Dr Roy A. Wogelius
Reader in Geochemical Spectroscopy
BA (Northwestern University, Evanston IL) 1979, MSc Geology (University of Illinois, Chicago) 1984, PhD Geochemistry (Northwestern University, Evanston, IL) 1990
Room Number: G21 [Williamson Building]
Email: Roy.Wogelius@manchester.ac.uk
Professional biography
Roy A. Wogelius
Reader in Geochemical Spectroscopy |
Recent Book Chapters
"Environmental Mineralogy" edited by D.J. Vaughan and R.A. Wogelius
Chapter 2. Analytical, Experimental, and Computational Methods in Environmental Mineralogy (Wogelius and Vaughan)
Eotvos University Press, 2000. ISBN 963 463 1333.
Reviewer's comments on Environmental Mineralogy: "Your reviewer is here to attest that Environmental Mineralogy is a thumping good read that deserves wide attention for the new research agenda its exceedingly well-written chapters have put forward. To be sure, with such an all-encompassing purview, the book serves its wares from a broad buffet with all the ebullience and surfeit of a Mozart opera..."
Reviewed by Garrison Sposito in American Mineralogist (v. 86, pages 954-955, 2001)
"Growth, Dissolution, and Pattern Formation in Geosystems" edited by B. Jamtveit and P. Meakin
Chapter 13. Structural Evolution of the Mineral Surface During Dissolution Probed with Synchrotron X-Ray Techniques
(Wogelius, Farquhar, Fraser, and Tang) Kluwer, 1999. ISBN 0 412 83240 2
- Research Interests
- Research Highlights
- Curriculum Vitae
- Current grants
- Recent Publications
- Courses Taught
Research Interests
- Mineral Surface Chemistry
- Reaction Kinetics
- Aqueous Geochemistry
- Environmental Geology
Current Research Projects
Current PhD Project Supervision
- "Imaging complexation at mineral surfaces via Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray Scattering, and Atomic Force Microscopy," Pete Morris. (with David Vaughan)
- "Designer scale: the effect of calcium and magnesium on the ability of scale inhibitors to retard the growth of oilfield scale," Alex Stark (with David Vaughan)
- "The sedimentation and productivity of Tonle Sap (Great Lake) Cambodia," Carole Beard
- "Numerical approaches to quantifying the transport of arsenic in tropical groundwater systems," Valliyappan Thinnapan (with Caesar Merrifield and Dave Polya)
- "Experimental studies of PAH mobility in porous media," Yasmina de Bryant (with Caesar Merrifield)
- "Quantifying the effects of biofilm growth on hydraulic properties and on sorption equilibria: Micro-to-Macro measurements," Vicki Hand (with Steve Boult, Paul Humphries, Caesar Merrifield, David Large and David Vaughan)
My main scientific interest lies in understanding the chemical processes that control aqueous fluid-rock interactions in the earth's near surface environment. We now understand that many of the important processes such as mineral dissolution, precipitation, reduction-oxidation, and contaminant (or trace-element) transport are surface-controlled, and therefore my work has focused on measuring the rate dependencies of these processes and directly analyzing the reactant surfaces. This research uses a combination of standard geochemical techniques (such as mineral surface acid-base titrations or dissolution rate experiments) with new technologies (such as synchrotron surface studies or particle beam techniques) to make such measurements. Our approach is designed to enable us to construct well-constrained theoretical models of the actual reaction mechanisms and thereby predict system behaviour under a wide variety of geological conditions.
Recent projects include applications of X-ray scattering and X-ray absorption techniques (XANES and EXAFS) to the angstrom-scale analysis of mineral surfaces both during and after reactions with aqueous fluid and the simultaneous development of the capability to analyze hydrogen inventories of reacted mineral surfaces by using particle beam Elastic Recoil Detection Analysis ( in collaboration with the Scanning Proton Microprobe unit at Oxford's Nuclear Physics Department). Prior work includes the use of other particle beam techniques such as Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Rutherford backscattering (RBS) to complete both surface-sensitive and penetrative high-resolution analyses of a variety of natural and experimental samples. Ongoing work and past experience also includes experimentally measuring dissolution rates and adsorption isotherms by the use of fluidized bed reactors, batch reactors, and various titration techniques.
