Summary: Lon’s presentation will take us on a journey through Colorado’s geologic history from the formation of the state’s first continental crust 1700 million years ago right up to today. We’ll trace the rise and fall of several mountain ranges, watch deserts and seas encroach on the state and then recede, and get to know some of Colorado’s early inhabitants. Why Colorado is mountainous today is a puzzle that geologists have yet to fully solve. We’ll ponder what is known and what isn’t about the formation time and mechanism of the modern Colorado Rocky Mountains and examine the geologically recent events that have produced the state’s wonderful scenery.

Biography: Dr. Lon Abbott is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado. In addition to teaching classes and publishing scientific articles, Lon strives to contribute to public understanding of and appreciation for geologic processes, the deep history of the planet, and the significance of geology in our everyday lives. He’s published three geology books and over 50 articles intended for a general audience and he’s given dozens of public presentations about Colorado’s geology. Lon’s research is focused on how mountains are built and sculpted into the beautiful landscapes we enjoy today. His current research foci are deciphering the geologic history of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains and the adjacent Colorado Plateau, including when and why the Colorado Rockies rose and the Grand Canyon was carved, and on understanding when and why Australia’s Great Escarpment formed.