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Location: home > Associate Professor
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Name  
Ross Mitchell
Title  
  Associate Professor
Highest Education  
  Ph.D.
Subject Categories  
  Geology
Phone  
  86-10-82998240
Zip Code  
  100029
Fax  
  010-62010846
Email  
  ross.mitchell@mail.iggcas.ac.cn
Office  
  No.19 Beitucheng West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China

Education and Appointments:

Google Scholar
PERSONAL WEBSITE

PRESENT APPOINTMENTS

  • Associate Professor, Institute of Geology & Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGGCAS) (since 2019)
  • Secretary, UNESCO IGCP 648 Supercontinent Cycles & Global Geodynamics (since 2016)

PREVIOUS APPOINMENTS

  • Adjunct Research Associate, School of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Curtin University (2019-2020)
  • Research Fellow, School of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Curtin University (2016-2019)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Geological & Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology (2013-2016)
  • Visiting Fellow, Department of Geology & Geophysics, Yale University (2013)

EDUCATION

  • 2003, Kent School
  • 2007, B.A. (Geology), Carleton College
  • 2013, Ph.D. (Geology & Geophysics), Yale University

Research Interests:

How Earth works, from core to crust. My areas of expertise are palaeomagnetism, cyclostratigraphy, and Earth history. The Earth system is completely integrated, but plate tectonic theory is not. Explaining the dynamics of past supercontinents, and even predicting future supercontinents, requires a systems theory approach.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

Papers make careers. Please contact me if you (i) have a paper idea or (ii) wish to help me finalize one.

Public Services:

Honors:
  • 2020, Chinese Academy of Sciences President’s International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI)
  • 2019, 100 Talents Institute Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • 2016, National Science Foundation Antarctica Service Medal
  • 2013, Philip M. Orville Prize in Geology and Geophysics, Yale University
  • 2011, Estwing Hammer Prize for Field Geology, Yale University
  • 2010, Young Scientist Award, 6th International Dyke Conference, Varanasi, India
  • 2008, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
  • 2007, Carleton College Dean’s Office Research Fellowship
  • 2006, Carleton College Dean’s Office Research Fellowship
  • 2006, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Student Research Fellowship
  • 2006, Class of 1963 Fellowship

Supported Projects:

Selected Publication:
h index=15, citations=1148
*corresponding author
1.     Wan, B., Wang, X., Liu, X., Cai, K., Xiao, W., Mitchell, R.N., Long-lived seamount subduction in ancient orogens: Evidence from the Paleozoic South Tianshan: Geology, vol. 49, https://doi.org/10.1130/G48547.1
 
2.     Wang, C., Mitchell, R.N.*, Murphy, J.B., Peng, P., Spencer, C.J., 2020, The role of megacontinents in the supercontinent cycle: Geology, vol. 49, https://doi.org/10.1130/G47988.1
 
3.     Zou, Y., Li, Q.L., Mitchell, R.N., Zhai, M.G., Zou, X.Y., Zhao, L., Wang, Y.Q., Liu, B., Local rapid exhumation and fast cooling in a long-lived Paleoproterozoic orogeny: Journal of Petrology, egaa091, https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/egaa091
 
4.     Murphy, J.B., Nance, R.D., Cawood, P.A., Collins, W.J., Dan, W., Doucet, L.S., Heron, P.J., Li, Z.X., Mitchell, R.N., Pisarevsky, S., Pufahl, P.K., Quesada, C., Spencer, C.J., Strachan, R.A., Wu, L., Pannotia: in defence of its existence and geodynamic significance: Geological Society, London, Special Publications, vol. 503, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP503-2020-06
 
5.     Kirscher, U.*, Mitchell, R.N.*, Liu, Y., Nordsvan, A.R., Cox, G.M., Pisarevsky, S.A., Wang, C., Wu, L., Murphy, J.N., and Li, Z.X., 2020, Paleomagnetic constraints on the duration of the Australia-Laurentia connection in the core of the Nuna supercontinent: Geology, vol. 49, https://doi.org/10.1130/G47823.1
 
6.     Mitchell, R.N.*, Kirscher, U., Kunzmann, M., Liu, Y., Cox, G.M., 2020, Gulf of Nuna: Astrochronologic correlation of a Mesoproterozoic oceanic euxinic event: Geology, vol. 48, https://doi.org/10.1130/G47587.1
 
