Miami University

Professor

Ph.D. (1996) SUNY @ Stony Brook
126 Shideler Hall
513-529-3245
rakovajf@muohio.edu

My research interests involve the integration of low temperature geochemistry and mineralogy in the study of crystal surfaces and water-rock interactions found in natural systems. In particular, I am interested in processes such as crystal growth, metal sorption, trace element partitioning and other surface mediated reactions. I am also concerned with the structural response of minerals to substituent elements, especially lanthanides and actinides in apatite group minerals.

Possible thesis/dissertation topics:

• Structure, crystal chemistry and applications of apatite minerals to environmental problems (e.g. heavy metal sequestration and radionuclide containment).
• Role of crystal surface structure on water-rock interactions.
• Mineral replacement reactions in hydrothermal systems.

Current/recent graduate student research:

• Olaf Borkiewicz (Ph.D.) The role of precursor formation on apatite growth at low temperatures.
• Tomasz Marchlewski (Ph.D.) Coprecipitation of Pb and As in apatite growth at low temepratures.
• Cynthia Tselepis (M.S.) Heterogeneous oxidation of Mn(II) at the geothite-water interface.
• Laura Crimmins (M.S.) Structure of apatite group minerals in the Ca-Pb-P-As system.

Selected publications:

Borkiewicz*, O., Rakovan J., and Cahill, C. (2010) Time resolved in-situ studies of apatite formation pathways in aqueous solutions. American Mineralogist, 95:1224-1236.

Luo*, Y., Rakovan, J., Hughes, J., and Pan, Y. (2009) Site preference of U and Th in Cl, F, Sr apatites. American Mineralogist, 94: 345-351.

Partey*, F., Lev, S., Casey, E., Widom, E., Lueth, V. and Rakovan J. (2009) Source of fluorine and petrogenesis of the Rio Grande Rift type barite-fluorite-galena deposits. Economic Geology, 104: 505-520.

Rakovan, J., and Partey*, F. (2009) Mineralization of the Hansonburg mining District, Bingham, New Mexico. In: Leuth ed. New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook, 60th field conference, Chupadera Mesa Region, p. 121-131.

Lupulescu, M.V., Rakovan, J., Robinson, and Hughes, J. (2009) Fluoropotassichastingsite from the Greenwood Mine, Orange County, New York: A new end-member calcic amphiboles. Canadian Mineralogist 47:909-916.

Rakovan, J., Luo*, Y and Borkiewicz, O. (2008) Synchrotron Microanalytical Methods in the Study of Trace and Minor Elements in Apatite. Mineralogia, 39:31-40.

Selected grants:

National Science Foundation 2010 - 2013
Coprecipitation of Pb and As in apatite and applications to environmental remediation.

Apex Companies 2009 - 2011 (with Tomasz Marchlewski)
Evaluation of Phosphate Induced Metal Stabilization on Former Refined Metals Site, Florida.

National Science Foundation 2007 (with H. Dong, R. Edelmann, S. Zou, and G. Pacey)
Acquisition of a High Resolution Analytical Transmission Electron Microscope for the Miami University Electron Microscope Facility.

National Science Foundation (with John Hughes)
Crystal chemistry of U, Th and other Radionuclides in Apatite: Environmental and Geochemical Implications.

Teaching Interests:

GLG 180 - Gems and Gem Formation
GLG 201 - Mineralogy
GLG 432/532 - Clay and Clay Mineralogy
GLG 630 - Mineral-Water Interface Geochemistry
GLG 632 - X-ray methods in crystal structure analysis
GLG 699 - Scanning Probe Microscopy (summer workshop)

For complete descriptions of courses please click here.

Please click here to see Dr. Rakovan's curriculum vita.

Dr. Rakovan's personal webpage.