Organic Petrology Laboratory, Southern Illinois University
  • Home
  • People
  • Research Areas
  • Research Facilities
  • Publications
  • Courses
  • Links

What we do

Here in the Organic Petrology Lab at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Department of Geology), we conduct research on coals, black shales, and other organic-rich rocks. We focus on petrography and geochemistry and address a wide range of geological problems, both basic and applied.

We routinely perform kerogen typing, vitrinite reflectance, and coal petrographic analyses.

Contact Us

Welcome to the Organic Petrology Group 

The Organic Petrology Group in the Department of Geology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is led by Dr. Sue M. Rimmer and includes both undergraduate and graduate students.  We have a variety of research interests in both coals and shales and work on projects that have been funded by NSF, ICCI (Illinois Clean Coal Institute), and industry. Over the years, students  trained by Dr. Rimmer have gone on to work in government and industry.

The lab's research currently focuses on several areas including: organic maturation and heating rate (contact metamorphism vs. burial maturation);  density-gradient centrifugation (DGC) separation of macerals in coals and kerogen; oil shale and gas shale petrography and geochemistry (e.g., New Albany and Ohio shales), emphasizing trace element redox indicators; controls on stable isotope composition of organic matter (OM) and interpretation of C and N isotope records in organic-rich sediments and coals; and linkages between OM and past atmospheric composition.


For more information, please contact Sue Rimmer at 618-453-7369 or srimmer@siu.edu
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.