My research interests center on integrating petrographic and geochemical methods to decipher histories of chemical and mechanical modification in sedimentary rocks. Past projects have examined chert, sandstone, serpentinite, dolomite, limestone, and quartzite, but today I work mainly on mudrocks. In addition to conventional transmitted and reflected light microscopy I take a strong interest in electron microbeam methods including X-ray mapping, cathdoluminescence imaging, and electron probe microanalysis.

Areas of Expertise

Petrography and geochemistry of siliciclastic rocks; diagenesis; electron microbeam methods: X-ray mapping, cathodoluminescence imaging; micro-scale reservoir characterization


Research Locations



Current Research Programs & Projects

Shell-UT Unconventionals Research (SUTUR): Characterization of Mudrocks by Quantitative Analysis of High-resolution SEM Images

Shell-UT Unconventionals Research (SUTUR): Investigation of Oil Storage and Migration in the Eagle Ford Formation by Integrated Geochemistry and Petrography

Chevron: X-ray mapping and CL imaging of gas shales for characterization


see vita for listing - several (1985 - 2012)

Graduate Students

Kelsi R Ustipak, M.S., expected 2015 (Committee Member)
Clastic sedimentology, deepwater depositional systems, turbidites, transitional flow deposits, siliciclastic petrology, experimental sedimentology, energy resources, karst hydrogeology

Suzan M Ergene, M.S., expected 2014 (Supervisor)

Joel Lunsford, M.S., expected 2014 (Supervisor)

Maxwell Pommer, M.S., expected 2014 (Supervisor)

David Hull, M.S., 2011 (Supervisor)

Aysen Ozkan, M.S., 2010 (Supervisor)


see vita for complete list,

BEG researcher listing

Mudrock Systems Research Laboratory