The Applied Mineralogy Laboratory focuses on the identification and quantification of minerals to solve environmental, geological, engineering, agricultural, and industrial problems. Different clay minerals adsorb fertilizers and release cations in different amounts. By knowing the mineral constituents the fertilizing procedure can be improved. The long term goal is to save the farmer money and reduce groundwater pollution. Using Clay Minerals Together with the USGS in Vancouver we are developing new, fast, and inexpensive techniques to differentiate Mt Hood debris flows.
Clay minerals form diagenetically soon after deposition of the debris flow.
The goal is to minimize grounding problems in substations in the Pacific Northwest by detailed study of the clay minerals and the regional geology.