Sedimentology Laboratory CELS 305G and 321A

Laboratory equipment

The Sedimentology Laboratory at Montclair State University is equipped with a Malvern Mastersizer 2000 laser particle sizer with a Hydro MU sediment dispersion unit, a fume hood, and ancilliary equipment designated for wet-chemical sample preparation. The lab has a water purification system, centrifuges, ultrasonic and hot water baths, drying oven, microbalance and sieve sets. It is also set up for sand provenance analysis via heavy liquid mineral separation.
The grain-size distribution of the gravel-free fraction (< 2 mm) of a soil or sediment sample can be determined using the Malvern Instruments Mastersizer 2000 laser particle size analyzer. This dual light-source instrument is capable of measuring the entire particle size range from 0.02 to 2000 micrometer in one measurement. Like most 21st century laser particle sizers, the Malvern Mastersizer 2000 uses Mie optical theory, which significantly improves the accuracy of analysis in the finer fractions over previous models, given appropriate instrument settings, and knowledge of the refractive index (RI) of the sediment particles. A high absorption coefficient (0.9) is assumed for weathered and abraded soil or sediment particle surfaces and under these conditions the effect of using RI of quartz for a population of grains including different major rock forming minerals with minor deviations in RI is negligible in duplicate measurements. For the analysis of materials other than rock forming mineral particles the optical properties will need to be estimated or measured first and a different standard operation procedure will need to be generated. Quality control is performed through repeat analysis of a fine-grained industrial standard QAS3002 and a natural sediment. Reproducibility is generally better than 1% for 0.25 phi size classes.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires lab supervisors to write a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP), which should be reviewed by potential lab users.

Publications and presentations making use of the Sedimentology Laboratory (* denotes M.S.U. student author):

Sangiorgi, F., Bijl, P., Passchier, S., Salzmann, U., Schouten, S., McKay, R., Cody, R., Pross, J., van de Flierdt, T., Bohaty, S., Levy, R., Williams, T., Escutia, C., and Brinkhuis, H., 2018. A warm Southern Ocean and retreated Wilkes Land ice sheet (East Antarctica) during the mid-Miocene. Nature Communications. doi:10.1038/s41467-017-02609-7

Passchier, S., *Ciarletta, D., *Henao, V, *Sekkas, V., 2018. Sedimentary processes and facies on a high-latitude passive continental margin, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica. Geological Society of London, Special Publication, v. 475, doi:10.1144/SP475.3

Pierce, E. L., van de Flierdt, T., Williams, T., Hemming, S.R., Cook, C.P., Passchier, S., 2017. Evidence for a dynamic East Antarctic ice sheet during the mid-Miocene climate transition. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 478, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2017.08.011

*Lepp, A., *Light, J., Passchier, S., 2017. Analysis of marine sediments from ODP Site 696 and implications for the onset of Antarctic glaciation. Past Antarctic Ice-Sheet Dynamics (PAIS) conference, Trieste, Italy (Poster).

*Fernandez, A., 2017. Mineral and bioclimatic factors controlling soil black carbon sequestration potential along an elevational gradient. M.S. Thesis, Montclair State University.

Passchier, S., *Ciarletta, D., *Miriagos, T., Bijl, P., Bohaty, S., 2017. An Antarctic stratigraphic record of step-wise ice growth through the Eocene-Oligocene Transition. Geological Society of America Bulletin, Vol. 129, doi: 10.1130/B31482.1.

*Hansen, M.A. and Passchier, S., 2016. Oceanic circulation changes during early Pliocene marine ice-sheet instability in Wilkes Land, East Antarctica. Geo-Mar Lett., doi:10.1007/s00367-016-0489-8

*Kelly, A.L., Passchier, S., 2016. Determining Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene deglaciation of the Baltic Ice Lake through sedimentological core sample analysis of IODP Site M0064. American Geophysical Union PP13B-2078 (Poster).

*Light, J., Passchier, S., 2016. Geochemistry of East Antarctic Margin Sediments Spanning the Eocene Oligocene Transition. American Geophysical Union C41B-0652 (Poster).

