Research Statement

My research is broadly aimed interpreting the sedimentary record as it relates to basin evolution.

* What controls sedimentary packaging and facies distribution through space and time?

* How can we interpret and distinguish between eustatic, tectonic, climatic, and autogenic signals in the ancient rock record?

* How does basin evolution influence hydrocarbon potential and petroleum systems development? 

Geographical Regions of Interest

  • Asia
  • Europe
  • South Africa
  • South America
  • United States of America

Publications

  • Atlas, C. & Morris, E. A., Johnson, C. L., & Wroblewski, A. F.-J. (2023). New approaches to the architectural analysis of deltaic outcrops: Implications for subsurface reservoir characterization and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Sedimentologika. Published, 11/2023.
    https://doi.org/10.57035/journals/sdk.2023.e11.105...
  • Tully, J. & Johnson, C.L., Graham, S.A., Ritts, B.D., and Cope, T. (2023). Sedimentary basins of the late Mesozoic extensional domain of China and Mongolia. Elsevier. Accepted, 09/2023.
  • McBride, R.A. & Anderson, J.B., Buynevich, I.V., Byrnes, M.R., Cleary, W., Fenster, M.S., Fitzgerald, D.M., Hapke, C.J., Harris, M.S., Hein, C.J., Johnson, C.L., Klein, A.H.F., Liu, B., de Menezes, J.T., Mulhern, J.S., Oliver, T.S.N., Pejrup, M., Riggs, S.R., Roberts, H. (2022). Morphodynamics of Modern and Ancient Barrier Systems: An Updated and Expanded Synthesis. Elsevier. Published, 05/2022.
  • Johnson, C.L. & Root, J.C., Hynek, S.A., and Schmidt, J.C. (2022). Sedimentary record of annual-decadal timescale reservoir dynamics: Anthropogenic stratigraphy of Lake Powell, Utah, U.S.A. The Sedimentary Record. 15-29. Published, 05/2022.
    https://doi.org/10.2110/sedred.2022.1.3
  • Mulhern, J.S & Johnson, C.L., Green, A.N. (2021). When is a barrier island not an island? When it is preserved in the rock record. Frontiers in Earth Science, Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, and Diagenesis. Vol. 8. Published, 01/2021.
    http://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.560437
  • Mulhern J., Johnson C. & Martin J. (2019). Modern to ancient barrier island dimensional comparisons: Implications for analog selection and paleomorphodynamics. Vol. 7. Frontiers in Earth Science. Published, 04/18/2019.
  • Koch, A., Johnson, C.L. & Stright, L. (2019). Does fluvial channel-belt clustering predict net sand to gross rock volume? Architectural metrics and point-pattern analysis of a digital outcrop model. Journal of Sedimentary Research. Vol. 89, 1109-1126. Published, 01/2019.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2019.60.
  • Primm J., Johnson C. & Stearns M. (2018). Basin-axial progradation of a sediment supply driven distributive fluvial system in the Late Cretaceous southern Utah foreland. (pp. 249-278). Vol. 30. Basin Research. Published, 04/01/2018.
  • Heumann M., Johnson C. & Webb L. (2018). Plate interior polyphase fault systems and sedimentary basin evolution: A case study of the East Gobi Basin and East Gobi Fault Zone, southeastern Mongolia. (pp. 343-358). Vol. 151. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences. Published, 01/01/2018.
  • Adiya T., Johnson C., Loewen M., Ritterbush K., Constenius K. & Dinter C. (2017). Microbial-caddisfly bioherm association from the Lower Cretaceous Shinekhudag Formation, Mongolia: Earliest record of plant armoring in fossil caddisfly cases. Vol. 12. PLoS ONE. Published, 11/01/2017.
  • Birgenheier L., Horton B., McCauley A., Johnson C. & Kennedy A. (2017). A depositional model for offshore deposits of the lower Blue Gate Member, Mancos Shale, Uinta Basin, Utah, USA. (pp. 1402-1438). Vol. 64. Sedimentology. Published, 08/01/2017.
  • Mulhern J., Johnson C. & Martin J. (2017). Is barrier island morphology a function of tidal and wave regime?. (pp. 74-84). Vol. 387. Marine Geology. Published, 05/01/2017.
  • Mulhern J. & Johnson C. (2017). Time-space variability of paralic strata deposited in a high accommodation, high sediment supply setting: Example from the Cretaceous of Utah. (pp. 349-392). Vol. 444, Geological Society Special Publication. Published, 01/01/2017.