All of these research projects have been devoted to understanding mass transfer processes between minerals and aqueous fluids. This research effort grew out of my M.Sc. thesis work which was part of the U.S. Department of Energy Basalt Waste Isolation Project, a project that was intended to determine whether the Columbia Plateau Basalt in Washington State would be a reliable high-level radioactive waste repository.
I have also worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a geologist reviewing permit applications for hazardous waste disposal sites. Permit review included assessing the geological safety case for a variety of proposed sites.
Graphical Examples of Research Highlights
Mineral Surface Chemistry is the key to many processes. Click on one of these images to learn more about trace elements in carbonates (left image) or surface roughening studied with X-rays (right image). |  |
Trace Element Zoning in Carbonates
Below is a spectacularly zoned calcite vein from the Mendip Hills as seen via cathodoluminescence.
Here is a detail of a portion of this vein that has been analysed by Scanning Proton Microscopy.
The banded texture results from oscillations in the concentration of iron and other trace elements. We have done similar analyses of many other minerals at high resolution in collaboration with the Oxford Scanning Proton Microprobe Unit. This work has led to advances in our understanding of how a number of elements partition from fluids into mineral structures. We also use the SPM to measure hydrogen as it penetrates into mineral surfaces.
Other recent work in collaboration with Oxford has involved completing analyses in glancing incidence. This is known as "Total external reflection Proton Induced X-Ray Emission," or TPIXE. In this geometry the technique is extremely sensitive to surface adsorbates.
X-ray scattering to study mineral surfaces
Extremely bright x-ray beams, of the type available close to Manchester at the Daresbury Laboratory, are also used in our work to give us angstrom-scale information about how the arrangements of atoms at mineral surfaces change during reaction with water: changes in atom-atom bond distances during reaction of less than one-tenth of an angstrom can be measured. Chemical reactions on mineral surfaces in water films less than 20 angstroms thick can be monitored.
The pattern shown here results from the diffuse scattering of X-rays from the surface of the mineral olivine. As the surface of the mineral reacts the diffuse scatter pattern changes in a striking manner. In this case, roughening of the mineral surface causes the 'Yoneda Wings' on each side of the central peak to grow. Analysis of patterns such as these allow us to determine how the mineral surface topography evolves over time.
Curriculum Vitae
Education:
Ph.D. (Geochemistry), Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 1990
M.Sc. (Geology), University of Illinois at Chicago, 1984
B.A. Northwestern University, 1979
Professional Experience:
Reader in Geochemical Spectroscopy, current position, Univ. of Manchester.
Senior Lecturer in Geochemical Spectroscopy, 05/01-08/08, Univ. of Manchester.
Lecturer in Geochemical Spectroscopy, 1/95-04/01, Univ. of Manchester.
Post-Doctoral Research Asst., 10/93-12/94, Univ. of Oxford.
Post-Doctoral Appointee, 3/92-9/93, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Ill.
Post-Doctoral Research Asst., 3/90-3/92, Univ. of Oxford.
Geologist, 12/84-9/85, U.S. Env. Protection Agency, Region V. Chicago, Ill.
Professional Affiliations:
Geochemical Society
Geological Society of America
Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland (Council Member), Chair of new "Environmental Mineralogy" Group
Chemical Geology (Editorial Board)
Recent Publications and Abstracts:
Wogelius R.A., and Vaughan D.J., "Analytical, Experimental, and Computational Methods in Environmental Mineralogy," pp. 7-88, in Environmental Mineralogy (eds. D.J. Vaughan and R.A. Wogelius). Eotvos University Press, (European Mineralogical Union), 2000.
Abraitis P.K., Livens F.R., Monteith J.E., Small J.S., Trivedi D.P., Vaughan D.J., and Wogelius R.A. "The kinetics and mechanisms of simulated British Magnox waste glass dissolution as a function of pH, silicic acid activity and time in low temperature aqueous systems." Appl. Geochem., v. 15, 1399-1416, 2000.
