School of the EnvironmentJeff Vervoort

Jeff Vervoort

  1. Professor
  2. Director, Radiogenic Isotope and Geochronology Laboratory
Email Addressvervoort@wsu.edu
Location1048 Webster Physical Sciences
Phone509-335-5597

Education

  • Ph.D.,Cornell University, 1994
  • M.S., University of Minnesota-Duluth, 1987
  • B.A., University of Wisconsin, 1978

Biography

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Education

  • Ph.D. Cornell University
  • M.S. University of Minnesota-Duluth
  • B.A. University of Wisconsin

Research Interests

I am a radiogenic isotope geochemist and geochronologist with wide ranging interests in the formation and evolution of the Earth. Most of my current work is in the early history of the Earth, concerning both timing and processes of continental crust formation as well as how this crust has been modified through time. The tools I use in this research include U-Pb dating of zircon and other accessory minerals (e.g., baddeleyite, monazite, titanite) and Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotope composition of these phases and the whole rocks that contain them. We also specialize in garnet Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd geochronology. We are able to perform all this work in the Radiogenic Isotope and Geochronology Laboratory (RIGL) which houses an ULPA-filtered ~900 ft3 class 1000 clean laboratory for separating elements of interest and an associated analytical laboratory with a Neptune Plus MC-ICPMS, and Element2 HR-ICPMS, and an Analyte Excite Excimer laser ablation system.

Current funding

  • Does deformation lead to misinformation? How much can granitic rocks deform before accessory minerals are geochemically disturbed?. Johannes Hämmerli, lead PI; J.D. Vervoort co-I, Washington State University.  2024-2027.
  • The Paleoarchean: A Pivotal Time in Earth crustal Evolution–the view from Zimbabwe and Sao Francisco Cratons. J.D. Vervoort, sole PI, Washington State University.  2022-2025.
  • Collaborative Research: Creating Earth’s earliest continents—an integrated investigation of the growth and modification of western Australia’s Pilbara Craton. J.D. Vervoort, PI, Washington State University.  2020-2025.
  • Collaborative Research: Growth, preservation, and modification of Neoarchean to Paleoproterozoic crust, NW Wyoming province, Montana. J.D. Vervoort, PI, Washington State University. 2019-2025.

Selected Publications (*indicates student/post-doc advisee)

Recent Publications

  • Fisher, C.M., and Vervoort, J.D., in press, Laser Ablation-MC-ICPMS, Treatise on Geochemistry. Elseveir.
  • Vervoort, J.D. and Kemp, A.I.S., in press, Isotope Evolution of the Depleted Mantle. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Volume 53.
  • *Botero, M., Vervoort, J.D., Meira, V.T., Martins de Sousa, D.J., Santos, T.J.S., 2025, U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic evolution of~ 3.6 Ga remnants in NE Brazil–Implications on Eo-Paleoarchean global crustal evolution. Chemical Geology. Paper 122646
  • Nesheim, T.O., Saini-Eidukat, B., and Vervoort, J.D., 2025, Geochronology and geochemistry of deeply buried basement along the western Superior Craton and eastern Trans-Hudson Orogen (North America). Geological Society of America Bulletin.
  • Gaschnig, R.M., Lewis, R.S., and Vervoort, J.D., 2024, Age and origin of Early Cretaceous magmatism in the southernmost Omineca Belt, northern US Cordillera. Geological Society of America Bulletin, Volume 136, Issue 3-4, p. 1111-1126. doi.org/10.1130/B36845.1
  • *Chen, T.W., Vervoort, J.D., and Baldwin, J.A., 2023, Growth and evolution of Neoarchean−Paleoproterozoic crust in the NW Wyoming Province: Evidence from zircon U-Pb age and Lu-Hf isotopes of the Montana metasedimentary terrane. Geological Society of America Bulletin, https://doi.org/10.1130/B37160.1.
  • *Zhang, C., *Chen, T.W., Vervoort, J.D., 2023, An optimized chromatography method and MC-ICP-MS technique for apatite Lu-Hf geochronology. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Volume 38, p. 2636-2647. DOI10.1039/d3ja00203a
  • *Botero, M., Vervoort, J.D., and Corfu, F., 2023, Archean to Paleoproterozoic magmatic and metamorphic evolution of the Lofoten–Vesterålen area in northern Norway through zircon U-Pb and Hf isotopic analysis. Precambrian Research, Volume 397, pages 107168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2023.107168.