  • Johnson C., Stright L., Purcell R. & Durkin P. (2017). Stratigraphic evolution of an estuarine fill succession and the reservoir characterization of inclined heterolithic strata, Cretaceous of southern Utah, USA. (pp. 251-285). Vol. 444, Geological Society Special Publication. Published, 01/01/2017.
  • Benhallam W., Turner A., Stright L. & Johnson C. (2016). Spatial analysis of channel-belt stacking patterns: Metrics to discriminate between local and regional controls on deposition in the fluvial John Henry Member of the Straight Cliffs formation, Southern Utah, U.S.A. (pp. 1210-1227). Vol. 86. Journal of Sedimentary Research. Published, 11/01/2016.
  • Hudson S., Johnson C. & Afandiyeva M. (2016). Spatial and temporal variability of Paleocene–Miocene organofacies of the Kura Basin, eastern Azerbaijan, and implications for basin evolution and petroleum generation. (pp. 131-147). Vol. 97. Organic Geochemistry. Published, 07/01/2016.
  • Gooley J., Johnson C. & Pettinga L. (2016). Spatial and temporal variation of fluvial architecture in a prograding clastic wedge of the late cretaceous western interior basin (Kaiparowits Plateau), U.S.A. (pp. 125-147). Vol. 86. Journal of Sedimentary Research. Published, 01/01/2016.
  • Szwarc T., Johnson C., Stright L. & McFarlane C. (2015). Erratum to Interactions between axial and transverse drainage systems in the Late Cretaceous Cordilleran foreland basin: Evidence from detrital zircons in the Straight Cliffs Formation, southern Utah, USA [Geological Society of America, 127, 3/4, 2005, 372-392] 10.1130/B31039.1. (pp. 409-409). Vol. 127, Bulletin of the Geological Society of America. Published, 01/01/2015.
  • Chentnik B., Johnson C., Mulhern J. & Stright L. (2015). Valleys, estuaries, and lagoons: Paleoenvironments and regressive-transgressive architecture of the upper cretaceous straight cliffs formation, Utah, U.S.A. (pp. 1166-1196). Vol. 85. Journal of Sedimentary Research. Published, 01/01/2015.
  • Johnson C., Constenius K., Graham S., Mackey G., Menotti T., Payton A. & Tully J. (2015). Subsurface evidence for late Mesozoic extension in western Mongolia: Tectonic and petroleum systems implications. (pp. 272-294). Vol. 27. Basin Research. Published, 01/01/2015.
  • Welker C., Hall D., Paul P., Birgenheier L. & Johnson C. (2015). Analysis of trapped fluids in the Mancos Shale, Uinta Basin, Utah. Society of Petroleum Engineers - Unconventional Resources Technology Conference, URTeC 2015. Published, 01/01/2015.
  • Szwarc T., Johnson C., Stright L. & McFarlane C. (2014). Interactions between axial and transverse drainage systems in the Late Cretaceous Cordilleran foreland basin: Evidence from detrital zircons in the Straight Cliffs Formation, southern Utah, USA. (pp. 372-392). Vol. 127. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America. Published, 09/16/2014.
  • Heumann M., Johnson C., Webb L., Taylor J., Jalbaa U. & Minjin C. (2014). Total and incremental left-lateral displacement across the East Gobi Fault Zone, southern Mongolia: Implications for timing and modes of polyphase intracontinental deformation. (pp. 1-15). Vol. 392. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. Published, 04/15/2014.
  • Taylor J., Webb L., Johnson C. & Heumann M. (2013). The lost south gobi microcontinent: Protolith studies of metamorphic tectonites and implications for the evolution of continental crust in southeastern Mongolia. (pp. 543-584). Vol. 3. Geosciences (Switzerland). Published, 09/01/2013.
  • Johnson C., Semple I. & Creem-Regehr S. (2013). The effects of scaling cues and interactivity on a viewer's ability to estimate the size of features shown on outcrop imagery. (pp. 68-80). Vol. 61. Journal of Geoscience Education. Published, 02/01/2013.
  • Efendieva M., Babaev R., Johnson C., Feyzullayev A. & Aliev C. (2012). Radiostratigraphic study of the deposits of the Maikop Group, Western Azerbaijan. (pp. 567-577). Vol. 20. Stratigraphy and Geological Correlation. Published, 12/01/2012.
  • Heumann M., Johnson C., Webb L., Taylor J., Jalbaa U. & Minjin C. (2012). Paleogeographic reconstruction of a late paleozoic arc collision zone, Southern Mongolia. (pp. 1514-1534). Vol. 124. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America. Published, 10/17/2012.