Wogelius R.A., Farquhar M.L., Fraser D.G., and Tang C.C., "Structural Evolution of the Mineral Surface During Dissolution Probed with Synchrotron X-ray Techniques," pp. 269-288, in Growth, Dissolution, and Pattern Formation in Geosystems (eds. B. Jamtveit and P. Meakin). Kluwer, 1999.
Farquhar M.L., Wogelius R.A., and Tang C.C. "In situ synchrotron X-ray reflectivity study of the oligoclase feldspar mineral-fluid interface," Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 63, 1587-1594, 1999.
Tang C.C., Collins S.P., Murphy B.M., Telling N.D., Wogelius R.A., and Teat S.J. (1998) "High Resolution Reflectivity Diffractometer on Station 2.3 (Daresbury Laboratory), Rev. Sci. Instrum., v. 69, 1224-1229.
Wogelius, R.A., Fraser, D.G., Wall, G.R.T., and Grime G.W. "Trace Element and Isotopic Zonation in Vein Calcite from the Mendip Hills, UK, with Spatial-Process Correlation Analysis," Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 61, 2037-2051, 1997.
Wogelius, R.A. and Fraser, D.G., "Surface Oxidation and Hydroxylation of Olivine Produced by Reaction with Aqueous Solutions: an Ex Situ XAS (REFLEXAFS) and ERDA Study," 1996 V.M. Goldschmidt Conference, Journal of Conference Abstracts v. 1, 684, 1996.
Wogelius, R.A. and Fraser, D.G., "Surface sensitive XAS analyses of Ni and Zn adsorbed on periclase and calcite single crystal substrates," Terra abstracts, v. 7, no. 1, 66, 1995.
Wogelius, R.A., Refson, K., Fraser, D.G., Grime, G.W., and Goff, J.P., "Periclase surface hydroxylation during dissolution," Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 59, 1875-1881, 1995.
Refson, K., Wogelius, R.A., Fraser, D.G., "Water chemisorption and reconstruction of the MgO surface," Phys. Rev. B,. v. 52, 10823-10826, 1995.
Whitaker, F.F., Smart, P.L., Vahrenkamp, V.C., Nicholson, H., and Wogelius, R.A., "Dolomitisation by near-normal sea water? Field evidence from the Bahamas," in Dolomites and Dolomitization (eds. Purser, B., Tucker, M., and Zenger, D.), Spec. Publs. Int. Ass. Sediment. v. 21, 111-132, Blackwells, Oxford, 1994.
Chiarello, R.P., Wogelius, R.A., and Sturchio, N.C., "In Situ Synchrotron X-ray Reflectivity Measurements at the Calcite-Water Interface," Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 57, 4103-4110, 1993.
Grime, G.W., Watt, F., Wogelius, R.A., and Jamtveit, B., "Processing microPIXE linescan data - studies of arsenic zoning in skarn garnets," Nuclear Inst. and Methods in Phys. Res., B77, 410-414, 1993.
Jamtveit, B., Wogelius, R.A., and Fraser, D.G., "Zonation Patterns of Skarn Garnets: Stratigraphic Records of Hydrothermal Systems," Geology; v. 21, 113-116, 1993.
Wogelius, R.A., Fraser, D.G., Feltham, D., and Whiteman, M., "Trace Elements in Dolomite: Proton Microprobe Data and Constraints on Fluid Compositions," Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 56, 319-334, 1992.
Wogelius, R.A., and Walther, J.V., "Olivine Dissolution at Near Surface Conditions," Chem. Geol., v. 97, 101-112, 1992.
Recent Grants and Studentships:
Blaustein Visiting Professorship, Stanford University, 2008-2009.
EPSRC/DTI GR/N20263, "Quantitative chemical mapping of adsorbed scale inhibitors on core rock samples," Principal Investigator along with Profs. D. Manning and D.J. Vaughan and Dr. M.L. Farquhar. 2000-2002.
