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Department of Geology and Geophysics
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071-2000
Phone: (307) 766-4141
Fax: (307) 766-6679
Email: geol-geophys@uwyo.edu

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Experimental Geochemistry Laboratory

Researchers at the Experimental Geochemistry Lab focus on fundamental problems in the science of geology and geochemistry, and seek to apply these fundamentals to understanding problems of societal relevance.

The Experimental Geochemistry Lab provides instrumentation and high-pressure experimental equipment capabilities to research mineralogy and inorganic geochemistry of the waters that react with minerals. Much of the analytical work centers on experimental geochemistry grounded in field-related problems and field geochemistry.

Contact Dr. John Kaszuba

The Hydrothermal Lab is actively looking for promising future graduate students and researchers. Please contact Dr. Kaszuba for more information about graduate research opportunities or collaborations with our research group.

Research

The Experimental Geochemistry Lab at the University of Wyoming is uniquely well suited to projects regarding the geochemistry of fluid-rock interactions in the shallow to middle crust. The lab supports an experimental hydrothermal reactor system that provides experimental analyses at elevated pressure and temperature, coulometric titration analysis of carbon and sulfur in aqueous samples, GC-MS benchtop analyses of hydrocarbons and organic molecules, and facilities for preparing rock and aqueous samples for analysis in our Department’s Materials Characterization Lab and Aqueous Geochemistry Lab.

Traditionally, research focus has been on mineralogy and inorganic geochemistry of the waters that react with minerals. Much of our work centers on experimental geochemistry grounded in field-related problems; field geochemistry represents a smaller but important and growing aspect the research portfolio. We use geochemical models to evaluate field problems, design relevant experiments, and relate experimental results back to the field. The addition of a new GC-MS to the lab in 2016 has opened up new research avenues into the organic geochemistry of water-rock interactions.

Current projects and research interests include:

* Fundamentals of fluid-rock interaction in unconventional petroleum systems

* The nature of fluid-rock interactions in fresh water aquifers and brine formations, thermal waters and hot springs, natural CO2 reservoirs and carbon storage systems.

* The nature CO2-water-rock interactions in petroleum and geothermal systems

* Interactions between geochemistry and geomechanics in CO2 reservoirs

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Capabilities

Rocking autoclaves and flexible reaction cell system for experimentation at elevated pressures and temperatures

Coulometric titration equipment for total carbon and sulfur analyses

Benchtop measurements (pH, elemental analyses)

Gas Chromatograph analysis of light-chain hydrocarbons, C, N, H

Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometry analyses of organic molecules

Static reaction cells for gas-water-rock experiments

 
Contact Us

Department of Geology and Geophysics
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071-2000
Phone: (307) 766-4141
Fax: (307) 766-6679
Email: geol-geophys@uwyo.edu

Geology & Geophysics Logo

Find us on Facebook (Link opens a new window) Find us on Twitter (Link opens a new window)