Curator of Geology
Christopher.Tacker@ncdenr.gov
919.733.7450 x722
Ph.D.(Geology), William Marsh Rice University, 1992
M.S. (Geology), U. of Maryland, College Park, 1986
B.S. (Geology), U. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1983
Research Interests
General interests are mineralogy, geochemistry, experimental petrology and silicic volcanism. Current research emphasis lies in details of apatite geochemistry and structure, understanding FTIR spectroscopy of carbonate and OH groups in apatite, kinetics of pyrite disease in vertebrate fossils, gold in pyrite from defunct Carolina Terrane mines and petrogenesis of the Davie County Orbicular Diorite. Collaborative work within the Museum with Trish Weaver, collection manager of geology and paleontology, on Ediacaran fauna of the Neoproterozoic Carolina Terrane. Long term research focuses on analytical problems presented by the apatite group minerals, activity-composition relationships of solid solution and computer-assisted thermodynamic modeling of ternary calcium phosphate-molten calcium salt systems.
Recent Publications
Tacker, R.C. 2008. Carbonate in igneous and metamorphic fluorapatite: Two type A and two type B substitutions. American Mineralogist, 93, p. 168–176. http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/AmMin/TOC/2008/Jan08.html
Tacker, R.C. 2008. Reaction of pyrite and clays: experiments in AMD and “pyrite disease.” Southeast Section of the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in Charlotte, N.C. http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2008SE/finalprogram/abstract_135924.htm
Tacker, R.C. 2004. Hydroxyl ordering in igneous apatite. American Mineralogist, 89, p. 1411-1421. http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/AmMin/TOC/2004/Oct04.html
Tacker, R.C. 2004. The Geology of Downtown Raleigh Architecture, A Walking Tour. Pamphlet and field trip guide published by the Museum. Distributed free to visitors and educators.
Tacker, R.C. 2003. North America’s First Gold Rush: Gold Fever in the Southeastern U.S. In Gold: The Noble Medal, extraLapis English No. 5. Lapis International, East Hampton, Connecticut. P. 16-20. http://www.lithographie.org/bookshop/gold.htm
Tacker, R.C. and Weaver, P.G. 2007. Body vs. trace fossils: A preliminary reassessment of squiggles, rods and clusters on Neoproterozoic bedding planes from the Carolina Terrane, Stanly County, North Carolina. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 392., 12. http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2007SE/finalprogram/abstract_117888.htm
Tacker, R. Chris, Weaver, Patricia G., and McMenamin, Mark A.S. 2006. Paleoenvironmental and paleobiological implications of a Swartpuntiid from the Ediacaran Period, Carolina Terrane, Stanly County, North Carolina. Abstracts with Programs, Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America, 383., 24. http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2006SE/finalprogram/abstract_100522.htm
Hibbard, J., McMenamin, M.A.S., Pollock, J., Weaver, P.G., Tacker, R.C., Miller, B.V., Sampson, S. and Secor, D. 2006. Significance of a new Ediacaran fossil find and U-Pb zircon ages from the Albemarle Group, Carolina Terrane of North Carolina. In P.J. Bradley and T.W. Clark, Ed.s, Geology of the Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and Efland Quadrangles, Orange and Durham Counties. Carolina Geological Society Field Trip Guidebook 2006, p. 29-33. http://www.carolinageologicalsociety.org/cgscdguide.htm
Stormer, J.C., Jr., Pierson, M.L. and Tacker, R.C. 1993. Variation of F and Cl X-ray intensity due to diffusion in apatite during electron microprobe analysis. American Mineralogist, 78, 641-648. http://www.minsocam.org/msa/collectors_corner/amtoc/toc1993.htm
Weaver, P.G., McMenamin, M., and Tacker, R.C. 2006. Paleoenvironmental and paleobiological implications of a new body fosssil from the Ediacaran Period, Carolina Terrane, Stanly County, North Carolina. Precambrian Research, 150, 123-135.
Weaver, P.G., Tacker, R.C., McMenamin, M., Ciampaglio, C.N. and Webb, R. in review. Ediacaran body fossils of south-central North Carolina: Review and analysis of a Neoproterozoic fauna. Submitted to Southeastern Geology.
Weaver, P.G., Tacker, R.C., McMenamin, M. and Webb, R. 2006. Ediacaran body fossils of South-central North Carolina: Preliminary report. In P.J. Bradley and T.W. Clark, Ed.s, Geology of the Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and Efland Quadrangles, Orange and Durham Counties. Carolina Geological Society Field Trip Guidebook 2006, p. 35-41. http://www.carolinageologicalsociety.org/cgscdguide.htm
Weaver, P.G., Tacker, R.C., McMenamin, M. and Webb, R. 2006. Ediacaran body fossils of South-central North Carolina: Review and analysis of a Neoproterozoic-Early Cambrian Fauna. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, 387., 550. http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2006AM/finalprogram/abstract_107375.htm
