A lot cooking this spring at MAD EGG Lab

The Element Analyzer Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer in the UC Geology Dept. was our very close friend for three weeks  this spring.

Using the slick desktop Scanning Electron Microscope at Kent State, thanks to our collaborator and friend Professor Beth Herndon.

Andrew and Clive doing an excellent job of locating a microfossil for analysis on the BIO-SIMS at Washington University.

Professor Hamilton's hearty Forge Lab crew analyzing samples at our Co-Op mine acid mine drainage site in KY, while temperatures were hovering around 15 F.

Rob Corddry made a brief appearance for my talk, reprising his role as 'Lou' in Hot Tub Time Machine.

A lot of exciting things have been happening at MAD EGG Lab this spring. We had three manuscripts accepted (one on our acid mine drainage work, one on our Fayetteville Green Lake carbon isotope work, and one on our Archean and Paleoproterozoic carbon and sulfur isotope data review), so revisions on those continue so that they will be hopefully all be in press very soon.

We were able to get some precious analysis time on the UC Geology Dept. Elemental Analyzer-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer, and after three weeks we were able to push through over 1500 analyses with some exciting results from our Yellowstone hot spring work, our Pacific Northwest glacier work, and several other projects including analyzing reservoir sediments from the ancient Mayan city of Tikal in modern day Guatemala. Time to start writing more manuscripts!

​​After our time on the EA-IR-MS, we zipped up to Kent State to visit our friend and collaborator Professor Beth Herndon and use her Scanning Electron Microscope to image Yellowstone hot spring samples as well as some ancient microfossils encased in chert. Got some great images for UC grad student Andrew Gangidine to use for his dissertation work as well as for some of our other projects in the works.

Next up was Washington University in St. Louis, Mo visiting Professor David Fike to spend some time analyzing samples (with the help of Clive Jones) on his BIO-SIMS (Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer). We were able to analyze Yellowstone sinter and an ancient microfossil successfully, so great success for Andrew Gangidine in making progress on his dissertation work as well as for our Exobiology proposal that we will be resubmitting this summer.

​During the UC spring break we then joined Professor Trinity Hamilton's Forge Lab to conduct two days of sampling at our acid mine drainage sites in the Daniel Boone National Forest in south-central Kentucky. With temperatures hovering around 20 F on the first day and 'warming' to near freezing on the second, everyone did a great job of not letting the cold stand in the way of science!

This week we were in Pittsburgh, PA to attend the Geological Society of America's NE/NC combined section meeting. I presented our work on the carbon isotopes at Fayetteville Green Lake, NY (from our recently accepted manuscript). It was great to catch up with some of our good friends and collaborators, including Dr. Bill Gilhooly of IUPUI and Dr. Mike McCormick of Hamilton College. 

Also this week our good friend and collaborator Dr. Allie Rutledge is presenting on work we conducted at the Pacific Northwest glacier sites at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Glad she is helping us keep in touch with our second favorite planet (Mars).

Next month we will be traveling to Mesa, AZ to attend NASA's AbSciCon to present on some of our work at Yellowstone National Park this last summer. Stay tuned for more on that fun story!