Soil Geomorphology Laboratory

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This laboratory is directed by Dr. Robert D. Hall and focuses on the evaluation of soils in an effort to interpret past glacial events.

Dr. Hall's research focuses on the history of glaciation and soil formation in both the Rocky Mountains and the Midcontinent (mostly Indiana and western Ohio). He uses a variety of techniques to determine the age of glacial deposits and soils, including buried soils, or paleosols. These techniques assess the degree of weathering and soil formation through field and laboratory studies including soil horizons, grain size, geochemistry, and mineralogy. Dr. Hall has developed techniques for dating using the etching of hornblende grains. Recent investigations of paleosols in Indiana have stressed recognition of parent materials through detailed grain-size analysis. He is also becoming more involved with the use of numerical dating techniques such as carbon-14 (radiocarbon), and beryllium-10. Another aspect of his research is paleoenvironmental interpretation. Many of the same techniques are involved as well as studies of pollen, insect remains, and molluscs.