Peter Horvath

Adjunct Professor, Earth Sciences

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Peter Horváth is a geologist who focuses on the study of metamorphic rocks and the pressure-temperature conditions they formed at in the Earth’s crust. He applies a range of techniques from field studies to micron-scale analyses of mineral compositions and computational modelling of mineral stability. His main research interest is applying quantitative phase equilibria models to determine the metamorphic history of an area. Peter’s past work has applied models to determine the metamorphic history in areas of Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Swaziland, Australia, and Nigeria.

Before arriving at Furman, Dr. Horváth studied for his bachelor’s degree and PhD at Eötvös University in Budapest, Hungary. His PhD focused on the metamorphic evolution of Alpine ophiolites in northeast Hungary. Post-PhD Dr. Horváth worked at the Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary; completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; then worked for a short stint in hydrocarbon exploration, based in Budapest, Hungary. Following this, Dr. Horváth returned to academia as a lecturer at Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa; then as a lecturer and Electron Probe Microanalysis Scientist at University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. On moving to the U.S., Dr. Horváth worked at Louisiana State University managing an electron probe microanalysis lab.

Dr. Horváth’s goal at Furman is to engage students within Earth Systems sciences. He and his students apply a range of field and lab experiences to unravel the histories contained within rocks.

Honors & Awards

  • Szádeczky-Kardoss Award, Hungarian Academy of Sciences 1999 and 2001
  • Hungarian Scholarship Fund scholarship, Padova-CNR, 2000
  • Young Scientist Prize of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 2003
  • NRF Postdoctoral fellowship, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 2008-2010

Education

  • PhD Petrology-Geochemistry, Eötvös University, Budapest, Title: Alpine metamorphism of the North Hungarian Mesozoic basic rocks, 2002.
  • MSc Geology, Eötvös University, Budapest, Title: Metamorphic evolution of the Bódva Valley ophiolites, 1997.

Research Interests

  • Metamorphic petrology
  • Petrology
  • Phase equilibirium calculations
  • Mineral chemistry
  • Geothermobarometry