*Verhagen, C., Passchier, S., 2016. Early Pliocene Warming in DVDP-11 Drillcore, Antarctica. American Geophysical Union C41B-0655 (Poster).

*Valetta, R., Willenbring, J., Passchier, S., Elmi, C., 2016. Can we apply the 10Be/9Be flux tracer to marine sediments along glaciated margins? American Geophysical Union C53C-0738 (Poster).

*Krolik, T., 2016. Grain Size and Organic Geochemistry of Kattegat Sediment to Determine Paleoenvironments of the Last Interglacial-Glacial Cycle. M.S. Thesis, Montclair State University.

*Hansen, M., 2016. An assessment of Antarctic ice sheet dynamics from a Pliocene polar paleoclimate archive, Ph.D.Thesis, Montclair State University.

*Hagmann, D.F., 2015. The relationship between extracellular enzyme activities, heavy metals and particle size in soil. M.S. Thesis, Montclair State University.

*Hansen, M. A., Passchier, S. Khim, B.-K., Song, B., and Williams, T., 2015, Threshold behavior of a marine-based sector of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet in response to early Pliocene ocean warming, Paleoceanography, 30, doi:10.1002/2014PA002704.

Passchier, S., Jensen, J.B., Kenzler, M., Johnson, S., Andrén, T., Jørgensen, B.B., and the Expedition 347 Science Team, 2015. A late glacial record of ice-sheet dynamics and melt supply recovered in the sediments of IODP Expedition 347 in the Baltic Sea. European Geoscience Union abstract number EGU2015-6394

Passchier, S., *Ciarletta, D., *Hansen, M., 2014. Building high-latitude sequence stratigraphic models, with examples from Eocene through Miocene successions on the Antarctic continental margin. AAPG/SEPM Hedberg research conference: Latitudinal Controls on Stratigraphic Models and Sedimentary Concepts, 9/28-10/1 2014, Banff, Canada (Oral).

*Rosenberg, J., 2014. Late Pliocene ice-rafted debris mass accumulation rates from IODP Site U1359, Wilkes Land continental rise, Antarctica. M.S. Thesis, Montclair State University.

*Ciarletta, D. J., 2014. The stratigraphic expression of the onset of glaciation in Eocene-Oligocene successions on the Antarctic continental margin. M.S. Thesis, Montclair State University.

*Hansen, M., Passchier, S., *Rosenberg, J., 2014. A Pliocene record of ice-rafted debris from ice-proximal site U1359 (IODP Exp. 318), Wilkes Land continental rise, Antarctica, GSA NE, Abstract No: 236521, Lancaster PA (Oral).

*Ciarletta, D. J., 2014. The onset of the icehouse: a glimpse of the Eocene-Oligocene transition in Prydz Bay, Antarctica, GSA NE, Abstract No: 236375, Lancaster PA (Oral).

*Rosenberg, J., Passchier, S., 2014. Late Pliocene ice-rafted debris mass accumulation rates from IODP Site U1359, Wilkes Land continental rise, Antarctica, GSA NE, Abstract No: 236523, Lancaster PA (Poster).

*Sekkas, V., Passchier, S., 2013. Laser particle size analysis of Late Oligocene diamicts in IODP Hole U1356A. Seventh Annual Student research Symposium, Montclair State University, paper No. A11 (Poster).

*Orejola, N., Passchier, S., and IODP Expedition 318 Scientists, 2013. Sedimentology of lower Pliocene to Upper Pleistocene diamictons from IODP Site U1358, Wilkes Land margin, and implications for East Antarctic Ice Sheet dynamics. Antarctic Science, doi:10.1017/S0954102013000527.

