Welcome to the GEMS Lab (Geochemical Exploration of Mineral Systems), where we explore the geochemical processes that shape mineral systems. Our lab is equipped with advanced instrumentation, including heating and freezing stages for fluid and melt inclusion microthermometry, conventional optical microscopy, and cathodoluminescence microscopy. In spring 2025, we will expand our capabilities with the arrival of a state-of-the-art Horiba LabRAM Odyssey for Raman spectroscopy. Our research focuses on critical mineral potential in and around Kentucky and carbonate diagenesis, providing insights into these vital geological processes. Explore below to learn more about our instruments and ongoing projects!
New location coming soon
We are excited to announce that the GEMS Lab is moving to a new location in the ASTeCC building on the University of Kentucky campus! This facility will provide an enhanced workspace tailored to the needs of our research, particularly as we prepare to welcome the Horiba LabRAM Odyssey Raman microscope in spring 2025. The new space will support our advanced instrumentation and ongoing projects, enabling us to continue exploring the geochemical processes that shape mineral systems with even greater efficiency and precision. Stay tuned for updates as we transition to our new home!
Instrumentation
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Fluid and Melt Inclusion Microthermometry
Our lab features an Olympus BX51 optical microscope equipped with UV illumination and infrared capabilities, ideal for studying fluid and melt inclusions as well as traditional optical microscopy. Complementing this, we utilize a Linkam THMSG600 heating-freezing stage, enabling precise measurements across a temperature range of -195°C to +600°C, and a Linkam TS1400XY stage for high-temperature experiments up to 1400°C. Additionally, we are refurbishing a classic gas-flow heating-freezing stage, which will be installed in our new ASTeCC location to further expand our experimental capabilities.
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Cathodoluminescence Microscopy
Our lab is also equipped with an Olympus BX43 optical microscope paired with a vintage Technosyn cold-cathode stage, enabling detailed study of cathodoluminescent patterns in cements and replacement minerals. This technique provides valuable insights into the growth history, composition, and diagenetic processes of minerals, offering a powerful tool for reconstructing fluid histories and mineralization events. This capability complements our broader research on carbonate diagenesis and critical mineral systems.
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Raman Spectroscopy
The Horiba LabRAM Odyssey, arriving in spring 2025, will bring advanced Raman spectroscopy to our lab. Featuring an Olympus BXFM microscope, motorized stage, transmitted light capabilities, and compatibility with our Linkam stages, it offers unparalleled versatility. With a 532 nm laser, high-resolution 600, 1800, and 2400 gr/mm gratings, and an upgraded multichannel detector, this instrument will enable precise analysis of mineral structures, compositions, and fluid inclusions, advancing our research into critical mineral systems and carbonate diagenesis. Click here to read the full specifications of the instrument.
Current & Recent Project Highlights
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Rare Earth Elements in Ultramafic Lamprophyres
The ultramafic lamprophyres of the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District (IKFD) are potential domestic sources of rare earth elements (REEs), but the role of mantle metasomatism and carbonate alteration in REE distribution is not well understood. Dr. Lukoczki’s team has employed petrographic and geochemical analyses to determine the nature of the mantle source region and timing of the carbonate mineralization. Carbonate alteration, including listwanitization and ophicalcitization, appear to play a secondary role in REE distribution. For details, find Zach Walton’s thesis here. The GEMS Lab will continue to support this research with advanced microscopic analyses, including fluid and melt inclusion studies, and Raman spectroscopy, providing insights into the processes controlling REE mineralization in the IKFD.
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Critical Minerals in Mississippi Valley-type Mineralization
Kentucky hosts significant occurrences of fluorite, sphalerite, galena, and barite, concentrated in three key areas with historical production. In western Kentucky, part of the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District, mineralization is linked to ultramafic intrusions, with notable germanium content in sphalerite. Southcentral Kentucky features sphalerite-dominated deposits similar to the Middle Tennessee Mines, with ongoing studies to assess germanium content. Central Kentucky, historically known for barite production, is the focus of a new Earth MRI project targeting critical mineral potential. The GEMS Lab will play a vital role in this research by utilizing advanced fluid inclusion analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and geochemical tracers to investigate the structural controls and fluid evolution responsible for these mineral occurrences. These tools, combined with high-resolution USGS geophysics, will provide critical insights into the genesis and exploration potential of Kentucky's mineral systems.
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Ordovician Phosphate-bearing Carbonate Rocks
Sedimentary phosphate deposits are potential sources of rare earth elements (REEs) with the capacity to meet global demand. However, the processes influencing REE incorporation and distribution in these rocks—such as depositional environment, ocean chemistry, and post-depositional alteration—are not fully understood. The Ordovician Lexington Limestone in Kentucky, known for contributing to phosphate-rich soils supporting the state’s equine industry, also contains REEs and uranium, posing radon-related health risks. Dr. Lukoczki’s recently funded project applies crystallographic and geochemical tools to trace phosphate crystallization and recrystallization, uncovering the mechanisms controlling incorporation of trace elements like REEs and uranium in sedimentary phosphates.