NERC special topic Micro to Macro proposal, "Quantifying the effects of biofilm growth on hydraulic properties and on sorption equilibria: micro to macro measurements." Written along with Prof. D.J. Vaughan and Drs. C. Merrifield, S. Boult, and D. Large (Nottingham). Funded October, 1999.
NERC GR3/11979; "Direct observation of sulphide mineral oxidation reactions." Principal Investigator along with D.J. Vaughan and K.V. Wright. PDRA is Dr. M.L. Farquhar.
EPSRC/DTI GR/M65021; "Scale inhibitor surface interactions studied using synchrotron radiation techniques." Co-Investigator along with M.L. Farquhar and G. Graham at Heriot-Watt University.
JREI GR3/E0081; "Characterisation of surfaces and solids involved in mineral-fluid reactions using X-ray diffraction and X-ray reflectivity." Co-applicant along with D.A.C. Manning.
CLRC Beamtime grant 33315; "Carbonate mineral growth reactions."
NERC grant GR3/11181 "Beamtime support for synchrotron based NERC research programmes in Earth and Environmental Sciences at Manchester University" funded 26-March-97 over the two year period 3/96-3/98. In collaboration with Dr. Pawley and Prof. Vaughan.
NERC grant GR3/10534 "Hydroxylation and reconstruction of mineral surfaces: atomic-scale experiments" funded 15-April-96 over the two year period 6/96-6/98. In collaboration with Dr. Fraser at Oxford. PDRA involved in this work was Dr. Morag Farquhar.
NERC Ph.D. Studentship funded for the topic "Surface Structures, Chemical Reactions, and Toxic Element Uptake at Mineral-Fluid Interfaces."
CCLRC grant 28/224 "Cation-proton exchange at the silicate mineral/aqueous fluid interface monitored in situ with X-ray reflectivity and X-ray absorption spectroscopy" successfully provided the full amount of beam time requested, June, 1996.
CCLRC grant 27/365 "In Situ analysis of mineral-fluid interfaces studied with X-ray reflectivity and X-ray absorption spectroscopy" successfully provided the full amount of beam time requested, January, 1996.
NERC proposal "Surface chemistry of mafic phases, a combined experimental and computational study." Written along with D.G. Fraser and funded in November, 1991.
Courses Taught
- GY3151/5181- Analytical Methods in Earth Sciences
- I am the course coordinator for this course which teaches both third year undergraduates and first year post-graduates the theory and practice of using modern analytical techniques for research.
- GY3292- Computer Applications in Geology
- Third Year Undergraduate course which covers: 1) the application of statistics to the geosciences, 2) basic computer modelling, 3) Web Page creation, and 4) introduction to GIS systems.
- GY3340- Hydrogeochemistry
- An advanced undergraduate course in geochemistry coordinated by Dr. D.A. Polya. I will contribute modules on adsorption, kinetics, and mineral surface chemistry.
- GY3191- Environmental Mineralogy
- Third-year course which will teach basic and intermediate concepts in mineralogy to non-geologists such that these concepts may be applied in understanding environmental systems. The course will also aim to allow geologists and geochemists to gain experience in applying advanced concepts to environmental systems.
- GY5322- Reaction Kinetics and Surface Chemistry
- Post-Graduate course which covers basic and advanced kinetic theory, surface analytical techniques, mineral-fluid experimental methods, and reaction-path modelling.
Personal: Born and raised in Chicago. Attended Schubert Grade School (Class of 1971) and Lane Technical High School (Class of 1975). Married with two children, but no dog.
- Roy.Wogelius@manchester.ac.uk
Last Modified 18 January 2005
Research groups
Specific research interests
Kinetics; Surface, Aqueous, and Environmental Chemistry; X-ray and Particle Beam Techniques
Teaching
Recent and forthcoming publications
Dysthe D.K., Wogelius R.A., C.C. Tang C.C., and Nield A.A. “Evolution of mineral-fluid interfaces studied at pressure with synchrotron X-ray techniques,” Chemical Geology, in press.