Tanner Sigears (APSU ’27) was selected to participate in the NSF funded IRES program at APSU. For his project, he investigated slag glass from historic (1800’s) iron mining and smelting operations found in a curious linear pattern across central Tennessee. Tanner selected samples from the collections of the state Archeology office. Samples were prepared into polished thick sections and crushed separates. At APSU and in institutions in Europe he examined the samples using SEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR, micro-XRF, and laser Raman.

Sigears, T., Haroldson, E.L., Kurka, M., Slang, S., Houdek, J., and Jancalek, J., 2024, Investigating a linear spatial arrangement of historic iron furnaces across middle Tennessee using slag glass as a proxy, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 56, no. 5, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/abs/2024AM-402288

Ariana Lovings (APSU ’24) was selected to participate in the NSF funded IRES program at APSU. For her project, she investigated volcanic glass samples from Nevada from a 16 million year old Yellowstone hotspot caldera forming eruption. Ariana prepared polished sections and also separated glass from whole rock using crushing, sieving and heavy liquid mineral separation. At APSU and in institutions in Europe she examined the samples using SEM-EDS, XRD, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), micro-XRF, and Laser Raman. Earlier in her time at APSU Ariana contributed to the East Tennessee Field Diamond project experimenting with illite age analysis prep work.

Lovings, A., Haroldson, E.L., Deibert, J., Kurka, M., and Mahlovanyi, B., 2023, Analysis of 11 Ma Cougar Point Tuff unit XIII, Knoll Basin, NE Nevada using XRD, SEM, Micro-XRF, FTIR, and Raman, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 55, no. 6, doi: 10.1130/abs/2023AM-394736

Marc Donegan (APSU ’24) Marc traveled to the Kentucky Geological Survey core facility (EARL) helping select representative Mississippi Valley-type mineralization from holes drilled across Kentucky. Work in the lab involved preparing doubly polished fluid inclusion thick sections, epoxy mounts, and identifying phases in the scanning electron microscope. Marc also travelled to UT-Austin to perform analyses in the radiogenic isotope lab.

Donegan, M., Boddy, D., Satkoski, A.M., and Haroldson, E.L., 2023, Mineralogy and Radiogenic Isotopes of the Seven Mile Bluff prospect: an investigation of a surface Mississippi Valley-type deposit in central Tennessee, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 55, no. 6, doi: 10.1130/abs/2023AM-391676

Dairian Boddy (APSU ’24) helped to plan and carry out field investigations of old mine sites across central Tennessee and into central Kentucky. His work also involved characterizing these MVT surface vein samples and other local occurrences of MVT mineralization. Work in the lab involved preparing doubly polished fluid inclusion thick sections, epoxy mounts, and identifying phases in the scanning electron microscope. Dairian traveled to the Kentucky Geological Survey core facility (EARL) and also travelled to UT-Austin to perform analyses in the radiogenic isotope lab.

Donegan, M., Boddy, D., Satkoski, A.M., and Haroldson, E.L., 2023, Mineralogy and Radiogenic Isotopes of the Seven Mile Bluff prospect: an investigation of a surface Mississippi Valley-type deposit in central Tennessee, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 55, no. 6, doi: 10.1130/abs/2023AM-391676

Boddy, D., Haroldson, E.L., and Satkoski, A.M., 2022, Mineralogy and Radiogenic Isotopes of a newly identified zinc vein near Russellville, Kentucky, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 54, no. 5, doi: 10.1130/abs/2022AM-383700

Hanson, W., Boddy, D., Satkoski, A.W., and Haroldson, E.L., 2022, Mineralogy and Radiogenic Isotopes of the Bell-Orren Prospect: A Mississippi Valley-type Surface Vein in Central Tennessee, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 54, no. 4, doi: 10.1130/abs/2022NC-375591

Whitney Hanson (APSU ’22) is working on characterizing surface vein samples from the Bell-Orren prospect. Her work involves cataloging/photographing samples, sample descriptions, preparing fluid inclusion thick sections, preparing epoxy mounts, identifying phases in the scanning electron microscope, and preparing mineral separates for isotopic analysis.

Hanson, W., Boddy, D., Satkoski, A.W., and Haroldson, E.L., 2022, Mineralogy and Radiogenic Isotopes of the Bell-Orren Prospect: A Mississippi Valley-type Surface Vein in Central Tennessee, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 54, no. 4, doi: 10.1130/abs/2022NC-375591

Ty Genz (APSU ’21) worked on the East Tennessee Field Diamond project experimenting with techniques used for preparation of host rock samples for illite age analysis.

Jefferey Wells (APSU ’21) investigated the mineralization potential (formation of calcite, etc.) of water passing through the Kentucky dam in the Land Between the Lakes area (Northwest of campus ~ 1 hour). Although he is worked under guidance from Dr. Erik Haroldson, the project was initiated and developed entirely of Jefferey’s design.

Wells, J., and Haroldson, E.L., 2020, Sources of mineralization in Kentucky Dam, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 52, no. 2, doi: 10.1130/abs/2020SE-345009

Angela Vogelpohl (APSU ’20) was an undergraduate geology major at APSU. She worked on the East Tennessee Field Diamond project, investigating fluid inclusions from the Mosheim Anticline locality. This work involved the preparation of doubly terminated quartz crystals into doubly polished thin sections, as well as, petrographic analysis followed by microthermometry of fluid inclusions. During petrographic analysis, UV light is used to determine the occurrence of petroleum bearing fluid inclusions.

Vogelpohl, A., Benoit, J., Kohl, M.S., and Haroldson, E.L., 2020, Fluid and solid inclusions in the Mosheim anticline occurrence of East Tennessee Field Diamonds (Quartz Crystals), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 52, no. 2, doi: 10.1130/abs/2020SE-344560

Jeff Benoit (APSU ’20) worked on the East Tennessee Field Diamond project, assisting with sample cataloguing and preparation.

Vogelpohl, A., Benoit, J., Kohl, M.S., and Haroldson, E.L., 2020, Fluid and solid inclusions in the Mosheim anticline occurrence of East Tennessee Field Diamonds (Quartz Crystals), Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, vol. 52, no. 2, doi: 10.1130/abs/2020SE-344560