Geochemistry
Faculty:
David Finkelstein
Linda Kah
Ted Labotka
Hap McSween
Kula Misra
Claudia Mora
Larry Taylor
Chemical, thermodynamic, and kinetic characterization of geologic materials in high- and low-temperature systems, using radiogenic and stable isotopes, organic geochemistry, experimental mineralogy, and elemental analysis. Some examples of current research by our faculty in Geochemistry are shown below. Visit the faculty members’ pages through the above links to get more information about research in Geochemistry at UT.
Mineral Alteration: Dr. Labotka, in collaboration with Dr. D. Cole, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been studying experimentally the combined cation exchange of K and Na and the isotope exchange of 18O and 16O in alkali feldspar to determine the mechanism of mineral alteration. The image at left shows both the O-isotope–exchanged (nanoSIMS ion image) and K-exchanged (EMP x-ray image) rim on a grain of Amelia albite. The feldspar was reacted with a 2 m KCl solution, in which the solvent was H218O.