Collections Manager of Geology and Paleontology

trish.weaver@ncdenr.gov
919.733.7450 x724

M.S. (Geology) University of Montana, Missoula, MT
B.A. (Geology) Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH
 

Research Interests

Current research focuses primarily on marine invertebrates. Recent projects deal with the North Carolina Ediacaran biota, soft-bodied creatures that lived during the latest Precambrian Era and representing some of the earliest multicellular life. The latest Precambrian or Ediacaran Period was a time when there were few or no predators and the ocean floors were covered with microbial mats. This unique combination allowed soft-bodied organisms to be preserved. This research is conducted in conjunction with the Curator of Geology, Chris Tacker, to see how the North Carolina biota fits with other similar biotas world-wide and to see what these organisms can tell us about where this piece of North Carolina might have come from.

Other research projects include systematics of Eocene crinoids (sea lilies), Cretaceous and Pliocene echinoids (sea urchins), Eocene belosaepiids (extinct cuttlefish-like organisms) and Triassic Freshwater bivalves.

Recent Publications

Bogan, A. E. and P. G. Weaver. 2008. A new genus and species of Triassic freshwater bivalve from the Durham sub-basin of North Carolina. Geological Society of America, Southeast Section Abstracts with Programs, IN PRESS

Ciampaglio, C. N., Donovan, S. K. and P. G. Weaver. 2008. A new bourgueticrinid (Crinoidea) from the Castle Hayne Formation. Geological Society of America, North-central Section Abstracts with Programs, IN PRESS

Bogan, A. E. and P.G. Weaver. 2007. Triassic freshwater bivalves of the rift lakes in central North Carolina, Geological Society of America, Southeast Section Abstracts with Programs, 39 (2), p. 30.

Ciampaglio, C.N., Donovan, S.K. and P. G. Weaver. 2007. Gracile bourgueticrinids (Crinoidea) from the Castle Hayne Formation (Eocene), southeastern North Carolina, USA. Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 100: 243-249.

Ciampaglio, C. N. and P. G. Weaver. 2007. Maastrichtian (Cretaceous) regular echinoids from the Rocky Point Member, Peedee Formation southeastern North Carolina. Southeastern Geology, 45 (1): 43-49.

Tacker, R. C. and P. G. Weaver. 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, Southeast Section Abstracts with Programs, 39 (2), p. 12.

Weaver, P., Ciampaglio, C. and R. Chandler. 2007. Rarely seen coleoid phragmacone steinkerns from the Eocene Castle Hayne Limestone of southeastern North Carolina. Palaeontographica Abteilung A, Band 279, Lieferung 4-6, pp. 159-165.

Ciampaglio, C. N., Weaver, P. G. and R. E. Chandler. 2006 A new genus of belosaepiid (Coleoidea) and associated, rarely seen phragmacone steinkerns from the Castle Hayne Limestone (Eocene) of Southeastern North Carolina. GSA Abstracts with Programs, 38 (7), p. 556.

Hibbard, J., McMenamin, M.A.S.,  Pollock, J., Weaver, P.G., Tacker, R.C.,  Miller, B.V., Samson, S. and D. Secor. 2006. Significance of a new Ediacaran fossil find in the Albermarle group, Carolina terrane of North Carolina: In Bradley, P.J., Clark, T.W. (Eds.) The Geology of the Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and Efland 7.5 –Minute Quadrangles, Orange and Durham Counties, Carolina Terrane, North Carolina. Carolina Geological Society Field Trip Guidebook, 29-34.

Hibbard, J., McMenamin, M., Pollock, J., Weaver, P.G., Tacker, R.C., Miller, B.V., Samson, S. and D. Secor. 2006. Significance of a new Ediacaran fossil find in the Carolina Terrane of North Carolina. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs (Northeastern Section), 38 (2), p. 91.

Tacker, R. C., Weaver, P. G. and M. A. S. McMenamin. 2006. Paleoenvironmental and paleobiogeographical implications of a swartpuntiid from the Ediacara Period, Carolina Terrane, Stanly County, North Carolina. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs (Southeastern Section), 38 (3), p.53.

Weaver, P. G., McMenamin, M. A. S. and R. C. Tacker. 2006. Paleoenvironmental and paleobiogeographical implications of a new Ediacaran body fossil from the Neoproterozoic Carolina Terrane, Stanly Co., North Carolina. Precambrian Research, 105:123-135.

Weaver, P. G., Tacker, R. C., McMenamin, M. A. S. and  R. A. Webb. 2006. Ediacaran body fossils of South-central North Carolina: Review and analysis of Neoproterozoic-Early Cambrian fauna. GSA Abstracts with Programs, 38 (7), p. 550.

Weaver, P. G., Tacker, R. C., McMenamin, M. A. S. and R. A. Webb. 2006. Ediacaran Body Fossils of South-central North Carolina: Preliminary Report: In Bradley, P.J., Clark, T.W. (Eds.) The Geology of the Chapel Hill, Hillsborough and Efland 7.5 –Minute Quadrangles, Orange and Durham Counties, Carolina Terrane, North Carolina. Carolina Geological Society Field Trip Guidebook, 35-42. 

Weaver, P. G., Webb, R. A. and R. E. Chandler. 2006. Some additional echinoderms from the PCS (Lee Creek) Phosphate Mine, near Aurora, Beaufort County, North Carolina. Southeastern Geology, 44 (2), 73-83.

Ciampaglio, C. N. and P. G. Weaver.  2004. Comatulid crinoids from the Castle Hayne Limestone (Eocene), Southeastern North Carolina, Southeastern Geology, 42 (3), 179-187.

Ciampaglio, C. N. and P. G. Weaver. 2004. Comatulid crinoids from the Castle Hayne Limestone, Southeastern North Carolina, Geological Society of America 39th Annual Northeastern and 53rd Annual Southeastern Section Meeting Abstracts with Programs,  36 (2), p. 133.

McMenamin, M. A. S. and  P. G. Weaver. 2004. Middle Cambrian polymeroid trilobites and correlation of the Carolina and Augusta Terranes. Southeastern Geology, 43 (1), 21-38.

Weaver, P.G. and  C.N. Ciampaglio. 2003. A new genus of belosaepiid (Coleoidea) from the Castle Hayne Limestone (Eocene) of southeastern North Carolina. Journal of Paleontology,  77 (6), 1103-1106.

McMenamin, M.A.S. and P. G. Weaver. 2002. Proterozoic-Cambrian paleobiogeography of the Carolina Terrane, Southeastern Geology, 142 (2), 119-126.

Bogan, A. E., Schneider, V. P., Weaver, P.G., and E. E. Spamer. 2001. Triassic freshwater bivalves (Unionoida) of the rift lakes in Eastern United States, Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society 2nd Symposium Program and Abstracts, Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Abstract 61, p. 40.