In the Wooster X-ray and Geochemistry labs, we are engaging in interdisciplinary and collaborative research on soils. One project is in collaboration with Dr. Beth O’Shea (University of San Diego) focusing on the enrichment of arsenic in soils developed on volcanic deposits in southern California. Another project with Dr. David McConnell (Wooster) focuses on working with farmers to develop an analytical method for using the pXRF to measure agricultural soils.
Grants
Hamburger Funds (Internal) – $16,237
Cultural and Scientific Study of the Green Field Farms Soil Amendment Program; PI w/ Co-PI David McConnell (Sociology and Anthropology); 1-year interdisciplinary research (Summer 2019 – Summer 2020)
Presentations
Johnston, E.**, M. Pollock, E.M. Cathcart, A. AlBashaireh*, B. O’Shea, (2016). Investigations of the geochemical controls of anomalous arsenic enrichment in the Santiago Peak Volcanics of Southern California: Implications for arsenic distribution in volcanic arc systems, Abstract V23D-3022, presented at 2016 Fall Meeting, AGU, San Francisco, CA, December 12-16.
AlBashaireh, A.B.*, E. Johnston**, B. O’Shea, M. Pollock, (2016). Evaluation of arsenic extent and mobilization in soil and vegetation surrounding abandoned, ultra-enriched arsenic mines in Black Mountain Open Space Park, San Diego, California, GSA Abstracts with Programs 48(7), doi:10.1130/abs/2016AM-286569.
I.S. Theses
Claire Wineman (2021) The development of a procedure for pXRF use on agricultural soils in collaboration with farmers
Benjamin Kumpf (2018) The effects of low-molecular-weight organic ligands on gallium and aluminum mineral weathering and soil sorption
*undergraduate student