Houben, A.J.P., Bijl, P.K., Pross, J., Bohaty, S.M., Passchier, S., Stickley, C.E., Roehl, U., Sugisaki, S., Tauxe, T., van de Flierdt, T., Olney, M., Sangiorgi, F., Sluijs, A., Escutia, C., Brinkhuis, H., and the Expedition 318 Scientists, 2013. Reorganization of Southern Ocean plankton ecosystem at the onset of Antarctic glaciation. Science. V. 340 no. 6130 p. 341-344, doi: 10.1126/science.1223646.

Passchier, S., *Falk., C. and Florindo, F., 2013. Orbitally-paced shifts in the particle size of the Antarctic continental shelf in response to ice dynamics during the Miocene Climatic Optimum. Geosphere, v. 9, p. 54-62, doi:10.1130/GES00840.1.

*Hansen, M., Passchier, S., Prins, M.A., Song, B., Khim, B.-K., Katsuki, K., Williams, T.J., 2012. Early Pliocene record of ice-rafted debris from ice-proximal site U1359 (IODP Exp 318), Wilkes Land continental rise, Antarctica, AGU PP23A-2033 (Poster).

*Orejola, N., Passchier, S., 2012. Study of the Antarctic Wilkes Land Margin diamicts from Site U1358 to determine Pliocene ice sheet dynamics. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, paper no. 45-5.

*Hauptvogel, D.W. and Passchier, S., 2012. Early-middle Miocene (17-14 Ma) Antarctic ice dynamics reconstructed from the heavy mineral provenance in AND-2A, Ross Sea, Antarctica. Global and Planetary Change, 82-83, 38-50.

Passchier, S., 2011. Linkages between East Antarctic Ice Sheet extent and Southern Ocean temperatures based on a Pliocene high-resolution record of ice-rafted debris off Prydz Bay, East Antarctica. Paleoceanography, 26, PA4204, doi:10.1029/2010PA002061.

*Orejola, N., Passchier, S., Escutia, C. Brinkhuis, H., Klaus, A., IODP Expedition 318 Scientific Party, 2011. Study of the Antarctic Wilkes Land margin diamicts from Site U1358 to determine Pliocene ice sheet dynamics. Abstract PO13.7, International Symposium for Antarctic Earth Sciences, http://www.isaes2011.org.uk/programme.html

Passchier, S., Williams, T., Van de Flierdt, T., Jimenez-Espejo, F., Gonzalez, J., Tauxe, L., Escutia, C., Brinkhuis, H., Klaus, A., Expedition 318 Scientists, 2011. Pliocene ice-rafting history and sedimentation model for Site U1359, Wilkes Land margin. Abstract PO13.9, International Symposium for Antarctic Earth Sciences, http://www.isaes2011.org.uk/programme.html

Passchier, S., 2011. Pliocene East-Antarctic ice-rafting and orbital-scale variability at ODP Site 1165 on Antarctica's continental rise, off Prydz Bay. Abstract PS3.3, International Symposium for Antarctic Earth Sciences, http://www.isaes2011.org.uk/programme.html

Passchier, S., *Falk, C.J., 2011.Changes in Miocene ice extent and paleobathymetry in the southern McMurdo Sound based on a continuous particle-size record coupled to facies characteristics in AND-2A. Abstract PS1.10, International Symposium for Antarctic Earth Sciences, http://www.isaes2011.org.uk/programme.html

*Hansen, M., Passchier, S., 2011. Determining middle Miocene through Pliocene changes in provenance and basal ice conditions through sedimentological analyses of subglacial diamictites in AND-2A, Ross Sea, Antarctica. Abstract PS1.9, International Symposium for Antarctic Earth Sciences, http://www.isaes2011.org.uk/programme.html

*Bujalski, N.M., 2010. Characterization of contaminant and biomass-derived organic matter in sediments from the Lower Passaic River, New Jersey, USA. M.S. Thesis, Montclair State University, 220 pp.

*Bujalski, N.M., Kruge, M., 2010. Characterization of Contaminant and Biomass-Derived Organic Matter in Sediments from the Lower Passaic River, New Jersey, USA. Fourth Passaic River Symposium, 6/22/2010. http://pages.csam.montclair.edu/pri/symposium2010/

Pope, G.A., Egan, M., Kruge, M.J., Passchier, S., 2010. Environmental change evident by sediment core, Lake Wapalanne, northwest New Jersey. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, April 13-18, 2010. (Abstracts CD-ROM and online).