7.     Wan, B.*, Yang, X., Tian, X.*, Yuan, H., Kirscher, U., Mitchell, R.N.*, 2020, Seismological evidence for the earliest global subduction network at 2 Ga: Science Advances, vol. 6, eabc5491, https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abc5491
 
8.     Shan, H., Zhai, M., Mitchell, R.N., Liu, F., Guo, J., 2020, Comparative studies on two phases of Archaean TTG magmas from different blocks of the North China Craton: petrogenesis and constraints on crustal evolution: Geological Magazine, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756820000618
 
9.     Zou, Y., Zhai, M., Mitchell, R.N., Zhao, L., Zhou, L., Liu, B., Wang, Y., Chen, M., 2020, Discovery of kyanite in typically cordierite/sillimanite-bearing low-to medium-pressure politic granulites from the Jiaobei terrain, North China Craton: Precambrian Research, vol. 342, 105677, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2020.105677
 
10.   Doucet, L.S., Li, Z.X., El Dien, H., Pourteau, A., Murphy, J.B., Collins, W.J., Mattielli, N., Olierook, H.K.H., Spencer, C.J., Mitchell, R.N., 2020, Distinct formation history for deep-mantle domains reflected in geochemical differences: Nature Geoscience, vol. 13, p. 511-515,
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-020-0599-9
        Journal Impact Factor: 13.941, Total Paper Citations: -
 
11.   Mitchell, R.N., Wu, L., Murphy, J.B., Li, Z.X., 2020, Trial by fire: Testing the paleolongitude of Pangea of competing reference frames with the African LLSVP: Geoscience Frontiers, vol. 11, p. 1253-1256, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2019.12.002
        Journal Impact Factor: 4.160, Total Paper Citations: 1
 
12.   El Dien, H., Doucet, L.S., Li, Z.X., Cox, G.M., Mitchell, R.N., 2019, Global geochemical fingerprinting of plume intensity suggests coupling with the supercontinent cycle: Nature Communications, vol. 10, 5270, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-13300-4
Journal Impact Factor: 11.880, Total Paper Citations: 5
 
13.   Doucet, L.S., Li, Z.X., Ernst, R.E., Kirscher, U., El Dien, H., Mitchell, R.N., 2019, Coupled supercontinent-mantle plume events evidenced by oceanic plume record: Geology, vol. 48, p. 159-163, https://doi.org/10.1130/G46754.1
        Journal Impact Factor: 4.635, Total Paper Citations: 6
 
14.   Nordsvan, A.R., Barham, M., Cox, G., Kirscher, U., Mitchell, R.N., 2019, Major shoreline retreat and sediment starvation following Snowball Earth, Terra Nova, vol. 31, p. 495-502, https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12426
Journal Impact Factor: 2.229, Total Paper Citations: -
 
15.   Mitchell, R.N.* 2019, Spot the difference: Zircon disparity tracks crustal evolution: COMMENT, Geology, vol. 47, e479, https://doi.org/10.1130/G46293C.1
        Journal Impact Factor: 4.635, Total Paper Citations: 1
 
16.   Mitchell, R.N.*, Spencer, C.J., Kirscher, U., He, X.F., Murphy, J.B., Li, Z.X., and Collins, W.J., 2019, Harmonic hierarchy of mantle and lithospheric convective cycles: Time series analysis of hafnium isotopes of zircon: Gondwana Research, vol. 75, p. 239-248, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2019.06.003
Journal Impact Factor: 3.612, Total Paper Citations: 3
 
17.   Spencer, C.J., Murphy, J.B., Hoiland, C.W., Johnston, S.T., Mitchell, R.N., and Collins, W.J., 2019 Evidence for whole mantle convection driving Cordilleran tectonics: Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 46, p. 4239-4248, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL082313
Journal Impact Factor: 4.339, Total Paper Citations: 4
 
18.   Mitchell, R.N.*, Gernon, T.M, Nordsvan, A., Cox, G.M., Li, Z.-X., and Hoffman, P.F. 2019, Hit or miss: Glacial incisions of snowball Earth: Terra Nova, vol. 31, p. 381-389, https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12400
Journal Impact Factor: 2.229, Total Paper Citations: 2
 
19.   Li, Z.-X., Mitchell, R.N., Spencer, C.J., Ernst, R., Pisarevsky, S., Kirscher, U., Murphy, J.B., 2019, Decoding Earth’s rhythms: Modulation of supercontinent cycles by longer superocean episodes: Precambrian Research, vol. 323, p. 1-5, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2019.01.009
Journal Impact Factor: 3.907, Total Paper Citations: 26
 
