Jonathan D. Price

Director of Laboratory Teaching and Departmental Facilities / Research Associate in Geochemistry
Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
110 8th Street
Science Center 1W19
Vox: (518) 276-2372
Fax: (518) 276-2012
email: pricej@rpi.edu

Work Page Contents

Current Research Experience C.V. , references, and publications list
(pdf format)		 Student projects Work related web sites

Brief synopsis of my career thus far

I received my Ph.D. from the School of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Oklahoma , in the fall 1998.  My dissertation, entitled Petrology of the Mount Scott Granite, focused on the emplacement, crystallization history, and geochemical evolution of igneous magmas, through detailed field work, geochemical analysis, modeling, and experimental petrology.

Immediately following my degree, I worked as a consulting geologist for the Oklahoma Geological Survey, working on two project areas within the STATEMAP mapping program (U.S.G.S.). The first project involved the compilation of existing geological data on to 1:100 000 maps of Texas and Beaver Counties, in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Additionally, I mapped one half of the Bethany 1:24 000 sheet, north Oklahoma City, through extensive field examination.

In mid-march of 1999, I started working at RPI .  I am under the direction of Bruce Watson and David Wark in Bruce's experimental geochemistry laboratory.  My recent research builds on the ongoing efforts of this lab to explore the grain boundary transport of fluids within solid and partially molten systems at high pressure and temperature (work sponsored by the Department of Energy).  Specifically, I am examining the permeability of mica-bearing quartzite, to examine how the precipitation of a platy phase effects the transport of fluids.  Additionally, I am striving to find a way to measure the permeability of  quartzite with water at peak conditions through electrical conductivity.  I also worked with Bruce to characterize the solid-state growth of spinel from periclases and corundum. I have been involved in an investigation of C and CO2 behavior in synthetic analogs of deep crustal rocks.  In early 2005, I assisted with setting up the new electron microprobe instrument (a Cameca SX100). Since that time I have been actively involved in lab work with the instrument for my own projects and as a contracted analyst, largely for General Electric Global Research. And currently I am invovled with several experimental studies, including an evaluation of melt geometry in crustal anatexis, characterizing silica activity in melts, and evaluating metal diffusion in meteorites. More information on current research is found at my "Recent Adventures in Research " page.

In the spring of 2001, I became the Director of Laboratory Teaching and Departmental Facilities. This is a multifaceted position which includes overseeing and coordinating laboratory instruction in the earth science curriculum, managing website and solving networking issues, maintaining the departmental van, curating display materials, and upgrading facilities in the department. Thus far, I have completed several major projects including moving the mineral, rock, and fossil collection from our old building, West Hall, repairing and calibrating the cathodoluminoscope, and reorganizing our primary lab study room.

In addition my research and departmental obligations, I also teach.  For the previous two fall semesters, I taught Earth Materials.   This is a sophomore level class with content similar to traditional mineralogy.   For more information about the class, check in on the class pages for ERTH 2330 . In Fall 2001, I led a discussion-oriented graduate-level course on geo-history entitled "Controversies in Geology ." I also run a class called " Current Topics in Earth Sciences, " where students attend our weekly colloquium series and summarize the presentation in a brief paper.  Last, but not least, I teach Natural Sciences I & II , a two-semester course that introduces students to physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, biology, and environmental science.

Want to know more about my background?  Click on the electronic version of my Curriculum Vitae for all the details.

Student projects

I am fortunate to have been involved with the work of several student lab researchers at RPI.

Melody Berds (B.S., 2009) investigating the diffusion of fluroine in titanite.

Chris Smith (B.S., 2010) investigating the diffusion of fluroine in biotite.

Rinat Gabitov (Ph.D., 2005) investigated the solubility and diffusion of fluorite in haplogranitic melts of varying Na+K/Al ratios.

Gabitov, R.I., Price, J.D., and Watson, E.B., 2005, Solubility of fluorite in haplogranitic melt of variable alkalies and alumina content at 800-1000ºC and 100 MPa. G3, Geochemistry, Geophysics, and Geosystems, 6, Q03007, doi:10.1029/2004GC000870

Gabitov, R.I., Price, J.D., and Watson, E.B., 2005, Diffusion of Ca and F in haplogranitic melt from dissolving fluorite crystals at 900,1000ºC and 100 MPa, G3, Geochemistry, Geophysics, and Geosystems, 6, Q03011,  doi:10.1029/2004GC000832.

Nick Meyer (M.S., 2003) explored CO2 grain-boundary diffusion in earth materials.

Anna Smith (B.S., 2003) examined the effects of faceting on rock permeability.

Price, J.D., Wark, D.A., Watson, E.B., and Smith, A.M., 2006, Grain-Scale Permeabilities of Faceted Polycrystalline Aggregates, Geofluids, 6, 1-7, doi: 10.1111/j.1468-8123.2006.00149.x

Additionally, I have had the further privilege to supervise two undergraduate independent studies.

Tina Mehta (B.S., Biology) evaluated the state of geological, epidemiological, and physiological scientific research on asbesotosfrom minerals. She produced this website on her findings.

Erin Hoffman (B.S., Electronic Media, Arts, and Communication, 2003) completed a computer assisted design project to produce 3D renderings of two Cambrian age life forms. She produced this website.

Work Links

Homepages of some of my associates


Facilities