Geosciences Department - The University of Montana

Aaron Tenesch

M.S. Candidate
Geology

E-mail: snobowl@aol.com
Dept. of Geosciences
Univ. of Montana
32 Campus Drive #1296
Missoula Mt, 59812

Here I am, trying to think like a fish.

Education

B.S. Geology, University of Montana

Thesis advisor:

Nancy Hinman

Thesis project:

Siliceous preservation of microfossils in Yellowstone National Park and the laboratory

"Recognizing the signatures of thermophilic biofilms: Celllarly preserved microfossils and cellular remnants" is the title of the overarching project. I will be studying the mineral phase(s) and textural characteristics of siliceous sinters from Yellowstone National Park that contain microfissils. XRD, SEM/EDS, and hopefully EBSD will be the primary analyses conducted. I will also be subjecting cultured microbes to some silicification experiments in the lab to compare with natural samples.

Scanning electron microscope photo showing cyanobacteria preserved in siliceous sinter from Yellowstone National Park

SEM photo of fossil material of the celebrated Chengjiang Biota.

Looks like hematite…but is it? The EDS shows a lot of Si, Al, and K. A new iron-rich clay-type preservation?

Hobbies

I am a native-montanan outdoorsman. I hunt, fish, ski, and whitewater raft any chance I get.

Every day is better when spent in the woods.

My family is great, I now spend most of my time with my wonderful wife and beautiful daughter. Everyone say “Hi” to Lalalalala-Lavinia

The cutest kid ever!

These pictures are of a family outing (day-hike) to Burnt Fork Lake in the Sapphire Mountains, Montana.

Geology Department - The University of Montana - 32 Campus Drive #1296 - Missoula, MT 59812-1296
Phone: (406) 243-2341 Fax: (406) 243-4028 Email: geology@mso.umt.edu