Research | AKCMH20Lab

High Latitude

Our high latitude research is focused on 1) advancing the understanding of climate change induced cryosphere degradation and sources, generation, and transport of water, nutrient and sediment fluxes of solutes to the coastal environment, 2) critical minerals exploration, discovery, and novel biomining, and 3) leveraging big data to enhance scientific understanding of watershed hydrogeochemical processes and critical minenral exploration. We partner with Alaska Native Corporations and communities, federal and state agencies and the minerals industry.

Current Projects:

1) Northwest Arctic streams C-q relationships in metal impacted streams - The Case of the Orange Streams.

2) Alaska EPSCoR Fire and Ice: Terrestrial fluxes to the Gulf of Alaska and influences on nearshore ecosystems and communities.

3) Southcentral Alaska watershed hydrogeochemistry: Controls on the generation and transport of water, solutes and sediments across a Glacial Gradient of catchments.

4) Submarine groundwater discharge along the coastline of the Gulf of Alaska.

Publications

North High Latitude

Geochemical Weathering Variability in High Latitude Watersheds of the Gulf of Alaska
Hydrologic and Landscape Controls on Rock Weathering Along a Glacial Gradient in South Central Alaska, USA
Contribution of fresh submarine groundwater discharge to the Gulf of Alaska
Marine and Not Terrestrial Resources Support Nearshore Food Webs Across a Gradient of Glacial Watersheds in the Northern Gulf of Alaska
Hydroclimate Drives Seasonal Riverine Export Across a Gradient of Glacierized High-Latitude Coastal Catchments
Concentration-Discharge Patterns Across the Gulf of Alaska Reveal Geomorphological and Glacierization Controls on Stream Water Solute Generation and Export
Geochemical Weathering Variability in High Latitude Watersheds
Partitioning of Reactions Reveals Hydrologic and Landscape Controls on Rock Weathering Along a Glacial Gradient in South Central AK
The Influence of Freshwater on the Circulation of Kachemak Bay, Alaska
Predicting risk of trace element pollution from municipal roads using site-specific soil samples and remotely sensed data

South High Latitude

Diel stream geochemistry, Taylor Valley, Antarctica

High Altitude

Our high altitude research is focused on advancing the understanding of freshwater brine systems, lithium resources and ESG surrounding the development of these critical minerals.

Current Projects:

1) Origin, transport and accumulation of lithium in closed-basin continental brine of North and South America

2) Impacts of upgradient groundwater abstraction on critical marginal waters in lithium brine basins of the Altiplano-Puna

3) Environmental tracers to quantify modern and relic water components in high altitude arid and hyper-arid watersheds

4) Water availability in lithium brine basins of North and South America, a crucial consideration for sustainability

Publications

South America

Caribbean

Critical Minerals

Lithium is a leading and essential critical mineral for the electrification of everything. Our team developed the first ore deposit model for closed-basin lithium brines. We are pioneering new work in deciphering the role of volcanism and paleoclimate on lithium sequestration in lacustrin clays and exploring mechanisms and processing for lithium accumulation in low temperature geothermal brines associated with oil fields. We also use novel geochemical tools to for Cu and REE exploration and have emerging research in biominig of REEs.

Current Projects:

1) Rare Earth Element Transport and Accumulation in Seaweeds, Bokan Mountain, SE Alaska

2) Alaska's Critical Elements: Data Accessibilty and Unraveling New Geologic Patterns

3) Heavy Rare Earth Element (HREE) origins at Bokan Mountain, Alaska and the environmental geochemical signature in surrounding watersheds.

4) Emerging domestic volcanic-sedimentary lithium deposits in SW United States.

5) Origin of lithium brines - A global update.

6) The formation of world class lithium brine deposits in North and South America: Silver Peak, NV, Salar de Atacama, Chile, Salar de Antofalla, Hombre Muerto, Carachi Pampa, Pastos Grandes, Tres Quebradas, Argentina.

Publications

Resources and Ore Deposits

Environmental Geochemistry