Doctoral studies focused on Permian stratigraphy and paleoecology in eastern Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Other geological experience includes research on sediments, geochemistry, biofacies, and pollution in the Hudson River Estuary and Long Island Sound, New York, between 1959-1958. McCrone was a Field Party Chief in the Yukon and Northwest Territories of Canada in 1956-1958, and a field geologist in Alberta and British Columbia in 1954-1955, for the Shell Oil Company. Earlier, he did wellsite planning and geological supervision for private consultants and the British American Oil Company. In 1969-1970, Dr. McCrone presented 48 half-hour lectures on Geology for the CBS National Network "Sunrise Semester" program.