  • Johnson C. & Ritts B. (2012). Plate Interior Poly-Phase Basins. (pp. 565-582). Tectonics of Sedimentary Basins: Recent Advances. Published, 01/30/2012.
  • Allen J., Johnson C., Heumann M., Gooley J. & Gallin W. (2012). New technology and methodology for assessing sandstone composition: A preliminary case study using a quantitative electron microscope scanner (QEMScan). (pp. 177-194). Vol. 487, Special Paper of the Geological Society of America. Published, 01/01/2012.
  • Allen J. & Johnson C. (2011). Architecture and formation of transgressive-regressive cycles in marginal marine strata of the John Henry Member, Straight Cliffs Formation, Upper Cretaceous of Southern Utah, USA. (pp. 1486-1513). Vol. 58. Sedimentology. Published, 10/01/2011.
  • Webb L., Johnson C. & Minjin C. (2010). Late Triassic sinistral shear in the East Gobi Fault Zone, Mongolia. (pp. 246-255). Vol. 495. Tectonophysics. Published, 12/03/2010.
  • Johnson C., Hudson S., Rowe H. & Efendiyeva M. (2010). Geochemical constraints on the Palaeocene-Miocene evolution of eastern Azerbaijan, with implications for the South Caspian basin and eastern Paratethys. (pp. 733-750). Vol. 22. Basin Research. Published, 10/01/2010.
  • Allen J. & Johnson C. (2010). Facies control on sandstone composition (and influence of statistical methods on interpretations) in the John Henry Member, Straight Cliffs Formation, Southern Utah, USA. (pp. 60-76). Vol. 230. Sedimentary Geology. Published, 10/01/2010.
  • Ritts B., Berry A., Johnson C., Darby B. & Davis G. (2010). Early Cretaceous supradetachment basins in the Hohhot metamorphic core complex, Inner Mongolia, China. (pp. 45-60). Vol. 22. Basin Research. Published, 02/01/2010.
  • Hudson S., Johnson C., Efendiyeva M., Rowe H., Feyzullayev A. & Aliyev C. (2008). Stratigraphy and geochemical characterization of the Oligocene-Miocene Maikop series: Implications for the paleogeography of Eastern Azerbaijan. (pp. 40-55). Vol. 451. Tectonophysics. Published, 04/28/2008.
  • Webb L. & Johnson C. (2006). Tertiary strike-slip faulting in southeastern Mongolia and implications for Asian tectonics. (pp. 323-335). Vol. 241. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. Published, 01/15/2006.
  • Johnson C. & Graham S. (2004). Sedimentology and reservoir architecture of a synrift lacustrine delta, southeastern Mongolia. (pp. 770-785). Vol. 74. Journal of Sedimentary Research. Published, 11/01/2004.
  • Johnson C. & Graham S. (2004). Cycles in perilacustrine facies of late Mesozoic rift basins, southeasthern Mongolia. (pp. 786-804). Vol. 74. Journal of Sedimentary Research. Published, 11/01/2004.
  • Johnson C. (2004). Polyphase evolution of the East Gobi basin: Sedimentary and structural records of Mesozoic-Cenozoic intraplate deformation in Mongolia. Basin Research. Vol. 16, 79-99. Published, 03/01/2004.
  • Johnson C., Greene T., Zinniker D., Moldowan J., Hendrix M. & Carroll A. (2003). Geochemical characteristics and correlation of oil and nonmarine source rocks from Mongolia. (pp. 817-846). Vol. 87. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin. Published, 01/01/2003.
  • Graham S., Hendrix M., Johnson C., Badamgarav D., Badarch G., Amory J., Porter M., Barsbold R., Webb L. & Hacker B. (2001). Sedimentary record and tectonic implications of Mesozoic rifting in southeast Mongolia. (pp. 1560-1579). Vol. 113. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America. Published, 12/01/2001.
  • Johnson C., Webb L., Graham S., Hendrix M. & Badarch G. (2001). Sedimentary and structural records of late Mesozoic high-strain extension and strain partitioning, East Gobi basin, southern Mongolia. (pp. 413-433). Vol. 194, Memoir of the Geological Society of America. Published, 01/01/2001.
  • Varga R., Gee J., Bettison-Varga L., Anderson R. & Johnson C. (1999). Early establishment of seafloor hydrothermal systems during structural extension: Paleomagnetic evidence from the Troodos ophiolite, Cyprus. (pp. 221-235). Vol. 171. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. Published, 08/30/1999.
  • Webb L., Graham S., Johnson C., Badarch G. & Hendrix M. (1999). Occurrence, age, and implications of the Yagan-Onch Hayrhan metamorphic core complex, southern Mongolia. (pp. 143-146). Vol. 27. Geology. Published, 01/01/1999.