In this program, we use ceramic processing techniques to produce fake rocks with controlled chemistry, phase, and microstructure / porosity. We are able to control all of these from microns to nanometers scales. Controlled materials allow us to controllably study aqueous reactions with minerals.

We also use femtosecond laser etching to produce controlled microchannels through which aqueous reactions can be controllably studied.

Jung, H., Malenda, M., Worts, N., Squier, J., Gorman, B. P., & Navarre-Sitchler, A. (2020). The fabrication of plagioclase feldspar microdevices: An experimental tool for pore-scale mineral dissolution studies. Water Resources Research, 56, e2020WR027737.

https://conf.goldschmidt.info/goldschmidt/2021/goldschmidt/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/6289

https://conf.goldschmidt.info/goldschmidt/2021/goldschmidt/2021/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/8069

This project is sponsored by DOE-Geochemistry and is in collaboration with Prof. Alexis Sitchler (Mines Geology).

Let's grab CO2 right out of the air using anthropogenic waste streams. Keeping these waste streams out of the landfill and converting them into high value fertilizer.