Nolan is an early career geologist with a background in general geology including experience with geochemistry and geologic field mapping. He went from analyzing trace element distributions in giant spodumene crystals formed in LCT pegmatites to mapping bedrock geology associated with the Midcontinent Rift System in Michigan’s copper country. He attended geologic field camp through Iowa State University in which he spent 6 weeks studying sedimentary geology in Wyoming’s Big Horn Basin and igneous/ metamorphic geology near Yellowstone National Park. He recently completed his Masters research project where he spent two field seasons mapping a segment of the Keweenaw Fault and adjacent Proterozoic rocks along the Keweenaw Peninsula in order to better understand the fault system’s kinematics, geometries, and related deformation history.

Nolan earned his M.S in geology from Michigan Technological University and B.S in geology from Central Michigan University. He is currently focused on supporting the MGS mapping efforts and natural resource assessments throughout Michigan’s beautiful upper peninsula. If he is not conducting field work or sitting behind a computer screen, then he is probably doing something that involves the outdoors.