20.   Keller, C.B., Husson, J.M., Mitchell, R.N., Bottke, W.F., Gernon, T.M., Boehnke, P., Bell, E.A., Swanson-Hysell, N., Peters, S.E., 2019, Neoproterozoic glacial origin of the Great Unconformity: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 116, p. 1136-1145, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1804350116
Journal Impact Factor: 9.504, Total Paper Citations: 34
 
21.   Milanese, F.N., Olivero, E.B., Raffi, M.E., Franceschinis, P.R., Gallo, L.C., Skinner, S.M., Mitchell, R.N., Kirschvink, J.L., and Rapalini, A.E., 2019, Mid CampanianLower Maastrichtian magnetostratigraphy of the James Ross Basin, Antarctica: Chronostratigraphical implications: Basin Research, vol. 31, p. 562-583, https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12334.
Journal Impact Factor: 3.886, Total Paper Citations: 7
 
22.   Kirscher, U., Li, Z.-X., Mitchell, R.N., Pisarevsky, S., Deynzyn, S., and Nordsvan, A., 2019, Paleomagnetism of the Hart Dolerite (Kimberly Region, North Australia craton): Two stage Nuna assembly? Precambrian Research, vol. 329, p. 170-181, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2018.12.026
Journal Impact Factor: 3.907, Total Paper Citations: 9
 
23.   Liu, Y., Li, Z.-X., Pisarevsky, S.A., Kirscher, U., Mitchell, R.N., Stark, J.C., Clark, C., Hand, M., 2018, First Precambrian palaeomagnetic data from the Mawson Craton (East Antarctica) and tectonic implications: Scientific Reports, vol. 8, 16403, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-34748-2
Journal Impact Factor: 4.122, Total Paper Citations: 6
 
24.   Cox, G.M., Isakson, V., Hoffman, P.F., Gernon, T.M., Schmitz, M.D., Shahin, S., Collins, A.S., Preiss, W., Blades, M.L., Mitchell, R.N., Nordsvan, A., 2018, South Australian U-Pb (CA-ID-TIMS) age supports globally synchronous Sturtian glaciation: Precambrian Research, vol. 315, p. 257-263, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2018.07.007
Journal Impact Factor: 3.907, Total Paper Citations: 29
 
25.   Liu, Y. Li, Z.-X., Pisarevsky, S., Kirscher, U., Mitchell, R.N., Stark, J.C., 2018, Palaeomagnetism of the 1.89 Ga Boonadgin dykes of the Yilgarn Craton: Possible connection with India: Precambrian Research, vol. 329, p. 211-223, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2018.05.021
Journal Impact Factor: 3.907, Total Paper Citations: 9
 
26.   Cox, G.M., Mitchell, R.N., Lyons, T., Hasterock, D., Gard, M.G., 2018, Linking the rise of atmospheric oxygen to growth in the continental phosphorus inventory: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 489, p. 28-36, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2018.02.016
        Journal Impact Factor: 4.409, Total Paper Citations: 19
 
27.   Spencer, C.J., Murphy, J.B., Kirkland, C.L., Liu, Y., and Mitchell, R.N., 2018, A Palaeoproterozoic tectono-magmatic lull as a potential trigger for the supercontinent cycle: Nature Geoscience, vol. 11, p. 79-101, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-017-0051-y
        Journal Impact Factor: 13.941, Total Paper Citations: 30
 
28.   Gong, Z., Xu, X.X., Evans, D.A.D., Hoffman, P.F., Mitchell, R.N., Bleeker, W., 2018, Paleomagnetism and rock magnetism of the ca. 1.87 Ga Pearson Formation, Northwest Territories, Canada: A test of vertical-axis rotation within the Great Slave basin: Precambrian Research, vol. 305, p. 295-309, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2017.11.021
Journal Impact Factor: 3.907, Total Paper Citations: 2
 
29.   Buchan, K.L., Mitchell, R.N., Bleeker, W., Hamilton, M.A., and LeCheminant, A.N., 2016, Paleomagnetism of ca. 2.13-2.11 Ga Indin and ca. 1.885 Ga Ghost dyke swarms of the Slave craton: Implications for the Slave craton APW path and relative drift of Slave, Superior and Siberian cratons in the Paleoproterozoic: Precambrian Research, vol. 275, p. 151-175, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2016.01.012
Journal Impact Factor: 3.907, Total Paper Citations: 25
 