Other Significant Publications

  • *Salerno, R., Roberts, N., Vervoort, J.D., Tikoff, B., 2023, Constraints on the age of dome-and-keel structures in the Pilbara Craton through integrated garnet geochronology and microstructural analyses. Precambrian Research, Volume 394: Article Number 107108. DOI 10.1016/j.precamres.2023.107108.
  • Kemp, A.I.S., Vervoort, J.D., Petersson, A., Smithies, R.H., and Lu, Y., 2023, A linked evolution for granite-greenstone terranes of the Pilbara Craton from Nd and Hf isotopes, with implications for Archean continental growth. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117895.
  • Wang, D., Vervoort, J.D., Fisher, C.M., Lewis, R.S., Buddington, A., 2022, The Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic crustal evolution of the Clearwater block, northwestern Laurentia: Implications for the assembly of supercontinents. Precambrian Research, Volume 379, Article number 106780. doi: 10.1016/j.precamres.2022.106780.
  • *Salerno, R., Vervoort, J.D., Fisher, C.M., Kemp, A., and Roberts, N., 2021, The coupled Hf-Nd isotope record of the early Earth in the Pilbara Craton. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 572,  p. 117139. doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117139.
  • *Wang, D., Fisher, C.M., Vervoort, J.D., and Cao, H., 2020, Nd isotope re-equilibration during high temperature metamorphism across an orogenic belt: Evidence from monazite and garnet. Chemical Geology, vol. 551, article no. 119751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2020.119751.
  • *Johnson, T.A., Vervoort, J.D., Ramsey, M.J., Southworth, S. and Mulcahy, S.R., 2020, Tectonic evolution of the Grenville Orogen in the central Appalachians, Precambrian Research, vol. 346, article no. 105740. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2020.105740.
  • *Bauer, A.M., Vervoort, J.D., and Fisher, C.M., 2020, Unraveling the complexity of zircons from the 4.0-2.9 Ga Acasta Gneiss Complex: integration and comparison of solution and laser ablation U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotope results, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, vol. 283, pp. 85–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2020.05.023.
  • Fisher, C., *Bauer, A.M., and Vervoort, J.D., 2020, Disturbances in the Sm–Nd isotope system of the Acasta Gneiss Complex—Implications for the Nd isotopic record of the early Earth. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 530, article no., 115900. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2019.115900.
  • *Wang, D., Vervoort, J.D., Fisher, C.M., Cao, H., and Li, G., 2019, Integrated garnet and zircon–titanite geochronology constrains the evolution of ultra-high–pressure terranes: An example from the Sulu orogen, Journal of Metamorphic Geology., 00: 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmg.12477.
  • Kemp, A.I.S., Whitehouse, M.J., and Vervoort, J.D., 2019, Deciphering the zircon Hf isotope systematics of Eoarchean gneisses from Greenland: Implications for ancient crust-mantle differentiation and Pb isotope controversies, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 250, 76-97. DOI: 10.1016/j.gca.2019.01.041.
  • *Johnson, T.A., Vervoort, J.D., Ramsey, M.J., Aleinikoff, J.N., and Southworth, S., 2018, Constraints on the timing and duration of orogenic events by combined Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd geochronology: An example from the Grenville orogeny, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 501, 152-164, DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.08.030.
  • *Fisher, C. and Vervoort, J.D., 2018, Using the magmatic record to constrain the growth of continental crust—The Eoarchean zircon Hf record of Greenland. Earth Planet Sci. Lett., 488, 79-91. DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.01.031.
  • Gaschnig, R.M., Vervoort, J.D., Tikoff, B., and Lewis, R.S., 2017, Construction and preservation of batholiths in the northern U.S. Cordillera: Lithosphere, 9, 315-324, DOI: 10.1130/L497.1.
  • *Bauer, A.M., *Fisher, C., Vervoort, J.D., and Bowring, S., 2017, Coupled zircon Lu–Hf and U–Pb isotopic analyses of the oldest terrestrial crust, the >4.03 Ga Acasta Gneiss Complex. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 458, 37-48. DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2016.10.036. [3/6]
  • Vervoort, J.D., and Kemp, A.I.S., 2016, Clarifying the zircon Hf isotope record of crust–mantle evolution, Chemical Geology. 425, 65–75. doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2016.01.023.
  • Vervoort, J., Lewis, R., Gaschnig, R., Jansen, A., Fisher, C., and Brewer, R., 2016, Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic crystalline basement rocks of north‑central Idaho: Constraints on the formation of western Laurentia. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 128, 94–109. DOI: 10.1130/B31150.1.
