoah Mathematics and Statistics (SUMS) Conference, Harrisonburg,VA.
• Amenta, R.V., Roberts, S.M., and Wertz, P.D., (2006) The role of microstructure development on crystal size distribution and on recovering  crystal size distribution from thin slices, a modeling approach ,( poster), Geoinformatics meeting, Reston, Virgina
• Roberts, S.M., Wertz, P.D. and Amenta, R.V., (2006) Evaluating the recovery of crystal size distributions from computer generated microstructures, poster17-9,  41st Northeast Section Meeting of Geological Society of American, Harrisburg, PA.
• Bascope, M.A., Jensen, A.E. & Summa, M.C. & Amenta, R.V. (2005) Modeling to Constrain and Support the Recovery of Kinetic Information from Igneous Rocks (poster), 19th National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), Lexington, Virginia
• Amenta, R.V., Bascope, M.A., Jensen, A.E. &  Summa M.C., (2004), Modeling to constrain and support the recovery of kinetic information from igneous rocks (poster V53A-0621), American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, San Francisco.
• Amenta, R.V., Ewing, A.M., and Stevens, K.C,   (2004) Forward and inverse     modeling of igneous crystallization to constrain kinetic information obtainable from rocks (poster), Joint Meeting of Northeast/Southeast Sections of Geological Society of America, Tysons Corner, Virginia
• Amenta, R.V., Ewing, A.M., Stevens, K.C. and Weaver, S.L. (2004)Computer modeling of igneous hypidiomorphic textures using crystal prisms and plates with comparisons of measured crystal size distributions,  poster V43C-03, Joint Meeting of American Geophysical Union and Canadian Geophysical Union, Montreal, Canada.
• Weaver, S.L., and Amenta, R.V. (2003) Kinetic Information on Crystallization from Fully Crystallized Solids, 225th American Chemical Society Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
• Weaver, S.L., and (Amenta, R.V.), (2003), Forward and inverse modeling of crystal size distribution in igneous rocks, National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), University of Utah,
  Salt Lake City, UT.
• Amenta, R.V., Dadvar, P., Rodgers, R. and Ruotolo, G., (2002), Computer modeling of crystallization and crystal size distributions, paper V51B-05,  American Geophysical Union Meeting, Baltimore, MD.

Last Modified: 07/21/08