30.   Mitchell, R.N.*, Raub, T.D., Silva, S.C., and Kirschvink, J.L., 2015, Was the Cambrian explosion both an effect and an artifact of true polar wander? American Journal of Science, vol. 315, p. 945-957, https://doi:10.2475/10.2015.02
Journal Impact Factor: 4.099, Total Paper Citations: 4
 
31.   Ward, P.D., Haggart, J.W., Mitchell, R.N., and Catlin, E., 2015, Quantitative morphological description of the Late Cretaceous ammonite Baculites inornatus Meek from western North America: implications for species concepts in the biostratigraphically important Baculitidae: The Journal of Paleontology, vol. 89, p. 594-610, https://doi.org/10.1017/jpa.2015.33
Journal Impact Factor: 1.591, Total Paper Citations: 5
 
32.   Mitchell, R.N.*, 2014, True polar wander and supercontinent cycles: Implications for lithospheric elasticity and the triaxial Earth: American Journal of Science, vol. 314, p. 966-979, https://doi:10.2475/05.2014.04
Journal Impact Factor: 4.099, Total Paper Citations: 11
 
33.   Mitchell, R.N.*, Bleeker, W., van Breemen, O., LeCheminant, A.N., Peng, P., and Nilsson, M.K.M., 2014, Plate tectonics before 2 Ga: Evidence from paleomagnetism of cratons within supercontinent Nuna: American Journal of Science, vol. 314, p. 878-894, https://doi:10.2475/04.2014.03
Journal Impact Factor: 4. 099, Total Paper Citations: 35
 
34.   Tobin, T.S., Ward, P.D., Steig, E.J., Olivero, E.B., Hilburn, I.A., Mitchell, R.N., Diamond, M.R., Raub, T.D., and Kirschvink, J.L, 2012, Extinction patterns, δ18O trends, and magnetostratigraphy from a southern high-latitude Cretaceous-Paleogene section: Links with Deccan volcanism: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, vol. 350-352, p. 180-188, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.06.029
Journal Impact Factor: 2.578, Total Paper Citations: 104
 
35.   Ward, P.D., Haggart, J.W., Mitchell, R.N., Kirschvink, J.L., and Tobin, T., 2012, Integration of macrofossil biostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy for the Pacific Coast Upper Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) of North America and implications for correlation with the Western Interior and Tethys: Geological Society of America Bulletin, vol. 124, p. 957-974, https://doi.org/10.1130/B30077.1
Journal Impact Factor: 4.212, Total Paper Citations: 35
 
36.   Mitchell, R.N.*, Kilian, T.M, and Evans, D.A.D., 2012, Supercontinent cycles and the calculation of absolute palaeolongitude in deep time: Nature, vol. 482, p. 208-211, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10800
Journal Impact Factor: 40.137, Total Paper Citations: 110
 
37.   Mitchell, R.N.*, Kilian, T.M., Raub, T.D., Evans, D.A.D., Bleeker, W., and Maloof, A., 2011, Sutton hotspot: Resolving Ediacaran-Cambrian tectonics and true polar wander for Laurentia: American Journal of Science, vol. 311, p. 651-663, https://doi:10.2475/08.2011.01
Journal Impact Factor: 4.099, Total Paper Citations: 31
 
38.   Evans, D.A.D. and Mitchell, R.N., 2011, Assembly and breakup of the core of Paleo-Mesoproterozoic supercontinent Nuna: Geology, vol. 39, p. 443-446, https://doi.org/10.1130/G31654.1
Journal Impact Factor: 4.635, Total Paper Citations: 332, ISI-WOS ‘Highly Cited Paper’
 
39.   Mitchell, R.N.*, Hoffman, P.F., Evans, D.A., 2010, Coronation loop resurrected: Oscillatory apparent polar wander of Orosirian (2.05-1.8 Ga) paleomagnetic poles from Slave craton: Precambrian Research, vol. 179, p. 121-134, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2010.02.018
Journal Impact Factor: 3.907, Total Paper Citations: 39
 
40.   Mitchell, R.N.*, Evans, D.A., Kilian, T.M., 2010, Rapid Early Cambrian rotation of Gondwana: Geology, vol. 38, p. 755-758, https://doi.org/10.1130/G30910.1
Journal Impact Factor: 4.635, Total Paper Citations: 38
 
