Alex Kovalick (fkova001@ucr.edu)
Ph.D. Candidate- University of California, Riverside
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Research Motivation and Interests:
My motivation for studying Earth surface systems stems from both an interest in better understanding the history of our planet and a desire to contribute to societal development via investigation and assessment of natural resources. Therefore, my research goals are to reveal the processes that have driven the co-evolution of life and its environment through time and to apply our understanding of these processes to the exploration of natural resources of key societal importance. In this way, I ultimately hope that my work aids in the development of a more sustainable future for society at large.
Summary of Skills & Experience:
Summary of Skills & Experience:
I use a combination of traditional field geology, sedimentology, and geochemical analysis to understand mineral genesis and to trace elemental sources in Earth surface systems. Much of my work has focussed on tracing the source of aqueous Fe for Precambrian Granular Iron Formations and Phanerozoic Oolitic Ironstones and identifying the processes involved in Fe-oxide and Fe-silicate authigenesis. New directions have expanded my expertise to additionally tracing other commodity elements (i.e. Co, Ni, Zn, and the Rare Earth Elements) in diagenetic and hydrothermal systems. My typical order of operations for these explorations are as follows:
An initial field expedition to obtain necessary stratigraphic, structural, and textural data and observations for establishing the present-day geological framework.
Traditional light microscope petrography to identify key micro-scale textures informing the nature of mineral deposition and/or precipitation and order of mineral genesis.
In situ geochemical analysis for major, trace, and rare earth element (REE) geochemistry using SEM-EDS, EPMA, and LA-ICP-MS.
Apply different isotope proxies (depending on their relevance to the question at hand) to trace elemental sources and mineral formation processes. I have direct experience applying stable C and Fe isotopes and the radiogenic Sm-Nd isotopic system.
See the "Research" tab for a full list of past and ongoing work.
Virtual Seminars for Precambrian Geology:
Virtual Seminars for Precambrian Geology:
I organize and run the VS-PG Seminar series with Dr. Andrey Bekker of the University of California, Riverside. Our series serves hundreds of Precambrian Geologists throughout the world on a weekly to biweekly basis (seasonally dependent) and many more on YouTube throughout the year. Visit our website (https://sites.google.com/ucr.edu/vs-pg/) or YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-mxePnmA2Lchjn_gm7O06g) to explore presentations by high-profile scientists on the front lines of Precambrian Geology on a variety of topics from the history of plate tectonics to the origins of complex multicellular life to the rise of atmospheric oxygen through time and more!
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