*Reynard-Callanan, J., Reinertsen, C., Lugo, D., 2010. Textural and mineralogical modifications of a soil profile as a result of fire. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 42, No.1, p. 134.

*Hansen, M., Passchier, S., 2010. Determining Middle Miocene through Pliocene changes in basal ice conditions through sedimentological analyses of diamictites in AND-2A core, Ross Sea, Antarctica. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 42, No. 1, p. 170.

*Martin, L., Passchier, S., 2010. Basal ice conditions of the Antarctic ice sheet interpreted from Oligocene through Pleistocene tills of the Cape Roberts drilling Project. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 42, No. 1, p. 170.

Lambroussis, C.G., *Soares, B.D., Perez, S., Gaipa, D., Elie, A.L., Ament, C.M., Rouf, F.T., Bassa, L.M., DiLorenzo, A.M. , 2009. Indications of Potential Toxic/Mutagenic Effects of World Trade Center Dust on Human Lung Cell Cultures. OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences, doi:10.3844/ojbsci.2009.81.85

*Falk, C., Passchier, S., 2009. Paleoenvironment and paleoclimate of coastal East Antarctica during the Middle Miocene: particle size results of the ANDRILL Southern McMurdo sound project. Abstract, First Antarctic Climate Evolution Symposium, Granada Spain, 2009.

*LaPoma, J., 2009. A sedimentary investigation of lineation patterns found in the Pinelands of New Jersey. M.S. Thesis, Montclair State University.

Pope, G.A., Demitroff, M., *LaPoma, J., *Callanan, J., 2009. Sand Grain Morphologies Explain Late Pleistocene Periglacial Soil Environments of the Pine Barrens, New Jersey, USA. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, March 22-27, 2009. (Abstracts CD-ROM and online).

*LaPoma, J., Demitroff, M., Pope, G., Callanan, J., 2009. Sedimentary Analysis of Tentative Wind Steaks from the Pinelands National Reserve in Southern New Jersey. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, March 22-27, 2009. (Abstracts CD-ROM and online).

*Callanan, J., Pope, G., Gorring, M., Bien, W., McDougall, A., *LaPoma, J., 2009. Long-term implications of forest fires on soil chemical properties and mineral alterations in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, Nevada, March 22-27, 2009. (Abstracts CD-ROM and online).

*Callanan, J. (nee Reynard), 2008. Long term impacts of forest fires on soil chemical properties as a result of mineral alterations, and implications for forest fire management. Doctoral dissertation, Montclair State University.

*Johnson, I., 2008. Particle size record for the Plio-Pleistocene of AND-2A. Montclair State University, Student Research Symposium.

Passchier, S., 2007. East Antarctic ice-sheet dynamics between 5.2 and 0 Ma from a high-resolution terrigenous particle size record, ODP Site 1165, Prydz Bay-Cooperation Sea. International Symposium for Antarctic Earth Sciences, ISAES X, Santa Barbara.

*Rosig, M.J., Brachfeld, S., Passchier, S., Gorring, M., 2007. Defining the provenance characteristics of Weddell Sea and northeastern Antarctic Peninsula sediment: A multi-proxy approach. AGU, Acapulco, Mexico.

Passchier, S., 2007. Significance of sedimentary records from high-latitude continental margins in questions of Plio-Pleistocene global climate change. Arctic workshop, Skaftafell, Iceland.

Passchier, S., Bohaty, S.M., 2007. Contrasting detrital geochemistry of Eocene vs. Neogene glacial strata, ODP Site 1166, Prydz Bay, Antarctica. EGU, Vienna.

*Busch, S.E., 2006, Particle Size Analysis of Eocene-Oligocene Antarctic Core Samples, ODP Site 1166. Senior B.A. thesis, Montclair State University.