41.   Mitchell, R.N.*, Bice, D.M., Montanari, A., Cleaveland, L.C., Christianson, K.T., Coccioni, R., and Hinnov, L.A., 2008, Oceanic Anoxic Cycles? Orbital Prelude to the Bonarelli Level (OAE 2): Earth and Planetary Science Letters, vol. 267, p. 1-16, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2007.11.026
Journal Impact Factor: 4.409, Total Paper Citations: 93
 
PUBLIC OUTREACH
Plate Tectonics Goes Global: Phys.org https://phys.org/news/2020-08-plate-tectonics-global.amp

Earth Once Swallowed Its Own Superocean. Could It Happen Again?
 Stephanie Pappas, Live Science https://www.livescience.com/64707-earth-swallowed-superocean.html

Will There Ever Be Another Pangea?
Aylin Woodward, Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/63753-will-there-be-another-pangea.html

The Day the Earth Stood Still:
Shannon Hall, Scientific American
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-day-the-earth-stood-still/

Wave of Massive Volcanoes Created Earth’s First Supercontinent: Alice Klein in New Scientist
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2159657-wave-of-massive-volcanoes-created-earths-first-supercontinent/

Paleomagnetic Data Hint at Link From Earth’s Core to Continents:
Press in EOS Science News by AGU
https://eos.org/articles/paleomagnetic-data-hint-at-link-from-earths-core-to-continents 

What Lies Ahead for Earth’s Shifting Continents Just Might Surprise You:
Interview with NBC News for an unbiased opinion on new supercontinent research
https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/the-big-questions/what-lies-ahead-earth-s-shifting-continents-just-might-surprise-n717276  

Waiting for Amasia:
Interview and YouTube video provided for ScienceNews about supercontinents
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/evidence-falls-place-once-and-future-supercontinents

Unlocking One of the Great Secrets of Earth’s Evolution:
Press release about a new interpretation of the Cambrian Explosion.
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/archive/2016/title,392129,en.php

Paleomagnetism 101
: Podcast interview with Physics Central https://soundcloud.com/physics-central/paleomagnetism

Land On the Run: Ross Mitchell / Amasia:
Radio interview with Molly Bentley on SETI Big Picture Science goo.gl/EoOWtd

Amasia Supercontinent: Earth’s Geologic Past Shapes Our Understanding of Future
: Skype video interview with Cara Santa Maria on Huffington Post - Talk Nerdy To Me
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/15/amasia-supercontinent-earth_n_1951291.html

Next Supercontinent Could Form At The North Pole
: Live radio interview with John Dankosky on NPR Science Friday
http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201202103

’Amasia’: The Next Supercontinent?
: Radio interview with Richard Harris on NPR All Things Considered http://www.npr.org/2012/02/08/146572456/amasia-the-next-supercontinent

Next Supercontinent Will Form in Arctic, Geologists Say
: Sindya N. Bhanoo in The New York Times www.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/science/amasia-supercontinent-will-form-in-the-arctic-geologists-predict.html

Meet 'Amasia,' the Next Supercontinent
: Sid Perkins of Science Now
http://news.sciencemag.org/2012/02/meet-amasia-next-supercontinent

Supercontinent Amasia To Take North Pole Position
: Radio interview with Kerri Smith on Nature Podcast http://www.nature.com/news/supercontinent-amasia-to-take-north-pole-position-1.9996

America and Eurasia 'to meet at north pole'
: Neil Bowdler in BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16934181

Asia and Americas on Course for Arctic Collision
: Brandon Keim in Wired
http://www.wired.com/2012/02/amasia-supercontinent/

Look North for the Next Supercontinent Amasia
: Alyssa Danigelis in Discovery
http://news.discovery.com/earth/amasia-the-next-supercontinent-120208.htm

Amasia Supercontinent: Earth’s Geologic Past Shapes Our Future
: Cara Santa Maria in Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/15/amasia-supercontinent-earth_n_1951291.html

Gondwana Supercontinent Underwent Massive Shift During Cambrian Explosion
: Suzanne Taylor Muzzin in YaleNews
http://news.yale.edu/2010/08/10/gondwana-supercontinent-underwent-massive-shift-during-cambrian-explosion

Massive Rotation of Gondwana
: Jonathan Greco of Yale Scientific
http://www.yalescientific.org/2011/02/massive-rotation-of-gondwana/

True Polar Wander
: Article in Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Newsletter
http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool/home/polar.html
 
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