Department of Geology and Geophysics
Marie D Jackson
Research Associate Professor
Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah
Office Room Number 273 FASB
Phone (928) 8537967
Email m.d.jackson@utah.edu
Office Hours
I can usually be contacted in Room 273 in the Frederick Albert Sutton Building.
Please drop in or send an email in advance.
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Academic Background
Ph. D., Earth Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
Doctorat d'Université, Géologie Structurale, Université de Nantes, France
Bachelor of Science, Earth Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, California
Research Interests
My collaborative investigations in volcanology, mineralogy, materials science and
archaeological science are breaking new ground in understanding how durability, specialty
properties, and long service life develop in ancient Roman concretes and reproductions of
these materials. Our research methods include synchrotron-based X-ray microdiffraction, nano- and
micro-computed tomography, Raman spectroscopy, S/TEM imaging, diffraction and EDS
compositional analyses, LA-ICPMS compositional analyses, scanning electron microscopy, and
diverse rock testing experiments. Petrographic microscopy forms the foundational observations
of rock and concrete fabrics.
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I am especially interested in recreating Roman methods and materials that leap over the past
2000 years to produce regenerative cementitious fabrics in concretes fabricated with volcanic
rock, which benefit the modern world. The studies of Surtsey volcano resulting from the Surtsey
Underwater volcanic System for Thermophiles, Alteration processes and INnovative Concretes
(SUSTAIN) drilling program in Iceland, sponsored by the International Continental Drilling
Program (surtsey.icdp-online.org) will provide extraordinary insights into a geologic analog for
these processes.
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• Time-lapse hydrothermal processes at Surtsey volcano, Iceland
• Ancient Roman pyroclastic rock concretes
• Mineral cements in volcanic tuff and tephra deposits
• Environmentally-friendly concretes with specialty properties
• Historic stone masonry
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