Miami University

Assistant Professor

Ph.D. (2003) University of Illinois @ Chicago
104 Shideler Hall/542 Mosler (Hamilton)
513-785-3106
krekelmp@muohio.edu

My research interests are in explaining the variation of mineral properties in both natural and synthetic systems. My work is environmental in nature and has primarily focused on phyllosilicates, oxyhydroxides, phosphates and industrial minerals in sedimentary systems and geotechnologies. Specific interests include constructed wetlands in the Yucatan for wastewater treatment, explaining the origin of sedimentary minerals from the Yucatan, mine waste investigations and transmission electron microscopy investigations of several minerals.

Possible thesis/dissertation topics:

• Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies of defects and valence state variation in complex oxides and phyllosilicated in natural environments, disturbed landscapes and synthetic systems
• Environmental mineralogy of urban and disturbed landscapes including industrial settings, tourist settings and mines sits.
• Fundamental and applied investigations of smectite, palygorskite-sepiolite and other clay minerals..
• Fundamental investigations of mineral diversity in native metals and meteorites.
• Environmental and economic geology relating to gold and rare earths and tantalum minerals.
• Coal ash and coal pollution, industrial mineral waste materials and waste recycling.

Current/recent graduate student research:

• Cynthia Tselepis Loertscher (Ph.D. in progress) - Transmission electron microscopy investigations of natural and synthetic tunnel manganese oxide minerals.
• Heather Barrett (M.S. in progress) - Transmission electron microscopy study of defects in natural and synthetic cryptomelane.
• Jennifer Miller (M.S. in progress) - Electron microscopy studies of heavy metal contamination in the Great Miami River, Hamilton, Ohio.
• Zack McCoy (M.S. in progress in Paper & Chemical Engineering - Co-Advisor with Catherin Almquist) - Materials characterization and catalytic performance analysis of synthetic Zn-doped cryptomelane.

Selected Publications:

*Schellenbach, W.L., Krekeler, M.P.S. (in press) "Mineralogical and geochemical investigations of pyrite-rich mine waste from a kyanite mine in Central Virginia with comments on recycling". Environmental Earth Science DOI: 10.1007/s12665-011-1339-7.

*Barrett, H.A., **Borkiewicz, O., Krekeler, M.P.S. (2011) "An investigation of zincite from spent anodic portions of alkalkine batteries: an industrial mineral approach for evaluating stock material for recycling potential. Journal of Power Sources Vol. 196, 508-513.

*Geise, G., *LeGalley, Krekeler, M.P.S. (2011) "Mineralogical and Geochemical Investigations of Silicate-rich Mine Waste from a Kyanite Mine in Central Virginia: Implications for Mine Waste Recycling". Environmental Earth Sciences. Vol. 62, 185-196.

Allen, C.S., Krekeler, M.P.S. (2011) "Crude oil, petroleum and water discrimination on terrestrial substrates with airborne imaging spectroscopy. Active and Passive Signatures II. Proceedings of the SPIE-The International Society for Optical Engineering 8040: 80400L DOI 10.1117/12.884418.

Allen, C.S., Krekeler, M.P.S. (2010) "Reflectance spectra of crude oils and refined petroleum products on a variety of common substrates. Active and Passive Signatures. Proceedings of SPIE-The International Society for Optical Engineering 7687: 7687OL DOI 10.1117/12.852200.

Krekeler, M.P.S., *Calkins, K., ** Borckiewicz, O. (2010) "Mineralogical and hydrogeologic properties of partially unconsolidated Pleistocene limestone in the east central Yucatan: Implications for the development of subsurface flow constructed wetlands in the region. Carbonates and Evaporites. Vol. 25, 77-86.

Krekeler, M.P.S., Allen, C.S., Kearns, L.E., Maynard, J.B. (2010) "An investigation of aspects of mine waste from a kyanite mine, Central Virginia, USA. Environmental Earth Sciences, Vol. 61, 93-106.

Patents

Krekeler, M.P.S., and Elmore, S. (2010) Counter weapon containment. US Patent, US 7,662,738 B2 (Final Issue Date: February 16, 2010).

Krekeler, M.P.S., Elmore, S., and *Tselepis, C.M. (2010) Radioactive materials sequestration. US Patent. 34 US 7,647,935 B2. (Final Issue Date: January 19, 2010).

Krekeler, M.P.S., Elmore, S., *Tselepis, C.M. and Stoll, D. (2010) Secondary process for radioactive chloride deweaponization and storage. US Patent. US 7,663,014 B2. (Final Issue Date; February 16, 2010).

Krekeler, M.P.S., Lepp, J.G., *Tselepis, C.M. and Wantz, R.B. (2010) Asbestos containment composition. US Patent. US 7,722,520 B2. (Final Issue Date: May 25, 2010).

*Miami undergraduate student, **Miami graduate student

Teaching Interests:

GLG 111 The Dynamic Earth
GLG 121 Environmental Geology
GLG 207 Water and Society

For complete descriptions of courses please click here.