  • *Mulcahy, S.R., Vervoort, J.D., and Renne, P.R., 2014, Dating subduction-zone metamorphism with combined garnet and lawsonite Lu–Hf geochronology. Journal of Metamorphic Geology. doi:10.1111/jmg.12092
  • *Fisher, C.M., Vervoort, J., and DuFrane, A., 2014. Accurate Hf isotope determinations of complex zircons using the “laser ablation split stream” method. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 15, 121-139.
  • *Fisher, C.M., Vervoort, J., and Hanchar, J., 2014. Guidelines for reporting zircon Hf isotopic data by LA-MC-ICPMS and potential pitfalls in the interpretation of these data. Chem. Geol. 363, 125-133.
  • *Gaschnig, R.M., Vervoort, J.D., Lewis, R. and Tikoff, B., 2013, Probing for Proterozoic and Archean crust in the northern US Cordillera with inherited zircon from the Idaho batholith. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 125, 73–88.
  • *Gaschnig, R.M., Vervoort, J.D., Lewis, R. and Tikoff, B., 2011, Isotopic evolution of the Idaho Batholith and Challis intrusive province, Northern U.S. Cordillera, Journal of Petrology. 52: 2397-2429.
  • Vervoort, J.D., Plank, T., and Prytulak, J., 2011, The trace element and Hf-Nd isotopic composition of marine sediments. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 75: 5903–5926. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2011.07.046.
  • Goodge, J., Vervoort, J., Brecke, D., Fanning, C., Farmer, G., Williams, I., Myrow, P. and DePaolo, D., 2008, A Positive Test of East Antarctica–Laurentia Juxtaposition Within the Rodinia Supercontinent. Science, v. 321, p. 235-240. DOI: 10.1126/science.1159189.
  • *Bouvier, A., Vervoort, J.D., and Patchett, P.J., 2008, The Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotopic composition of CHUR: constraints from unequilibrated chondrites and implications for the bulk composition of terrestrial planets, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 273, p. 48-57. DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2008.06.010.
  • Vervoort, J., Wirth, K., *Kennedy, B., *Sandland, T., and Harpp, K., 2007, The Magmatic Evolution of the Midcontinent Rift: New Geochronologic and Geochemical Evidence from Felsic Magmatism. Precambrian Research, v. 157, p. 235-268. DOI: 10.1016/j.precamres.2007.02.019.
  • *Prytulak, J., Vervoort, J.D., Plank, T., and *Yu, C., 2006, Astoria Fan sediments, DSDP Site 174, Cascadia Basin: Hf-Nd-Pb Constraints on Provenance and Outburst Flooding. Chemical Geology. v. 233, p. 276-292.
  • Goodge, J.W. and Vervoort, J.D., 2006, Origin of Mesoproterozoic A-type granites in Laurentia: Hf isotope evidence. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 243, p. 711-731. DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2006.01.040.
  • Vervoort, J.D., Patchett, P. J., *Söderlund, U. and Baker, M., 2004, The isotopic composition of Yb and the precise and accurate determination of Lu concentrations and Lu/Hf ratios by isotope dilution using MC-ICP-MS. Geochem., Geophys., Geosys., 5, Q11002, doi:10.1029/2004GC000721.
  • Söderlund, U., Patchett, P. J., Vervoort, J. D. and Isachsen, C. E., 2004, The 176Lu decay constant determined by Lu-Hf and U-Pb isotope systematics of Precambrian mafic intrusions, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v. 219, p. 311-324. DOI: 10.1016/S0012-821X(04)00012-3.
  • Vervoort, J.D., Patchett, P.J., Blichert-Toft, J., and Albarède, F., Downes, H. and Rudnick, R., 2000, Hf-Nd isotopic evolution of the lower crust. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 181, p. 115-129.
  • Vervoort, J.D., Patchett, P.J., Blichert-Toft, J., and Albarède, F., 1999, Relationships between Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotopic systems in the global sedimentary system. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. v. 168, p. 79-99.
  • Vervoort, J.D. and Blichert-Toft, J., 1999, Evolution of the depleted mantle: Hf isotope evidence from juvenile rocks through time. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 63, p. 533-556.
  • Vervoort, J.D. and Green, J.C., 1997, Origin of evolved magmas in the Midcontinent rift system, northeast Minnesota: Nd-isotope evidence for melting of Archean crust. Can. J of Earth Sci., v. 34, p. 521-535.
  • Vervoort, J.D. and Patchett, P.J., 1996, Behavior of hafnium and neodymium isotopes in the crust: constraints from Precambrian crustally derived granites. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 60, p. 3717-3723.
  • Vervoort, J.D., Patchett, P.J., Gehrels, G.E., and Nutman, A.P., 1996, Constraints on early Earth differentiation from Hf isotopes. Nature, v. 379, p. 624-627. DOI: 10.1038/379624a0.
  • Vervoort, J.D., White, W.M., and Thorpe, R.I., 1994, Nd and Pb isotope ratios of the Abitibi greenstone belt: new evidence for very early differentiation of the Earth. Earth Planetary Science Letters, v. 125: 215-229.