Publications

  • Oziegbe E., Ocan O., Costin G., Horváth P. 2021: Geochemistry and mineral chemistry of pelitic gneiss of Ikare Area, southwestern Nigeria. Helyion, 7, e08543.;
    O’Sullivan G., Thakurdin Y., Bolhar R., Horváth P., Hoare B., Collerson K. 2021: The Great Falls Tectonic Zone after the assembly of Laurentia: evidence for long-term tectonic stability from xenolith apatite. Lithos, 384-385, 105977.
  • Thakurdin Y., Bolhar R., Horváth P., Wiedenbeck M., Rocholl A. 2019: Formation of lower to middle crust of the Wyoming Craton, Montana (USA), using evidence from zircon Hf-O isotopic and trace element compositions. Chemical Geology, 525, p. 218-244.
  • Thakurdin Y., Bolhar R., Horváth P., Rocholl A., Collerson K. 2019: Characterization of crustal xenoliths from the Bearpaw Mountains, Montana (USA), using U-Pb geochronology, whole-rock geochemistry and thermobarometry, with implications for lower crustal processes and evolution of the Wyoming Craton. Chemical Geology, 524, p. 295-322.
  • Hunt E.J., Latypov R., Horváth P. 2018: The Merensky Cyclic Unit, Bushveld Complex, South Africa: Reality or Myth? Minerals, 8/4, p. 144, doi.org/10.3390/min8040144;
    Buthelezi M., Ashwal L., Horváth P. 2017: Application of titanium-in-quartz geothermometry to magmatic quartz in evolved rocks from the Bushveld Complex, South Africa. South African Journal of Geology, 120/2, p. 241-250.
  • Ashwal L., Torsvik T., Horváth P., Harris C., Webb S., Werner S., Corfu F. 2016: A mantle-derived origin for Mauritian trachytes. Journal of Petrology, 57/9, p. 1645-1675.
  • Hofmann A., Kröner A., Xie H., Hegner E., Belyanin G., Kramers J., Bolhar R., Slabunov A., Reinhardt J., Horváth P. 2015: The Nhlangano gneiss dome in south-west Swaziland – A record of crustal destabilization of the eastern Kaapvaal craton in the Neoarchaean. Precambrian Research, 258, p. 109-132.
  • Horváth P., Reinhardt J., Hofmann A. 2014: High-grade metamorphism of ironstones in the Mesoarchaean of southwest Swaziland. Mineralogy and Petrology, 108, p. 589-605.
  • Balen D., Horváth P., Finger F., Starijaš B. 2013: Phase equlibrium, geothermobarometric and xenotime age dating constraints on the Alpine metamorphism recorded in chloritoid schists from the southern part of the Tisia Mega-Unit (Slavonian Mts., NE Croatia). International Journal of Earth Sciences 102, p. 1091-1109.
  • Árkai P., Abad I., Nieto F., Németh T., Horváth P., Kis V. Judik K., Jiménez-Millán J. 2012: Retrograde alterations of phyllosilicates in low-grade metapelite: a case study from the Szendrő Paleozoic, NE-Hungary. Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 105, p. 263-282.
  • Demény A., Harangi Sz., Vennemann T.W., Casillas R., Horváth P., Milton A.J., Mason P.R.D., Ulianov A. 2012: Amphiboles as indicators of mantle source contamination: combined evaluation of stable H and O isotope compositions and trace element ratios. Lithos, 152, p. 141-156.
  • Horváth P., Balen D., Finger F., Tomljenovic B., Krenn E. 2010: Contrasting P-T-t paths from the basement of the Tisia Unit (Slavonian Mts., NE Croatia): Application of quantitative phase diagrams and monazite age dating. Lithos, 117/1-4, p. 269-282.
  • Árkai P., Livi K., Horváth P. 2008: Dioctahedral mixed K-Na-micas and paragonite in diagenetic to low-temperature metamorphic terrains: Bulk rock chemical, thermodynamic and textural constraints. Central European Geology, 51/4, p. 283-314.
  • Koroknai B., Árkai P., Horváth P., Balogh K. 2008: Anatomy of a transitional brittle-ductile shear zone developed in a low-T meta-andesite tuff: a microstructural, petrological and geochronological case study from the Bükk Mts. (NE Hungary). Journal of Structural Geology, 30/2, p. 159-176.
  • Fodor L.I., Gerdes A., Dunkl I., Koroknai B., Pécskay Z., Trajanova M., Horváth P., Vrabec M., Jelen B., Balogh K., Frisch W. 2008: Miocene emplacement and rapid cooling of the Pohorje pluton at the Alpine-Pannonian-Dinaridic junction, Slovenia. Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 101 (Supp1), p S255-S271.
  • Horváth, P., Kronome, B. 2008: Petrological and mineral-chemical variations in blueschist facies metasedimentary rocks from a single outcrop in the lower complex of the Bôrka Nappe (Meliata Unit, Western Carpathians, Slovak Republic). Central European Geology, 51/1, p. 35-70.
  • Horváth P. 2007: PT pseudosections in KFMASH, KMnFMASH, NCKFMASH and NCKMnFMASH systems: a case study from garnet-staurolite mica schist from the Alpine metamorphic basement of the Pannonian Basin (Hungary). Geologica Carpathica, 58/2, p. 107-119.
  • Balen D., Horváth P., Tomljenovic B., Finger F., Humer B. Pamic J., Árkai P. 2006: A record of pre-Variscan Barrovian regional metamorphism in the eastern part of the Slavonian Mountains (NE Croatia). Mineralogy and Petrology, 87/1-2, p. 143-162.
  • Horváth P., Árkai P. 2005: Amphibole-bearing assemblages as indicators of microdomain-scale equlibrium conditions in metabasites: an example from Alpine ophiolites of the Meliata Unit, NE Hungary. Mineralogy and Petrology, 84/3-4, p. 233-258.
  • Faryad S.W., Spisiak J., Horváth P., Hovorka D., Dianiska I., Józsa S. 2005: Petrological and geochemical features of the Meliata mafic rocks from the sutured Triassic oceanic basin, Western Carpathians. Ofioliti, 30/1, p. 27-35.
  • Judik K., Árkai P., Horváth P., Dobosi G., Tibljaš D., Balen D., Tomljenović B., Pamić J. 2004: Diagenesis and low-temperature metamorphism of Mt. Medvednica, Croatia: Mineral assemblages and phyllosilicate characteristics. Acta Geologica Hungarica, 47/2-3, p. 151-176.
  • Horváth P., Kovács G., Szakmány Gy. 2003: Eclogite and garnet amphibolite pebbles from Miocene conglomerates (Pannonian Basin, Hungary): implications for the Variscan metamorphic evolution of the Tisza Megaunit. Geologica Carpathica, 54/6, p. 355-366.
  • Horváth P., Árkai P. 2002: Pressure-temperature path of metapelites from the Algyő-Ferencszállás area, SE Hungary: thermobarometric constraints from coexisting mineral assemblages and garnet zoning. Acta Geologica Hungarica, 45/1, p. 1-27.
  • Árgyelán G.B., Horváth P. 2002: Heavy mineral assemblages of Senonian formations in the Transdanubian Range, Hungary. Acta Geologica Hungarica, 45/4, p. 319-339.
  • Koroknai B., Horváth P., Balogh K., Dunkl I. 2001: Alpine metamorphic evolution and cooling history of the Veporic crystalline basement in Northern Hungary: new petrological and geochronological constraints. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 90/3, p. 740-751.
  • Koroknai B., Horváth P., Németh T. 2001: Chloritoid schist from the Uppony Mts (NE Hungary): Mineralogical, petrological and structural data from a new occurrence. Acta Geologica Hungarica, 44/1, p. 47-65.
  • Horváth P. 2000: Metamorphic evolution of gabbroic rocks of the Bódva Valley Ophiolite Complex, NE Hungary. Geologica Carpathica, 51, p. 121-129.
  • Árkai P., Horváth P., Nagy, G. 1999: A Clockwise P-T Path from the Variscan Basement of the Tisza Unit, Pannonian Basin, Hungary. Geologia Croatica, 52/2, p. 109-117.
  • Horváth P. 1997: High-Pressure metamorphism and P-T path of the metabasic rocks in the borehole Komjáti-11, Bódva Valley area, NE Hungary. Acta Mineralogica-Petrographica, Szeged, 38, p. 151-163.

Additional Professional Activities

  • I am a full member of the Hungarian Geological Society, the Geological Society of South Africa, the Geochemical Society, and I am joint member of the Microscopy Society of America and the Microanalysis Society. From 2014 to 2018 I was acting as the editor of Geological Journal, and I am regularly asked to review scientific papers for international journals.

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